So far, news of the bombshell arrest of Charles McGonigal, the former FBI special agent, has focused on his central role in events leading up to the 2016 election. That connection is stunning, to be sure.
But there is another issue raised by McGonigal's arrest that hasn't drawn nearly as much attention. At least it has not yet, but it may prove even more pivotal to bringing down the Trump crime syndicate. And that's McGonigal's curious association with the desperate attempts by Jared Kushner, and his father, Charles, to rescue an upside-down investment in 666 (now 660) 5th Avenue.
A little background. Kushner Properties bought the iconic Midtown property for a record $1.8 billion in 2007, just before the 2008 crash. About $1.3 billion purchase was financed, and the property was almost instantaneously hemmoraging big money. Some estimates valued the building at well less than half of the purchase price.
Remarkably, after years of failed efforts (including overtures to a Chinese company), the Kushners finally were able to sell a 99 year lease on the building to a company called Brookfield Asset Management in August 2018, with funding supplied by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund. The $1.2-billion lease payment for all 99 years was paid up front, allowing the Kushners to get the finance monkeys off their backs. Phew!
Crucially, after McGonigal retired from the FBI in September 2018, he was hired as senior vice president for security by none other than Brookfield... the company that saved the Kushners' asses.
Below is a link to a fascinating timeline of the Kushner/666 5th Avenue saga. It is an absolute must read. It long predates McGonigal's arrest, as it's nearly two years old.
But what you'll find is instructive and critically important, I think. Blackmail, unauthorized diplomacy, and more.
Now, a direct connection to none other than Charles McGonigal. Coincidence? It's just too crazy to be coincidence.
Stay tuned.
www.justsecurity.org/...
