Thread by @DrDenaGrayson

THREAD: Mueller’s latest #indictment against Manafort exposed Manafort’s secretly financed pro-#Russian🇷🇺efforts using former senior European politicians to provide their “independent” opinions on Ukraine, when, in fact, they were PAID LOBBYISTS‼️ 1/

theguardian.com/us-news/2018/f…

According to Mueller, the Europeans known as the “Hapsburg Group” included a “former European chancellor”👉🏼covertly paid by Paul Manafort.🤨

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE⁉️ 2/

“Chancellor” is the head of government in Germany & Austria.🤔

Retroactive DOJ filings show Manafort’s “Chancellor” was fmr Austrian chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer who went to meet congressmen in 2013 w/two lobbyists from Mercury, LLC — fmr GOP Rep Vin Weber’s lobbying shop.🤨 3/

Fmr Austrian Chancellor Gusenbauer says he had 2 coffees w/Manafort, & did not receive money for it “or at least not consciously so”.🧐

Yet he admits he was paid by a US or British company for his engagement on Ukrainian issues but could not remember which.🙄

(Sure, Jan!)

4/

A Mercury lobbyist also accompanied fmr Italian prime minister Romano Prodi to meetings on Capitol Hill a few months before fmr Austrian Chancellor Gusenbauer.🤔

Prodi has “no recollection” of being in Washington or meeting with lawmakers.🙄

cc @aliasvaughn

5/

Fmr Italian PM Prodi’s ties to #Russia🇷🇺have been a source of controversy. He staunchly denied an allegation made in 2006 by Alexander Litvinenko (who was murdered by Putin’s thugs) that he had links to the Soviet KGB.😳 6/

As @ericgarland, I and others have presaged, #TrumpRussia🇷🇺is much greater (and worse) than throwing our election to Trump. Russia has engaged in a long-term strategy against Western democracies. It’s a fight for freedom for ALL of us.

And we will WIN‼️😎

/end