How Putin's proxies helped funnel millions into GOP campaigns

[blondebanshee]

The GOP has committed Treason! The entire party is in bed with Russians. As far as I'm concerned since January 21st 2017 everything has been illegitimate!





https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/12/15/putins-proxies-helped-funnel-millions-gop-campaigns

[enough]

1. Fascinating article with a lot of detail. NT

[genxlib]

2. In some form, this was always an inevitability

In a system where dark money and Citizens United dominates the landscape, it was inevitable that the anonymity provided would be utilized to allow outside interference.

The only question is whether it was an intended result or an unexpected result. It strains credibility that it would unexpected.

This is exactly why there should not be a constitutional argument for allowing dark money. Without sunshine, we don't even know if the source of the money is a Citizen protected by the Constitution.

If I am making wishes, all of this comes to light in a way to encourage real campaign finance reform

[Sophia4]

3. Read the article, and substitute "Mexico" or "Mexican" for the words "Russia"

and "Russian," and ask whether conservatives would consider it to strongly suggest collusion and influence.

Remember this?

Clinton Donor Riady Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Charge
January 12, 2001|ROBERT L. JACKSON | TIMES STAFF WRITER . . .

WASHINGTON — James T. Riady, a longtime Indonesian friend of President Clinton who heads the worldwide Lippo banking group, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy related to illegal campaign contributions in the 1996 Democratic fund-raising scandal and during the previous eight years.

Riady's felony plea agreement, combined with LippoBank California's plea to 86 misdemeanor charges, caps one of the longest-running investigations of the Justice Department's campaign finance task force.

Under terms of the agreement, filed in federal court in Los Angeles and made public at Justice Department headquarters here, Riady will be sentenced to two years' probation and will be prevented from entering the United States during that time--unless he is asked to testify before U.S. agencies. He also will be required to perform 400 hours of community service.

LippoBank California, one of the largest entities of the Lippo Group, which is owned by the Indonesia-based Riady family, will pay a fine of $8.6 million. That is the largest fine ever assessed in a campaign finance case, and Riady agreed to personally ensure the fine is paid.

. . . .

http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jan/12/news/mn-11506

In Trump's case, the donor is a dual citizen born in Russia. We shall see where the money came from. It's a lot of money distributed to Republicans at various levels. Do these donations from, in this case, Russian/Americans, influence Republican views on the Mueller investigation and possible Russian influence in the 2016 campaign?

It's a question voters will have to ask and answer.

[procon]

4. What a snarled mess that is!

My hat's off to Teamer Mueller for having the persistence and dedication to follow all those twisted threads and unravel the tangled knots to make sense out of such a massive and convoluted conspiracy to fund Republicans in their schemes and plots to undermine the foundation of our nation.

[TheDebbieDee]

5. Kick!