Ten Years of Tax Returns Released by Trump’s Lawyers Destroys Rumors of Russian Conflict of Interests


Lawyers released a decade of tax documents on behalf of President Donald Trump. These documents show all the fuss so far concerning Russia and Trump is a bunch of hot air, literally.

In a letter released to the AP, the attorneys said there is no equity investment by Russians in entities controlled by Trump or debt owed by Trump to Russian lenders. But it did reflect some exceptions, including income from the 2013 Miss Universe pageant that was held in Moscow and a property in Florida sold to a Russian billionaire in 2008 for $95 million.

Heightened public alarm over Trump’s potential business ties to Russia has steadily increased since the firing of former FBI Director, James Comey. The drama stems from the fact that in addition to actively refusing to stop known terror attacks from unfolding on American soil, Comey also was investing possible ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia’s attempts to interfere in the election. President Trump has been quite adept that he has no financial investments with Russia.

“I have no investments in Russia, none whatsoever,” Trump said Thursday in an interview with NBC News. “I don’t have property in Russia. A lot of people thought I owned office buildings in Moscow. I don’t have property in Russia.”

The president said he “had dealings over the years,” including the Miss Universe pageant and the sale of a home to “a very wealthy Russian.” ”I had it in Moscow long time ago, but other than that I have nothing to do with Russia,” he said, referring to the pageant.

The unnamed Russian billionaire cited by the Trump company’s lawyers is Dmitry Rybolovlev, whose financial empire springs from his company’s’ production of potash, often used for fertilizer. Trump had purchased the 62,000 square-foot estate for $41.35 million in 2004, he sold the mansion to Rybolovlev in July 2008 for $95 million. The deal was widely reported at the time, including by The Associated Press.

When Trump was pressed during a campaign conference last year about his ties to Russia, he said: “You know the closest I came to Russia, I bought a house a number of years ago in Palm Beach,” adding that “I sold it to a Russian for $100 million.”

The letter, written by attorneys Sheri Dillon and William Nelson from the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, simultaneously leaves open the possibility of other Russian ties while attempting to dismiss them.

Yes, people like Lindsey Graham and others can speculate that the information released by President Trump’s attorneys is not comprehensive. However, the sickening hypocrisy and biases are very clear. Proof has been presented. But, all critics can say is that the door of possibility is always open when it regards attacking the President.

Perhaps, Senator Graham’s time would be better focused on real issues, such as finally figuring out what“America First” means…

Source: Washington Times 

 

 



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