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Collusion or Influence Peddling?
Author: BobR
Date: 05/10/2018 13:19:39
Several important news items have popped out lately that seem important, but are hard to wrap one's mind around. It seems like something dirty is going on here, but what? Is it collusion?... or is it influence peddling? It's hard to know exactly how much tRump knew or did, but his long-time personal lawyer - Michael Cohen - is smack-dab in the middle of some serious illegal activity.
Two of the major stories involve American companies: Novartis and Columbus Nova. It's a little confusing because the names are similar. They are very different, however.
Columbus Nova is - supposedly - an investment firm, in that they provide and manage investment funds. In 2017, they paid Michael Cohen $500K, through Cohen's shell company "Essential Consultants" (which is the same company that paid Stormy Daniels the $130K). More interesting than that, though, is that the single largest investor in Columbus Nova is Viktor Vekselberg, who was at the same RT dinner as Putin and former tRump security adviser Michael Flynn.
Columbus Nova has also been described as a subsidiary of Renova, a relationship that they scrubbed from their website (you can see the pre-scrubbed version here).
So an American company that is a financial subsidiary of a Russian company - founded by a Russian Oligarch with ties to Putin and who likely met Michael Flynn - paid tRump's lawyer $500K for... what? To make this all the more tawdry, Columbus Nova has been registering websites aimed at white supremacists. That fits right in, doesn't it?
Novartis is a pharmaceuticals company, and one that some people would probably refer to as "Big Pharma". They too paid money to Michael Cohen: $1.2M in monthly installments over the course of a year (Feb 2017 - Jan 2018). Why? to get inside access:
For his part, Cohen was riding high, but perhaps flew too close to the sun. Cohen was either influence peddling for the president, or acting as a lobbyist, when he wasn't registered as one. Both are illegal.
Grab your popcorn...
Two of the major stories involve American companies: Novartis and Columbus Nova. It's a little confusing because the names are similar. They are very different, however.
Columbus Nova is - supposedly - an investment firm, in that they provide and manage investment funds. In 2017, they paid Michael Cohen $500K, through Cohen's shell company "Essential Consultants" (which is the same company that paid Stormy Daniels the $130K). More interesting than that, though, is that the single largest investor in Columbus Nova is Viktor Vekselberg, who was at the same RT dinner as Putin and former tRump security adviser Michael Flynn.
Columbus Nova has also been described as a subsidiary of Renova, a relationship that they scrubbed from their website (you can see the pre-scrubbed version here).
So an American company that is a financial subsidiary of a Russian company - founded by a Russian Oligarch with ties to Putin and who likely met Michael Flynn - paid tRump's lawyer $500K for... what? To make this all the more tawdry, Columbus Nova has been registering websites aimed at white supremacists. That fits right in, doesn't it?
Novartis is a pharmaceuticals company, and one that some people would probably refer to as "Big Pharma". They too paid money to Michael Cohen: $1.2M in monthly installments over the course of a year (Feb 2017 - Jan 2018). Why? to get inside access:
The contract was approved in early 2017 under the former Novartis chief executive Joe Jimenez and was part of its efforts to learn more about how the new Trump administration might approach certain U.S. healthcare policy matters.
[...]
Jimenez also met the president after he took office at a Jan. 31, 2017 meeting in the White House. At the time, Jimenez was the incoming chairman-elect of the powerful Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) industry lobby.
In U.S. television interviews with ABC and MSNBC, Avenatti declined to say where he had received the information about the payments to Cohen from.
Avenatti, who also alleged payments were made separately by AT&T (T.N) and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd (047810.KS), raised questions about the Novartis contract, saying it was unclear what healthcare expertise Cohen could provide to a global drug firm.
For his part, Cohen was riding high, but perhaps flew too close to the sun. Cohen was either influence peddling for the president, or acting as a lobbyist, when he wasn't registered as one. Both are illegal.
Grab your popcorn...
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Raine on 05/10/2018 13:24:06
Raine on 05/10/2018 13:24:06
Good Morning! 
I am still having a hard time processing this all.
Cohen was appointed as deputy Finance chair of the RNC in April of 2017.
I have seen no proof that he has left that position.
I am still having a hard time processing this all.
Cohen was appointed as deputy Finance chair of the RNC in April of 2017.
I have seen no proof that he has left that position.
Comment by 
Scoopster on 05/10/2018 13:40:47
Scoopster on 05/10/2018 13:40:47
Mornin' all! 
Can I just say that I have always loved the Wayback Machine?
Can I just say that I have always loved the Wayback Machine?
Comment by Scoopster on 05/10/2018 13:57:48
Scoopster on 05/10/2018 13:57:48
Ohhh boy.. lookie what I found.
The entire history of the website going back to 2001!. I'm digging around in 2003 at the moment.
The entire history of the website going back to 2001!. I'm digging around in 2003 at the moment.
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 14:02:49
(down goes scoop into the rabbit hole!)
Raine on 05/10/2018 14:02:49
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all!
Can I just say that I have always loved the Wayback Machine?
(down goes scoop into the rabbit hole!)
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 14:10:09
Raine on 05/10/2018 14:10:09
What's going on Mala? I just saw your tweet.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 05/10/2018 14:42:22
wickedpam on 05/10/2018 14:42:22
Morning 
Comment by wickedpam on 05/10/2018 14:49:31
Rough morning -
- running late for work leaving the house
- tried a new way that made the trip even worse (didn't think that was possible)
- once I get here, don't even to turn on my computer when I have to go get a drug test (have I mentioned that I find these not only humiliating but also an invasion of privacy - I f-ing gave up poppy seed bagels or anything with poppy seeds cause I didn't want to get caught with a false positive)
- waiting at the urgent care for an hour and really having to pee
- getting back to work to no F-ing parking and having to squeeze my car into a spot where I could barely get out.
And now I have to put a smile on my face and play nice even though I am royally ticked off. I know in the grand scheme of the world, this is nothing but inconvenience and me being selfish and impatient. It will pass but just irked at the moment.
Sorry for venting all over ya
wickedpam on 05/10/2018 14:49:31
Quote by Raine:
What's going on Mala? I just saw your tweet.
Rough morning -
- running late for work leaving the house
- tried a new way that made the trip even worse (didn't think that was possible)
- once I get here, don't even to turn on my computer when I have to go get a drug test (have I mentioned that I find these not only humiliating but also an invasion of privacy - I f-ing gave up poppy seed bagels or anything with poppy seeds cause I didn't want to get caught with a false positive)
- waiting at the urgent care for an hour and really having to pee
- getting back to work to no F-ing parking and having to squeeze my car into a spot where I could barely get out.
And now I have to put a smile on my face and play nice even though I am royally ticked off. I know in the grand scheme of the world, this is nothing but inconvenience and me being selfish and impatient. It will pass but just irked at the moment.
Sorry for venting all over ya
Comment by 
livingonli on 05/10/2018 14:50:57
Sounds like a good time for primal scream therapy.
livingonli on 05/10/2018 14:50:57
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
What's going on Mala? I just saw your tweet.
Rough morning -
- running late for work leaving the house
- tried a new way that made the trip even worse (didn't think that was possible)
- once I get here, don't even to turn on my computer when I have to go get a drug test (have I mentioned that I find these not only humiliating but also an invasion of privacy - I f-ing gave up poppy seed bagels or anything with poppy seeds cause I didn't want to get caught with a false positive)
- waiting at the urgent care for an hour and really having to pee
- getting back to work to no F-ing parking and having to squeeze my car into a spot where I could barely get out.
And now I have to put a smile on my face and play nice even though I am royally ticked off. I know in the grand scheme of the world, this is nothing but inconvenience and me being selfish and impatient. It will pass but just irked at the moment.
Sorry for venting all over ya
Sounds like a good time for primal scream therapy.
Comment by wickedpam on 05/10/2018 14:54:36
Oh I wish I had a sound proof room and something to hit, trust me.
wickedpam on 05/10/2018 14:54:36
Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
What's going on Mala? I just saw your tweet.
Rough morning -
- running late for work leaving the house
- tried a new way that made the trip even worse (didn't think that was possible)
- once I get here, don't even to turn on my computer when I have to go get a drug test (have I mentioned that I find these not only humiliating but also an invasion of privacy - I f-ing gave up poppy seed bagels or anything with poppy seeds cause I didn't want to get caught with a false positive)
- waiting at the urgent care for an hour and really having to pee
- getting back to work to no F-ing parking and having to squeeze my car into a spot where I could barely get out.
And now I have to put a smile on my face and play nice even though I am royally ticked off. I know in the grand scheme of the world, this is nothing but inconvenience and me being selfish and impatient. It will pass but just irked at the moment.
Sorry for venting all over ya
Sounds like a good time for primal scream therapy.
Oh I wish I had a sound proof room and something to hit, trust me.
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 14:56:03
Don't be sorry! that all sucks!
Raine on 05/10/2018 14:56:03
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
What's going on Mala? I just saw your tweet.
Rough morning -
- running late for work leaving the house
- tried a new way that made the trip even worse (didn't think that was possible)
- once I get here, don't even to turn on my computer when I have to go get a drug test (have I mentioned that I find these not only humiliating but also an invasion of privacy - I f-ing gave up poppy seed bagels or anything with poppy seeds cause I didn't want to get caught with a false positive)
- waiting at the urgent care for an hour and really having to pee
- getting back to work to no F-ing parking and having to squeeze my car into a spot where I could barely get out.
And now I have to put a smile on my face and play nice even though I am royally ticked off. I know in the grand scheme of the world, this is nothing but inconvenience and me being selfish and impatient. It will pass but just irked at the moment.
Sorry for venting all over ya
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 14:57:20
Raine on 05/10/2018 14:57:20
I can't believe after all these years you have to take a damn drug test!
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 15:04:50
Raine on 05/10/2018 15:04:50
Comment by wickedpam on 05/10/2018 15:06:03
Yep, 22 years and I still get stuck having to do it almost yearly. One year my name got pulled 3 times! WTF, I was so pissed I demanded my boss talk to the HR girl to have them remove me from the pool for a while.
wickedpam on 05/10/2018 15:06:03
Quote by Raine:
I can't believe after all these years you have to take a damn drug test!
Yep, 22 years and I still get stuck having to do it almost yearly. One year my name got pulled 3 times! WTF, I was so pissed I demanded my boss talk to the HR girl to have them remove me from the pool for a while.
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 05/10/2018 15:42:58
Mondobubba on 05/10/2018 15:42:58
Thanks to Glass Door, I just canceled the interview I had with a shady AF company.
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 15:58:29
What's Glass Door?
Raine on 05/10/2018 15:58:29
Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks to Glass Door, I just canceled the interview I had with a shady AF company.
What's Glass Door?
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 16:21:36
Raine on 05/10/2018 16:21:36
Guiliani "Resigns" from his law firm.
“After recognizing that this work is all consuming and is lasting longer than initially anticipated, Rudy has determined it is best for him to resign,†said the firm’s chairman, Richard A. Rosenbaum.
In a statement released by the firm, Mr. Giuliani said it “is in everyone’s best interest that I make it a permanent resignation†so he can focus on the special counsel’s investigation.
Comment by Mondobubba on 05/10/2018 16:24:29
One of the many job boards that I am on at the moment. Glass Door is cool in that is has reviews of companies.
Mondobubba on 05/10/2018 16:24:29
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks to Glass Door, I just canceled the interview I had with a shady AF company.
What's Glass Door?
One of the many job boards that I am on at the moment. Glass Door is cool in that is has reviews of companies.
Comment by Scoopster on 05/10/2018 16:28:40
Scoopster on 05/10/2018 16:28:40
These guys are gonna go down as some of the most inept criminals in American history.
Isn't this a kinda potential admission that Cohen has destroyed evidence (his cellphone(s))?
Isn't this a kinda potential admission that Cohen has destroyed evidence (his cellphone(s))?
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 17:05:09
This is why when he was raided, they mirrored at Cohen's digital information -- they copied everything -- I said to Bobber at the time that I think they knew he would do this.
I'm not a lawyer, but this looks like possible obstruction of justice.
Raine on 05/10/2018 17:05:09
Quote by Scoopster:
These guys are gonna go down as some of the most inept criminals in American history.
Isn't this a kinda potential admission that Cohen has destroyed evidence (his cellphone(s))?
I'm not a lawyer, but this looks like possible obstruction of justice.
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 17:05:31
OH! good to know. Thanks!
Raine on 05/10/2018 17:05:31
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks to Glass Door, I just canceled the interview I had with a shady AF company.
What's Glass Door?
One of the many job boards that I am on at the moment. Glass Door is cool in that is has reviews of companies.
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 17:07:09
And furthermore, Davidson is the former stormy lawyer who is now working with SDNY, Right?
When was the raid again?
Raine on 05/10/2018 17:07:09
Quote by Raine:This is why when he was raided, they mirrored at Cohen's digital information -- they copied everything -- I said to Bobber at the time that I think they knew he would do this.Quote by Scoopster:
These guys are gonna go down as some of the most inept criminals in American history.
Isn't this a kinda potential admission that Cohen has destroyed evidence (his cellphone(s))?
I'm not a lawyer, but this looks like possible obstruction of justice.
When was the raid again?
Comment by 
BobR on 05/10/2018 17:36:19
April 2nd, I believe
BobR on 05/10/2018 17:36:19
Quote by Raine:And furthermore, Davidson is the former stormy lawyer who is now working with SDNY, Right?Quote by Raine:This is why when he was raided, they mirrored at Cohen's digital information -- they copied everything -- I said to Bobber at the time that I think they knew he would do this.Quote by Scoopster:
These guys are gonna go down as some of the most inept criminals in American history.
Isn't this a kinda potential admission that Cohen has destroyed evidence (his cellphone(s))?
I'm not a lawyer, but this looks like possible obstruction of justice.
When was the raid again?
April 2nd, I believe
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 18:02:16
Raine on 05/10/2018 18:02:16
a new low for this channel.
...Wow
— Leanne Naramore (@LeanneNaramore) May 10, 2018
Conversation on Fox about torture: "It worked on John [McCain]. That's why they call him 'Songbird John'" https://t.co/OjCwhv2ZhI pic.twitter.com/WehsgPAqgb
Comment by Scoopster on 05/10/2018 18:27:59
Scoopster on 05/10/2018 18:27:59
Oh hey PSSSST Donnie by the way..
In case you were wondering..
The score is 11-3. Obama still leads.
In case you were wondering..
The score is 11-3. Obama still leads.
Comment by Raine on 05/10/2018 18:55:50
and he never made it a publicity BS thing either!
Raine on 05/10/2018 18:55:50
Quote by Scoopster:
Oh hey PSSSST Donnie by the way..
In case you were wondering..
The score is 11-3. Obama still leads.
and he never made it a publicity BS thing either!
Comment by wickedpam on 05/10/2018 19:12:38
Plus he still got BinLaden. But I'm sure the angry orange would like to try to undo that too.
wickedpam on 05/10/2018 19:12:38
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:
Oh hey PSSSST Donnie by the way..
In case you were wondering..
The score is 11-3. Obama still leads.
and he never made it a publicity BS thing either!
Plus he still got BinLaden. But I'm sure the angry orange would like to try to undo that too.
Comment by livingonli on 05/10/2018 19:19:04
Waiting for the creation of Zombie Bin Laden.
livingonli on 05/10/2018 19:19:04
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:
Oh hey PSSSST Donnie by the way..
In case you were wondering..
The score is 11-3. Obama still leads.
and he never made it a publicity BS thing either!
Plus he still got BinLaden. But I'm sure the angry orange would like to try to undo that too.
Waiting for the creation of Zombie Bin Laden.