The New York Times reports Trump's allies in Congress challenged intelligence officials when they were briefed that Russia is meddling in the 2020 election to help Trump get re-elected. Frank Figliuzzi discusses. Aired on 02/20/20.
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NYT: Republicans Challenged Intel That Russia's Aiding Trump Again | The 11th Hour | MSNBC
republicans are traitors enough of this treacherous administration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t say anything about Trump without Obama’s name coming up. So envious of our former president
@Kennedy Suggs like you don’t like Obama
Kennedy Suggs Are you really that blind to what is happening? Trump is castrating our intelligence agencies to hide Russia helping his reelection. And he’s turned the Justice Department into his private hit squad and protector of his henchmen. We are witnessing the overthrow of democracy, and you are either too stupid to recognize it, or you’re a paid Russian troll.
YOU PEOPLE REALLY ARE MORONS!
In Sept, one month before Lev Parnas was indicted on campaign finance charges, his wife received a $1 million wire transfers from a bank account in Russia. The the source was a lawyer for Dmytro Firtash, according to a court filing by U.S. prosecutors.
Firtash is a Ukrainian oligarch who made a fortune in the natural gas trade, and is perhaps the most enigmatic figure in the scandal related to Trump’s impeachment.
A billionaire with close ties to the Russian mob, Firtash is facing bribery-related charges here in the U.S. and fighting extradition from Vienna. He once attempted to buy the famous Drake Hotel in NY with the now imprisoned Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager. He’s seen by Ukrainian anti-corruption activists and Western governments as a corrupt instrument of Russia.
Firtash provided documents to Giuliani that he used to further his discredited claim that Joe Biden engaged in wrongdoing in Ukraine. The question over Firtash’s role in the effort to smear Biden deepened when Parnas said the oligarch’s involvement came from an explicit quid pro quo. In exchange for Firtash’s help in their effort to damage Biden, Parnas assured the oligarch they (Rudy, Trump, and Parnas) would make his U.S. legal troubles disappear.
In other words, according to Parnas: Guiliani, was so eager to help Trump and hurt Biden, that he turned to a man Ukrainian activists call their country’s most dangerous oligarch — and offered the equivalent of a get-out-of-jail-free card.
“Some folks might wonder what Mr. Giuliani was thinking. The better question is whether he WAS thinking,” said Chuck Rosenberg, a former federal prosecutor and senior FBI official. “This is so foolhardy and so reckless, that it is difficult to fathom what he was doing or how he thought it could succeed.”
Firtash lived up to his end of the alleged bargain: His lawyers provided a now-discredited affidavit from a Ukrainian prosecutor accusing Biden of wrongdoing. But Giuliani’s team did not deliver.
According to Parnas and a senior U.S. official, Firtash’s lawyers, Giuliani associates Joe DiGenova and Victoria Toensing, were unable to convince Attorney General William Barr to intervene in the Firtash case. The alleged scheme, one former U.S. official said, was stunning in its audacity.
“Think of it this way,” said the official, who has deep knowledge of Ukraine’s politics and Firtash’s history. “You have the president’s personal lawyer trying to get the president’s official lawyer, the attorney general, to get the Justice Department to drop charges against an oligarch supported by Russia. That’s what was happening.”
“Firtash is at dead center of the greatest corruption operation in Ukraine’s history,” said a former senior U.S. diplomat who served in the region. “He managed the flow of natural gas from Russia to Ukraine and beyond and it kept Ukraine dependent on Russia’s gas supplies.”
Anders Aslund, a former Swedish diplomat who has studied Ukraine’s economy for years, said Firtash is more of a purveyor of bribes than a proper businessman. “He has essentially been used by the Russians to buy political power in Ukraine,” said Aslund. “He’s the person who has spent the most money on behalf of the Kremlin on Ukraine’s politicians.”
In 2013, as the Obama administration was pushing an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine, federal prosecutors in Chicago indicted Firtash, charging him with a scheme to bribe Indian officials to obtain a lucrative mining deal to sell titanium to Boeing for the 787 Dreamliner. He was arrested in Vienna in March 2014, and released on $174 million bail and has been contesting his extradition to the U.S. ever since.
The $174 million bail, said to be the largest in Austrian history, was paid by the Russian billionaire Vasily Anisimov, who is also under U.S. sanctions.
Richard Grenell, Trump’s pick for the Director of National Intelligence, has absolutely zero experience in intelligence or national security. But what Grenell does have however, are shady connections to Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs, who are connected to the Russian mob, and the Kremlin. Normally, something like this would be more than enough to prevent him from even getting a low level security clearance. But yet this is the man that Trump’s wants to trust with the entire treasure trove of Amercan intelligence and classified information??? 😲
In interviews, Lev Parnas described a meeting he and Rudy had in London where they met two associates of indicted Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash, one of whom was on his legal team. The Washington Post reported on that meeting, and a Firtash lawyer confirmed that a meeting with Giuliani happened. Parnas said he was in the meeting, and that Giuliani used it to try to get material from the oligarch that would bolster his attacks on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Trump.
Firtash is wanted in this country on multiple felony corruption and bribery charges. DOJ prosecutors say Firtash is an “upper-echelon associate” of Russian Organized Crime.
After the meeting, two of Giuliani’s allies joined Firtash’s legal team. Victoria Toensing and Joseph diGenova began representing Firtash in the summer of 2019, and worked to score political gifts for Trump from Firtash. Parnas said they also tried to leverage their Trumpworld connections to help Firtash.
“During the situation that was going on with the Firtash case, Victoria called Ric Grenell because he was the ambassador to Germany and Vienna was in the same orbit there,” Parnas said. “She basically asked him, if he sees any pressure coming from DOJ to extradite Firtash, if he could let us know. She told me that Grenell said he would.”
@d. nuzzio , awww, feeling a little bit overwhelmed? Is the snowflake melting? Too bad, so sad.
@soulful41 snowflake? You got the wrong guy
@d. nuzzio coward no you are a snowflake and a coward for doing nothing about your dictator Putin taking over your country you coward
@dnuzzio has been clueless in many responses, he’s either, a bot, a troll, or simply a bigoted moron, I’m betting on the last. Facts don’t work, reason doesn’t work, even evidence doesn’t matter.
PAPER BALLOTS!!!!!
And voter ID’s….
I agree with ya on backup paper ballots. This mess needs to come to an “End with this president”
we in Canada use them with very little problem, Voter ID could be a drivers license, OHIP card, some offical mail like hydro bill. when you do you taxes you a yes or no if you want elections Canada to send you a card in the mail with this info….its not hard
The GOP is challenging Russian interference! They conducted their own investigation and found Russia interfered in 2016…..
Benedict Donald, hasnt delivered what the Russians wanted!…but this time he will give them everything….
@Alex Hamilton – ” how exactly did they NOT interfere? “
@Briza Ac I don’t recall one voter ever coming forward saying their vote was based on Russian propaganda. I have heard that voters were influenced by political propaganda from the media or the political parties. My question is other than internet propaganda how Russian interference effect the final vote? Now the way the DNC screwed Bernie that did effect the votes. Yet I have never heard one voter admit that Russia effected their voting in the ballot box.
@Alex Hamilton – You’re an example of Ruskie corruption, whether you’re a foreign troll or simply too gullible to recognize that you’ve been conned.
Alex Hamilton, the objective is to not let people like you know you were duped. The Mueller report showed some of the tactics, and he indicted thirty five Russians and companies for interference.
@Alex Hamilton Read the report!…
Of course they are challenging their own Intelligence Agencies, putin says so
Republicans are essentially voting for Putin in the next election.
@Alex Hamilton
It’s still a lot better than what we have now.
@Claudette J less drugs better thinking
@Alex Hamilton oh, ok, I understand now. Ur on drugs and can’t think right now. Well, I can’t tell u what to do, but, for ur family, be careful not to over do it. I’m sure they love u.
Iran and China? If you are listening, please hack into Trump’s tax returns and the Republican party’s servers!
Jacket off Gym Jordan 👌🏽
Jacket off Gym Jordan
sure U can see them listening to a snowflake like you.
@Alex Hamilton coward your kids are going to blame you for them having to live under a dictatorship because you are a coward for doing nothing about your dictator Putin taking over your country you coward
@Bobby Edenfield He’s a russian troll.
Basically Republicans have no spine and no moral fibre.
@melodk Thank you! I’m doing quite well financially because of Trump’s economy. If you think the deficit looks bad now, vote Democrat and watch what happens! I hope you are doing well because your taxes “would” go through the roof in order to pay for single-payor medicare for all, the elimination of student debt, and free health care for illegal aliens. Dont believe what you see on CNN and MSNBC. In 2016, “Before” Trump was elected, the Congressional Budget Office projected that unemployment would rise between 2017 and 2019, and that labor force participation would “continue” its decline… THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED! Unemployment fell to 50 year lows under Trump and the great economy pulled people back into the labor force. Furthermore, Despite Obama’s concerns about racial and wealth inequality, these gaps only began to close AFTER he left office. Dem’s have not idea how to move this country forward. Their only focus is defeating on Trump, but neither you nor I have see any solid plans or platforms! Frightfu!!..and SAD!! Go ahead and vote Democratic if you really believe socialism, shrinking the economy, and redistribution of wealth is the right answer. Your vote will be wasted because there is no way socialism will Trump capitalism…the foundation of this great nation.
@Tim Smith Not at all Tim! Most important is liberty and freedom of choice which goes away if Dem’s take over…you lose freedom to choose “the right” health care and you pay more taxes to cover the extreme and weak socialistic programs Dem’s are discussing that equate to a shrinking economy and redistribution of wealth. You lose freedom to protect our families with guns as we wish if it becomes necessary and you lose the capitalistic foundation this great nation was built on. Dem’s want to control you and it sounds like that’s what you want. Free stuff and someone else to pay for it. What about a sense of responsibility and accountability? You are watching and believing in the wrong information!…exactly what the Dem’s want you to do! Listen to yourself pal! No president for decades has stood up to China, N. Korea, and Iran like Trump has. Obama gave $50B CASH to the corrupt Iranian regime TO APPEASE THEM! This is what you get with weak leaders! Hate Trump for the way he behaves, but you have to acknowledge he has a back bone and he is fighting for this country and you and me every day. All DEM’s have done for the past 3 years and continue to do is try to de-rail Trump’s successful presidency. Its simply blind and wasteful hatred. UnAmerican! Pay attention!
@Steve then should I believe what FOX is saying? It’s basically the same as CNN and MSNBC. I don’t watch just these news stations. I look at magazines, editorials, and op ed to make a conclusion. However, you are stating all of them are wrong? I bet they did more research than you
@twomicefighting You must be Canadian and watching too much CNN. No president has ever stood up to China, N. Korea, Iran and a corrupt opposing party like Donald Trump. Obama send $50b cash to the Iranian regime in an appeasement program, which went right into the hands of terrorists! Trump fights for this country and the people of USA every day with no personal agenda like the other politicians. That’s why we love him! the Russian story is a bunch of crap! Putin doesn’t care who our president is or even which party. He just wants to disrupt our system and our leadership stature in the world so he can gain more control. If you had half a clue, you would see through your blind hatred and realize Trump’ success and the need for leaders like him!
I guess you think using bleach bit to make 30,000 emails disappear is “good moral fiber. Or letting children rub your hairy legs is “good moral fiber. Or killing 60 million babies every month is “good moral fiber. I dont think you know what a “good moral fiber is?”
thank you for bringing this to the voters’ attention.its apparent that the republicans except for three that voted against trump, are in as deep as their master in all the corruption in our government, to trump its a game, see how far he can go, a true narcissistic sociopathic is running America, into the ground.
I agree with jewell charles…. thank you to Brian Williams for giving National Security the high priority it deserves
Exactly
YOU PEOPLE REALLY ARE MORONS!
Moscow Mitch is a “Russian asset” Not a good American government official of the Constitution!
Alex Hamilton, I’ll bet you a fat man to a donut that you live in mother “rusher” comrade! haha
@Bar BS12 then don’t voter for Bernie in fact don’t vote for any Democrat.
This from the party that told us daily during Obama’s tenure that only they had morals, family values, respect for law and order, loved the constitution and the biggest lie of all that they are fiscal conservatives.
ARE YOU MORONS GOING TO FALL FOR THIS AGAIN?
Russia if you’re listening, Layoff the 2020 election .
NO-ORWELLIAN Dystopia … 😏
USA overthrew the elected Bolivian President for a Fascist who didnt even run in the election and an unelected, deeply unpopular US puppet was celebrated by both parties at the State of the Union.
USA has been the biggest threat to democracy in the world for 80 years.
Denyze 🚨 Fake Page
YOU PEOPLE REALLY ARE MORONS!
Traitors running your country…
This must be beyond putins wildest dreams.
Putin is very happy with the traitor republicans
Alex Hamilton, Flynn and Manaforte, both foreign agents tied to Russia, firing Comey over the Russia investigation, giving Israeli intelligence to the Russian Ambassador, warning the Russians about the impending missile strike in Syria, their ally, and withholding funds from Ukraine during their negotiations with Russia. There is also the withdrawal of U.S.military from Syria, protecting our allies, the Kurds, forcing them to seek protection from Russia. There is also the refusal to authorize use of $120 million in funds for countermeasures against Russian hacking. This is who you’re supporting. You may call yourself an American, but don’t date call yourself a patriot.
they are after Bernie dolt
Honestly, they’ve got to be 86’d. All of them, every single Republican but mostly Moscow Mitchsky.
“MOSCOW MITCH” needs to get off his duff and protect our votes and most importantly this upcoming election. We néed paper backup voting. This is just too much!
Send Moscow Mitch to Russia
In other words Republicans being treasonous again they’re starting early now
Moscow Mitch is blocking numerous House passed bills on election security, so naturally, he isn’t too surprised about this news.
There needs to be a mass protest in Washington dealing with McConnell’s blocking those election security bills!
First both the State Department and the Pentagon were told to withhold the aid. This was testified by people and documents from both agencies, so your statement is a lie, and diversion. Second, while one bill was allowed through, HR 1, Honest Ads Act, Disclose Act, and the Safe Act are all being held back. The DNI was replaced because he briefed the House Intelligence Committee, on ongoing Russian interference in our elections. You can support Trump or the Constitution, but not both.
The squatter in the WH can’t win without cheating. There aren’t enough morons in this country to vote for that liar.
@amity 150 lol bernie is the latest victim of the russian hoax. Lol
@RYNNY KITTY If they want Trump to win, they need to pit him against Bernie, or at least that is their reasoning. I sort of doubt they are right. Don’t forget they are still pretty new to this. The difference is Bernie’s handling of the issue versus Trump’s.
@amity 150 Trump rocks it. Bernie does have a huge following but socialism wont work!
So, who’s telling us the truth? The fake news..with the Dem’s Russia story again…lmfao! OUR national “news” is an absolute joke, and owned by Dems! It’s a Democratic political ad running 24/7. We’re tired of Sanctuary Shitholes in Seattle!
Australia has this sorted, compulsory voting for everyone over 18 and paper ballots. It’s the best way to see who the people truly want to govern.
Republicans are fine with Treason and cheating in our elections as long as it benefits them.
Republicans are treasonous shitstink who should be sterilized and then boiled.
What the duck to house members know about national security and intelligence, it’s literally their job. Again republitards are putting party before country.