The absolute lack of ethics, principles or genius is stunning. These are Russians. THESE ARE THE RUSSIANS.
ii. Conduct of the Meeting
Trump Jr., Manafort, and Kushner participated on the Trump side, while Kaveladze (Georgian Vice President Crocus Group Real Estate Developer) , Samochornov (the translator), Akhmetshin (former KGB and lobbyist), and Goldstone (British publicist, music manager, and former tabloid journalist ) attended with Veselnitskaya (Russian lawyer).722 The Office spoke to every participant except Veselnitskaya and Trump Jr., the latter of whom declined to be voluntarily interviewed by the Office Grand Jury
This is the second tabloid guy in this mess. The other one was providing David Pecker (click here). So there is a degree of unknown facts from Veselnitskaya and Jr.
The meeting lasted approximately 20 minutes.
I would not expect more time than that. Crimes usually don't take that long to commit. If everyone is in the room it is for the same purpose and the dirty deal is dealt. This gets interesting because the "dirt" on Clinton is a fabrication by the Russians. No surprise here.
The amazing aspect of all this contact with Russians across the spectrum of the Trump campaign is that they actually allowed themselves to believe every word spoken by the Russians. Never once does it appear that ANYONE raised caution regarding not just contact with the Russians, but, what the Russians would actually be looking for beyond their statements to the campaign. It seems to me most Americans if put in the same place, would be cautious to the sincere intentions of the Russians. I realize Trump's family culture is "Winning is everything." But, even accepting that ruthless cultural folly of these people, their willingness to allow exposure to Russia is stunning. No adult in the USA is that naive.
The FBI not only had permission to conduct an investigation into the hacking of the DCCC, DNC and Clinton campaign computers but, to the Trump campaign that was obviously conducting a relationship with Russians. If the FBI did not start an investigation into the campaign's relationship with Russia there would be something very wrong with the bureau.
723 Grand Jury 724 Grand Jury Goldstone recalled that Trump Jr. invited Veselnitskaya to begin but did not say anything about the subject of the meeting.725 Participants agreed that Veselnitskaya stated that the Ziff brothers had broken Russian laws and had donated their profits to the DNC or the Clinton Campaign.726 She asserted that the Ziff brothers had engaged in tax evasion and money laundering in both the United States and Russia.
I don't know how many times money laundering and tax evasion enter into these talks. Veselnitskaya was in the USA not only as a lobbyist but, also as an attorney to Russians in prison in the USA who were facing those exact charges.
...“According to our investigative officers,(click here) a group of people — Mr. Browder’s business partners — who illegally made over $1.5 billion in Russia, did not pay taxes, either in Russia or the United States, but transferred this money to the United States,” Putin said, (Putin could not even keep the lie straight. Putin says Browder and Veselnitskaya stated the Ziff brothers. Will the real contributor please stand up?) according to a Kremlin transcript. “They contributed $400 million to Ms. Clinton’s election campaign. This is official information included in their reports — $400 million.”
“We have grounds to suspect that U.S. intelligence officers supported these illegal transactions,” (Amazing. The dirty money belonging to Clinton was escorted into the USA by USA intelligence officers. That cannot happen in the USA without many people knowing it. The USA has very strict laws that Putin is aware of demanding the reporting of any movement of money into or out of the USA. Putin knows this. It was legislated into law because of the terrorist attacks of 911. Yet, because the Trump campaign and evidently Trump himself in Helsinki was so hungry for DIRT ON CLINTON, they actually believed the lie of the century that has existed between the USA and Russia for at least that long.) Putin added. “So we have an interest of questioning them. That could be a first step.”...
Former Secretary of State Clinton recognized exactly what was going on with Russia and Trump. So, it wasn't as if there wasn't a "shout out" to Trump and his campaign identifying their relationship with Russia. See the YouTube video below.
HOW MANY OF HER STATEMENTS (WARNINGS) HAVE COME TRUE UNDER TRUMP?
727 Grand Jury 728 According to Akhmetshin, Trump Jr. asked follow-up Grand Jury questions about how the alleged payments could be tied specifically to the Clinton Campaign, but Veselnitskaya indicated that she could not trace the money once it entered the United States.729 Kaveladze similarly recalled that Trump Jr. asked what they have on Clinton, and Kushner became aggravated and asked “[w]hat are we doing here?”730
So, money came into the USA and not one person was able to say where it went. I am sure the FBI could if it came into the USA at all.
Mr. Bowder and/or the Ziff brothers may or may not have brought monies into the USA for the one objective in swinging influence in the elections. This idea is an all too familiar scenario when Russians are involved. They use our own laws against the USA's interests. Basically, the "dirt on Clinton" was based on the same message that has existed with Russia forever; the money goes into the USA in this case to the Clinton campaign, hence, corruption. The Trumps and Kushner actually fell for it. They actually believed the lie Russia has been telling for what seems like forever.
The Helsinki meeting between Trump and Putin stated THE SAME THING. Russia would be helpful to Trump IF they in turn over to the Russians Americans that have evaded taxes and laundered money. Trump then says it was a very interesting proposal from the president of Russia. Trump treated it as if the Russian president was doing Trump a favor.
Akhmetshin then spoke about U.S. sanctions imposed under the Magnitsky Act and Russia’s response prohibiting U.S. adoption of Russian children.
July 20, 2017
Robert Siegel host:
Americans (click here) have been banned from adopting children from Russia since 2013. NPR's Robert Siegel and Matthew Rojansky, director of the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute, discuss the history of the ban and how it's still a factor in the U.S.-Russia relationship today....
Before Trump was even inaugurated The European Court of Justice had ruled on the case. This didn't happen overnight, the Russians knew about these proceedings when they were meeting with Trump Jr. and Kushner and the campaign.
On January 17, 2017, (click here) the European Court of Justice ruled that the Russian Dima Yakovlev Law banning American citizens from adopting Russian children is discriminatory on the grounds of its severe violation of human rights. The ruling came with an order for Russia to pay €3,000 in damages to 45 American plaintiffs who have been denied adoption since the law came into practice in December 2012. Russian foreign ministry has since stated that the ban will not be revoked.
The law in question was put into place as a response to the US Magnitsky Act....
This is Russia being Russia. The court proceedings were not discussed with the Trump people? That meeting was about American adoptions yet the pending court proceedings were not even discussed? The adoption issue was never going to change because it was an act to end the Magnitsky Act. Russia will do as Russia wants to do if the USA leverages it's power over Russia. This was not about adoptions, it was about the Magnitsky Act. So, is Jr., Kushner and the campaign stating they were willing to consider reversing the Magnitsky Act because this is what the Russians wanted? It wasn't about adoptions. It was about ending sanctions because Russia kills innocent people that are friendly to the USA.
Veselnitskaya is the Russian lobbyist to end the Magnitsky Act. The meeting with the Russias was to receive dirt on Clinton so long as the Trump campaign was going to reverse the Magnitsky Act. That is what the Trump Tower Meeting was about. Jr. concealed it by stating this was about adoptions of Russian children. Sure the words Russian children adoptions were in the conversation, but, that isn't all that was in the conversation.
731 Several participants recalled that Trump Jr. commented that Trump is a private citizen, and there was nothing they could do at that time.
No clue. Oops, there it is. Why have a meeting with Russians if there wasn't a quid pro quo? The Russians came with expectations to end the Magnitsky Act. That is what they wanted. Of course, as soon as the Magnitsky Act was reversed the adoptions would begin again. But, it was not an innocent conversation about the adoptions of Russian children. This conversation itself was a criminal act that a quid pro quo was laid out. Of course, all things are possible said Jr. but Trump had to make it into the presidency. Jr., Kushner and the Trump campaign were selling out the country. Kushner was disappointed that there wasn't more to the facts about Clinton. Jr., Kushner and the campaign were completely sold to the Russians. There just wasn't the dirt they were looking for.
732 Trump Jr. also said that they could revisit the issue if and when they were in government.733 Notes that Manafort took on his phone reflect the general flow of the conversation, although not all of its details.734
At some point in the meeting, Kushner sent an iMessage to Manafort stating “waste of time,” followed immediately by two separate emails to assistants at Kushner Companies with requests that they call him to give him an excuse to leave.735 Samochornov recalled that Kushner departed the meeting before it concluded; Veselnitskaya recalled the same when interviewed by the press in July 2017.736
Veselnitskaya’s press interviews and written statements to Congress differ materially from other accounts.
It doesn't matter. She was not under oath to the press.
In a July 2017 press interview, Veselnitskaya claimed that she has no connection to the Russian government and had not referred to any derogatory information concerning the Clinton Campaign when she met with Trump Campaign officials.737 Veselnitskaya’s November 2017 written submission to the Senate Judiciary Committee stated that the purpose of the June 9 meeting was not to connect with “the Trump Campaign” but rather to have “a private meeting with Donald Trump Jr.—a friend of my good acquaintance’s son on the matter of assisting me or my colleagues in informing the Congress members as to the criminal nature of manipulation and interference with the legislative activities of the US Congress.”
That is what Veselnitskaya would say to Congress because she is a lobbyist in Washington, DC. So she told Congress the Trumps were going to assist in obtaining connections that would work for her as a lobbyist to end the Magnitsky Act.
738 In other words, Veselnitskaya claimed her focus was on Congress and not the Campaign. No witness, however, recalled any reference to Congress during the meeting. Veselnitskaya also maintained that she “attended the meeting as a lawyer of Denis Katsyv,” the previously mentioned owner of Prevezon Holdings, but she did not “introduce [her]self in this capacity.”739
February 2, 2018
By Brendan Pierson
A U.S. judge (click here) on Friday ordered a Russian-owned corporation to pay a $5.9 million settlement it reached last year with U.S. prosecutors over allegations that it laundered proceeds of a $230 million tax fraud.
The company, Prevezon Holdings Ltd, had previously refused to pay the settlement to the U.S. government. Prevezon, which is owned by Russian businessman Denis Katsyv, argued that the deal did not require it to pay until authorities in the Netherlands released certain assets they had frozen there....
So, Ms. Veselnitskaya did well for her client and most probably without intervention by Trump. The Magnitsky Act still stands. Her client is not in prison.
In a July 2017 television interview, Trump Jr. stated that while he had no way to gauge the reliability, credibility, or accuracy of what Goldstone had stated was the purpose of the meeting, if “someone has information on our opponent . . . maybe this is something. I should hear them out.”740 Trump Jr. further stated in September 2017 congressional testimony that he thought he should “listen to what Rob and his colleagues had to say.”741 Depending on what, if any, information was provided, Trump Jr. stated he could then “consult with counsel to make an informed decision as to whether to give it any further consideration.”742
Jr. has a problem. He is willing to listen to anyone and find common cause with them. I am sure he lets his lawyer know as much as he cares to tell him, but, he is not a statesman and has no loyalty to protocols and diplomacy. Listening to ANYTHING ANYONE has to say is what has Trump sidling up to dictators and strongmen rather than allies. It is Trump Culture. It is about taking power and not necessarily understanding the power they have taken.
That sort of "listening to everyone" is more populous gossip rather than sincere statesmanship. Today, those attempts by Jr. go so far as portray himself as a person sympathetic to the "Tiger King" (click here) and willing to do right by them if he was elected to office, too. And Jr. is living up to his promises, he has Daddy looking into the Tiger King (click here). The Tiger King is now a political issue. I have no idea what the movie "Tiger King" is about. But, the Trumps found it to be a cultural issue that would sew voters to their power.
After the June 9 meeting concluded, Goldstone apologized to Trump Jr.743 According to Goldstone, he told Trump Jr Grand Jury 744 and told Emin Agalarov in a phone call that the meeting was about adoption Grand Jury 745 Grand Jury
But, it was about adoption. Goldstone didn't know it was about adoption? It is just that it was about much more than adoption.
746 Aras Agalarov asked Kaveladze to report in after the meeting, but before Kaveladze could call, Aras Agalarov called him.747 With Veselnitskaya next to him, Kaveladze reported that the meeting had gone well, but he later told Aras Agalarov that the meeting about the Magnitsky Act had been a waste of time because it was not with lawyers and they were “preaching to the wrong crowd.”748
There it is. Russians were looking for a foothold to power but what they realized was that the Trumps didn't hold power and may never hold the kind of power that would remove the Magnitsky Act from USA law.
It is interesting.
Veselnitskaya thought she could somehow leverage the Trump campaign. She doesn't care how she carries out her country's business. If corruption is part of it then she was willing to do it.
She should not do those things and should have stronger ethics to even lower herself to being corrupt to achieve a goal. She is a good lawyer and did well for her client. She should hold onto that and conduct the future of her profession within the ethics and laws of the USA. She may find she has more influence as an honest broker. She can be valued as an influential Russian if she isn't willing to bend the law so much as be appreciative of it.
The Magnitsky Act is about human rights. She should appreciate that and bring those perspectives to her Russian affiliations. Respecting human rights in both the USA and Russia can create goodwill and even more interesting discussions that might bring Russia and the USA together. Russia wants the sanctions lifted. The USA wants better human rights in Russia. Russia is an emerging economy. Increasing human rights in Russia will bring investment, but, not if there is no respect for the people that want to bring about a dialogue that is beneficial to everyone.
Sergei Magnitsky was killed in a Russian prison. He died days before he could have been released. Those that imprisoned him didn't want him to walk out of that prison because it would be a message the Russian people should never receive because it meant the government made an error in arresting him in the first place.
Sergei Magnitsky was willing to say the raids on The Hermitage was wrong. That is not a reason to imprison any Russian. THE FACTS entrenched with truth is what Ms. Veselnitskaya should use as her sword. Standing up for human rights in Russia is dangerous, but, should it be?
.....................................................................................................
Footnotes are mostly about emails, letters or telephone calls.
Footnote 722 E.g., Samochornov 7/12/17 302, at 4.
Footnote 723 E.g., Samochornov 7/12/17 302, at 4;
Goldstone 2/8/18 302, at 9
Footnote 724 Grand Jury
Footnote 725 Grand Jury
Footnote 726 Grand Jury
Footnote 727 Grand Jury
Footnote 728 Grand Jury
Footnote 729 Grand Jury Akhmetshin 11/14/17 302, at 12
Footnote 730 Kaveladze 11/16/17 302, at 8; Grand Jury
Footnote 731 Samochornov 7/13/17 302, at 3; Grand Jury
Footnote 732 E.g., Akhmetshin 11/14/17 302, at 12-13; Grand Jury
Footnote 733 Akhmetshin 11/14/17 302, at 12-13; Grand Jury
Samochornov 7/13/17 302, at 3.
Trump Jr. confirmed this in a statement he made in July 2017 after news of the June 2016 meeting broke.
Interview of: Donald J. Trump, Jr., Senate Judiciary Committee U.S. Senate Washington DC, 115th Cong. 57 (Sept. 7, 2017).
Footnote 734 Manafort’s notes state:
This is interesting, isn't it? Manafort knew wealthy people hiding money offshore or perhaps not hiding it.
Bill browder (He has a relationship with the Hermitage) (click here)
Offshore - Cyprus (Cyprus could have been a place where 133 million shares of companies were being held possibly in lockboxes, lawyer, etc.)
133m shares
Companies
Not invest - loan (How about if it read: "Do not invest, get loans."
Value in Cyprus as inter (A bank in Cyprus was an interim bank (click here))
Nicosia, Cyprus—The biggest bank on this island was at the tail end of a purge of its riskiest customers—from arms traders to online casinos—when its computers started combing the books to check on an American who was attracting more public attention: Paul Manafort
Illici (if this is not a name, then it means entice)
The way I see it, Manafort was interested in enticing active sponsors of the RNC.
Active sponsors of RNC
Browder hired Joanna Glover
...The mention of “Joanna Glover” is more clear. It’s almost certainly a reference to Juleanna Glover, who worked with Browder in advocating for the Magnitsky Act. Juleanna Glover had worked in politics for some time — including for Cheney....
Tied into Cheney
Russian adoption by American families (leverage for dirt)
PJM-SJC-00000001-02 (Notes Produced to Senate Judiciary Committee).
The Washington Post does a different analysis.
In full: (click here)
Bill browder
Offshore — Cyprus
133m shares
Companies
Not invest — loan
Value in Cyprus as inter
Illici
Active sponsors of RNC
Browder hired Joanna Glover
Tied into Cheney
Russian adoption by American families
In the absence of other context, the notes are cryptic and include words that certainly seem to wave red flags. “Offshore,” “Illici[t]” — even an apparent mention of former vice president Richard B. Cheney....
Footnote 735 NOSC00003992 (6/9/16 Text Message, Kushner to Manafort); Kushner 4/11/18 302, at 9;
Vargas 4/4/18 302, at 7;
NOSC00000044 (6/9/16 Email, Kushner to Vargas);
NOSC00000045 (6/9/16 Email, Kushner to Cain).
Footnote 736 Samochornov 7/12/17 302, at 4; Grand Jury
Kushner 4/11/18 302, at 9-10; see also Interview of: Donald J. Trump, Jr., Senate Judiciary Committee, 115th Cong. 48-49 (Sept. 7, 2017).
Footnote 737 Russian Lawyer Veselnitskaya Says She Didn’t Give Trump Jr. Info on Clinton, NBC News(July 11, 2017). (click here)
Footnote 738 Testimony of Natalia Veselnitskaya before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary,115th Cong. 10 (Nov 20, 2017).
Footnote 739 Testimony of Natalia Veselnitskaya before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 115th Cong. 21 (Nov. 20, 2017).
Footnote 740 Sean Hannity, Transcript-Donald Trump Jr, Fox News (July 11, 2017).
Footnote 741 Interview of: Donald J. Trump, Jr, Senate Judiciary Committee, 115th Cong. 16 (Sept. 7, 2017).
Footnote 742 Interview of: Donald J. Trump, Jr, Senate Judiciary Committee, 115th Cong. 16-17 (Sept. 7, 2017).
Footnote 743 Kaveladze 11/16/17 302, at 8; Grand Jury
Goldstone 2/8/18 302 at 9; Grand Jury
Footnote 744 Grand Jury
Footnote 745 Grand Jury The week after the June 9 meeting, a cybersecurity firm and the DNC announced the Russian hack of the DNC. See Volume I, Section III.B.2, supra Grand Jury (and one text message shows) that, shortly after the DNC announcement, Grand Jury Goldstone made comments connecting the DNC hacking announcement to the June 9 meeting. Grand Jury
OSC-KAV_00029 (6/14/16 Email, Goldstone to E. Agalarov & Kaveladze (10:09 a.m.)). The investigation did not identify evidence connecting the events of June 9 to the GRU’s hack-and-dump operation.
OSC-KAV_00029-30 (6/14/16 Email, Goldstone to E. Agalarov).
Footnote 746 Grand Jury
Footnote 747 Kaveladze 11/16/17 302, at 8; Call Records of Ike Kaveladze Grand Jury
Footnote 748 Kaveladze 11/16/17 302, at 8; Call Records of Ike Kaveladze Grand Jury On June 14, 2016 Kaveladze’s teenage daughter emailed asking how the June 9 meeting had gone, and Kaveladze responded, “meeting was boring. The Russians did not have any bad info on Hilary.” OSCKAV_00257 (6/14/16 Email, I. Kaveladze to A. Kaveladze; Grand Jury
Just to clarify, there is no way $400 million would have gone unnoticed if it were cash. Below is a picture of a drug bust that netted $205 million. Clinton would have to hide twice this much. Getting it through customs is a difficult job and then there is the campaign and explanations of where $400 million came from. The Russians need to stop this stuff. It is silly.
Continued in a following entry.
