Mitch McConnell's nefarious links to Putin, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and Russian companies

[ffr]

These are Mitch McConnell’s nefarious links to Putin, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and Russian companies


There always seems to be more to the story when it comes to Trump and Russia, and this time it involves Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.

Earlier today, we heard that the U.S. lifted some Russian sanctions. The official announcement came on Sunday by Trump appointed U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who was Trump’s former presidential campaign finance chairman. Mnuchin lifted sanctions on three Russian companies tied to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who is a close ally of Vladimir Putin. Deripaska was also a business partner with Paul Manafort, who was Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign chairman. Manafort was convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion tied to Russia and also pleaded guilty to conspiracy.

Monday evening brought a new twist in that one of Mitch McConnell’s major donors, Len Blavatnik, who is tied to Vladimir Putin and all kinds of Russian oligarchs, benefited when Trump and McConnell lifted Russian sanctions on Sunday.

And earlier Dallas News piece titled, “How Putin oligarchs funneled millions into GOP campaigns.” is one of the best pieces you’ll read on the subject. Here are a couple of excerpts.

Blavatnik contributed a total of $3.5 million to a PAC associated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Blavatnik contributed $1.5 million to the GOP Senate Leadership Fund PAC in the name of Access Industries and another $1 million in the name of AI-Altep Holdings during the 2015/2016 election season. And as of September 2017, he had contributed another $1 million this year through AI–Altep.

Blavatnik, whose family emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1970s, is a longtime business associate of Russian oligarchs Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, both of whom have ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Along with McConnell, Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham received hefty sums from Blavatnik as well.

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One thing we do know is—Trump lives to benefit Trump. McConnell? He was doing that before Trump came into the arena. McConnell just did it in a more reserved, evil and insidious manner. - AlterNet

[Botany]

1. "Lindsey Graham received hefty sums"

This piece explains a lot such as Lindsey's boot licking of Trump.

Every senator who voted to lift the sanctions should be seen as a traitor.

[ffr]

2. +1

You have to know they think as long as they're all in on it, they are invincible.

[Botany]

3. All that NRA money that they got was from Russia ...

... end of story.

[MFGsunny]

4. Read 'em and weep .....

... here's hoping truth, justice and the (TRUE) American way will blossom into their karma!

[poli-junkie]

5. Rachel needs to report on this!