Jack - Too Sketchy For The Saudis

Episode Date: April 17, 2022

This week: a new set of charges against a Russian member of the Duma and two staffers out of the Southern District of New York; an update on the Tom Barrack probe in the Eastern District of New York; illegal donations to a Trump PAC; the $2B Saudi Kushner payoff, and an update on Rudy and the investigation into his conduct in Ukraine in 2019; plus the Fantasy Indictment League.Who knew the impact of the Mueller probe would still be making waves five years after it began? Well, I did, which is why I wanted my co-hosts to freeze my head if I died before we got to see any justice, But I’m still here and I’ll bring it all to you today.The Mueller Report - Pt. 7Supercast - https://dailybeans.supercast.com/dashboard/channels/episodes/21804Patreon - (unlocked)https://www.patreon.com/posts/mueller-report-7-28145374/editFollow AG on Twitter:Dr. Allison Gill https://twitter.com/allisongillhttps://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrotehttps://twitter.com/dailybeanspodWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://dailybeans.supercast.tech/Orhttps://patreon.com/thedailybeans

I'm Greg Oliar. Four years ago, I stopped writing novels to report on the crimes of Donald Trump and his associates. In 2018, I wrote a best-selling book about it, Dirty Rubels. In 2019, I launched Proveil, a bi-weekly column about Trump and Putin, spies and mobsters, and so many traders! Trump may be gone, but the damage he wrought will take years to fully understand. Join me and a revolving crew of contributors and guests as we try to make sense of it all. This is Preveil. Please join me in thanking Credit Karma for supporting Mueller She Wrote. Credit Karma, apply with more confidence today. Ready to apply head to credit karma.com slash loan offers to see personalized offers.

Hey all, this is Glenn Kirschner, and you're listening to Mueller She Wrote. [♪ Music playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background,

playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background,

playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, playing in background, I like that's obviously what our position is. I'm not aware of any of those activities.

I have been called a surrogate at a time, a tree, and that campaign, and I didn't have, and I have communications with the Russians. What do I have to get involved with, food and fire, I have nothing to do with, put, and I've never spoken to them. I don't know anything about a mother than he will respect me.

Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. So, it is political. You're a communist. No, Mr. Green. Communism is to Muller She Road. I'm your host, formerly known as A.G. Alison Gill. Big, big show today, with a new set of charges against a Russian member of the Duma and two staffers out of the Southern District of New York. I also have a story about illegal donations to a Trump pack, the $2 billion Saudi Kushner

pay off, and an update on Rudy. Also, the investigation into his conduct in Ukraine in 2019, and an update on Rudy, also the investigation into his conduct in Ukraine in 2019, and of course, I'll have the fantasy indictment league and an update on the Tom Barrack probe in the Eastern District of New York. Who knew the impact that the Mueller probe would have and still be making waves five years after it began? Well, I did, which is why I wanted my co-host to freeze my head and keep me alive if I died before we got to see any justice, but I'm still here and I'll bring it to you all

today. With regards to my daily news podcast, The Daily Beans, if it's dropped out of your feed, Apple podcast did something weird, and to fix it, all you have to do is unsubscribe and re-subscribe, so that will fix that problem. We also lost all of our ratings on Apple for The Daily Beans, so if you have a minute, help us kick Hannity off the charts and leave us a rating we would appreciate it. Alright, I have a lot to get to today, so let's jump in with just the facts. First up, from Kirkpatrick and Kelly at the Times, six months after leaving the White House,

Jared Kushner's security $2 billion investment from a fund led by the Saudi Crown Prince, a close ally to him during the Trump administration, despite objections from the fund's advisors about the merits of the deal. A panel that screens investments for the main Saudi sovereign wealth fund cited concerns it had about the proposed deal with Kushner's newly formed private equity firm Affinity Partners previously undisclosed documents show. The objection included, quote, the inexperience of the Affinity Fund Management, unquote,

the possibility that the kingdom would be responsible for, quote, the bulk of the investment and risk, unquote, due diligence on the fledgling firm's operations that found them, quote, unsatisfactory in all aspects, a proposed asset management fee that seems excessive and quote public relations risks from Kushner prior because of his prior role as an advisor to Donald John Trump. Now, it's according to minutes of the panel's meeting last June 30th. And I have to say when the Saudi sovereign wealth fund says, this is a public relations risk when they don't want to do business with you

because you're toxic Jared Kushner, that says a lot. But days later, a full board for the $220 billion public investment fund led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman MBS Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler and beneficiary of Kushner's support when he worked at the White House, he overruled the panel. Kushner played a leading role, as we know, inside the Trump administration defending MBS, after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded he had approved the 2018 killing of and dismemberment and murder of Jamal Kashoggi. Now, the Times reported last fall that Kushner had been seeking a Saudi investment.

Now the internal fund records and correspondence obtained by the New York Times show the outcome, scale and timing of his firm's deal as well as the debate it aroused. Those documents and other filings indicate that at this point Kushner's venture depends primarily on the Saudi money, which they didn't want to give up, but MBS overrode that board. and other filings indicate that at this point, Kushner's venture depends primarily on the Saudi money, which they didn't want to give up, but MBS overrode that board. Kushner planned to raise up to $7 billion, according to a document prepared last summer

for the Saudi's funds board, but so far he appears to have signed up few other major investors. In its most recent public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated March 31st, Kushner's firm reported that its main fund had 2.5 billion under management, almost entirely from investors based overseas, and most of that is the 2 billion from Saudi Arabia. The Saudi documents obtained by the Times say that in return for its investment, the Saudi

fund would receive a stake of at least 28% in Kushner's main investment vehicle. No law or rules can strain the investment activities of former administration officials after leaving the White House. Many from both parties have profited from connections and experiences gained while serving in the government. But Robert Weissman, who is president

of the nonprofit group, Public Citizen, called Kushner's relationship with the Saudis extremely troubling, arguing that his stance toward the Kingdom's leadership as a senior advisor quote makes the business partnership appear even more to be both a reward to and an investment in Kushner. And when we talk about reward, don't, of course there's the Jamal Kashoggi thing, but remember Kushner got the President's daily brief and gave Intel to MBS about traders to the crown and a week after Kushner visited MBC and Riyadh several dozens of those traders were rounded up and arrested.

Also Kushner helped with the cutter blockade a long time U.S. ally and helped broker the $110 billion Saudi arms sale circumventing congressional approval with the help of Mike Pompeo. Senator Elizabeth Warren is called for an investigation into this $2 billion investment, and I will keep you posted. Also, in other news, a Canadian steel industry billionaire illegally helps steer $1.75 million in donations to a pro Trump super PAC, and has agreed to pay one of the largest fines ever levied by the FEC Federal Election Commission to settle the case. Now this is a $975,000 fine. It will be paid by entities controlled by Barry Zekelman, a steel industry executive from Ontario, Canada, who had lobbied the Trump administration to use its power to tighten import restrictions on Zekelman's competitors from around the

world. The action came as the election commission continues a multi-year crackdown on foreign influence in American politics. Zekomens donations, in 2018 to the American first action super PAC, helped them secure an invitation to a private dinner with Trump, at the Trump International Hotel in DC, where Zekomens personally pushed Trump about the steel tariffs and other matters. The 1.75 million in donations came from a Pennsylvania-based subsidiary of Zekomin's company named Wheatland Tube. But the New York Times first reported in 2019 that Zekomin played a role in directing one of his executives who was a US citizen to send in the contributions, some of the largest made by any donor to a super PAC, even though federal law prohibits foreigners from participating in decision-making related to campaign donations, as well as from directly writing campaign checks. This $975,000 fine is the third largest in the history of the Federal Election Commission

and the largest ever imposed in a case associated with an illegal foreign contribution. All right, everybody, it's time for Sabatad. Alright, first up. This could throw a wrench into our fantasy indictment league picks. And this is from Marcy Wheeler's blog Empty Wheel. In a status hearing on March 21st, prosecutors in the Tom Barrack case responded to a question Barrack had posed the day earlier, whether they planned to supersede his indictment. And what the government said is, well, we reserve the right to do so, and it might happen in June.

Tom Barrick then complained about discovery holdups. They we and we need all the stuff. And in a response to that, filed April 5th, the government elaborated on an ongoing investigation into Barrick and quote several people identified as co-conspirators in the indictment, but not yet charged. And I'm quoting here from the filing. By early January 2022, that's just a few months ago, less than six months since indictment.

The government substantially completed the disclosure of discoverable material that was currently in its possession. The government has turned over additional material since that time, approximately 80,000 more files, but with the exception of fewer than 20 files, all of that material came into the government's possession after January 3rd, 2022. Marsy goes on to explain most of the people described as co-conspirators or Emirates that the government is probably not going to risk charging. But Trump officials are named

too. Some of the people described in the indictment, most notably Paul Manafort, who recently found himself unable to fly to Dubai because his passport had been revoked, did things on which a five-year statute of limitations has expired, though there's a barric-related action Manafort took in 2017 that's not yet time-bards, so put a pin in that. But that's not true of the actions of Steve Bannon described in the indictment. The indictment describes this meeting US person one had with MbZ, and that person is none other than Steve Bannon.

Bannon's not the only one referred to as not yet charged co-conspirator, but he's clearly one of them, Marcy says. And in other sabotage news, CNN reports the following. Federal prosecutors may soon reach a charging decision regarding Rudy Giuliani's foreign lobbying efforts involving Ukraine after he helped investigators unlock several electronic devices that were seized by the FBI, according to multiple sources familiar with the probe. Giuliani has also offered to appear in for a separate interview to prove he's got, quote,

nothing to hide. That's according to his lawyer speaking with CNN, and that renews a proposal that federal prosecutors have previously rebuffed. Investigators, as we know, seized 18 devices during the raid last April, and since then a court appointed special master known as Barbara Jones has been reviewing all of those materials to shield from prosecutors any materials that could be considered attorney-client privilege. The review has been long running in part because investigators haven't been able to unlock several of the phones. In recent weeks Giuliani met with prosecutors and during the meeting he assisted them in unlocking three devices that

investigators had been unable to open. That's according to people familiar with the investigation. It is unclear if Giuliani also answered questions during that meeting. And armed with all of that information, armed with all of that, I want to get to the fantasy indictment league, but I have to take a quick break. Stay with us. Hey everybody, it's AG. I've seen firsthand how stressful it can be to pay down debt, especially when you need to keep track of multiple monthly payment dates and

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confidence. On Credit Karma, comparing loan offers is 100% free. It does not affect your credit score to compare the offers and learn what you might be most able to get approved for. And this could save you money. Credit Karma, apply with more confidence today. Ready to apply? Head to CreditCarma.com slash loan offers to see personalized offers for you. Again, that's CreditCarma.com slash loan offers to find a loan. That's CreditCarma.com slash loan offers to find a loan. That's creditcarma.com slash loan offers. You'll be glad you did. Alright everybody, welcome back.

It's time for the fantasy indictment league. I'm gonna be a candidate! No, it is gonna be okay. I'm gonna be a candidate! I'm gonna be a candidate! A candidate! I'm gonna be a candidate! Hold it! It's gonna be okay.

Just calm down. I can't calm down. I'm gonna be a candidate! And if you had Randoians on your team last week, like I did, give yourself three points for three russians, one for each, indicted by the Southern District of New York this week. And indictment was unsealed against Russian Duma member, Boba Koff, and two of his staffers, Verobiaf and Plysyuk,

I believe it's pronounced. Now, this is a, what they call a speaking indictment, or what Joyce Vance calls a name and shame indictment, as these Russians will likely never be arrested or tried in the United States. We do not know when the indictment was filed under seal, but it was unsealed this past week. I personally think the indictment was filed recently,

even though the crimes in it occurred mostly or stopped occurring in 2017. And I think the indictment was filed under seal before the five year statute of limitations was set to expire. So the question then becomes what evidence did the government recently get that allowed them to indict? To me, and I could be totally wrong on this. And I want to let you know I'm exiting fact land and entering speculation land. The Southern District of New York recently got all of the evidence in the Rudy Giuliani raid after the special master, Barbara Jones, had reviewed it for attorney client privilege.

No reason I believe the Rudy evidence is somehow in play here is that this is the Southern District of New York, which is where Rudy is being investigated for acting as an unregistered foreign agent among other things. Also, the timing of the unceiling of this indictment, as we find out that the Southern District of New York will soon make a charging decision in Rudy's case. And, that the crimes outlined in this indictment have to do with lobbying on behalf of Russia to skirt sanctions for actions in Ukraine. The unindicted co-conspirator, uh, starring role in this indictment mentioned over and

over again is described as an American citizen with contacts in Congress and with other high-level US officials that is sympathetic to Russia and not a fan of Ukraine. This person is referred to in the indictment as CC1. I reached out to my federal prosecutor friends and CC stands for generally co-conspirator, co-conspirator one. The indictment has three counts. Count one is conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government

without registering with the attorney general. That's the conspiracy count. 18 US code 371 conspiracy to defraud the United States and 32 38. As we know, 371 is the conspiracy part. So this isn't yet a charge for failing to file as a foreign agent. Either the regular kind of fair of violation or the 951 kind known as espionage light, the same charge they hit Tom Barich with. The 3238, 18 US code 3238, as a fence is not committed in

any district, probably the stuff they did in Russia that the Russians did. And check this out. Here's a quote from Count 1. From at least 2012, and up to June 2017 in the Southern District of New York and Russia and other places, known and unknown. The three Russians and others known and unknown, at least one of whom is expected to be first brought to and arrested in the Southern District of New York, did conspire to commit an offense against the U.S., namely, acting as a foreign agent without first registering with the Attorney General in violation of 18 U.S. code 951. Unquote. So basically the charge against the Russians is the conspiracy 371 and that happened outside of the United States, 3238, and conspiracy for including CC1 for violating 951, S-B-18 U.S. code 951, S-B-N-Aj light, which is not charged in this indictment.

But it's named here, as is CC1 and someone who's going to be arrested and charged in the Southern District of New York. Hmm. So, the politically connected American citizen known as CC1 will be charged in the Southern District with 951. Quote, it was part and an object of the conspiracy that CC one who was a U.S. person and others known and unknown, knowingly would and did act in the United States as an agent of foreign government and foreign officials to wit the Russian

Federation and officials of that government without prior notification to the attorney general as required by law and a violation of Title eight 18 United States Code Section 951. So CC1 isn't charged in this indictment, but he will be. So what's the conspiracy? You ask. That's what the first 40 pages, with the 44th page indictment are about, and I encourage you to read it. But let me sum it up for you. In early 2012, that's 10 years ago, CC1 attempted to contact a US Congress person to set up a meeting for Boba Koff.

Okay, so this goes back to 2012. On January 11th, CC3, that's co-conspirator, unadided co-conspirator 3, which is a European friend of CC1. There's also a CC2, who is another European friend of CC1. CC3 sent an email to Bobbacoff's staffer, advising that CC3 and CC1 were working on behalf of Bobbacoff to facilitate meetings in the United States with advisors to a US official. Advisors to a US official. in January 11th, 2017. In February, a month later, the three Russians applied for visas. So, we're going to meet with these people, and they put CC1 down as a reference.

In March 2017, CC1 prepared a letter on behalf of Bobbacoff and sent it to another Congress member, Congress member 2, seeking a meeting for Bavikov with that congress member. In April of 2017, CC1 emailed that congressperson inviting them to attend a conference in Crimea supporting a Russian backed prime minister. They were gonna install there and to ask if they'd pay all the travel expenses, the Russians, pay all the travel expenses

for the congressperson and another business person, by the way, who is gonna be a Congress person and another business person, by the way, who is going to be a keynote speaker, a US business person. So what were they trying to do here? Well, according to the indictment, they wanted to get this US official, the US official as advisors, the Congress member and CC one to go on the record denouncing US involvement in Ukraine and to launch a pressure campaign against European countries that denounced Russia's

annexation of Crimea, and also they wanted to overcome sanctions imposed on Russia by the US for the annexation of Crimea. And I'll go into the other two counts here in a minute, but one of those counts is scurrying the sanctions. The other one is visa fraud. So do we know anyone working with Russian back separatists in Ukraine to support the annexation? Anyone that was working counter to the US policy supporting Ukraine? Someone may be being investigated for failing to register as a foreign agent by the Southern District of New York that might or might not have recently been, you know, in a bunch of evidence on anyone. Can you think of anyone? I can.

Oh, and let's look at the rest of these charges here. If we go down to all the way to the end and I'm scrolling, you're scrolling here with me. Boop, boop, count two. Is the visa fraud count, and I'll get to it here, and I'll just tell you why they are being charged with VISA fraud. The allegations contained in paragraphs one through 59 are incorporated as though fully set forth here in, from at least in or about January 2017 up to and including at least in or about June 2017 in the Southern and including at least in or about June 2017

in the Southern District of New York, Russia and elsewhere outside of the jurisdiction of any particular state or district of the United States. So in New York, Russia and pretty much anywhere else, Bob Akov and his two staffers, the defendants, and others known and unknown, at least one of whom is expected to be first brought to and arrested in the Southern District of New York. Knowingly, combined conspired, confederated, and agreed to gather in with each other to commit an offense against the United States to wit Visa Fraud in violation of Title 18 US Code 1546A. It was part and an object to the conspiracy that these three Russians and others, known and unknown, knowingly, made under oath and under penalty of perjury under Title 28, United States Code

Section 1746, knowingly subscribed as true false statements with respect to material facts and applications that their visa applications. They lied on their visa applications. This is the fancy way of saying that. And they failed to contain any reasonable basis in law, in fact, and would obtain, receive, and possess a visa or other document prescribed by statute, et cetera, et cetera, knowing it to have been procured by means of false claims or statements, or to have been otherwise procured by fraud or unlawfully obtained to wit the three Russians in a scheme to fraudulently obtain visas permitting

them to travel to the United States to meet with US officials and advisors in further answer their foreign influence scheme by submitting applications containing false statements designed to conceal that they were traveling together and the purpose of their trip. And in furtherance, the defendants and their co-conspirators committed the following over at acts on February 7th, 2017, the three Russians each applied for visas to under the United States and each falsely stated on his application he was traveling alone. On February 8th, 2017. The three Russians each applied for visas to enter the United States, and each falsely

stated on his application he was traveling alone. On February 8th, the next day, 2017, Bobbacov falsely claimed to a US consular official that he was traveling to New York City for a vacation by himself. On February 8th, 2017, Vorobyev falsely claimed that he was traveling to visit friends in New York and DC by himself. And on February 8th, the other guy, Plysyuk, falsely claimed to the consular official that the purpose of his travel was to continue to vacation and visit friends. Now, count three is the sanctions part, conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic

Powers Act. And from at least in or about January 2017 up to June 2017 in the Southern District, Russia and elsewhere, the three defendants and others known and unknown, at least one of whom is expected to be first brought and arrested in the Southern District of New York, knowingly and willfully did combine, conspire, etc. and to violate prohibitions in and issued under the International Emergency's Economic Powers Act, i.e. EPA, codified Title 50 United States Code 1701-2708. It was part and object to the conspiracy the defendants and others, no, no, no, no, would and did provide and cause others, including U.S. persons to provide funds, goods, and services by two and for the benefit of Sarage ask you know, especially designated national without first obtaining the required approval of OFAC in violation of the executive orders. So

when they were going to go do that Crimea conference for the Prime Minister, the Russian back Prime Minister that they were in Crimea, that's Axionov, that's this guy, and he's on the OFAC sanctions list. So they're scurding sanctions. That's where all this comes from. And the defendants and others unknown, Wooden did receive cause, including US persons, and specially designated national, without first obtaining a required approval of OFAC in violation of other executive orders, and CFR 589.201. And they did engage in transactions, including with Persons, blah, blah, blah.

The requirements of US law, with respect to provision funds and goods and services, for the benefit of, and the receipt of funds, goods, and services from Axe Huneoff, especially designated national and violation of other executive orders, three other ones. So that's Title 50, codes, 1705, and then they list all the codes. Then they talk about forfeiture allegations, et cetera. So I can't think of who it could possibly be, but this week I'm drafting Rudy Giuliani again, because he's set to be charged fairly soon, along with tones again and Genova, Demetri Fertash. I'm going to say maybe

one of the CC2 or CC3 guys is Demetri Fertash or maybe Shoken could be Superseating Tom Barich charges. Those are due by June, but I'll just I'll draft them now, I don't care. Of course, Matt Gaetz and LAK and Jacob Engels will stay on my team. More Rando Russians and I'll close it out with Sydney Powell. All right, also don't forget those superseding indictments for the Proud Boys and Riccaterio and his gang are probably coming pretty soon. Supposed to be before June, May or June. So we'll see what happens with that. So that could be your alternate bench.

Also out today, new episode of the MSW Book Club. I'm going over Wajahal Ali's go back to where you came from and other helpful recommendations on how to become an American, incredible book. I highly recommend you pick it up. And I'll be back tomorrow morning with Dana Goldberg for the Daily Beans. Until then, please take care of yourselves, take care of each other, take care of the planet, take care of your mental health, and vote blue over cute. I've been AG, and this is Mollershi Road. [♪ Music playing in MSW Media, a group of creator-owned podcasts focused on news, justice, and politics.

For more information, visit MSW Media dot com. Season 4 of How We Win Is Here For the past four years we've been making history in critical elections all over the country. And last year we made history again by expanding our majority in the Senate, eating election denying Republicans and crucial state house races, and fighting back a non-existent red wave. But the Magga Republicans who plotted and pardoned the attempted overthrow of our government now control the house thanks to gerrymandered maps and repressive anti-voter laws. And the chaotic spectacle we've already seen shows us just how far they will go to seize power, dismantle our

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with messaging and communications expert co-founder of Way to Win and our new co-host, Jennifer Fernandez and Kona. So join Steve and I every Wednesday for your weekly dose of inspiration, action and hope. I'm Steve Pearson. And I'm Jennifer Fernandez and Kona. And this is how we win. And this is how we win. M-S-W Media.