RussiaGate

[braces_for_impact]

I'm certain THIS is all on the up and UP.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators have questioned a Russian oligarch about hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments his company's US affiliate made to President Donald Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, after the election, according to a source familiar with the matter.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

here's another article on it:

Stormy Daniels' attorney claimed Tuesday that President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen received $500,000 from a company controlled by a Russian oligarch, deposited into an account for a company also used to pay off the adult film actress.

Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, also detailed other transactions he said were suspicious, including deposits from drug giant Novartis, the state-run Korea Aerospace Industries, and AT&T — which confirmed it paid Cohen's company for "insights" into the Trump administration.

If true, Avenatti's claims, made in a dossier posted to Twitter, could add a new dimension to the federal investigation into Cohen. NBC News has reviewed financial documents that appear to support Avenatti’s account of the transactions.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...0k-russian-oligarch-viktor-vekselberg-n872481

 

[braces_for_impact]

I can offer much cheaper and more accurate "insights" into the Trump administration. Call me AT&T!

 

[Trausti]

I'm certain THIS is all on the up and UP.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators have questioned a Russian oligarch about hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments his company's US affiliate made to President Donald Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, after the election, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Well, that didn't last long.

 

[braces_for_impact]

I'm sure you're quick to wipe your hands of it. That doesn't seem to explain over 4 million in suspicious payments however...

Me, I'll watch and see where this goes. Stay tuned.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Trausti, what's your source and how is that group affiliated with a Russian counterpart called Renova Group? Do they somehow funnel money between one another? Renova somehow sounds like money launderers for Nova...

 

[braces_for_impact]

The Russian oligarchs cousin has dual Russia/USA citizenship. That's what "American owned" means. I find it interesting that this particular group decided to pay Cohen for the unique "real estate" insights he can offer from January to August? The whole think looks like pay to play and then some. I also find it interesting there's no mention of actual dollar amounts.

We just have SO MANY strange coincidences like this repeatedly since Trump hit the White House. Like every other time. There will be denials, then that be walked back and admitted to. Then it will be walked back some more and we'll be told it isn't technically illegal anyway.

This particular cluster fuck is just getting started. But like I said, I'm sure it's all above board. I'm sure any second now all relevant parties will be forthcoming with bank statements just to ease our overly suspicious minds.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I'm certain THIS is all on the up and UP.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators have questioned a Russian oligarch about hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments his company's US affiliate made to President Donald Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, after the election, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Well, that didn't last long.

In Watergate terms, that’s a very carefully worded non-denial denial.

 

[Trausti]

 

[Underseer]

That clearly proves that Trump is innocent of treason! Someone get this image to Mueller immediately!!!!!!!!

 

[ZiprHead]

[YOUTUBE]https://youtu.be/gWWXCWe32hs[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

First this:

Trausti, what's your source and how is that group affiliated with a Russian counterpart called Renova Group? Do they somehow funnel money between one another? Renova somehow sounds like money launderers for Nova...

Then this:

Ad Homs don't explain a source, nor do they explain Renova group.

Also, the analogy is completely wrong. The Democrats did not poop in the hallway because Trump did. Now Mueller might be saying Trump pooped in the hallway because he was paid by the Russians. It isn't completely wrong-headed since he paid Russians to pee in a bed.

On the other hand, maybe someone should be looking into Russian financial side to see if they were paid by Twitler. Maybe that's more consistent.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Well, here is Columbus Nova's statement from a lawyer:

Columbus Nova is an investment management company solely owned and controlled by Americans. After the inauguration, the firm hired Michael Cohen as a business consultant regarding potential sources of capital and potential investments in real estate and other ventures. Reports today that Viktor Vekselberg used Columbus Nova as a conduit for payments to Michael Cohen are false. The claim that Viktor Vekselberg was involved in or provided any funding for Columbus Nova's engagement of Michael Cohen is patently untrue. Neither Viktor Vekselberg nor anyone else outside of Columbus Nova was involved in the decision to hire Cohen or provided funding for his engagement.

Additionally, contrary to recent reports, Columbus Nova LLC and Renova U.S. Management, LLC (operated under the Columbus Nova umbrella) are not now, nor have ever been, owned by any foreign entity or person. In fact, since its founding nearly 20 years ago, Columbus Nova has been and continues to be 100% owned by Americans.

As reported in May 2018 by The New York Times, the Renova Group is Columbus Nova's biggest client. When Columbus Nova formed a management company under the name Renova U.S. Management, its largest client at the time was a Renova Group company. Throughout its existence, Columbus Nova has managed assets on behalf of Renova Group companies and other clients. Columbus Nova itself is not now, and has never been, owned by any foreign entity or person including Viktor Vekselberg or the Renova Group. The same is true with regard to all investment management companies under the Columbus Nova umbrella.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/08/dan...p-attorney-cohen-got-money-from-oligarch.html

So Columbus Nova isn't responsible because they created ReNova as a separate LLC and then ReNova became Nova's biggest client, even though it was created by Nova. Now, when people try to figure out what is going on and confuse the two by saying this Victor guy is involved, we hear he is not involved at all in Nova and Nova is 100% American. USA#1! USA#1! Go America!

Wait, but what is his relationship to ReNova, the spin-off LLC used to do the funneling?

According to Wikipedia:

Renova Group is a Russian conglomerate with interests in aluminium, oil, energy, telecoms and a variety of other sectors. The main owner and president is Viktor Vekselberg who founded the company in 1990.[1]

The Renova Group is primarily active in Russia, the C.I.S. states, Switzerland, South Africa and the United States. Its major assets include participation in the oil company TNK-BP and in aluminum producer RUSAL.

In 2010 Renova Group entered into an agreement to provide funding for Fort Ross. It is parent company of Private equity firm Columbus Nova.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renova_Group

Wait, what? I thought Columbus Nova's lawyer said that Columbus Nova was the parent company of ReNova. Exactly which way is the funneling going here?

One of the sources of information for the ReNova group is renova.ru, a Russian website for ReNova with an About Page, referenced in 2016.

If I click the link, I get a "site under construction" message. Hmmmm...

Which LLC is the umbrella here? Is Viktor an American with an American name and with a Russian website?

 

[braces_for_impact]

Yep, it's all very interesting. We have Renova hiring Cohen for real estate matters, AT&T for "special insights" into the Trump administration. Novartis for health care matters, Korea Aerospace...Cohen is an attorney, a healthcare specialist, an accountant, an aerospace engineer and a political wonk, all without being registered as a lobbyist or as working for a foreign government. He is one busy, busy man.

 

[Keith&Co.]

. He is one busy, busy man.

...with three clients...

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Here is Columbus Nova on the Russian Renova website which I found in the Internet Archives since renova.ru is "under construction":
https://web.archive.org/web/20160109124539/http://www.renova.ru:80/en/structure/company/detail/130/

I'm still a little confused by this. Russian ReNova was created in 1990 by Russian oligarchs. Columbus Nova was created in 2000 by American oligarchs. Columbus Nova is on the Russian website for ReNova as one of its companies, whatever that means, I don't know. One would think its assets not who it uses for services because it is a client. In any case, then, many years later Columbus Nova creates an American ReNova called Renova U.S. Management, LLC which seems to be a silent entity no one can understand and no one talks about the owners.

ETA: SEC documents point to Cayman Islands and Bahamas. That's not suspicious at all.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

As I said, Trausti's little viral plank is a carefully worded non-denial denial. "Columbus Nova" may not have been the name of the legal entity through which the money was funneled, but that doesn't mean the money wasn't funneled.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

As I said, Trausti's little viral plank is a carefully worded non-denial denial.

Ah, I see what you mean specifically now. The denial is worthless since it doesn't mention Renova's ownership.

"Columbus Nova" may not have been the name of the legal entity through which the money was funneled, but that doesn't mean the money wasn't funneled.

Right. And that they didn't say who currently owns Renova may be telling.

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

As I said, Trausti's little viral plank is a carefully worded non-denial denial.

Ah, I see what you mean specifically now. The denial is worthless since it doesn't mention Renova's ownership.

"Columbus Nova" may not have been the name of the legal entity through which the money was funneled, but that doesn't mean the money wasn't funneled.

Right. And that they didn't say who currently owns Renova may be telling.

Correct. It’s the specificity of the language—and what it thereby omits—that makes it a non-denial denial.

 

[Copernicus]

Here is Columbus Nova on the Russian Renova website which I found in the Internet Archives since renova.ru is "under construction":
https://web.archive.org/web/20160109124539/http://www.renova.ru:80/en/structure/company/detail/130/

I'm still a little confused by this. Russian ReNova was created in 1990 by Russian oligarchs. Columbus Nova was created in 2000 by American oligarchs. Columbus Nova is on the Russian website for ReNova as one of its companies, whatever that means, I don't know. One would think its assets not who it uses for services because it is a client. In any case, then, many years later Columbus Nova creates an American ReNova called Renova U.S. Management, LLC which seems to be a silent entity no one can understand and no one talks about the owners.

ETA: SEC documents point to Cayman Islands and Bahamas. That's not suspicious at all.

According to the archived page, Renova is run by Andrew Intrater, who is the cousin and business partner of oligarch Viktor Vekselberg and has dual US/Russian citizenship. So, technically, the company is owned by an American, but also, technically, it is owned by a Russian. Intrater is also the CEO of Columbus Nova. Basically, this is all run by Putin cronies. Vekselberg is one of the few oligarchs that Putin did not displace after he took power and started shaking them all down. Apparently, Vekselberg made some correct guesses and decisions that less fortunate oligarchs did not. He got with the program and got rewarded.

Besides funneling money to Cohen, Intrater also donated a quarter million dollars to Trump's campaign fund for the presidential election. I suspect that there were other payments by other means, as well, but we'll have to wait and see what else comes out as this mess unravels.

ETA: Intrater has been interviewed by the Mueller team, so his responses to questions can be cross-referenced with Vekselberg's, Cohen's, Trump's, and everyone else involved in the American scandal. I'm sure that Vlad goes to bed every night and thanks Бог that he doesn't have to put up with all the annoying press and prosecutions. He has had a steep learning curve to learn about the limitations on an American presidency. All that money and all that effort and those pesky sanctions are still in place.