Where did Smirnov get 6 million dollars?

[BootinUp]

In court documents filed Tuesday, prosecutors also alleged that Mr Smirnov told authorities he had only $1,500 in cash and $5,000 in a bank account, when in reality he had access to about $6m in "liquid funds".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68353303

Inquiring minds would like to know.

[Turbineguy]

1. From the GOP?

[BootinUp]

2. I saw someone on mastodon

Suggest that Smirnov could also be lying now about Russian contacts. Someone needs to follow the money.

[grumpyduck]

3. Wasn't that the money that was supposed

to go to Joe or Hunter?

[doc03]

4. Let me guess it wasn't from selling vodka nt

[elleng]

10. THANKS for the giggle, doc03,

been 'stuck' on THIS grifter's relationship to such ever since his name became ''public!'

[brush]

5. Why with so many unanswered questions about this guy and his activities...

why is the judge releasing this slimy guy? Must be a judge after Garland's heart...so wanting to please republicans.

[tinrobot]

6. Lies that Biden got a $5 million payoff, when he got $6 million

It's always projection... always.

[republianmushroom]

7. Putin

[rubbersole]

22. Or if he's driving a new RV and his mom's house is paid for...

[pecosbob]

8. Perp has admitted to long ties with Russian intelligence.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

[BootinUp]

9. I agree that is the likely scenario. Nt

[wiggs]

17. That's why he had value to the FBI, supposedly. Because he had inside connections. Question is

what did FBI know about his 'other' clients?

I find it incomprehensible that the FBI wouldn't have know all about Smirnov and his other clients. Being suspicious of informants has to be fundamental in that biz. And Lev Parnas says he warned the FBI about Smirnov in 2019.

Why did the FBI continue giving him a long leash and let his Biden claims hang around for months? Were they watching him and his contacts? Should have been...

And who will crop up as his contacts? Wondering if he had any contact with Barr and Giuliani (and Meadows?) during their European dirt-finding expedition?

[moniss]

21. We know there are some

in the FBI who are not exactly on the up and up. Like in the NY office back in 2015/2016.

[PTL_Mancuso]

24. I think there are TWO, yes TWO, TWO FBI's in one! Like Certs!

It's a law enforcing mint and it's a lawlessness mint!

Far far far too many trumpistas and far-right dominionists running around there unchecked, I'll wager.

[louis-t]

11. Why do you think the RNC is broke?

Between TSF legal bills and paying off Russian spies, there is no money for anything else.

[PufPuf23]

12. Smirnov is a dual Israeli-American citizen.

From the BBC article in OP:

Alexander Smirnov: FBI source accused of Biden lies 'linked to Russian intelligence'
17 hours ago; By Mike Wendling; BBC News

An ex-FBI informant accused of lying about President Joe Biden and his son Hunter has high-level ties with Russian intelligence, US prosecutors say.

cut

He was charged last week with giving false statements to the FBI.

Mr Smirnov's claims were part of an ongoing effort by Republicans to impeach President Biden.

He was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Thursday after returning from an overseas flight, the justice department said.

Prosecutors had asked for Mr Smirnov, a dual US-Israeli citizen, to be held without bail, arguing that he has no ties to Las Vegas, but does have contacts with Russian intelligence agencies.

cut

He was charged by Special Counsel David Weiss - who has overseen the investigation of Hunter Biden - with providing "false derogatory information" to the FBI about the president and his son in June 2020. Prosecutors allege that Mr Smirnov was motivated by his dislike of the president.

cut

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68353303

[70sEraVet]

14. ".... motivated by his dislike for the President"?

Sounds more like, 'motivated by his love for money'!

[ashredux]

13. Where did he get the money?......hmmm... selling vodka?

The rot in the GOP will bring it down…..

[Diraven]

15. In Soviet Russia

Propaganda funds you!

[Warpy]

16. His family in Russia is "connected."

That means they're likely as rich as Croesus.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

20. Well yeah "Smirinov Vodka" anyone?

[LiberalFighter]

18. Gym Jordan gave it to him?

[moniss]

19. Maybe same place the

NRA gets some of it's money.

[paleotn]

23. Rubles or green backs?

[KY_EnviroGuy]

25. The elephant in the room for me is this question....

How many more just like him are closeted away within the GOP, right-wing media, right-wing think tanks and various arms of our Government?

This exposure in this case will likely drive many of them even deeper into their closet.

KY.........

[Irish_Dem]

26. Putin puppets have been installed across the US government and media.

[tulipsandroses]

27. Wasn't he a paid informant? Paid by US

Paid informants can be useful but I get concerned about people lying for profit.

[BootinUp]

28. Yes. But not this much.

[tulipsandroses]

31. Depending on the information and value, some informants are very well paid

There was a report a few years ago about the FBI and other agencies paying out over 500 million dollars in recent years.

I don’t know how much this guy was paid, but it probably was quite a bit. Doesn’t mean that he didn’t get money from ill gotten gains.

[BootinUp]

32. I think I heard or saw 100k/year but

Don’t hold me to it.

[spooky3]

29. From his comedy act

[gab13by13]

30. Nice long thread

and no one asking for DOJ to investigate the Investigation, hmm.

Smirnov has been working with the FBI since 2010.

Also no mention of an investigation of Comey, Grassley, and Jordan. No way to know if they were complicit without an investigation.

Most people with common sense knew that the Hunter Biden/Joe Biden investigation was bogus. Since this DOJ has given House Magats immunity they may as well continue on with their impeachment BS.

What made me sick was seeing a photo of Scott Perry pushing the bogus Hunter/Joe fraud investigation. The FBI must have seized Perry's phone before getting permission from Garland?