As if we weren’t skeptical enough about President Donald Trump’s ties to Russia before, here comes a real bombshell. Although Paul Manafort isn’t exactly a household name, he has been a behind-the-scenes adviser for Trump since well before the election. But it is his business and political connections to Russia well before that are raising eyebrows and prompting calls for action.
The Associated Press learned that in 2005, Manafort worked with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska having an ultimate goal of helping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government. He crafted a plan involving business dealings, political influence, and manipulating news coverage in several countries in order to strengthen Russia’s standing in the world. In a memo to a Russian businessman in 2005, Manafort 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, will be offering a great service that can re-focus, both internally and externally, the policies of the Putin government.”
The two men maintained a business relationship until 2009. Manafort is also alleged to have told foreign leaders and businessmen that he could influence the United States government on their behalf. That’s a felony, by the way.
Manafort also has ties to former Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych, a firmly pro-Russian politician who was ousted from the country in 2014. Those familiar with Trump’s advisers were already suspicious of Manafort, but this latest news has brought a renewed vigor to suggestions that the Trump administration has inappropriate ties with Russia.
Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, is ready to ask the hard questions. He is the ranking member on the Senate intelligence committee and has already pegged Manafort as someone that they need to talk to.
Manafort himself could be in some very hot water, but the wider implications for Donald Trump and his administration aren’t particularly good either. Either team Trump knowingly hired an adviser with concerning actions with the Russians, or they didn’t want to know.
Either way, it doesn’t look good.
Here’s an at-length discussion about Manafort’s dealings with Russia here:
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