Trump-Russia Corruption Database
These articles are excerpts from my book, While We Slept: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and the Corruption of American Democracy, available here.
Putin’s Russia, Global Corruption, and the Road to the 2016 American Election
This series covers the historical events leading up to the Russian intelligence operation targeting the 2016 American presidential election.
It describes the development of the Russian and Soviet secret police and intelligence services, the biography of Vladimir Putin, the development of the the post-Soviet kleptocracy, and the geopolitical and diplomatic events that soured US-Russian relations to the point that Putin ordered the attack.
- Part I: A Brief History of Russia’s Secret Police and Intelligence Services
- Part II: Putin in the KGB — Spying for a Dying Empire
- Part III: Money Laundering and the Looting of Russia: The Saga of the KGB Billions
- Part IV: Eurasian Organized Crime and the Origins of the Post-Soviet Oligarchic System
- Part V: Putin in St. Petersburg — Official Corruption and an Enduring Alliance with Organized Crime
- Part VI: Organized Crime, Intelligence Services, and the Bank of New York Money Laundering Scandal
- Part VII: Putin in Moscow — The Rise to Power and the 1999 Apartment Bombings
- Part VIII: Wet Jobs — The Putin Regime, Terror, and Political Murder
- Part IX: Authoritarianism Reborn: Putin Consolidates the Vertical of Power
- Part X: Kremlin Energy Politics and Putin’s Seizure of Russia’s Strategic Resources
- Part XI: The Kremlin’s Weaponization of Organized Crime and Corruption in Ukraine, Western Europe, Israel, and the Anglosphere
- Part XII: Vlad Meets Bill and George — American Unilateralism, Color Revolutions, and the Failure of Presidential Diplomacy (1999–2009)
- Part XIII: Putin, Obama and Hillary Clinton — The Descent of Russian-American Relations (2009–2012)
- Part XIV: The Magnitsky Act, Revolution In Ukraine, and a Final Rupture in US-Russian Relations (2012–2015)
Donald Trump, Corruption, and the Insidious Influence of Organized Crime
This series covers Donald Trump’s numerous connections to organized crime, both the American and Eurasian variety. It analyzes Trump’s early connections to the Italian-American Mafia in the Manhattan real estate market and later while operating casinos in Atlantic City. It then explores the many connections Trump and his businesses have had over the decades with organized crime elements from the former Soviet Union.
- Part I: Fiscal Crisis, Civic Corruption, and Organized Crime — Donald Trump’s Rise in Manhattan
- Part II: Casinos, Crime, and Junk Bonds: Trump’s Rise in Atlantic City
- Part III: The Death of Roy Cohn, Resorts International, and Donald Trump’s Financial Downfall
- Part IV: Donald Trump, Russian Intelligence, and Eurasian Organized Crime — Convergence in Brighton Beach (1974–1994)
- Part V: Trump’s 1996 Trip to Moscow and Russian Investments in Trump Organization Properties
- Part VI: Eurasian Organized Crime, Trump Real Estate Projects, and the Strange Story of Felix Sater
- Part VII: Maison L’Amitie and the Trump Organization’s Corrupt Overseas Developments
- Part VIII: An Illegal Gambling Ring in Trump Tower — The Taiwanchik-Trincher Organization
- Part IX: Donald Trump, the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant, and the Quest to Meet Vladimir Putin
From Nixon to Trump: Roger Stone’s Politics of Deception and Division
This series covers the life and career of the Republican political consultant and convicted felon Roger Stone up to the 2016 election.
It describes Stone’s work for Richard Nixon and and his career as a lobbyist during the Reagan years. Stone’s early relationship with Donald Trump is explored, as is his regular employment of trickery, deception, and division. After a sex scandal exiled him from mainstream politics, Stone became involved with New York State gubernatorial races and the local politics of Broward County, Florida. The life of Stone associate Michael Caputo, and his links with various global intelligence agencies, is explored.
- Part I: “Past is F*ing Prologue,” — The Origins of the Roger Stone-Donald Trump Relationship and the Ghost of Political Scandals Past
- Part II: Roger Stone and the Genesis of the Trump Presidency: Voter Suppression, Lobbying and Trump’s Boardwalk Empire (1980–1996)
- Part III: Roger Stone After the Fall: Trump, Indian Casinos, and the 2000 Election (1996–2000)
- Part IV: Roger Stone’s New York State of Mind - Campaign Stunts and Stunt Campaigns (2000–2010)
- Part V: Florida Man: Roger Stone, the Scott Rothstein Ponzi Scheme, and Politics in the Sunshine State
- Part VI: Roger Stone’s Best Friend — Michael Caputo and the Shadow of Global Intelligence Services
Sins of the Father: the Manafort Family and the Gambling Syndicate
This article describes Paul Manafort and his father’s interactions with organized crime and the gambling syndicate in Connecticut and beyond. It chronicles how political corruption in the past echoes through to the current day. The article further reveals the genesis of Manafort’s relationship with Roger Stone.
Paul Manafort, Russia, and the Struggle for Ukraine
The following 9-part series offers an in-depth examination of Paul Manafort’s activities in Ukraine from the period of 2006 to 2014.
The series describes Paul Manafort’s early career, introduces the organized crime-linked oligarchs who provided him an entrée to Ukraine and Russia, provides historical context for the political situation in Ukraine upon his arrival, and goes on to shine a light on Manafort’s corrupt activities in country.
The articles end immediately prior to Manafort joining Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
- Part I: Meet Paul Manafort, the Influence Peddler
- Part II: Oleg Deripaska, Organized Crime, and Manafort’s Introduction to Ukraine
- Part III: Ukraine’s Tragic 20th Century, its Post-Independence Seizure By Organized Crime, and the Road to the Orange Revolution
- Part IV: The Influence Peddler, the Spy, and the Kleptocrat — Paul Manafort in Ukraine
- Part V: The Influence Peddler and the Oligarch — Paul Manafort, Oleg Deripaska, and the Anatomy of Global Corruption
- Part VI: Paul Manafort and the Spoils of Kleptocracy — Shell Games, Shady Deals, and Money Laundering
- Part VII: Paul Manafort, Skadden Arps, and the Laundering of a Kleptocrat’s Reputation
- Part VIII: Paul Manafort, Ukraine’s Kleptocracy, and the Art of Public Relations (aka Disinformation and Propaganda)
- Part IX: Paul Manafort, Ukraine, and the Art of Lobbying for Kleptocrats
Russian Intelligence, Disinformation, and the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
This series covers the activities of Russian intelligence, in particular Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. It also covers the history of Russian intelligence and cyber operations targeting the United States. Finally, it covers the disinformation and propaganda activities of the Internet Research Agency during the 2016 election.
- Part I: Active Measures, Disinformation, and the History of Russian Election Interference Efforts in the United States
- Part II: Moonlight Maze - Russian Espionage, Hacking, and Cyber Warfare in the Lead-Up to the 2016 Election
- Part III: Russian Intelligence, the Breach of the Democratic National Committee, and the 2016 Election
- Part IV: Wikileaks, Russian Active Measures, and the 2016 Election
- Part V: How the Obama Administration and U.S. Intelligence Responded to Russian Active Measures in 2016
- Part VI: Access Hollywood, the GRU, Wikileaks, Porn Stars, and the FBI — A Perfect Storm
Disinformation, Social Media, and the 2016 Election: The Internet Research Agency Explained
This article covers the origins and activities of the Internet Research Agency, the St. Petersburg-based online troll and propaganda farm paid for by the infamous Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin. The IRA supported the Trump campaign during the 2016 election, and manipulated Americans of various political persuasions to protest in the streets.
Dark Triad: Russian Intelligence, Eurasian Organized Crime, and the Trump Tower Moscow Project
This article covers Donald Trump’s secret quest to build a Trump Tower in Moscow before and during the 2016 presidential election.
This effort, which was consciously concealed from the American public as it was underway, brought Trump and his emissaries into contact with senior Kremlin officals, former Russian intelligence agents, and prominent figures with connections to Eurasian organized crime.
Black Caviar: Paul Manafort, Russia, and the 2016 Trump Campaign
This series covers Paul Manafort’s activities immediately prior, and during, the 2016 presidential election. Manafort served as Trump’s campaign chairman. He provided internal polling data to, and held private meetings with, the alleged Russian intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik.
It further provides an in-depth exploration of the enduring mysteries and the questions that remain regarding Manafort, his potential involvement in the GRU’s hack-and-leak operation, a series of suspect real estate and financial transactions, and Manafort’s interactions with organized crime-linked Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs.
- Part I: The Descent — Paul Manafort, Russian-Intelligence-Linked Organized Crime in Ukraine, and a Dual Family-Fiscal Crisis
- Part II: Manafort Joins the Trump Campaign and Possible Connections to the GRU’s Hack-and-Leak Operation
- Part III: Polling Data and Private Briefings — Paul Manafort, Pro-Kremlin Oligarchs, and Russian Intelligence
- Part IV: Black Caviar — Konstantin Kilimnik, the Grand Havana Room Meeting, and the Future of Ukraine
- Part V: The Black Ledger and Manafort’s Last Days on the Campaign
- Part VI: The Mystery Manafort Real Estate Transactions and a Potential Link to the GRU’s Hack-and-Leak Operation
- Part VII: The Escort and the Oligarch — The Nastya Rybka Saga
Collision 2016: Russian Military Intelligence, Wikileaks, and Roger Stone
This series covers Roger Stone’s activities during the 2016 presidential election, including his interactions with the Trump Campaign, his involvement in the the first “Stop the Steal” disinformation movement, and his interactions with Wikileaks and Russian military intelligence.
- Part I: Roger Stone and the 2016 Election — InfoWars and the Origins of Stop the Steal
- Part II: Hall of Mirrors — Roger Stone, Wikileaks, and the Trump Campaign
- Part III: “We Have A Mutual Friend,” — Roger Stone, Wikileaks, and Russian Military Intelligence
Mysterious Misfits: The 2016 Trump Foreign Policy Team and the Russian Election Interference Campaign
This series covers the numerous intersections between the 2016 Trump Campaign’s Foreign Policy Team and individuals and organizations connected to the Kremlin and Russia’s intelligence services. It specifically focuses on the activities of George Papadopoulos, Carter Page and the campaign’s interactions with the Russian national Dimitri Simes.
- Part I: The Establishment of the Trump Campaign’s 2016 Foreign Policy Team and the Search for Hillary’s “Missing Emails”
- Part II: Active Measures and Dirty Secrets — the Trump Advisor, the Professor, and Hillary’s Stolen Emails
- Part III: Loose Lips — How George Papadopoulos Revealed Russian Secrets
- Part IV: Suspected Spies and Mysterious Ties — George Papadopoulos’s Last Days on the Trump Campaign
- Part V: A Wilderness of Mirrors — Carter Page, Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FBI, and the CIA
- Part VI: The Moscow Mystery — Carter Page on the Trump Campaign
- Part VII: To Russia With Love — Jared Kushner, Dimitri Simes, and Trump’s First Foreign Policy Address
Kremlin Influence Campaigns and the June 9th Trump Tower Meeting
This series describes the infamous June 9th, 2016, Trump Tower meeting between Trump’s son and top campaign leadership with a group of Russian’s claiming to possess compromising information on Hillary Clinton. It provides an extensive description of the events that led up to the meeting, casting it as but one part of a complex, multifacted Kremlin influence operation targeting multiple branches of the US Government, as well as the known details of the meeting itself.
- Part I: Kremlin Influence Campaigns and the Origins of the June 9th Trump Tower Meeting
- Part II: A Crime, Counterintelligence Trap, or Nothing Burger? — The June 9th Trump Tower Meeting
Cambridge Analytica, Steve Bannon, and the Bad Boys of Brexit on the 2016 Trump Campaign
This article series describes the shadowy origins of the political consulting and data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica, which served as a core between the the 2016 Trump campaign and key individuals involved in the Brexit movement. It describes the role Steve Bannon and billionaire arch-conservative Robert Mercer played in the establishment of Cambridge Analytica.
The series also describes the intelligence and Russian connections of Cambridge Analytica’s parent company, Strategic Communications Laboratories, as well as the work Cambridge Analytica did on behalf of Russian interests.
The series describes the involvement Cambridge Analytica had with Brexit, the Russian connections of the top proponents of Brexit, and finally the activities of the so-called “Bad Boys of Brexit” on the 2016 Trump campaign.
- Part I: Strategic Communication Laboratories and the Mysterious Origins of Cambridge Analytica
- Part II: Steve Bannon, Robert Mercer, and the Birth of Cambridge Analytica
- Part III: Cambridge Analytica Abroad — Connections to Russia, Israel, and Saudi Arabia
- Part IV: The Bad Boys of Brexit — Connections to Russia, Wikileaks, and Cambridge Analytica
- Part V: Cambridge Analytica and the Bad Boys of Brexit on the Trump Campaign
Convergence of Shadows: Israel, the Gulf States, and Erik Prince in the 2016 Election
This series of articles explores the role Israel, in particular the Israeli private intelligence industry, the Gulf monarchies of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirate, and the infamous billionaire mercenary Erik Prince, played in supporting the 2016 candidacy of Donald Trump.
- Part I: The Israeli Private Intelligence Industry and the 2016 Trump Campaign
- Part II: The Second Trump Tower Meeting — Psy Group, Arab Princes, and American’s Most Infamous Mercenary
Michael Flynn, Information Operations, and the Search For Hillary’s “Missing” Emails
This article covers how Michael Flynn went from being a central figure in the Global War on Terror, to developing connections to Russia, to ultimately becoming a key supporter of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. It also covers his various connections to the Israeli private intelligence industry and potential involvement in voter suppression activities. Finally, it covers his involvement with Peter W. Smith in an effort to find Hillary’s “Missing” emails from her time as Secretary of State.
- Part I: The Alienation of Michael Flynn — From the War on Terror, to Russia, to Trump
- Part II: A Tangled Web — Michael Flynn, the Russian-Israeli Nexus, and a GRU-Backed Coup in Montenegro
- Part III: Michael Flynn, Conservative Activists, Russian Hackers, and the Search for the “Missing” Clinton Emails