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1/ This follows @lizburgh 's receipts on Cori Bush, particularly her church (which appears to be mostly a paper church) and her messy tax record-keeping for that possible non-entity.
In particular, this kind of documented messiness early in or slightly before a political career
In particular, this kind of documented messiness early in or slightly before a political career
2/ takes off is something I've seen before -- during 2015-2017 when I was collecting receipts on potentially compromised or compromiseable Democrats.
This is somewhat related to the Russian collection and use of kompromat (literally "compromising material") and may even be
This is somewhat related to the Russian collection and use of kompromat (literally "compromising material") and may even be
3/ evidence for kompromat-gathering itself. That is above my pay grade and out of my area of expertise, so I will just note a couple of examples of the patterns I saw with examples.
This may or may not be useful for those of you chasing down receipts on candidates and elected
This may or may not be useful for those of you chasing down receipts on candidates and elected
4/ officials.
I'll start with a basic contrast btwn US opposition research and post-Soviet kompromat:
US opposition research, as we all know from the whole #butteremails and #buthislaptop scenarios, is generally digging for documented (or leaking fabricated...sheesh) dirt on
I'll start with a basic contrast btwn US opposition research and post-Soviet kompromat:
US opposition research, as we all know from the whole #butteremails and #buthislaptop scenarios, is generally digging for documented (or leaking fabricated...sheesh) dirt on
5/ an opponent specifically for influencing voters in an election cycle. The compromised materials are released before the election and then the chips fall where they may.
Post-Soviet kompromat, in contrast, is all about digging for damaging info; collecting it; NOT releasing
Post-Soviet kompromat, in contrast, is all about digging for damaging info; collecting it; NOT releasing
6/ it (because on release it loses its usability); and using it to influence or control a public figure or a politician.
The idea is to collect kompromat for use at a layer time, so the collection starts BEFORE or at the beginning of the political/public career trajectory.
The idea is to collect kompromat for use at a layer time, so the collection starts BEFORE or at the beginning of the political/public career trajectory.
7/ In actuality, once the collection process starts, it doesn't end, especially once the public figure rises up through the ranks.
The damaging info must be DOCUMENTED somehow, in govt records and/or the media. And the initial compromise doesn't have to be an illegal behavior;
The damaging info must be DOCUMENTED somehow, in govt records and/or the media. And the initial compromise doesn't have to be an illegal behavior;
8/ it can be morally questionable but technically legal.
I think Cori Bush's paper church may be an initial compromise. It shows "messiness" in the money/records realm. And she has also shown consciousness of guilt over her church in her non-responses to journalist queries
I think Cori Bush's paper church may be an initial compromise. It shows "messiness" in the money/records realm. And she has also shown consciousness of guilt over her church in her non-responses to journalist queries
9/ about it.
Here are two more examples that may possibly be represent post-Soviet-style kompromat documentation, using two well-known figures in the Democrat party.
Note I am not saying these individuals are verifiable compromised; I am merely pointing out that these two
Here are two more examples that may possibly be represent post-Soviet-style kompromat documentation, using two well-known figures in the Democrat party.
Note I am not saying these individuals are verifiable compromised; I am merely pointing out that these two
10/ examples show the pattern of public documentation of potentially moral or illegal behavior at the beginning of (or just prior to) the ascent of a public figure.
(1) November 2010. The then-Mayor of San Francisco (who had just won election as the next Lt. Governor of
(1) November 2010. The then-Mayor of San Francisco (who had just won election as the next Lt. Governor of
11/ California) received a $398 Louis Vuitton pen from Russian oligarch slash fertilizer king Dmitry Rybolovlev while said oligarch was visiting in the Bay Area. Gavin Newsom recorded this gift on the appropriate govt form, including description and value and gift-giver. But
12/ for the giver's physical address, he used the address of a SF travel agency. Technically, legal. But the address thing? Kinda looks funny. Like, why didn't he just provide DR's real address? Why use an address to which DR had no residential connection? Why do that if you
13/ don't have to do that?
Okay, now the next example involves the purchase and collection and sale of fine art -- which, no surprise, is a GREAT vehicle for laundering dirty money.
(2) In 2006, Oprah Winfrey bought from Christie's NY auction house the Gustav Klimt Portrait of
Okay, now the next example involves the purchase and collection and sale of fine art -- which, no surprise, is a GREAT vehicle for laundering dirty money.
(2) In 2006, Oprah Winfrey bought from Christie's NY auction house the Gustav Klimt Portrait of
14/ Adele Bloch Bauer II (the second of two portraits, completed in 1912). The related portrait (I, completed in 1907) was famously stolen from the owners by the Nazis in 1941, and has its own storied history.
Winfrey purchased the Klimt II for $87.9 million, the fourth highest
Winfrey purchased the Klimt II for $87.9 million, the fourth highest
15/ purchase price at Christie's at that time. She sold the painting in 2016 to an unidentified Chinese buyer <ahem> for $150 million.
Besides the big markup, what was interesting to me is that there is precious little in print on Winfrey's art collection. The original purchase
Besides the big markup, what was interesting to me is that there is precious little in print on Winfrey's art collection. The original purchase
16/ in 2006 is recorded in auction house documents and in a Reuter's article. But the sale in 2016 was widely recorded in the public, in art specialty publications and, notably, in Bloomberg dot com <ahem>.
Now remember the Golden Globes speech in January 2018 when this blue
Now remember the Golden Globes speech in January 2018 when this blue
17/ bird hellscape was all agog over a possible run for POTUS by OW?
(I also remember noting that at that time, OW had a small group of devoted fans chiming in from Russia.)
(I also remember noting that at that time, OW had a small group of devoted fans chiming in from Russia.)
18/ Yeah. Not conclusive, but suggestive. Documented, "messy" behavior at the start of a career trajectory. It *may* be a thing, and I advise @lizburgh and other receipt hunters to look at Justice Dems and Brand New Congress Dems for this type of thing.
19/ And for Cori Bush and any other new politician? This is a pattern. If you feel iffy about any past or ongoing actions, please contact 1-800-CALLFBI.
Looking at you, JDs, DSA, Sunrise Mvmt, etc. Ask yourself where the money that is funding your campaigns is coming from. /END
Looking at you, JDs, DSA, Sunrise Mvmt, etc. Ask yourself where the money that is funding your campaigns is coming from. /END
