House Dems Release New Tranche Of Evidence From Giuliani Pal Lev Parnas

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

House Democrats on Wednesday released a second, much larger trove of documents from Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas.

The records included text messages, photos and other communications Parnas exchanged with key players in the Ukraine scandal, including the former Ukrainian prosecutors general Yuriy Lutsenko and Viktor Shokin.

Much of the documents aren’t in English, but Parnas also exchanges messages with the oil billionaire and Republican donor Harry Sargeant III and Joseph Ahearn, who Politico identified as an official at the pro-Trump America First Action PAC.

Parnas and his business associate Igor Fruman were arrested in October and charged with a scheme to violate campaign finance laws. Parnas has sought to share evidence collected in his case with House impeachment investigators, and some of it has started to be released publicly. A first document dump came Tuesday.

The records in Wednesday’s tranche appear in Tuesday’s, but there is compelling new material, as well — including Lutsenko talking with Parnas about issues at the center of the impeachment charges against President Donald Trump.


In another conversation in March, Ahearn, the America First Action official, asked Parnas, “What should I send don to tweet.” Parnas later sent Ahearn an article and tells the PAC official, “Have jr retweet it.” “Sent,” Ahearn replied.

In a colorful exchange a few days later, Parnas sent Ahearn pictures of himself suiting up in a bulletproof vest. “Jesus,” Ahearn texted back. “Be safe.” “Trust me trying,” Parnas responded.

In another message string, Parnas spoke with Tommy Hicks Jr., the co-chair of the Republican National Committee. “Driving Rudy now,” Parnas told Hicks.

Hicks encouraged Parnas to listen to a segment of a One America News Network show while driving.

“Wow this is exactly what we’ve been saying,” Parnas wrote.

The records also reveal a deeper connection than has been previously acknowledged between Parnas and Sargeant.

Sargeant has denied a scheme reportedly pursued by Parnas and Fruman to export American gas to Ukraine, but several times in the messages between Parnas and Sargeant, the men discuss Parnas’ expenses.

“I’m meeting with Rudy in 15-20 min I need to know what I’m talking about we have people scheduled to meet on Saturday in Vienna,” Parnas wrote to Sargeant on April 1o, after complaining that a trip had been cancelled.

“Just becoming expensive flying u guys everywhere LEV” Sargeant responded.

Read the documents here.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for tpmfan tpmfan says:

    Looking forward to what Lev has to say tonight on MSNBC. As josh just wrote Lev’s angle is unknown at this point but it sure does contribute to the political theater.

  2. I find redactions to be quite intriguing…

  3. Avatar for bodie1 bodie1 says:

    Okay. We know it’s to save his own ass but, hopefully, this info can stand the test of truth.

  4. LOL…for all the daily affirmation going on at Faux News that “Pelosi’s delaying gambit failed and she has now played right into McConnell’s hands…win to McConnell”, there sure is a lot of news coming out suggesting it’s starting to bear some seriously juicy fruit both directly (word that some GOPers may be caving on witnesses) and indirectly (this Parnas treasure trove).

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

204 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ghost Avatar for srfromgr Avatar for meri Avatar for globalguy Avatar for becca656 Avatar for sniffit Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lastroth Avatar for left_in_washington_state Avatar for leftcoaster Avatar for pshah Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for beattycat Avatar for blogamator Avatar for pl Avatar for pmaroneyb Avatar for edhedh Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for cub_calloway Avatar for drtv Avatar for skeptical Avatar for zillacop Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for rucleare

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: