Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Jarqui

(10,122 posts)
Wed Feb 15, 2023, 02:18 PM Feb 2023

Lev Parnas: How My Work For Trump and Giuliani Sought to Make Ukraine Defenseless

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Yonnie3 (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Time

... I was used by Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in ways that helped pave the way for Putin to invade Ukraine, my native land. If Trump and Giuliani’s plans had worked, the Ukrainians might not have had the necessary weapons, medical equipment, and other supplies they needed to fight back.
...
My connection to Trump came through Giuliani, with whom I had done business, and through the large campaign donations I had made to Trump’s campaign. Giuliani, who desperately wanted to be Secretary of State, recruited me to help him further Trump’s interests overseas. I had no official position, but my primary task was to be their go-between with Ukrainian and Russian oligarchs and government officials. In retrospect, I concluded that my real job was to help undermine and destabilize the Ukrainian government.
...
Trump and Giuliani argued that Ukraine’s leaders were corrupt and anti-American, but I believe there were other reasons Trump had it in for them. He viewed them as political enemies who had supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, hurting his feelings and engaging his unquenchable thirst for revenge. Trump also hated the Ukrainian government because Putin did. Some have said that Putin has compromising information on Trump, regarding money laundering or prostitutes, but those theories are promoted by people who did not know Trump well. I never saw evidence of that kind. Rather, I think the Russian leader had a lot in common with Trump’s father, Fred. Both men were authoritarian leaders who valued ruthlessness and considered it the only way to succeed. I first met Fred when I was selling condos in Brooklyn as a kid and he and Putin struck me the same way. Both men had immense effects on Donald Trump.
...
Trump acted on his hatred of Ukraine as he tried to improve his re-election chances in 2020. The plan that Giuliani and Trump put into operation was simple. Giuliani sent me to collect compromising information that the Eastern European oligarchs had on Hunter Biden’s activities in Ukraine to use against Joe Biden. It was also my job to convince the new Ukrainian government to announce an official investigation into Hunter Biden. If they didn’t, the U.S. would not send Trump or Vice President Mike Pence to Zelensky’s inauguration, threatening Zelensky’s domestic stature and his ability to stand up to Putin. Trump also paused much needed military aid for Ukraine while he tried to get Zelensky to open the Biden investigation.



Read more: https://time.com/6255090/lev-parnas-giuliani-trump-ukraine/



He goes on to complain the Republicans denying military support for Ukraine are helping Putin.

A bunch here did not surprise. It confirms what many thought.

I guess Gym Jordan won't want to hear from Lev Parnas in his Hunter Biden hearings ...

Presented for those who might be interested ...
5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Lev Parnas: How My Work For Trump and Giuliani Sought to Make Ukraine Defenseless (Original Post) Jarqui Feb 2023 OP
Too bad the SOL ran out on Trump's obstruction of the Russia election interference investigation NullTuples Feb 2023 #1
Sometimes active inaction is actually just action. jaxexpat Feb 2023 #3
+1. You nailed it. Beastly Boy Feb 2023 #4
Putin is Russia and Republicans love Russia and mass murderer Putin. ffr Feb 2023 #2
Locking ... Yonnie3 Feb 2023 #5

NullTuples

(6,017 posts)
1. Too bad the SOL ran out on Trump's obstruction of the Russia election interference investigation
Wed Feb 15, 2023, 02:22 PM
Feb 2023

Would've been easier to put all these pieced together and show he was actively colluding with an enemy of the United States.

(SOL = Statutes of Limitations. They've all run out for his 2017 crimes due to DoJ inaction)

jaxexpat

(6,804 posts)
3. Sometimes active inaction is actually just action.
Wed Feb 15, 2023, 02:40 PM
Feb 2023

Plausible deniability is considered innocence, too.

Beastly Boy

(9,237 posts)
4. +1. You nailed it.
Wed Feb 15, 2023, 02:50 PM
Feb 2023

ffr

(22,665 posts)
2. Putin is Russia and Republicans love Russia and mass murderer Putin.
Wed Feb 15, 2023, 02:31 PM
Feb 2023

Says all you need to know about our two party system. If you voted for a republican, you condone mass murderers and the destabilization of democracies around the world. They're all under attack by Putin, you fucking GOP voting nitwits!

Yonnie3

(17,422 posts)
5. Locking ...
Wed Feb 15, 2023, 03:07 PM
Feb 2023

Story is dated February 13, 2023 2:36 PM EST well beyond the 12 hour limit for Latest Breaking News. Please consider re-posting in the Editorials and other Articles or General Discussion Forum.

Statement of Purpose

Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Lev Parnas: How My Work F...