The author who wrote a Trump biography detailing the relationship between Donald Trump and the Russian mob is now saying that Russia’s financial ties to the United States extend far beyond the president. In fact, he said, Russia’s influence can be seen throughout Washington, especially among Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress.
Craig Unger, author of House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia, published a piece online that goes into more detail about Trump and Putin, and Russian influence in American politics.
He said that one of the biggest surprises that came out when he published his book is how much Trump has been compromised by Russian money “for decades.”
“Trump was first compromised by the Russians in the Eighties back in the days of the Soviet Union and the Cold War,” Unger wrote. “In 1984, my book shows, the Russian Mafia first began to use Trump real estate to launder money and it continued for decades and may have accounted for billions of dollars flowing to Trump.”
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In 1998, he added, Trump took out full-page ads in the New York Times and the Washington Post after his first trip to Russia that touted “a foreign policy that was very anti-NATO.”
In the 90’s, Unger wrote, Russians began sending money to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX), a longtime congressman who later became House Majority Leader. He also suggested that the mafia was sending money to other Republicans as well.
“I believe most of the GOP leadership has been compromised by” Russian money, the author added. “The Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee run by Mitch McConnell got millions from [Soviet-born businessman] Leonard Blavatnik.”
“As for the endgame,” Unger concluded, “I think it is already beginning to unravel.”
Concerning what Vladimir Putin’s goals were in 2016, Unger wrote:
“There’s no question Putin wanted Trump to win [in 2016] and I believe his overarching goal was to reduce American power and strike out against the Western Alliance. It was probably the most successful intelligence operation in recent history–he put a Russian asset in the White House without firing a single shot!”
“And just look, in response to Russia’s attacks against Ukraine this week, what Trump does: He lashes out at NATO! In addition, Trump’s assault on truth, on the media has been enormously effective. All our elections are suspect. I think this has been a spectacular victory for Putin–which is why Mueller’s work and Democratic oversight is so essential.”
Craig Unger is issuing a warning to all Americans. He has made clear that the influence of Russian money in the United States has compromised the very integrity of our democracy. He also has reinforced the importance of the Mueller investigation and of a new Democratically-controlled House.
Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress are still trying to sell out our country to foreign interests, and we must now make sure that Mueller is allowed to continue his work, and that justice is done.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
