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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsStory Of How Trump's Team Worked The Trump Moscow Deal During The Campaign
Talks to construct the 100-story building continued even as the presidential candidate alternately bragged about his relationship with Vladimir Putin and rejected suggestions of Russian influence, and as Russian agents worked to sway US public opinion on Trumps behalf.
While fragments of the Trump Moscow venture have trickled out most recently in a report last night by Yahoo News this is the definitive story of the Moscow tower, told from a trove of emails, text messages, congressional testimony, architectural renderings, and other documents obtained exclusively by BuzzFeed News, as well as interviews with key players and investigators. The documents reveal a detailed and plausible plan, well-connected Russian counterparts, and an effort that extended from spearfishing with a Russian developer on a private island to planning for a mid-campaign trip to Moscow for the presidential candidate himself.
The tower a sheer, glass-encased obelisk situated on a river would have soared above every other building in Moscow, the architectural drawings show. And the sharply angled skyscraper would have climaxed in a diamond-shaped pinnacle emblazoned with the word Trump, putting his name atop the continents tallest structure.
Michael Cohen, the presidents embattled personal fixer, and Felix Sater, who helped negotiate deals around the world for Trump, led the effort. Working quietly behind the scenes, they tried to arrange a sit-down between Trump and Putin, the documents show. Those efforts ultimately fizzled. But the audacious venture has been a keen focus of federal investigators trying to determine if the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin. . .
https://www.buzzfeed.com/anthonycormier/trump-moscow-micheal-cohen-felix-sater-campaign
manor321
(3,344 posts)This really is an important story, with several new important details. Rachel recognized its importance tonight.
But when this was posted earlier today, no one seemed interested. Not sure why. I did my best to pimp it.
2naSalit
(86,524 posts)DemSoc
(52 posts)Overseas
(12,121 posts)Those who knew Trump's history knew he'd had lots of dealings w Russian oligarchs over the years, even as he was insisting he didn't.
We also saw his sons' declarations that they got all the money they needed from Russia.
But Alt-News, a.k.a. Fox, will either ignore this story or try to minimize it by pretending There Was No Collusion, Just International Business Deal.
Never mind the June 2016 meeting, or the 74 other meetings during the campaign between Team Trump and Russians.
Never mind the many successes Putin had with his choice-- soured US relations w NATO, got US to leave Paris & return to Oil First economy, get Republican Party to bow down to oligarch-wannabe Trump, get US to start trade wars, etc.