RussiaGate

[Copernicus]

The  Steele dossier was research on links between Donald Trump and the Russian government, and it was a major factor in focusing the attention of the FBI on certain individuals with ties to Russian intelligence services. It was originally commissioned as oppo research by Republicans and Democrats running against Trump, but the document also got leaked to the public. Naturally, the press focused on allegations of the existence of the so-called "peepee tape" (since people seem more interested in sex and scatological innuendo than just about anything else), the idea being that the Russians would have it as so-called "kompromat" to hold over Trump. It was largely treated as the least serious of the allegations in the report, but Steele says he still believes such a tape might exist. As a former British intelligence agent, Steele was relying on a lot of sources that he had come across in his past, and the dossier has proven largely accurate in its allegations.

ETA: For those who haven't read it already and are interested in it, here is a:

PDF version of the Steele Dossier

 

[Copernicus]

There is another aspect of the Russiagate investigation that has surfaced--Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska:

FBI agents swarm Washington home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

Deripaska is named under official sanctions against Russia for its role in election meddling, and those sanctions are rumored to be behind raids on his home and the New York home of some of his relatives. Beyond that, this story is still unfolding.

 

[barbos]

The Steele dossier was research on links between Donald Trump and the Russian government, and it was a major factor in focusing the attention of the FBI on certain individuals with ties to Russian intelligence services. It was originally commissioned as oppo research by Republicans and Democrats running against Trump, but the document also got leaked to the public. Naturally, the press focused on allegations of the existence of the so-called "peepee tape" (since people seem more interested in sex and scatological innuendo than just about anything else), the idea being that the Russians would have it as so-called "kompromat" to hold over Trump. It was largely treated as the least serious of the allegations in the report, but Steele says he still believes such a tape might exist. As a former British intelligence agent, Steele was relying on a lot of sources that he had come across in his past, and the dossier has proven largely accurate in its allegations.

Not interested. I don't need that dossier to know that Trump is a piece of shit.

 

[Elixir]

The Steele dossier was research on links between Donald Trump and the Russian government, and it was a major factor in focusing the attention of the FBI on certain individuals with ties to Russian intelligence services. It was originally commissioned as oppo research by Republicans and Democrats running against Trump, but the document also got leaked to the public. Naturally, the press focused on allegations of the existence of the so-called "peepee tape" (since people seem more interested in sex and scatological innuendo than just about anything else), the idea being that the Russians would have it as so-called "kompromat" to hold over Trump. It was largely treated as the least serious of the allegations in the report, but Steele says he still believes such a tape might exist. As a former British intelligence agent, Steele was relying on a lot of sources that he had come across in his past, and the dossier has proven largely accurate in its allegations.

Not interested. I don't need that dossier to know that Trump is a piece of shit.

Apparently you only need a (particular) dossier to know that Trump has been cultivated and kompromatted by Russian intelligence for decades.

 

[KeepTalking]

The Steele dossier was research on links between Donald Trump and the Russian government, and it was a major factor in focusing the attention of the FBI on certain individuals with ties to Russian intelligence services. It was originally commissioned as oppo research by Republicans and Democrats running against Trump, but the document also got leaked to the public. Naturally, the press focused on allegations of the existence of the so-called "peepee tape" (since people seem more interested in sex and scatological innuendo than just about anything else), the idea being that the Russians would have it as so-called "kompromat" to hold over Trump. It was largely treated as the least serious of the allegations in the report, but Steele says he still believes such a tape might exist. As a former British intelligence agent, Steele was relying on a lot of sources that he had come across in his past, and the dossier has proven largely accurate in its allegations.

Not interested. I don't need that dossier to know that Trump is a piece of shit.

This is the RussiaGate thread. The dossier isn't about Trump being a piece of shit, it is pretty much the thing that started RussiaGate.

 

[Keith&Co.]

This is the RussiaGate thread. The dossier isn't about Trump being a piece of shit, it is pretty much the thing that started RussiaGate.

No, they had warrants issued before they added the dossier. Russiagate would havd occurred w/ or w/o the dossier.
Just less salacious.

 

[KeepTalking]

This is the RussiaGate thread. The dossier isn't about Trump being a piece of shit, it is pretty much the thing that started RussiaGate.

No, they had warrants issued before they added the dossier. Russiagate would havd occurred w/ or w/o the dossier.
Just less salacious.

I was not entirely sure of the timeline, that is why I hedged a bit. Thanks for the clarification.

I will note (after a quick date check) that the dossier was reported to be in existence several months before this thread was started.

 

[barbos]

There is another aspect of the Russiagate investigation that has surfaced--Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska:

FBI agents swarm Washington home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

Deripaska is named under official sanctions against Russia for its role in election meddling, and those sanctions are rumored to be behind raids on his home and the New York home of some of his relatives. Beyond that, this story is still unfolding.

According to Deripaska these houses have not been used in years. And also FBI tried to recruit Deripaska to spy on Putin in the past using ...... Steele. So yeah a lot of sad FBI critters.

 

[Elixir]

According to Deripaska these houses have not been used in years.

Well, almost a year anyhow. Ever since his sponsor got deposed.

 

[Copernicus]

There is another aspect of the Russiagate investigation that has surfaced--Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska:

FBI agents swarm Washington home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

Deripaska is named under official sanctions against Russia for its role in election meddling, and those sanctions are rumored to be behind raids on his home and the New York home of some of his relatives. Beyond that, this story is still unfolding.

According to Deripaska these houses have not been used in years. And also FBI tried to recruit Deripaska to spy on Putin in the past using ...... Steele. So yeah a lot of sad FBI critters.

Apparently, Deripaska set up shell corporations to own the houses and then put them in the names of relatives in order to avoid the sanctions. I wouldn't be surprised if Western agents tried to recruit him. He is a close Putin crony, and he reportedly has strong ties to Russian organized crime. Before Manafort was appointed out of the blue to become Donald Trump's campaign manager, he ran up a large debt to Deripaska. When Manafort handed over confidential campaign information to the Russian intelligence agent, Konstantin Kilimnik, he asked in an email if his briefings to Russia would help him "get whole" with "OVD", i.e. Oleg Deripaska. Of course, Trump pardoned Manafort for his treasonous involvement and confession-based convictions in the scandal, but Kilimnik is under indictment and a fugitive.

Source: Newly unsealed court filing shows Paul Manafort was more indebted to Putin ally Oleg Deripaska than previously known

As for the houses, it seems likely that Deripaska never has lived in them. They are more likely of use to him for money laundering. Real estate in the US is often used by criminals to launder money, and Deripaska is said to be helping Putin with some of his needs in that department. Trump himself has been rumored to have been a money launderer for Russians, but Mueller was never able to prove it.

Source: Mueller Failed to Follow Trump’s Money Trail

 

[barbos]

There is another aspect of the Russiagate investigation that has surfaced--Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska:

FBI agents swarm Washington home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

Deripaska is named under official sanctions against Russia for its role in election meddling, and those sanctions are rumored to be behind raids on his home and the New York home of some of his relatives. Beyond that, this story is still unfolding.

According to Deripaska these houses have not been used in years. And also FBI tried to recruit Deripaska to spy on Putin in the past using ...... Steele. So yeah a lot of sad FBI critters.

Apparently, Deripaska set up shell corporations to own the houses and then put them in the names of relatives in order to avoid the sanctions. I wouldn't be surprised if Western agents tried to recruit him. He is a close Putin crony, and he reportedly has strong ties to Russian organized crime. Before Manafort was appointed out of the blue to become Donald Trump's campaign manager, he ran up a large debt to Deripaska. When Manafort handed over confidential campaign information to the Russian intelligence agent, Konstantin Kilimnik, he asked in an email if his briefings to Russia would help him "get whole" with "OVD", i.e. Oleg Deripaska. Of course, Trump pardoned Manafort for his treasonous involvement and confession-based convictions in the scandal, but Kilimnik is under indictment and a fugitive.

Source: Newly unsealed court filing shows Paul Manafort was more indebted to Putin ally Oleg Deripaska than previously known

As for the houses, it seems likely that Deripaska never has lived in them. They are more likely of use to him for money laundering. Real estate in the US is often used by criminals to launder money, and Deripaska is said to be helping Putin with some of his needs in that department. Trump himself has been rumored to have been a money launderer for Russians, but Mueller was never able to prove it.

Source: Mueller Failed to Follow Trump’s Money Trail

Looks like this Deripaska character is not a bad character in this story.

 

[Copernicus]

...
Looks like this Deripaska character is not a bad character in this story.

Before you sign up for membership in his personality cult, you might want to learn a little more about his character. The man originally made his fortune through association with the violent criminal Izmailovskaya gang, which assumed control of Russia's aluminum industry in the early 1990s. If it doesn't bother you that the gang murdered, blackmailed, stole, and intimidated its way into taking over one of your country's most lucrative industries, then maybe you should sign up. He's certainly no worse than Vladimir Putin. Now that he, along with Putin, is one of the world's richest men, I'm sure that his personal life has mellowed out, especially since he can hire lots of other people to do the dirty work. Or maybe all of this was made up by Russia-hating Western propagandists. You decide.

Source (from Transborder Corruption Archive): MICHAEL CHERNEY, OLEG DERIPASKA AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO ORGANIZED CRIME.

For more information about the source, see: About the Transborder Corruption Archive

 

[barbos]

...
Looks like this Deripaska character is not a bad character in this story.

Before you sign up for membership in his personality cult, you might want to learn a little more about his character. The man originally made his fortune through association with the violent criminal Izmailovskaya gang, which assumed control of Russia's aluminum industry in the early 1990s. If it doesn't bother you that the gang murdered, blackmailed, stole, and intimidated its way into taking over one of your country's most lucrative industries, then maybe you should sign up. He's certainly no worse than Vladimir Putin. Now that he, along with Putin, is one of the world's richest men, I'm sure that his personal life has mellowed out, especially since he can hire lots of other people to do the dirty work. Or maybe all of this was made up by Russia-hating Western propagandists. You decide.

Source (from Transborder Corruption Archive): MICHAEL CHERNEY, OLEG DERIPASKA AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO ORGANIZED CRIME.

For more information about the source, see: About the Transborder Corruption Archive

No worse than Khodorkovsky or any american business moguls from 19 century'.

 

[KeepTalking]

...
Looks like this Deripaska character is not a bad character in this story.

Before you sign up for membership in his personality cult, you might want to learn a little more about his character. The man originally made his fortune through association with the violent criminal Izmailovskaya gang, which assumed control of Russia's aluminum industry in the early 1990s. If it doesn't bother you that the gang murdered, blackmailed, stole, and intimidated its way into taking over one of your country's most lucrative industries, then maybe you should sign up. He's certainly no worse than Vladimir Putin. Now that he, along with Putin, is one of the world's richest men, I'm sure that his personal life has mellowed out, especially since he can hire lots of other people to do the dirty work. Or maybe all of this was made up by Russia-hating Western propagandists. You decide.

Source (from Transborder Corruption Archive): MICHAEL CHERNEY, OLEG DERIPASKA AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO ORGANIZED CRIME.

For more information about the source, see: About the Transborder Corruption Archive

No worse than Khodorkovsky or any american business moguls from 19 century'.

Whataboutism noted.

 

[barbos]

No worse than Khodorkovsky or any american business moguls from 19 century'.

Whataboutism noted.

you're welcome.

 

[KeepTalking]

No worse than Khodorkovsky or any american business moguls from 19 century'.

Whataboutism noted.

you're welcome.

A whataboutism is not something to be proud of.

 

[Swammerdami]

There is another aspect of the Russiagate investigation that has surfaced--Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska:

FBI agents swarm Washington home of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska

Deripaska is named under official sanctions against Russia for its role in election meddling, and those sanctions are rumored to be behind raids on his home and the New York home of some of his relatives. Beyond that, this story is still unfolding.

Deripaska also owned a house at 12 Gay Street in Greenwich Village; that house was also searched by the FBI. That 194-year-old house is notorious for the ghost(s) that allegedly haunt it! It was once the Pirate's Den speakeasy. Its later occupants included the showgirl mistress of a New York City mayor.

 

[Swammerdami]

The  Steele dossier was research on links between Donald Trump and the Russian government, and it was a major factor in focusing the attention of the FBI on certain individuals with ties to Russian intelligence services. It was originally commissioned as oppo research by Republicans and Democrats running against Trump, but the document also got leaked to the public. Naturally, the press focused on allegations of the existence of the so-called "peepee tape" (since people seem more interested in sex and scatological innuendo than just about anything else), the idea being that the Russians would have it as so-called "kompromat" to hold over Trump. It was largely treated as the least serious of the allegations in the report, but Steele says he still believes such a tape might exist. As a former British intelligence agent, Steele was relying on a lot of sources that he had come across in his past, and the dossier has proven largely accurate in its allegations.

ETA: For those who haven't read it already and are interested in it, here is a:

PDF version of the Steele Dossier

I read this document. Thanks, Copernicus!

Occam's Razor suggests to me that Steele is truthful. Are their good reasons to suspect he or his sources fabricated most of it?

It seemed interesting that some top Russians tried to reduce the collusion, very fearful it would become public. Meanwhile, Trump and some in the Kremlin were allegedly delighted by media focus on Russia; this distracted from Trump's dealings, supposedly more corrupt, with countries like China.

The dossier alleges at several points that Michael Cohen (possibly accompanied by Donald Trump) met with Kremlin representatives in Prague. What does Cohen say about that? (Assuming this was a serious felony, did his plea agreement allow him to confess to this without added prison time?)

 

[Elixir]

you're welcome.

A whataboutism is not something to be proud of.

Unless you're a Putinpologist, of course.

 

[Copernicus]

...

ETA: For those who haven't read it already and are interested in it, here is a:

PDF version of the Steele Dossier

I read this document. Thanks, Copernicus!

Occam's Razor suggests to me that Steele is truthful. Are their good reasons to suspect he or his sources fabricated most of it?

Steele has been considered trustworthy and competent at assembling this type of information, but it is only an investigative report. He could have gotten things wrong or been given false information. The important thing is that much of it has been corroborated by subsequent investigations and events.

It seemed interesting that some top Russians tried to reduce the collusion, very fearful it would become public. Meanwhile, Trump and some in the Kremlin were allegedly delighted by media focus on Russia; this distracted from Trump's dealings, supposedly more corrupt, with countries like China.

The dossier alleges at several points that Michael Cohen (possibly accompanied by Donald Trump) met with Kremlin representatives in Prague. What does Cohen say about that? (Assuming this was a serious felony, did his plea agreement allow him to confess to this without added prison time?)

I believe that Cohen denies this claim, and there is little or nothing to corroborate it. I don't know the details of his plea deal.