File in the “You Can’t Make This Shit Up” file. Friday morning Donald Trump released a letter from his attorneys that purported to absolve him of any conflicts of interest stemming from dealings with Russia. The letter stated that the lawyers had reviewed ten years of Trump’s tax returns and affirm that he has had no income from Russian sources “with a few exceptions.”
Another way of saying that is that Trump did have some income from Russian sources. However, the larger problem with this letter is that there is no way to confirm any of its claims. What’s more, the way that Trump plays with the truth, they could be saying that he has not received any income personally from Russia, but his businesses might still have extensive financial ties.
But what makes this self-serving dispatch all the more peculiar is that the law firm representing Trump in this matter, Morgan, Lewis, has deep ties to Russia itself. ABC News reports that:
“In 2016, however, Chambers & Partners, a London-based legal research publication, named the firm ‘Russia Law Firm of the Year’ at its annual awards dinner. The firm celebrated the ‘prestigious honor’ in a press release on its website, noting that the award is ‘the latest honor for the high-profile work performed by the lawyers in Morgan Lewis’ Moscow office.'”
Needless to say, the optics of this are atrocious. Couldn’t Trump have found a purely American law firm to attest to his patriotic business dealings? Does everyone with whom he associates have hidden connections to Russia? Is Vladimir Putin handling his PR?
The honor bestowed upon this law firm may not be particularly significant. They have an office in Moscow and do considerable business there. And the award is from a private entity, not the Russian government. So it may all be an innocent coincidence. But there have been an awful lot of those erupting around Trump & Co. Plus, the law firm’s website makes note of their specialties. Some of them seem especially well-suited to Trump’s organization, including real estate property transactions:
“Our Moscow office includes more than 40 lawyers and staff who have been working together for many years. Our lawyers are well known in the Russian market, and have deep familiarity with the local legislation, practices, and key players.” […]
“We are particularly adept at advising our clients about compliance and sanction matters.”
Well, that’s not suspicious at all, is it? For Trump to send this firm out to sweep away any unsavory speculation was astonishingly inept, at best. At worst it is evidence of his steel-trap embrace of all things Russian. And it makes it all the more imperative that he release all of his tax returns for himself and his businesses. Without access to that information all the American people have is the word of a severely compromised and untrustworthy charlatan.
How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.
Imagine what President Eisenhower would say about Donald’s close Russian ties while in Office. He owes them hundreds of millions in Loans they gave him so they expect quite a bit in return.
Donald Trump hired Lionel Hutz to represent him.
[Massive opposition to Trump’s firing of Comey]
If someone tried selling this for a book or movie they would get rejected for bring too unbelievable.
Self proclaimed Emperor-in-chief is delusional , monomaniacal and just plain WACKY!
The Republicans lead by McConnell have spent the last 7 – 8 years obstructing just about anything that the black president , and I do emphasize the color difference because of the deep rooted hatred of members of that party and many Americans, tried to do. It continues now and since the Senate majority leader refuses to do anything that will impact upon our seemingly out of tweet control, we are left with a mess.
I have felt that the Dems were cowardly for not fighting against the Republican obstruction but this has been surpassed by the immense political cowardice of the Republicans for allowing our country to be put in such dire jeopardy. Trump campaigned on his slogan, Make America Great and make America safe. HE HAS FAILED ON BOTH ACCOUNTS!
SHAME SHAME SHAME