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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWill Trumps business ties in Russia be the next line of inquiry?
Posted with permission.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/will-trumps-business-ties-russia-be-the-next-line-inquiry?cid=sm_fb_maddow
Will Trumps business ties in Russia be the next line of inquiry?
05/09/17 03:54 PMUpdated 05/09/17 04:46 PM
By Steve Benen
Towards the end of yesterdays high-profile Senate hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who chaired the proceedings, asked former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper an interesting question, which led to an exchange that raised some eyebrows.
GRAHAM: General Clapper, during your investigation of all things Russia, did you ever find a situation where a Trump business interest in Russia gave you concern?
CLAPPER: Not in the course of the preparation of the intelligence committees assessment.
GRAHAM: Since? At all, any time?
CLAPPER: Senator Graham I cant comment on that because that impacts an investigation.
CLAPPER: Not in the course of the preparation of the intelligence committees assessment.
GRAHAM: Since? At all, any time?
CLAPPER: Senator Graham I cant comment on that because that impacts an investigation.
Wait, it does? Clapper couldnt comment, which is understandable when an investigation is underway, but therein lies the point: his answer made it sound as if Donald Trumps business interests in Russia might also be drawing scrutiny.
Or an NBC News First Read team put it, Whoa.
This afternoon, Graham told reporters that hes seen no evidence of wrongdoing related to Trumps dealings with Russia, but added, {D)o I want to know about business ties? Yes. The GOP senator added that this is an area of interest to him.
Time will tell if this possible line of inquiry goes anywhere, but shortly before becoming president, Trump told reporters, I have no deals that could happen in Russia, because weve stayed away.
That wasnt true. As the New York Times reported a few months ago:
Mr. Trump repeatedly sought business in Russia as far back as 1987, when he traveled there to explore building a hotel. He applied for his trademark in the country as early as 1996. And his children and associates have appeared in Moscow over and over in search of joint ventures, meeting with developers and government officials.
During a trip in 2006, Mr. Sater and two of Mr. Trumps children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, stayed at the historic Hotel National Moscow opposite the Kremlin, connecting with potential partners over the course of several days.
As recently as 2013, Mr. Trump himself was in Moscow. He had sold Russian real estate developers the right to host his Miss Universe pageant that year, and he used the visit as a chance to discuss development deals, writing on Twitter at the time: TRUMP TOWER-MOSCOW is next.
During a trip in 2006, Mr. Sater and two of Mr. Trumps children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, stayed at the historic Hotel National Moscow opposite the Kremlin, connecting with potential partners over the course of several days.
As recently as 2013, Mr. Trump himself was in Moscow. He had sold Russian real estate developers the right to host his Miss Universe pageant that year, and he used the visit as a chance to discuss development deals, writing on Twitter at the time: TRUMP TOWER-MOSCOW is next.
Trump once told a biographer, I know the Russians better than anybody.
What about the presidents specific claim that he currently has no deals in Russia? That may be true, but its difficult to know for sure. As the Washington Post recently reported, It is not possible to verify whether Trump does not have current deals or loans with Russian entities because he has refused to release his tax returns.
Update: Trump has reportedly hired outside counsel to handle questions related to his business dealings in Russia.
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Will Trumps business ties in Russia be the next line of inquiry? (Original Post)
babylonsister
May 2017
OP
superpatriotman
(6,249 posts)1. Lindsay was just on CNN
Saying there were no business dealings he could see that could be problematic.
So there you go. Nothing to see here.