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For years now Trump has repeatedly claimed he has “No dealings” with Russia — Oh Really?
Trump’s extended track record of Business forays there, would seem to indicate otherwise.
by MEGAN TWOHEY and STEVE EDER, NYTimes.com — Jan. 16, 2017
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The president-elect’s favorable comments about President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and the conclusion of United States intelligence officials that Moscow acted to help Mr. Trump’s campaign have focused attention on Mr. Trump’s business interests in Russia. Asked about the issue at his news conference last week, Mr. Trump was emphatic on one point: “I have no dealings with Russia.” And he repeated, “I have no deals that could happen in Russia because we’ve stayed away.”
Mr. Trump continued to work with Mr. Sater even after his role in a huge stock manipulation scheme involving Mafia figures and Russian criminals was revealed; Mr. Sater pleaded guilty and served as a government informant.
In 2007, Mr. Trump discussed a deal for a Trump International Hotel and Tower in Moscow that Bayrock had lined up with Russian investors.
Mr. Trump with Tevfik Arif, center, and Felix Sater at the Trump SoHo launch party in 2007. Mr. Trump discussed deals in Russia with their development company, the Bayrock Group, but they never materialized.
And then there are the recent attempts of Trump trying to seal a deal on the Trump World Tower Moscow, WHILE he was actively running for president. That was a deal that would have put an instant $4 Million into his coffers, once both sides signed on the dotted line (and put millions more in “commissions” for years to come).
If Mr Trump “has No Dealings with Russia” — it is not for lack of trying.
No wonder, he doesn’t want anyone — especially Robert Mueller — looking into “his financial dealings that were a red line that investigators shouldn't cross”.
No wonder, he has not yet released his Tax Returns, and probably will never will.
This president is making a joke out of the Emoluments clause of the Constitution. And the sad thing is he is too greedy and too clueless, to realize he is shredding that foundational Document with his every ongoing personal-financial pursuit.
But according to the recently-revealed Trump world-view: “I am the only one that matters.”
In other words, par for the Trump course.