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On ThisWeek today, Chris Christie floated this Trump “defense” that was blatantly false.
And No One called him out on it.
CHRISTIE: [...]
And as Dan said earlier, if those contacts are about building an office building in Moscow and giving the penthouse to Vladimir Putin, people may not like that but it’s not a crime.
abcnews.go.com — Dec 9, 2018
Umm, Wrong.
US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977 is the most widely enforced anti-corruption law. It is the first to introduce corporate liability, responsibility for third parties and extraterritoriality for corruption offences, meaning companies and persons can be held criminally and civilly responsible for corruption offences committed abroad.
Anti-Bribery Provisions
The FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions apply broadly to three categories of persons or entities: ‘issuers’, ‘domestic concerns’ and certain persons and entities under ‘territorial jurisdiction’. These provisions prohibit (1) US persons and companies (domestic concerns), (2) companies organised under US laws, (3) companies that have their principal place of business in the US, (4) companies listed on stock exchanges in the US or (5) companies required to file periodic reports with the SEC (issuers), and (6) certain foreign persons and businesses acting while in the territory of the US (territorial jurisdiction) from making corrupt payments to foreign officials to obtain or retain business.
Ding, ding, ding.
Trump business partner Felix Sater has now stated publicly that the Trump Organization tried to bribe a foreign government official, Putin, with a $50 million penthouse, and two law enforcement sources confirmed to Buzz Feed News the bribe was communicated to Dmitry Peskov, a Putin aide, in violation of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act [...]
www.dailykos.com
Felix Sater has reportedly become a cooperating witness by the way.
If what he stated, and LEO has confirmed, is true, then the Trump Organization is guilty offering corrupt payments to foreign officials.
Trump’s only defense here is that he didn’t know — didn’t know that his own Empire was about to give away Real Estate worth $50 million. Not very likely, considering Donald had signed the “Letter of Intent” which included the terms, of the very lucrative deal for Trump Org.
A bribe is a bribe. And the last time I checked, it was still considered a serious “Criminal Act” — whether he was “colluding” with Putin’s Government, or not.
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Oh and by the way, when Christie based his ‘absolution’ claim, on what Dan had said — well Dan Abrams had said nothing about Trump Bribery and FCPA violations, in the earlier exchange:
RADDATZ: [...] What more would the special counsel have to show to have collusion, Dan?
[Dan] ABRAMS: Well, you -- you still need a crime here, right? I mean, you’re allowed to have conversations with Russians. There’s no crime against having conversations with Russians. There’s no crime against having conversations with Russians about building a huge tower with Donald Trump’s name on it. The question becomes, why did the Trump team want to push back the date from June of the conversations about the Trump Tower back to January? What additional contacts were happening between January and June?
And when you read the sentencing memo, this one from Mueller specifically says that he’s providing information that goes to the core of the Russia investigation. The core of the Russia investigation, so that means we’re not just talking about conversations with Russians. Again, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to find if there was a crime here. But I would be very nervous, if you’re in the Trump orbit, with that kind of language coming out in the sentencing memo.
abcnews.go.com — Dec 9, 2018
Since when in America, have offers of a $50 million “kick-back” to a foreign adversary head of state, become a mere footnote, a mere J-walking Ticket — that can be dismissed away, by the wave of a distraction-directing hand?
[...] giving the penthouse to Vladimir Putin, people may not like that but it’s not a crime.
Umm, No. It is the exact opposite of “not a crime”.
Foreign Bribes are a betrayal of America’s trust. And no doubt a serious Felony too.
This insidious walk-back of Team Trump’s corruption and crimes, must be called out at every point, whenever they blatantly just move the goal posts.
The “goal posts” of what matters, and what matters no more — if you are a Republican.
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PS. No more “Fat Jokes” please.
Certainly there must be something in the man’s character, or lack thereof, noteworthy of comment.
Thanks.