A Top Rohrabacher Aide Is Ousted After Russia Revelations

[Julian Englis]

Last edited Thu Jul 20, 2017, 07:26 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Atlantic

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.

[snip]

There has been tension between [House Foreign Affairs Committee chair] Royce and Rohrabacher over Rohrabacher’s activities, and Royce scuttled Rohrabacher’s plan last year to screen an anti-Magnitsky film in Congress. Royce also nixed Rohrabacher’s plan to visit Moscow again earlier this year.

Read more: https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/534288/

[angstlessk]

1. I say damn...but it has to play out

I am absolutely convinced they were in russias pocket

[Kathy M]

3. +1 let the chips fall where they may ....

I thought he was in their pocket also ..... would be nice if others were outed as well ....

[brush]

12. I'm betting Mueller's antennae perked up over the news of this firing.

Rohrabacher better lawyer up if he already hasn't.

[Kathy M]

16. Time will tell ... hope Mueller is keeping an eye open on any elected or

appointed official , it is a strange web and am wondering just how long it has been going on . we shall see what comes to light .

Rohrabacher probably did lawyer up would be my guess .

[Solly Mack]

2. K&R

[SergeStorms]

4. At this point

I think it would be far easier to name the Republicans who AREN'T involved with Russian money than name the ones that ARE. I think it might be safe to assume THEY'RE ALL suckling on Mother Russia's teat, or in some stage of covering up those who are.

[lastlib]

7. Here's the list:

Republicans NOT involved with Russian Money:

.<end of list>

No Records Found

[Cosmocat]

8. It is pretty apparent that pretty much any R in a leadership position

is russia dirty.

Our rep is a back benching obedient pod.

Lots of money from the usual domestic lords, but not a player who is in the game enough to be tied up with Russia.

Kind of like the Mob, he isn't a "made guy."

[gordianot]

5. Another case of outsourcing crime.

If you are going to hang with scum what is wrong with American scum. Give me the Koch brothers any day not some Russian with a name MSNBC, CNN (FOX is not interested) media cannot pronounce. Whatever happened to American thugs and crooks
Made in America

[Scarsdale]

11. I get the distinct impression

that tRump pictures himself as John Gotti, the "Teflon Don" tRump thinks he is handsome, well dressed, feared, a leader like Gotti. WRONG. He is a piss poor imitation at best. Oh, I also think Gotti loved the US more than tRump ever will or has.

[gordianot]

13. Trump burnt his American scum when when he went belly up in the 90's.

Replaced by Russian scum. Imagine what life would have been like if Al Capone became President in the 1930's. Actually Capone and his tax evasion conviction were overturned. It seems requiring filling out tax returns violated his 5 th Amendment rights to self incrimination. Small wonder Trump goes ballistic when he thinks someone is looking at his businesses.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "Royce" "Ed Royce", House Foreign Affairs Committee chair. nt

[Dustlawyer]

9. This is what happens when your political system is based on donations.

This is what John Roberts and the rest of conservative SCOTUS mean when they say that corporations are people who can donate to our politicians!

[Achilleaze]

10. republican Rohrabacher must resign

the KGOPee must be forced to release its heinous, illegitimate grip on America's throat.

[Sunlei]

14. screening a film for Congress. CONGRESS WHEN WILL YOU DO YOUR JOB & RAISE FEDERAL MIN. WAGE?????

FUCKING $7.25 IS NOT A LIVING WAGE !!! states have to match the federal minimum wage!!

Congress has to raise the damn WAGE- that IS their JOB!!

[neohippie]

15. staff member is scape goated

The staff member takes the fall, for the Putin puppet eh