This is absolutely bananas.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Donald Trump‘s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was secretly employed by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska around a decade ago. His job?? To help Russian President Vladimir Putin squash anti-Russian sentiments across the former USSR. Whoa.
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This directly contradicts with the Trumpster’s claims that Manafort had never worked for Russian interests. *scoff*
According to the Associated Press, Paul proposed a confidential strategy as early as 2005, where pitched that he would influence the media, as well as political and business dealings, all in favor of Putin’s government. The businessman eventually signed a $10 million dollar contract with the aluminum magnate, who is a known Putin ally.
It’s said Paul and Oleg’s working relationship lasted until 2009. In one memo to Deripaska, the 67-year-old wrote:
“We are now of the belief that this model can greatly benefit the Putin Government if employed at the correct levels with the appropriate commitment to success… [It] will be offering a great service that can re-focus, both internally and externally, the policies of the Putin government.”
Holy cow! Of course, this reveal comes amid the investigation into POTUS’ campaign advisers’ alleged relationship with the Kremlin. As you surely know, investigators are looking into whether or not the Trump campaign coordinated with Moscow during the 2016 presidential race.
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Unsurprisingly, Manafort is trying to deny his ties with Putin’s government as he says his work with Oleg is being unfairly labeled as “inappropriate or nefarious” and is simply part of a “smear campaign.” He added:
“I worked with Oleg Deripaska almost a decade ago representing him on business and personal matters in countries where he had investments. My work for Mr. Deripaska did not involve representing Russia’s political interests.”
Right, sureeeeeeee. Obviously, Trump’s lackeys are now feeling the heat as both Press Secretary Sean Spicer and White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said:
“…we do not feel it’s appropriate to comment on someone who is not an employee at the White House.”
You’re fucking kidding us, right???? We mean, Paul was asked to resign by the Commander-in-Chief back in August after reports revealed that the lobbyist had orchestrated a secret lobbying plan (up until 2014) on behalf of Ukraine’s pro-Putin political party. So, we deserve some answers.
Nonetheless, Spicer has tried to downplay the consultant’s role in Trump’s campaign as he has previously defended that Manafort “played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time.” That’s odd since, Paul reportedly told a colleague he still speaks with the President on the phone and his business partner Rick Gates has been seen inside the White House.
It looks like Trump’s administration has a lot of ‘splainin’ to do…
[Image via WENN.]
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