"The indictment Mueller filed against the two men, which was unsealed in late October, “provided further support for Surf’s realization…"
Well, well, well …. very tough times for Paulie. He should be glad he’s being watched closely by Mueller and team. Pissed off Ruskies are a dangerous sort.
Is this just opportunistic, or is it because Mueller’s people have traced the money?
AAAAAAAhahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
A spokesman for Manafort said in a statement that they were “surprised” by the lawsuit.
“We will respond, if we must do so, in the appropriate manner.”
A hapless Manafort later responded to requests for comment by weeping inconsolably.
Can you accuse a person of fraud if they are already a fraud? Shouldn’t this be more of a “confirmation” suit…
Only the best people. And by best, that means a thieving and defrauding. Really. That’s the kind of “deal making” that Donald Trump can really admire.
Methinks this Putin-associated Russian Oligarch is going to have to get in line for his shot at Manafort. Mueller has first dibs on him. After that its gonna be pretty hard to recoup $$$ from a convicted felon while he’s spending his days and years in a federal prison. Once Mueller gets all the remaining money this Oligarch tried to launder through Manafort, it all may be moot anyway. But by all means, keep trying…
On its face, this appears to be a case involving one group of thieves stealing from another group of thieves, but I think there is more to it than that.
In light of Deripaska’s close ties to Putin, I think it is more likely that this is an attempt to create the false impression that Manafort didn’t have a good relationship with Putin. I think that’s why Manafort’s spokesperson said that Manafort was surprised by the lawsuit.
I’m guessing this is all about Oleg covering his own ass on the Russian laundromat he was running with Manfort?
“Money laundering? Absurd, this was a legitimate business deal and I’m the real victim here!”
Here is a primer on how these schemes worked. https://www.occrp.org/en/laundromat/russian-laundromat/
By the time Mueller is done with Manafort, he’ll be begging to be put in protective custody, even if it means going into a federal prison to serve time, just to get away from the Russian mob.
I’m guessing Manafort doesn’t feel normal emotions that would allow him to cry. He’s a psychopath whose mask is on askew.
So tell us Paul, to what was your lawyer refering when he said he was surprised by the lawsuit, because he thought it had already been “resolved.” Not paid, but “resolved.”
Party platform plank about Ukraine, perhaps? Advising (informally) a president not to actually implement new Russian sanctions that he signed into law, perhaps?
Paul Manafort is basically the Frank Pentangelli character in this saga now.
If I understood what I heard on Rachel’s show last night, the importance of this lawsuit is it is the refiling of a lawsuit against Manafort that was quietly withdrawn when he was named Trump’s unpaid Campaign Manager. The stink is the first suit was quietly dropped as a quid pro quo for Manafort’s service to the Russians in the Trump campaign.
Seems like Deripaska (realizing Manafort is going down) is trying to position himself and his associates as Manafort victims rather than Manafort accomplices.
May also reflect Putin (through Deripaska) signaling his approval for Manafort being the designated fall guy in Mueller probe. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, this comes close on the heels of Bannon signaling the same.
Manafort would do well to avoid straying too near any open windows above the first floor, or traveling in single engine aircraft for the foreseeable future.
And one other word of advice, Paul; avoid Polonium-210 in all its forms- umbrellas; food spices; etc. Your friends seem to favor it.
I think Pauline will be eating at McD’s for the same reason as bone spur Bozo: there are plenty of bad actors who would poison him if given the chance.
More appropriate: “Oh, Paulie? Won’t see him no more.”
If I were a billionaire operating on behalf of a kleptocratic despot, I might structure my payoffs to agents of influence I was recruiting in such a way as it would look like they were stealing from me, because that would maximize my leverage.
But that’s just me.