- Donald Trump
« Paul Manafort
Resigns
Donald J. Trump for President
August 19, 2016
Hillary for America
August 19, 2016
"Paul Manafort’s resignation is a clear admission that the disturbing connections between Donald Trump's team and pro-Kremlin elements in Russia and Ukraine are untenable. But this is not the end of the story. It’s just the beginning. You can get rid of Manafort, but that doesn't end the odd bromance Trump has with Putin. Trump still has to answer serious questions hovering over his campaign given his propensity to parrot Putin’s talking points, the roster of advisers like Carter Page and Mike Flynn with deep ties to Russia, the recent Russian government hacking and disclosure of Democratic Party records, and reports that Breitbart published articles advocating pro-Kremlin positions on Ukraine. It's also time for Donald Trump to come clean on his own business dealings with Russian interests, given recent news reports about his web of deep financial connections to business groups with Kremlin ties.”
Democratic National Committee
For Immediate Release
August 19, 2016
Contact: DNC Press
Correct the Record
CONTACT: Correct The Record
Elizabeth Shappell / Lizzy Price
“Trump has officially replaced a Russia sympathizer with a white nationalist sympathizer,” said Brad Woodhouse, President of Correct The Record. “Paul Manafort’s resignation is just the latest sign of how toxic Donald Trump’s campaign has become. The Trump campaign is clearly desperate to bury their candidate’s troubling relationship with Moscow. But Manafort’s resignation after days of bad stories regarding his involvement with pro-Putin Ukrainian figures cannot erase the fact that for months Trump has praised Vladimir Putin, defended Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and refused to condemn some of the Kremlin's worst atrocities. Trump owes the American people answers about his relationship with the Kremlin. For starters, he should release his tax returns and finally come clean about any financial ties to Moscow.”
American Bridge 21st Century
August 19, 2016
...
Manafort and Gates' activities carry outsized importance, since they have steered Trump's campaign since April. The pair also played a formative role building out Trump's campaign operation after pushing out an early rival. Trump shook up his campaign's organization again this week, but Manafort and Gates retain their titles and much of their influence. The new disclosures about their work come as Trump faces criticism for his friendly overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
...
The emails show Gates personally directed two Washington lobbying firms, Mercury LLC and the Podesta Group Inc., between 2012 and 2014 to set up meetings between a top Ukrainian official and senators and congressmen on influential committees involving Ukrainian interests. Gates noted in the emails that the official, Ukraine's foreign minister, did not want to use his own embassy in the United States to help coordinate the visits.
...
Gates confirmed to the AP previously that he was working for Ukraine's ruling party, the Party of Regions, at the time.
Associated Press: Trump advisers waged covert influence campaign
[article]
American Bridge 21st Century
August 19, 2016
...
And there are signs that the early shakeup may not have gone entirely smoothly. On Wednesday evening, according to two sources close to the campaign, Trump aides determined that their first TV ad would be focused on an economic message. But on early Thursday morning, the staff got word that the plans were changing. Instead, the commercial would have a tough-on-immigration message.
The move caught some aides by surprise, and led them to believe that a small group of staffers — and perhaps Trump himself — had made the decision.
Politico: Paul Manafort resigns from Trump campaign
[article]
American Bridge 21st Century
August 19, 2016
It turns out that Manafort is even sketchier than the general public was aware at the time Trump hired him. Manafort was behind "a series of [2006] anti-Nato, anti-Kiev protests in Crimea led by Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russian Party of Regions — now designated a criminal organisation," and he may have received up to $12.7 million from Putin allies for the effort.
Further reports on Manafort's ties to "undisclosed" -- possibly illegal -- foreign lobbying on behalf of a pro-Putin group reveal that Manafort's firm "directly orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's ruling political party, attempting to sway American public opinion in favor of the country's pro-Russian government -- something Manafort never disclosed, despite a legal obligation to have done so.
Manafort may be "out" as campaign chair, but the Washington Post reports he'll "remain an ally and outside confidant of the campaign." And the Trump campaign will have plenty of Russia ties without him -- starting with the Putin-admiring, NATO-hating candidate, himself.
Trump: Too Close To Russia
Trump’s relationship with Russian leadership indicates a troubling
fondness for Russia’s geopolitical interests, along with a dangerous
recklessness in dealing with the country. At the same time, Trump’s
political staff and business interests are closely tied to Russian and
pro-Putin interests.
Trump’s Mutual Admiration Society With Putin
- Trump promised to improve relations with Russia, explaining that “If we can get along with Russia, that’s very good” and that he would probably “get along very well with Putin.”
- Trump praised Vladimir Putin’s leadership as “strong” and defended Putin against allegations of murdering journalists, political opponents as “I think our country does plenty of killing also.” Trump later denied praising Putin.
- Meanwhile, Putin praised Trump as an “outstanding and talented personality.” Trump incorrectly characterized Putin’s praise as calling him a “genius” and refused to renounce him because of Putin’s praise.
- Russian state media was “loaded with positive coverage” of Trump and painted him as a “brave political maverick” whose proposals to disband NATO and give Crimea to Russia were seen as favorable to Russian interests.
- Trump suggested he knew Putin “very well” because they were “stablemates” on 60 minutes, but then refused to say whether he had ever spoken to Putin.
- According the Daily Mail UK, Trump had never met Putin, but he met with Putin’s “trusted crony” Vladimir Kozhin at Trump’s Moscow Miss Universe pageant.
- In contrast to Putin, in 1990, Trump lamented that Mikhail Gorbachev did not have a “firm enough hand.”
Trump’s Dangerous Ideas on Russian Policy
Meanwhile, Trump claimed he understood Russia because he had a Miss Universe contest there “two or three years ago.” Trump threatened to shoot down Russian planes for performing barrel rolls near American planes, a move that that could provoke Russia to place pressure on its allies to block U.S. interests in the Middle East and against ISIS. Trump, claimed to have a “semi-nice” relationship with Putin, and qualified his remarks with the promise that he “would call him and I would say, don't do it, just stop it,” first. However, Trump refused to say if he had ever spoken to Putin.
Threatened To Disband NATO, Abandon Allies For Russia
Trump’s statements reflected Putin’s geopolitical interests. For example, Trump claimed that NATO was “too expensive” and demanded that American allies “pay up” for “past deficiencies." If allies refused to pay, Trump pledged to “say bye-bye, enjoy yourself against Russia.” In particular, Trump questioned the U.S.’s need to be involved in Ukraine and suggested he would not honor NATO-obligations to come to the aide of the Baltic States if attacked. In addition, Trump pledged to recognize Crimea, a Ukrainian territory invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014, as part of Russia.
Trump Encouraged Russian Hackers To Attack Political Rival Hillary Clinton
In July 2016, Trump called on Russian hackers to “find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails that are missing, I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.” Trump’s comments brought widespread condemnation from top national security officials, including former National Security Agency and CIA Chief Michael Hayden, and former National Security Council officials Philip Reiner and William Imboden. Imboden believed Trump’s comments were “tantamount to treason.”
In addition, Trump’s own vice president nominee Mike Pence released a statement contradicting Trump’s stance and warning of “serious consequences” if the FBI determined Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic Party emails.
Staff Ties To Pro-Putin Interests, And The Russian Mafia
- In 2010, Trump Organization hired convicted Russian mobster Felix Sater to serve as a senior business advisor.
- Trump campaign advisor and lobbyist Paul Manafort represented pro-Putin Viktor Yanukovych in his campaign for president of Ukraine in 2010. In 2014, Yanukovych resigned after resigned the presidency “after accusations that he undercut freedom of the press and tried to suppress opposition political parties” and used “a special police force to violently disband protesters.” The New York Times reported that an anti-corruption investigation discovered secret Ukrainian ledgers detailing $12.7 million in payments earmarked for Manafort from Yanukovych’s political party between 2007 – 2012. With the help of Russian oligarch and Putin-ally Oleg Deripaska, Manafort orchestrated a multi-million dollar deal on behalf of shell companies that financed the lavish lifestyles of the Yanukovych inner circle. It was unclear if Manafort received the payments allotted for him.
- In 2016, Trump’s foreign policy advisor Carter Page gave a speech in Moscow in which he claimed the U.S. unfairly judged Russia for its corruption and claimed the U.S. “unnecessarily perpetuated cold war tendencies.” Carter’s views earned him, and subsequently, Trump, the support of controversial political scientist Alexander Dugin, who was widely viewed as the “driving force” behind Moscow’s propaganda efforts in the Ukraine conflict. Dugin publically urged Russians to “kill, kill, kill Ukrainians.”
- Former Trump operative Michael Caputo lived in Russia for seven years, where he worked for groups that supported then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Trump Had Significant Financial And Investor Ties To Russia
Since the 1980’s Trump and his family had repeatedly traveled to Russia and other parts of the Soviet Bloc seeking business opportunities and investors. Trump had long sought to build a Trump Tower in Russia, and partnered with the Putin-aligned Agalarov fortune to do so. Trump also explored business deals in Kiev, Yalta, Warsaw, Georgia And Azerbaijan. In 2006, Trump partners on his Panamanian condo project sought investors in Russia and in 2008, Trump sold a Palm Beach condo to Russian Oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev for $95 million.
August 19, 2016
DONALD J. TRUMP STATEMENT
“This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign. I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process. Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success.”Hillary for America
August 19, 2016
Statement from Robby Mook on Manafort’s Resignation and Trump’s Continued Pro-Kremlin Ties
Friday, Hillary For American Campaign Manager Robby Mook issued the following statement on the resignation of Trump’s Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort and the many continuing ties between Trump and his campaign and pro-Kremlin forces:"Paul Manafort’s resignation is a clear admission that the disturbing connections between Donald Trump's team and pro-Kremlin elements in Russia and Ukraine are untenable. But this is not the end of the story. It’s just the beginning. You can get rid of Manafort, but that doesn't end the odd bromance Trump has with Putin. Trump still has to answer serious questions hovering over his campaign given his propensity to parrot Putin’s talking points, the roster of advisers like Carter Page and Mike Flynn with deep ties to Russia, the recent Russian government hacking and disclosure of Democratic Party records, and reports that Breitbart published articles advocating pro-Kremlin positions on Ukraine. It's also time for Donald Trump to come clean on his own business dealings with Russian interests, given recent news reports about his web of deep financial connections to business groups with Kremlin ties.”
Democratic National Committee
For Immediate Release
August 19, 2016
Contact: DNC Press
DNC Statement on Paul Manafort's Resignation
“Despite today’s latest staff shake-up, Donald Trump’s campaign still maintains strong ties to Russia and pro-Kremlin elements. At least a half-dozen of Trump’s remaining aides have Russian connections, and let’s not forget about his own financial interests in the region, as well as his repeated praise for Putin.” --DNC National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach
Correct the Record
CONTACT: Correct The Record
Elizabeth Shappell / Lizzy Price
CTR STATEMENT ON PAUL MANAFORT’S RESIGNATION
Washington, D.C.--Correct The Record President Brad Woodhouse released the following statement on Paul Manafort’s resignation as the Trump campaign’s Chairman and Chief Strategist:“Trump has officially replaced a Russia sympathizer with a white nationalist sympathizer,” said Brad Woodhouse, President of Correct The Record. “Paul Manafort’s resignation is just the latest sign of how toxic Donald Trump’s campaign has become. The Trump campaign is clearly desperate to bury their candidate’s troubling relationship with Moscow. But Manafort’s resignation after days of bad stories regarding his involvement with pro-Putin Ukrainian figures cannot erase the fact that for months Trump has praised Vladimir Putin, defended Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and refused to condemn some of the Kremlin's worst atrocities. Trump owes the American people answers about his relationship with the Kremlin. For starters, he should release his tax returns and finally come clean about any financial ties to Moscow.”
American Bridge 21st Century
August 19, 2016
This Is The Pro-Russian Guy Trump Kept On Staff
Paul Manafort and his deputy, Rick Gates, never disclosed their work as foreign agents as required under federal law....
Manafort and Gates' activities carry outsized importance, since they have steered Trump's campaign since April. The pair also played a formative role building out Trump's campaign operation after pushing out an early rival. Trump shook up his campaign's organization again this week, but Manafort and Gates retain their titles and much of their influence. The new disclosures about their work come as Trump faces criticism for his friendly overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
...
The emails show Gates personally directed two Washington lobbying firms, Mercury LLC and the Podesta Group Inc., between 2012 and 2014 to set up meetings between a top Ukrainian official and senators and congressmen on influential committees involving Ukrainian interests. Gates noted in the emails that the official, Ukraine's foreign minister, did not want to use his own embassy in the United States to help coordinate the visits.
...
Gates confirmed to the AP previously that he was working for Ukraine's ruling party, the Party of Regions, at the time.
Associated Press: Trump advisers waged covert influence campaign
[article]
American Bridge 21st Century
August 19, 2016
Trump Camp Pushed Pro-Russia GOP Platform. (And Botched Today's Ad Roll-Out
[Members of Trump's family] were also unhappy about changes made to the GOP platform that were seen as beneficial to Russia, which they felt Manafort played a role in, the source added....
And there are signs that the early shakeup may not have gone entirely smoothly. On Wednesday evening, according to two sources close to the campaign, Trump aides determined that their first TV ad would be focused on an economic message. But on early Thursday morning, the staff got word that the plans were changing. Instead, the commercial would have a tough-on-immigration message.
The move caught some aides by surprise, and led them to believe that a small group of staffers — and perhaps Trump himself — had made the decision.
Politico: Paul Manafort resigns from Trump campaign
[article]
American Bridge 21st Century
August 19, 2016
Manafort Is Out, But Trump Still Loves Putin
When Donald Trump brought on Paul Manafort as his campaign chair, Trump very well knew he was getting a man who advised dictators around the world and who had uncomfortably close ties to pro-Vladimir Putin forces in Ukraine.It turns out that Manafort is even sketchier than the general public was aware at the time Trump hired him. Manafort was behind "a series of [2006] anti-Nato, anti-Kiev protests in Crimea led by Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russian Party of Regions — now designated a criminal organisation," and he may have received up to $12.7 million from Putin allies for the effort.
Further reports on Manafort's ties to "undisclosed" -- possibly illegal -- foreign lobbying on behalf of a pro-Putin group reveal that Manafort's firm "directly orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's ruling political party, attempting to sway American public opinion in favor of the country's pro-Russian government -- something Manafort never disclosed, despite a legal obligation to have done so.
Manafort may be "out" as campaign chair, but the Washington Post reports he'll "remain an ally and outside confidant of the campaign." And the Trump campaign will have plenty of Russia ties without him -- starting with the Putin-admiring, NATO-hating candidate, himself.
Trump: Too Close To Russia
Trump’s relationship with Russian leadership indicates a troubling
fondness for Russia’s geopolitical interests, along with a dangerous
recklessness in dealing with the country. At the same time, Trump’s
political staff and business interests are closely tied to Russian and
pro-Putin interests.Trump’s Mutual Admiration Society With Putin
- Trump promised to improve relations with Russia, explaining that “If we can get along with Russia, that’s very good” and that he would probably “get along very well with Putin.”
- Trump praised Vladimir Putin’s leadership as “strong” and defended Putin against allegations of murdering journalists, political opponents as “I think our country does plenty of killing also.” Trump later denied praising Putin.
- Meanwhile, Putin praised Trump as an “outstanding and talented personality.” Trump incorrectly characterized Putin’s praise as calling him a “genius” and refused to renounce him because of Putin’s praise.
- Russian state media was “loaded with positive coverage” of Trump and painted him as a “brave political maverick” whose proposals to disband NATO and give Crimea to Russia were seen as favorable to Russian interests.
- Trump suggested he knew Putin “very well” because they were “stablemates” on 60 minutes, but then refused to say whether he had ever spoken to Putin.
- According the Daily Mail UK, Trump had never met Putin, but he met with Putin’s “trusted crony” Vladimir Kozhin at Trump’s Moscow Miss Universe pageant.
- In contrast to Putin, in 1990, Trump lamented that Mikhail Gorbachev did not have a “firm enough hand.”
Trump’s Dangerous Ideas on Russian Policy
Meanwhile, Trump claimed he understood Russia because he had a Miss Universe contest there “two or three years ago.” Trump threatened to shoot down Russian planes for performing barrel rolls near American planes, a move that that could provoke Russia to place pressure on its allies to block U.S. interests in the Middle East and against ISIS. Trump, claimed to have a “semi-nice” relationship with Putin, and qualified his remarks with the promise that he “would call him and I would say, don't do it, just stop it,” first. However, Trump refused to say if he had ever spoken to Putin.
Threatened To Disband NATO, Abandon Allies For Russia
Trump’s statements reflected Putin’s geopolitical interests. For example, Trump claimed that NATO was “too expensive” and demanded that American allies “pay up” for “past deficiencies." If allies refused to pay, Trump pledged to “say bye-bye, enjoy yourself against Russia.” In particular, Trump questioned the U.S.’s need to be involved in Ukraine and suggested he would not honor NATO-obligations to come to the aide of the Baltic States if attacked. In addition, Trump pledged to recognize Crimea, a Ukrainian territory invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014, as part of Russia.
Trump Encouraged Russian Hackers To Attack Political Rival Hillary Clinton
In July 2016, Trump called on Russian hackers to “find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails that are missing, I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press.” Trump’s comments brought widespread condemnation from top national security officials, including former National Security Agency and CIA Chief Michael Hayden, and former National Security Council officials Philip Reiner and William Imboden. Imboden believed Trump’s comments were “tantamount to treason.”
In addition, Trump’s own vice president nominee Mike Pence released a statement contradicting Trump’s stance and warning of “serious consequences” if the FBI determined Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic Party emails.
Staff Ties To Pro-Putin Interests, And The Russian Mafia
- In 2010, Trump Organization hired convicted Russian mobster Felix Sater to serve as a senior business advisor.
- Trump campaign advisor and lobbyist Paul Manafort represented pro-Putin Viktor Yanukovych in his campaign for president of Ukraine in 2010. In 2014, Yanukovych resigned after resigned the presidency “after accusations that he undercut freedom of the press and tried to suppress opposition political parties” and used “a special police force to violently disband protesters.” The New York Times reported that an anti-corruption investigation discovered secret Ukrainian ledgers detailing $12.7 million in payments earmarked for Manafort from Yanukovych’s political party between 2007 – 2012. With the help of Russian oligarch and Putin-ally Oleg Deripaska, Manafort orchestrated a multi-million dollar deal on behalf of shell companies that financed the lavish lifestyles of the Yanukovych inner circle. It was unclear if Manafort received the payments allotted for him.
- In 2016, Trump’s foreign policy advisor Carter Page gave a speech in Moscow in which he claimed the U.S. unfairly judged Russia for its corruption and claimed the U.S. “unnecessarily perpetuated cold war tendencies.” Carter’s views earned him, and subsequently, Trump, the support of controversial political scientist Alexander Dugin, who was widely viewed as the “driving force” behind Moscow’s propaganda efforts in the Ukraine conflict. Dugin publically urged Russians to “kill, kill, kill Ukrainians.”
- Former Trump operative Michael Caputo lived in Russia for seven years, where he worked for groups that supported then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
Trump Had Significant Financial And Investor Ties To Russia
Since the 1980’s Trump and his family had repeatedly traveled to Russia and other parts of the Soviet Bloc seeking business opportunities and investors. Trump had long sought to build a Trump Tower in Russia, and partnered with the Putin-aligned Agalarov fortune to do so. Trump also explored business deals in Kiev, Yalta, Warsaw, Georgia And Azerbaijan. In 2006, Trump partners on his Panamanian condo project sought investors in Russia and in 2008, Trump sold a Palm Beach condo to Russian Oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev for $95 million.
Copyright © 2016 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
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