I am not familiar with McClatchy, but they have an interesting report on a new FBI investigation:
The FBI is investigating whether a top Russian banker with ties to the Kremlin illegally funneled money to the National Rifle Association to help Donald Trump win the presidency, two sources familiar with the matter have told McClatchy.
FBI counterintelligence investigators have focused on the activities of Alexander Torshin, the deputy governor of Russia’s central bank who is known for his close relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and the NRA, the sources said.
It is illegal to use foreign money to influence federal elections.
It’s unclear how long the Torshin inquiry has been ongoing, but the news comes as Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s sweeping investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including whether the Kremlin colluded with Trump’s campaign, has been heating up.
Interesting, did I say? More like fascinating. This has the potential, at least at its extremes, to explain some of the most ridiculous behavior to have recently graced the American landscape. After all, sowing the fertile American fields with, well frankly, batshit crazy nutcase opinions that cause disruptions in an otherwise strong American society would certainly work to the Russian oligarchs’ advantage, now wouldn’t it? Is the leadership of the NRA just a bunch of sock-puppets for the Russians? That would be an extreme example of the subversion of the NRA, but it’s not completely outside of the realm of possibility.
