Today's Raid On Deripaska is a Big F'n Deal

[ancianita]

FBI ... raided the Washington home of the billionaire Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, as part of what media reports described as a “court-authorised search”... They sealed off the driveway with yellow tape. It said: “Crime scene – do not enter.”...


In June, a judge at a district court in Washington rejected a lawsuit he had filed against the US treasury department, which sanctioned him in 2018.

Deripaska has made no secret of his support for the president, Vladimir Putin, and has declared he has no interest separate from those of the Russian state. He has also travelled on a Russian diplomatic passport, including during visits to the US.

The treasury department imposed sanctions in response to Russia’s sweeping campaign in 2016 to meddle in the US election, and to various cyber-attacks. It said Deripaska had acted “on behalf of … a senior Russian government official” – code for Putin – and had claimed to represent the Kremlin in other countries.

The treasury said then: “Deripaska has been investigated for money laundering, and has been accused of threatening the lives of business rivals, illegally wiretapping a government official, and taking part in extortion and racketeering.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/19/oleg-deripaska-fbi-raid-washington-dc-russian-billionaire

This just made my day!

[getagrip_already]

1. if he has a diplomatic passport.....

doesn't that mean he can't be charged? Sure, he could be expelled, but charged?

[themaguffin]

2. He has immunity, if we gave it to him. I'm guessing not.

[IronLionZion]

24. Russia classified him as a diplomat to get immunity

when everyone knows he is no diplomat.

[pnwmom]

41. The home belongs to relatives of his, and they probably don't have immunity.

"A representative for Deripaska said the home – and a separate address – belonged to relatives of the oligarch."

[ancianita]

3. Oh, crap. I forgot about that. What a downer.

[Scrivener7]

5. But he is a lynchpin in the money laundering, and he's Vlad's best buddy. There might

be very important information in there. This is the FIRST indication of an investigation into those who tried to bring down our country.

Unless it has to do with the sweet steel manufacturing deal he did with Mitch that was supposed to make so many jobs in Kentucky, but turned out not to. (Shock!) And instead gave Vlad a lock on a big percentage of US steel manufacturing.

Because what could go wrong with that?

[ancianita]

8. Very true! I'd love to think he hasn't destroyed evidence of his corruptions and will be key

to dragnetting those in the party who are accomplices after the fact. Thanks for the reminder.

[Scrivener7]

10. He has an incredible number of dirty tentacles. Though I can't imagine he would

leave stuff lying around in his USA house.

I'm hoping they bugged him and know there is something there.

[ancianita]

11. Right.

Or bugged him and you-know-who in Kentucky.

[Scrivener7]

12. I'm still appalled that steel deal was allowed to happen.

[ancianita]

13. All kinds of global deals get cut -- Miami real estate sales (Trump laundering) aluminum sales, etc.

This laundering business started decades ago, and is only shocking to those who still believe politics is all about lawyering and rule of law. Lawyers have been enablers of corporations since before we were born.

[pnwmom]

47. Curiously, it isn't his house.

It's his relatives house. Maybe they were involved in something, too -- or maybe he was just keeping things there.

"A representative for Deripaska said the home – and a separate address – belonged to relatives of the oligarch."

[rso]

19. Deripaska

The fact that he has a dip passport is not determinative of immunity. If he is not on the State Department’s official list of accredited foreign diplomats, he has no immunity. Besides, the FBI would not have raided his House if he had immunity.

[pnwmom]

39. The house belongs to his relatives, not him. His relatives probably don't have immunity.

The article's title was misleading. This is what it says in the article:

A representative for Deripaska said the home – and a separate address – belonged to relatives of the oligarch.

[rso]

49. Deripaska

Even if the House belonged to his relatives, if he had actual, State-Dept. accredited immunity, nothing seized could be used to prosecute him. But it’s a moot issue, as he has no immunity in any event.

[pnwmom]

55. How do you know his relatives aren't in cahoots with him? n/t

[rso]

60. Deripaska

On the contrary, it would be very unusual if his relatives were not in cahoots with him.

[Scrivener7]

63. Interesting!

[lagomorph777]

28. Maybe, but maybe he's not the ultimate target of the probe.

Perhaps one or more of his American comrades are the targets. The FBI might find all kinds of goodies there.

[rso]

50. Deripaska

That is a distinct possibility.

[berni_mccoy]

30. If he has immunity, and that is unknown, they may not be after him

But information he has on premise in relation to someone in the US.

[rso]

51. Deripaska

Fortunately, he has no immunity.

[Miguelito Loveless]

4. It will be a BFD the day I see Trump

and his minions in handcuffs. Until then it is "sound and fury, signifying nothing."

[Beachnutt]

6. Surely there is a trump connection or

a republican connection at least...
trump and the rethugs screwed over many high ups in government and the FBI so hopefully the chickens are coming home to roost.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

26. Events like this may be why Mueller report has not been unredacted more fully

Derepaska and Manafort are connected.

Derepaska and Moscow Mitch are connected. Derepaska's phantom metals plant was used to get McCONnell elected.

Derepaska and tRump are connected by aircraft. See downthread where his plane was in the vicinity, I say 5 times.

[empedocles]

72. TY

[triron]

7. Wasn't Deripaska tied to Manafort?

[ancianita]

9. Yes, but I think it Manafort just brung him to the dance, so to speak. It's his ties to

McConnell, Trump and Republican accessories after the fact that I'm hoping get caught.

What disappoints me most is that the U.S gave him a diplomatic immunity status, under which president, I don't know. But seriously, how f'n stupid was that.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

32. I think there may be connections in the unredacted parts of the Mueller report

I think they may be in part the foundations or subject matter of investigations ongoing. Like, waddyathink, this one? If not this one, then maybe others.

Low Barr would have wanted to redact them to protect tRump.

Garland may be keeping them redacted while investigations play out. Some of those investigations may not have begun until after Garland took over.

[ancianita]

34. This is deep. I do so hope you're right. I think a case can be built about the network of contacts,

names redacted, that can add racketeering charges to any 2016 election charges Trump and his crime family might face.

You're right about how strategic Garland is; I'm liking this busy AG more and more.

[wnylib]

70. How refreshing to read a post that

praises Garland instead of trashing him for not having convicted Trump and his allies yet.

[ancianita]

46. I forgot so much. Here's more. I hope they're after evidence that corroborates tapes.

On 15 May 2017, Deripaska filed a defamation and libel lawsuit against the Associated Press in U.S. District Court in D.C., arguing that[122] the report falsely claimed that Deripaska had signed a contract with Manafort to advance the goals of the Russian government.[123] The lawsuit was dismissed in October 2017 on the grounds that Deripaska had not disputed "any material facts" in the story by the Associated Press.[124]

During the 2016 Presidential campaign, it is alleged that Manafort, via Kyiv-based operative Konstantin Kilimnik, offered to provide briefings on political developments to Deripaska [125][126]

Refreshing my memory, this link also links to timelines galore around the 2016 election.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleg_Deripaska

[triron]

66. Thank you forthis.

[empedocles]

73. Fine series of comments here

[mopinko]

14. wasnt it derapaska whose private plane kept showing up near cheato's rallies?

i remember there was a twitter account where the plane spotters would report his appearances.
i can remember at least a couple of separate instances of him showing up on the day of a rally.

[intrepidity]

16. I recall that as well nt

[Champp]

17. Yup, the intimate Republican BigBucks Komrade gets around

[ancianita]

21. Right! Thanks. I remember how we were all hoping the connections would be made. And now

maybe they are.

[triron]

37. Seems like Rachel used to talk about this back in 2016.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

38. Deripaska's plane: Aug 2016 meeting btwn Manafort & Russian ex mil intell officer (2018 report)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215963637

https://www.businessinsider.com/oleg-deripaska-jet-arrived-in-us-after-manafort-kilimnik-meeting-2018-3

A Putin ally's jet arrived in the US within hours of a meeting between Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and a Russian operative

According to the report, the jet linked to Deripaska landed in New Jersey in August 2016, within hours of the meeting between then-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the former Russian military intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik. Weeks earlier, Manafort had emailed Kilimnik offering to give Deripaska "private briefings" about the campaign.

Though there was no evidence at the time that Deripaska received Manafort's request or that the briefings took place, investigators believed Manafort's offer created an opening that Russia could exploit to gain a foothold in the US election.

[Flo Mingo]

15. Don't forget Moscow Mitch's connection to Deripaska

[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-a-mcconnell-backed-effort-to-lift-russian-sanctions-boosted-a-kentucky-project/2019/08/13/72b26e00-b97c-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html|

[Champp]

18. Heck no - Republicans love them some Russian money

[Flo Mingo]

27. Lordy, I hope there are tapes. n/t

[ancianita]

33. So true. MM has been as much about lifting those sanctions as about appointing RW federal judges.

Thanks for the link!

[lindysalsagal]

20. Seems to me that immunity should end when you're involved with international crimes

Otherwise, there would be murders on a daily basis around the world because they'd be "immune."

[mopinko]

23. it's hard, but it's possible.

that english woman who hit the kid on the motorcycle didnt get treated like you or i, but eventually there were consequences.

[ancianita]

25. Couldn't agree more. But the State Dept in 2019 said waivers are rare. In this case, though,

the FBI has probable cause to investigate and he might lose his diplomatic (as in spy) status.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_immunity

[Maru Kitteh]

22. I feel like we should pitch in and buy Rachel a bottle of Dom or something.

Pretty sure she's doing a happy dance today.

Plus, of course, whatever Susan would like as well. I'm willing to bet she's heard the words "Oleg Deripaska" like a few, dozen, hundred, thousand times over the last 5-6 years or so.

[ancianita]

31. I got $5 to pitch in.

Can't wait to see what all she presents tonight!

But I've been pushing anti-Deripaska info on FB every single time Mitch McConnell or the word oligarch have been mentioned, along with all the RUSAL dirt I can dig up, and how the folks in Kentucky will be glad to see this criminal gone.

[Tommymac]

29. I don't think Moscow Mitch is grinning today.

[czarjak]

35. "Russia, if you're listening"

[seta1950]

36. Why oh why

Is this guy allowed to purchase property in the US

[ancianita]

42. So they could get him, if need be, under the constitution's commerce clause.

Sounds weird, but he's a business man and global businesses buy property here.

[ancianita]

43. Also, because corporations can buy property...

Deripaska has owned the Haft mansion near Embassy Row in Washington, D.C., through a company incorporated in Delaware since 2006.[152]

[FakeNoose]

44. He shouldn't have been allowed, under the Magnitsky Act

... but the Chump administration made a point of ignoring sanctions against Russians.

Thank goodness Biden has no qualms about bringing these guys down. Hooray for the good guys!

[gab13by13]

40. Wouldn't it be peachy,

if rubles were funneled to the RNC or even to the NRA for distribution to GQP traitors.

[ancianita]

48. Let's hope! Tracing laundering is what the FBI does.

[msfiddlestix]

45. If they did this a couple of years ago, while he lived there, while there might have been "treasure"

in intelligence terms, I'd be jumping up and down with joy.

Otherwise, all this amounts to, is a dog and pony show or some might liken to a "keystone cops" scene from Laurel and Hardy.

The one plus to this, IF the Feds are able to, is confiscate the property via some sort of RICO forfeiture thingy. Not at all sure, if that's still a thing.

Apart from un occupied house, what was the point? Does anyone here believe Deripaska left behind intelligence or other treasure?

[ancianita]

53. That could be as you say. I like to think that

the FBI could also be highly strategic in keeping docs that it could already have obtained years ago in connection with treasury sanctions.

I prefer to think that, even it looks to be a publicity stunt, as you say, they could also be conducting another pass through to find more communications devices either because someone's tipped them, or because he's become more complacent.

[msfiddlestix]

65. I'm on Pacific Time, I'm guessing reports of treasure finds

in the search, if any, would be reported out at this point? I'm not plugged into live cable news.

Maybe an update on whatever was found/seized as evidence and the inevitable "why now?" question responded to, might be informative.

[ancianita]

68. Right.

Well, this is breaking, right? It's probably fluid, and so when Rachel comes on around 7 pm PST, you might find out more.

We'll all find out for sure; we always do sooner or later -- more often later than sooner, I know.

[Botany]

54. This fella with Putin? And isn't he connected to Manafort too?

I bet ya Donny is shittin' kittens. Joe knows that TFG is tied in with Russia and Putin and that
Russia put TFG into the White House in 2016.


They sealed off the driveway with yellow tape. It said: “Crime scene – do not enter.”.

[ancianita]

56. To the issue of whether the FBI is fully functioning, I'd say

Last edited Tue Oct 19, 2021, 04:10 PM - Edit history (1)

it depends on who it's functioning for.
The FBI functions, in its own mind, just fine in making BLM look potentially dangerous and criminal when National Guard and full military armory met them in DC. In its own mind it functioned just fine when it gave lukewarm warnings but little else, as no armed security met white insurrectionists at the Stop the Steal attack on the Capitol.

It could be that with this raid, Wray's got to shine up his tarnished rep; I doubt there's been enough 'cause,' 'yet, for him to worry about losing his job.

Far as I'm concerned Biden and Garland should drive Wray to get more info to help the Jan 6 people, conduct more raids, get more evidence to the Jan 6 people and the DOJ, then dump him because of his soft approach (brought to light by collected documents, thus, 'cause') to Jan 6 DC security. I'm so sick of earnest enablers like Powell and Wray.

[NQAS]

57. I hate to be a downer

But it will only be a big fucking deal if something happens as a result.

Yeah, yeah, they wouldn't have gone for the warrant if they didn't think they could get the info they needed -against him or against TFG - but until something happens it's just a further development, not a big fucking deal.

Granted, it's easier to be a downer than an optimist, but I'd like to think I'm more of a realist. And, of course, none of us knows what's going on behind the scenes.

[ancianita]

61. I hear ya. I can relate.

[liberalla]

58. This seems like a big deal, and I like it!

[Snackshack]

59. So the is interesting

To get a search warrant LE has to have specific knowledge with a high degree of confidence that what they want is in a place to be searched if I understand correctly. They can’t just go to a judge and say we want to go in here and look around and see if & what we may find so give us a search warrant. However that would mean that Deripaska has left potential criminal evidence in a house he owns that is thousands of miles away and he has no quick access to? Certainly he has contacts here that could remove items but still that would leave an electronic trail a mile long. He does not seem like one who would be so careless.

[ancianita]

64. All excellent points.

I was beginning to doubt the significance of this event, but given that you're likely right about his not being careless, I'm hoping Rachel will give us some clue about what that "something" is.

[marble falls]

62. He has no immunity from certain crimes. I really think the FBI understands what his rights are.

[FelineOverlord]

67. Considering that they apparently raided BOTH his (relatives') DC and NY homes

It does look big.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[ancianita]

69. Great! Thanks for the update. Holy crap, media weren't even covering this.

[empedocles]

71. Was on the evening news. Probably nbc, possibly overheard one of the others.

[empedocles]

74. Great thread ancianita. TY

[empedocles]

75. 'The Process' keeps grinding away

[ancianita]

76. Yep. And Rachel ended up having nothing. I was shocked that her team couldn't get a leak.