I don't think it would surprise anyone to hear that Paul Manafort-- Trump's original campaign manager and the likely Putin connection-- is going to prison. But Mueller seems to be ramping up the pressure on him, probably to turn on other, higher up Trump associates. Reporter Jason Leopold broke another piece of the story Monday night. It starts with $40 million in "suspicious" financial transactions (likely looted from Ukraine). "The vast web of transactions," wrote Leopold, "was unraveled mainly in 2014 and 2015 during an FBI operation to fight international kleptocracy that ultimately fizzled. The story of that failed effort-- and its resurrection by special counsel Robert Mueller as he investigated whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to interfere with the 2016 election-- has never been fully told. But it explains how the special counsel was able to swiftly bring charges against Manafort for complex financial crimes dating as far back as 2008-- and it shows that Mueller could still wield immense leverage as he seeks to compel Manafort to cooperate in the ongoing investigation."
Last week, Mueller’s team told a judge that it had evidence Manafort committed bank fraud, and news organizations have reported that the special counsel may be preparing additional charges."
The ultimate goal? The goods on Kushner and Monday evening CNN reported that "Mueller's interest in Jared Kushner has expanded beyond his contacts with Russia and now includes his efforts to secure financing for his company from foreign investors during the presidential transition, according to people familiar with the inquiry." That would be China. And the Arabs.The theory is that Kushner was the go-between with the analytics operations that were helping the Russians target specific counties, precincts and people to steal the election.
US officials briefed on the probe had told CNN in May that points of focus related to Kushner, the White House senior adviser and son-in-law of President Donald Trump, included the Trump campaign's 2016 data analytics operation, his relationship with former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and Kushner's own contacts with Russians.Mueller's investigators have been asking questions, including during interviews in January and February, about Kushner's conversations during the transition to shore up financing for 666 Fifth Avenue, a Kushner Companies-backed New York City office building reeling from financial troubles, according to people familiar with the special counsel investigation.It's not clear what's behind Mueller's specific interest in the financing discussions. Mueller's team has not contacted Kushner Companies for information or requested interviews with its executives, according to a person familiar with the matter.During the presidential transition, Kushner was a lead contact for foreign governments, speaking to "over fifty contacts with people from over fifteen countries," according to a statement he gave to congressional investigators....Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and is cooperating with the investigation, attended some of Kushner's meetings with foreign nationals. Under his plea deal, Flynn is obligated to tell Mueller's investigators everything he knows about these meetings.Last year, Trump said he would view any investigation of his or his family's personal finances as a "violation" by Mueller that crosses a red line. A personal familiar with the investigation who supports Trump suggested that the expanded inquiry falls outside of Mueller's purview. Mueller is authorized to investigate links between Trump associates and Russia as well as "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation."
So why can't Kushner get a security clearance, despite a White House job that demands it? Reportedly he's been asking or top secret documents than anyone else in the Trumpist Regime. Also reportedly, the FBI has reason to believe that foreign governments can exercise influence over Kushner by investing, indirectly, in his family business, which is foundering. Qatar and China are two. But what about Russia?