A Top Rohrabacher Aide Is Ousted After Russia Revelations

[sunonmars]

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/top-rohrabacher-aide-fired-after-russia-revelations/534288/

Paul Behrends, a top aide to Representative Dana Rohrabacher, has been ousted from his role as staff director for the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that Rohrabacher chairs, after stories appeared in the press highlighting his relationships with pro-Russia lobbyists.

“Paul Behrends no longer works at the committee,” a House Foreign Affairs Committee spokesperson said on Wednesday evening.

Behrends accompanied Rohrabacher on a 2016 trip to Moscow in which Rohrabacher said he received anti-Magnitsky Act materials from prosecutors. The Magnitsky Act is a 2012 bill that imposes sanctions on Russian officials associated with the 2009 death in prison of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who had been investigating tax fraud. Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian attorney and lobbyist who met with Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Tower last year, reportedly brought up the Magintsky Act during the meeting.

Rohrabacher’s meeting in Moscow was an object of concern for embassy officials, who had warned the delegation about FSB presence in Moscow—warnings Rohrabacher brushed off.

“Paul Behrends has done a terrific job for me and the committee,” Rohrabacher said in a statement on Wednesday. “I have not heard anything to the contrary. I am looking forward to discussing this with the committee leadership. I am sure we will work this out."

Behrends is a controversial figure on the Hill, where he is seen by some who have worked with or around him as egging on Rohrabacher’s pro-Russia instincts.

Behrends worked for Rohrabacher in the 1990s before becoming a lobbyist. He rejoined Rohrabacher’s office in 2014.

One of the sources with knowledge of the events suggested that Behrends was fired from the committee under pressure from House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce.

............................

Sounds like we are starting to see some sort of weeding them out beginning.

Rohrabacher is being isolated......wont be surprised to see him picked up by the Feds eventually.

[Tanuki]

1. Behrends also has strong ties to Erik Prince/Blackwater.

[rainbow4321]

7. Graph/link of his connections

http://www.muckety.com/Paul-Behrends/24604.muckety

[procon]

2. Is he still working for Rohrabacher?

Birds of a feather, says I.

[Initech]

3. How does this guy keep getting elected?

[Brother Buzz]

4. His district was the epicenter for the West Coast enclave of the John Birch Society...

back in the sixties. Go figure.

[rainbow4321]

5. They've had his name since July 2016--Grassley and the HFRC since March 2017

But of course, now that all the names and connections are publically surfacing, everyone feels a need to appear as if they are acting swiftly....

They had the guy's name and a shitload of OTHER names connected to the screening of the Russian propaganda film in DC that was attended by the Russian lawyer and her fellow anti sanctions minions. Grassley has had the names for 4 months---he sent the Browder PDF to Boente as well as the HFRC the end of March in an email. Browder gave them ALL the names----a lot of those Jr meeting attendees are also listed in what Browder gave the Feds in July 2016. Rohrabacher's name is listed throughout, also.

https://www.grassley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/judiciary/upload/2017-03-31%20CEG%20to%20DOJ%20%28Anti-Magnitsky%20FARA%20violations%29%20with%20attachments.pdf

Page 13

The invitation to the screening advised that the event complied with congressional gift rules so that Members and staff of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives may attend.
The screening was attended by the following members of the US executive and legislative branches:

i. Kyle Parker (Staff member of the House of Foreign Affairs Committee)
ii. Paul Behrends (Staff member of the House of Foreign Affairs Committee)
iii. Jessica Roxburgh (Congressional Staff member to Republican Rohrabacher)
iv. David Whiddon (US State Department)
v. Danielle Bayer (US State Department)

[malaise]

6. Are they still sworn to secrecy?

Someone should ask lyin' Ryan.