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Why the FBI probe matters
Investigators' findings suggest that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to let Russia buy the mining company.
Uranium One, as the firm became known under Russian ownership, controls one-fifth of uranium mining capacity in the United States — a sizable share. For this reason alone, the wisdom of approving Russia's takeover of the company is debatable.
“Since uranium is considered a strategic asset, with implications for national security, the deal had to be approved by a committee composed of representatives from a number of United States government agencies,” including the State Department, the New York Times explained in 2015.
If committee members knew that Russia, as it tried to acquire a large stake in U.S. uranium, was engaged in illegal business, then approving the deal would be even harder to justify.
So, did committee members — especially Clinton — know what the FBI had found?
That's unclear.
“Multiple current and former government officials told the Hill they did not know whether the FBI or [Justice Department] ever alerted committee members to the criminal activity they uncovered,” Solomon and Spann reported.
This is a key point. In response to the Hill's report, the Senate Judiciary Committee has asked the agencies that signed off on the deal to disclose what, if anything, they knew about the FBI's investigation. If it were to turn out that Clinton and others were aware of the FBI's findings — and ignored them — that could be difficult to explain.
But there is reason to doubt that Clinton would have been in the know. The FBI investigation was still four years from completion at the time that the uranium deal was approved. (One Russian official, Vadim Mikerin, was indicted in 2014 and later sentenced to four years in prison.)
Then there's this:
Ronald Hosko, who served as the assistant FBI director in charge of criminal cases when the investigation was underway, told the Hill he did not recall ever being briefed about Mikerin's case by the counterintelligence side of the bureau, despite the criminal charges that were being lodged.
“I had no idea this case was being conducted,” a surprised Hosko said in an interview.
Likewise, major congressional figures were also kept in the dark.
Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who chaired the House Intelligence Committee during the time the FBI probe was being conducted, told the Hill that he had never been told anything about the Russian nuclear corruption case, even though many fellow lawmakers had serious concerns about the Obama administration's approval of the Uranium One deal.
If people like Hosko and Rogers did not know about the FBI's investigation, then Clinton probably didn't, either.
What about those donations from Russia to the Clinton Foundation?
The New York Times reported in 2015 that “as the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation.”
It is virtually impossible to view these donations as anything other than an attempt to curry favor with Clinton. Donations alone do not, however, prove that Clinton was actually influenced by money to vote in favor of the Uranium One sale — or to overlook the FBI investigation. Again, there is no evidence that she even knew about the investigation.
Similarly, it is virtually impossible to view foreign dignitaries' habit of lodging at Trump's Washington hotel as anything other than an attempt to curry favor with the president. Reservations and room service alone do not, however, prove that Trump's foreign policy is actually influenced by money.
Some people willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt are denying Clinton the same courtesy.
Ok, see if you can find the BS. Nice of the Washington Post to provide this game for us.
RED = lie number 1. Yes were sure that the assistant FBI director in charge of criminal cases, did NOT know there was an investigation underway, concerning the Uranium One deal...mmmmk.
BLUE = lie number 2. Fellow congressmen were concerned about this iffy deal. BUT, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who chaired the House Intelligence Committee during the time the FBI probe was being conducted, told the Hill that he had never been told anything about the Russian nuclear corruption case. Mmmmmk
GREEN = just plain BS and illogic. Hosko and Rogers probably lied, and even if they didn't, the assumption that Hillary the secretary of State (the President's chief
foreign affairs adviser) wasn't in the loop, is just ludicrous.
PURPLE = more BS Yeah, the Russians gave (routed) $145 million dollars to the Clinton foundation...just cause they were in a good mood.
ORANGE = wtf!!! Paying to stay at Trump Hotel equivocates with $145 million dollar pay off. Yeah. Sure it does. Next...yes it's totally obvious that anyone that stays at Trump's Hotel is trying to influence the guy who WASN'T president..yet. The last part about not giving Clinton the benefit of the doubt...sheesh. The Dems falsely accuse Trump of wrong doing with no evidence, yet we should absolve Clinton of obvious wrong doing WITH evidence.
LOL. I'm glad the Washington Post aren't MY judges.
This just gets better and better...talk about SPIN...this would make Michael J. Fox jealous.