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hedda_foil

(16,895 posts)
47. More dirt from the update include Mnuchin.
Sat Jan 12, 2019, 12:56 AM
Jan 2019

In total, Blavatnik, Intrater, Shustorovich and Kukes made $10.4 million in political contributions from the start of the 2015-16 election cycle through September 2017, and 99 percent of their contributions went to Republicans. With the exception of Shustorovich, the common denominator that connects the men is their association with Vekselberg. Experts who follow the activities of Russian oligarchs told ABC News that they believe the contributions from Blavatnik, Intrater and Kukes warrant intense scrutiny because they have worked closely with Vekselberg.

Even if the donations by the four men associated with Russia ultimately pass muster with Mueller, one still has to wonder: Why did GOP PACs and other Trump-controlled funds take their money? Why didn't the PACs say, "Thanks, but no thanks," like the Republicans said to Shustorovich in 2000? Yes, it was legal to accept their donations, but it was incredibly poor judgment.

McConnell surely knew as a participant in high level intelligence briefings in 2016 that our electoral process was under attack by the Russians. Two weeks after the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement in October 2016 that the Russian government had directed the effort to interfere in our electoral process, McConnell's PAC accepted a $1 million donation from Blavatnik's AI-Altep Holdings. The PAC took another $1 million from Blavatnik's AI-Altep Holdings on March 30, 2017, just 10 days after former FBI Director James Comey publicly testified before the House Intelligence Committee about Russia's interference in the election.

And consider Steve Mnuchin, Trump's campaign finance chairman. Could he have known that the Trump Victory Fund, jointly managed by the Republican National Committe and Trump's campaign, took contributions from Intrater and Kukes? Mnuchin owned Hollywood financing company RatPac-Dune with Blavatnik until he sold his stake to accept Trump's appointment as the Treasury secretary.

Which PAC officials are making the decisions to accept these donations?

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0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Just wanted you to know. Knowledge is POWER. calimary Jan 2019 #1
Kick dalton99a Jan 2019 #2
Wondering what it will take to remove these aholes from power? BSdetect Jan 2019 #3
republicans sold out America to the Evil Empire* Achilleaze Jan 2019 #4
Not just politicians!! Traildogbob Jan 2019 #40
Wow. Great OP. Crutchez_CuiBono Jan 2019 #5
I have seen reports that he's received 2.5 million, and not 3.5 million. calimary Jan 2019 #11
That's a lot of cabbage. Crutchez_CuiBono Jan 2019 #15
They sell their souls for so little. Lucca2 Jan 2019 #6
Welcome to DU, Lucca2! calimary Jan 2019 #9
The Neocomrades Blue Owl Jan 2019 #7
And to every last miserable one of 'em in the next campaign, the question should be asked: calimary Jan 2019 #23
why is this legal? 1democracy Jan 2019 #8
The money came from a US citizen. Lonestarblue Jan 2019 #38
GREED kag Jan 2019 #53
They all took the rubles. Cracklin Charlie Jan 2019 #10
This should be blaring from every media outlet NastyRiffraff Jan 2019 #12
Way to go Calimary. Good find. shraby Jan 2019 #13
I wish the MSM would start to focus on this LiberalLovinLug Jan 2019 #14
The M$M is not our friend. watoos Jan 2019 #25
K&R. n/t ms liberty Jan 2019 #16
Great post and a must read! BlueJac Jan 2019 #17
I posted this because I think it's GRAVELY important to make sure we take the White House calimary Jan 2019 #18
Here's my column focusing on the Turtle. WhiteTara Jan 2019 #19
For two years I've said McConnell et. al. are up to their necks in russian money. Pobeka Jan 2019 #20
And the Chou shipping line that got caught hauling drugs. watoos Jan 2019 #27
Fentanyl from China via the McTurtles. Other opioids from Sackler/Perdue. Tainted $s from Russia. erronis Jan 2019 #31
Any Supreme Court Justices? (Citizens United) LiberalFighter Jan 2019 #21
I don't believe this republican cult cares.They want dominance at any cost. onit2day Jan 2019 #22
They're starting to care (at least some of 'em). Some of them have noticed that they don't own calimary Jan 2019 #24
One of the biggest reasons yet to eliminate the legalized bribery that is our campaign finance Dustlawyer Jan 2019 #26
K&R 2naSalit Jan 2019 #28
That's not the end of it Leith Jan 2019 #29
I think (and hope) Mr.Bill Jan 2019 #30
This makes so much sense. BarbD Jan 2019 #32
Maverick enid602 Jan 2019 #33
I am only surprised at how little some of these guys got. GoCubsGo Jan 2019 #34
Yeah, a story that should get broad coverage not fooled Jan 2019 #35
yup debsy Jan 2019 #36
I suspected this when all the 2016 republican presidential candidates rainin Jan 2019 #37
Fear or greed - or BOTH. calimary Jan 2019 #39
I've posted this here before but it can't be posted too many times. Here is the 12/15/17 story, pnwmom Jan 2019 #41
More dirt from the update include Mnuchin. hedda_foil Jan 2019 #47
Told you Kasich is not that True Blue American Jan 2019 #42
knr Baltimike Jan 2019 #43
Not party loyalty. It's all about protecting themsleves from exposure of their own Amaryllis Jan 2019 #44
Len B owns the Warner Music Group EricMaundry Jan 2019 #45
Calimary, there's an updated version of the Dallas News piece from mid 2018. hedda_foil Jan 2019 #46
+1 dalton99a Jan 2019 #50
I just read the whole article karin_sj Jan 2019 #52
Thank you, calimary ... UpInArms Jan 2019 #48
Follow the NRA money. Marcuse Jan 2019 #49
Dirty money marieo1 Jan 2019 #51
Too bad.. cannabis_flower Jan 2019 #54
Great post malaise Jan 2019 #55
One of the most ... TwistOneUp Jan 2019 #56
What about Nunes? The guy that stymied subpoenas? How much did that crook take? nt TwistOneUp Jan 2019 #57
THAT is an EXCELLENT question, TwistOneUp! calimary Jan 2019 #58
Thanks! TwistOneUp Jan 2019 #59
It would surprise me not at all. calimary Jan 2019 #60
k&r -- Russiapublicans shouldn't be able to hide Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2019 #61
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