Mueller Team Questioned Russian Oligarch Present At Trump Inauguration

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY, 9 (RUSSIA OUT) Russian businessman and billionaire Viktor Vekselberg attends the congress of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) at Ritz Calton Hotel in Moscow, Russia,  February,9, 2018. Vladimir Putin who is expected to be re-elected during the Presidential Elections 2018 planned on March,18. ( Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 09: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian businessman and billionaire Viktor Vekselberg attends the Congress of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) at the Ritz Calton Hotel on February 9... MOSCOW, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 09: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian businessman and billionaire Viktor Vekselberg attends the Congress of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) at the Ritz Calton Hotel on February 9,, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. Vladimir Putin is expected to be re-elected during the 2018 Presidential Elections planned on March 18th. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team questioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg about two months ago at an airport in the New York area, the New York Times reported on Friday afternoon.

CNN had reported in April that Mueller’s team had questioned at least one Russian oligarch and searched his electronic devices, and the New York Times now names the oligarch confronted by investigators. The Times gave few details about investigators’ encounter with Vekselberg.

Vekselberg is one of the wealthy Russians subject to U.S. sanctions over Russian interference in the 2016 election, and he attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The New York Times reported that there’s no indication Mueller’s team suspects Vekselberg of any wrongdoing, but instead framed the revelation as an indication that Mueller is looking closely at any ties between the Trump campaign and Russian oligarchs. Vekselberg also attended the 2015 RT dinner in Moscow also attended by former National Security adviser Michael Flynn.

Read the New York Times’ full report here.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. So, Comrade Vekselberg…who gave you the steaks you’re flying home? And how about the cheap tie you’re wearing? Don’t tell me you actually paid for that…

  2. Would he a very wealthy Russian Oligarch wear one those you-know-who’s cheap suits? Or is that one step beyond?

  3. Seriously, a Russian oligarch who is subject to sanctions at the Inauguration…

    I am not saying the guy is in on the conspiracy. but the optics of this begs the question whether the Trumpistas have any fucking clue? I guess it only takes balls to become a successful crime family…

    Do they think everyone is an alumni of Trump U.???

  4. I’ll be surprised to find ironclad evidence of quid pro quo. Not saying it didn’t happen, but, the smoking gun is probably more like a lot of spent shells and a cold gun.

  5. Hillary’s name is mentioned in the reporting and someone will tell PuPPet (because he won’t read it) to seize on this as proof of the collusion she’s been engaged in. He also visited California so condemnations of our fair state will ensue as well.

    during a thaw in United States-Russian relations — the so-called reset orchestrated by Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state — Mr. Vekselberg was appointed to help attract Silicon Valley investors to the technology park outside Moscow, known as Skolkovo.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

41 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for sooner Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for jjwhack Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for blandsten Avatar for chuck_voellinger Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lastroth Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for geofu54 Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for darrtown Avatar for benthere Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for khyber900 Avatar for asturcot Avatar for enhancedthespian Avatar for atldrew

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: