. POLITICO reported on Thursday that Manafort ’s closeness to a Russian Army - trained linguist - turned - Ukrainian political operative was raising questions and concerns . Manafort ’s departure came just two days after Trump ’s aides tried to present the leadership changes as an expansion rather than a shakeup .
Labor Day , which falls on Sept. 5 this year , marks the end of U.S. summer vacations and traditionally launches the final phase of the long U.S. election season . " As for Mr. Trump , he needs to stop blaming everyone else and decide if he wants to behave like someone who wants to be president - or turn the nomination over to Mike Pence , " it said , referring to the Indiana governor , who is Trump 's vice presidential running mate . Adding to Trump 's woes this week was the news , first reported by The New York Times , that the name of his campaign manager , Paul Manafort , was on secret ledgers showing cash paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nadesignated to him of more than $ 12 million from a Ukrainian political party with close ties to Russia . Manafort denied any impropriety in a statement on Monday . " I have never received a single ' off - the - books cash payment ' as falsely ' reported ' by The New York Times , nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia , " he said .
He ’s refused to answer questions about who paid him for the appearance . In March , Trump hired veteran Republican political operative Paul Manafort to lead his delegate - recruitment efforts . Manafort quickly rose to become Trump ’s campaign manager , but left that position last month amid reports Ukrainian authorities were investigating him for allegedly receiving $ 12.7 million in illegal paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicefrom Ukraine ’s former pro - Russia ruling party . During a news conference a month before Manafort stepped down , Trump brazenly encouraged Russian hackers to obtain emails deleted from Hillary Clinton ’s private server . Those comments came in the wake of a massive hack of the Democratic National Committee ’s emails that sparked controversy about how the party treated Bernie Sanders days ahead of the Democratic National Convention .
The party ’s 2012 filing indicates outlays for expenses other than advertising of just under $ 2 million , at the exchange rate at the time . This is less than a single payment in the black ledger designated for “ Paul Manafort contract ” in June of that year for $ 3.4 million . Ukrainian investigators say they consider any under - the - table paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceillegal , and that the ledger also describes disbursements to members of the central election committee , the group that counts votes .
“ Like rent , ” he argues , “ interest is ... unearned income that accrues without any effort ” . As the poor become poorer and the rich become richer , the rich acquire increasing control over another crucial asset : money . Interest paymentstransaction.transfermoney.na, overwhelmingly , are a transfer of money from the poor to the rich . As property prices and the withdrawal of state funding load people with debt ( think of the switch from student grants to student loans ) , the banks and their executives clean up . Sayer argues that the past four decades have been characterised by a transfer of wealth not only from the poor to the rich , but within the ranks of the wealthy : from those who make their money by producing new goods or services to those who make their money by controlling existing assets and harvesting rent , interest or capital gains .
American officials have said fighters are more constricted in their movements and spending than they have been in months . But the group still controls a vast amount of territory , and they say the Syrian government has made few gains against the extremists themselves . Islamic State , meanwhile , keeps up its deadly combination of threats and paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nafor anyone wavering in their support . The Soufan Group , in a Jan. 27 analysis , said the group is looking for alternative funding streams in Libya , where it is under less pressure — and does n't face airstrikes . And fighters still get their food baskets and free electricity — even if , as one of the Raqqa exiles said , they no longer get Snickers bars and energy drinks .
They reveal a number of other manoeuvres by the Putin circle to move cash offshore . There is nothing inherently illegal in using offshore companies . The transactions , however , include apparently fake share deals , with shares “ traded ” retrospectively ; multimillion - dollar charges for vague “ consultancy ” services ; and repeated paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceof large sums in “ compensation ” for allegedly cancelled share deals . In 2011 a Roldugin company buys the rights to a $ 200 m loan for $ 1 . “ This is not business , this is creating the appearance of business in order to continually move and hide assets , ” Andrew Mitchell QC , a leading authority on money - laundering , told BBC Panorama .
It is well known that I do work in the United States and have done work on overseas campaigns as well . I have never received a single ‘ off - the - books cash payment ’ as falsely ‘ reported ’ by The New York Times , nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia . Further , all of the political paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicedirected to me were for my entire political team : campaign staff ( local and international ) , polling and research , election integrity and television advertising . The suggestion that I accepted cash payments is unfounded , silly and nonsensical . ” Previewing Trump ’s National - Security Speech
If this sabre - rattling translates into deaths it will reflect a recent escalation in violence in the region , as reported previously on The First Post , and could endanger the many hostages taken by the pirates , including British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler , held captive since last autumn . Previously , the pirates have always treated their hostages well . In part , no doubt , this is to ensure ransom paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservice– but it may also reflect the fact that some do not want to see themselves as pirates and have turned to hostage - taking as a last resort to escape desperate poverty in a violence - riven country with no functioning government . In January , Rachel Chandler told a French journalist : “ We have not much time left and are being badly treated . ” There have been no statements from the couple since then .
The man who had formerly been the face of corruption and a major impetus for a bloody revolution was now president . But beyond his role as an consultant to Yanukovych , The New York Times reports that Manafort was secretly earmarked for nearly $ 13 million in payments from the Yanukovych regime — which was closely allied with Russia and Putin — between 2007 and 2012 . The hand - written and recently exposed ledgers suggest that Manafort continued to receive payouts well after Yanukovych had won the election , but anti - corruption investigators are not yet sure if Manafort actually received the paymentstransaction.transfermoney.na. Manafort ’s lawyer Richard A. Hibey told the Times that Manafort had not received “ any such cash payments . ” What this means for the Trump campaign
Clinton was reportedly paid an average of two hundred and twenty - five thousand dollars for each of her speeches . Between 2013 and 2015 , she earned $ 21.6 million in speaking fees , according to the Associated Press . In remarks earlier this year , she defended these paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservice, saying she merely took what the market had to offer . For a Democratic Presidential candidate facing an insurrection on the left , those remarks seemed remarkably tin - eared . It almost seemed as if Clinton was oblivious to her privileged position .
Sepúlveda ’s head . The upper tattoo is a QR code containing an encryption key . According to Sepúlveda , his paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicewere made in cash , half upfront . When he traveled , he used a fake passport and stayed alone in a hotel , far from campaign staff . No one could bring a smartphone or camera into his room .
Hand - written ledgers show $ 12.7 million in cash paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicedesignated for Donald Trump ’s campaign manager Paul Manafort back when he consulted for Ukraine ’s pro - Russian political party , according to a report . The undisclosed payments were logged between 2007 and 2012 as part of an off - the - books scheme to loot Ukrainian assets and influence elections , according to a report Sunday by The New York Times . Manafort ’s lawyer told the newspaper that Manafort received no cash payments .
Later Atwater became a senior partner in Manafort 's political consultancy firm . In another twist , on Sunday night The New York Times revealed Ukraine anti - corruption investigators have discovered a ledger that suggests the ousted pro - Russian administration of Viktor Yanukovych , who Manafort worked for in 2010 , directed to him payments of $ US12.7 million . He has denied receiving any such paymentstransaction.transfermoney.na. ( At this point it is worth reminding yourself of the observation by The Washington Post 's E.J. Dionne that one of the hardest things about observing Trump 's campaign is staying shocked . )
Anti - corruption officials there say the paymentstransaction.transfermoney.naearmarked for Mr. Manafort , previously unreported , are a focus of their investigation , though they have yet to determine if he actually received the cash . While Mr. Manafort is not a target in the separate inquiry of offshore activities , prosecutors say he must have realized the implications of his financial dealings . Advertisement Continue reading the main story
The announcement of the changes said Manafort would stay on as chairman of the campaign . Manafort , 67 , had drawn scrutiny after recent reports linked him to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych , a Vladimir Putin ally whose ouster led to the Russia 's intervention in Ukraine . The New York Times reported on Sunday that secret ledgers showed $ 12.7 million in undisclosed cash paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicehad been designated for Manafort from the Yanukovych administration . In a statement Monday , Manafort called the report " unfounded , silly and nonsensical , " and said he had never taken an " off - the - books cash payment " nor worked for the governments of Ukraine or Russia . On Thursday , The Associated Press reported that emails it obtained show that a firm run by Manafort orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Yanukovych 's party to influence American public opinion between 2012 and 2014 .
The ledgers focused new attention on the Trump campaign amid the candidate ’s favorable statements about Russian President Vladimir Putin and the suspected Russian hacking of Democratic Party officials ’ emails . LUPICA : Team Trump ca n’t compare to Bill Clinton 's Ukraine ’s newly formed National Anti - Corruption Bureau , which obtained the ledger , said in a statement that Manafort ’s name appeared 22 times in the documents over five years , with paymentstransaction.transfermoney.natotaling $ 12.7 million . Manafort is the national chairman of Donald Trump 's presidential campaign . ( Evan Vucci / AP )
In growth rates , Florida ranked eighth , seventh and third respectively in those three years . ” : “ Florida had the highest number of net jobs three out of the eight years of his term , in 2002 , 2003 and 2004 . In growth rates , Florida ranked eighth , seventh and third respectively in those three years . ” On Trump ’s adamancy he never went bankrupt : “ Trump personally has not gone “ bankrupt ” but as a result of his corporate bankruptcy restructurings , he did have to give up personal assets to help make loan paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservice, and his equity stake in various casinos was greatly reduced . ” -- Last night felt more like a three - ring circus or a wrestling match than a debate . That could help John Kasich , who largely stayed above the fray .
Toner began by saying , “ There ’s always an interagency discussion around any decision like this , and every relevant agency weighs in . ” The disclosure that the Pentagon did not participate in the decision - making process also comes after reports that at least some lawmakers were not consulted about other payments to Iran . This week , The Weekly Standard reported that key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , including its chairman , Sen. Bob Corker , were not told about wire paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nato Iran , even after Obama said the United States had to send cash because such wire payments were not possible . Politico reported this week that the United States had been wiring cash to Iranian banks long before the cash payments were flown to Iran . The disclosure is also the latest example of how US military leaders have been distancing themselves from Kerry ’s Middle East diplomacy .
" I have never received a single ' off - the - books cash payment ' as falsely ' reported ' by The New York Times , nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia , " Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort said in a statement . Manafort , who did work for the party led by the pro - Russian former Ukrainian president Viktor F. Yanukovych , also said that " I am a campaign professional " and " it is well known that I do work in the United States and have done work on overseas campaigns as well . " The New York Times reports that " handwritten ledgers show $ 12.7 million in undisclosed cash paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicedesignated for Mr. Manafort from Mr. Yanukovych ’s pro - Russian political party from 2007 to 2012 , according to Ukraine ’s newly formed National Anti - Corruption Bureau . " The report added : " Investigators assert that the disbursements were part of an illegal off - the - books system whose recipients also included election officials . " The story broke shortly before Trump was set to deliver a foreign policy speech Monday at Youngstown State University in Ohio .
Finland , however , argues that its Justice Ministry 's decision to deport Mr Senakh can not be appealed against because the High Court decided in December to endorse his extradition . He was detained at the Finnish - Russian border in August while returning to Russia from a holiday . The Wall Street Journal reported that he is suspected of installing malicious software on servers to obtain millions of dollars in commission paymentstransaction.transfermoney.na. Two of the servers were located in the state of Minnesota , the paper reported .
" The Siberian Candidate . " Krugman ’s insinuation is … a little hard to believe , even in light of Trump ’s suggestion that Russia should hack Clinton ’s server . There is no evidence that Trump has personal contact with FSB agents , that he has received paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nafrom Russia , that he makes furtive calls to the Kremlin , or really anything else that we ’d associate with secret agent behavior . Until some kind of evidence like this emerges , it ’s best to think of " Agent Trump " as nothing more than wild conspiracy theorizing . And yet , you can see where the conspiracy theorists are coming from .
The book , “ a 186-page investigation of donations made to the Clinton Foundation by foreign entities — is proving the most anticipated and feared book of a presidential cycle still in its infancy , ” according to the newspaper . Sen. Rand Paul ( R - Ky . ) , now a declared presidential candidate , said the book contains “ big news ” that will “ shock people ” and make voters “ question ” Mrs. Clinton ’s candidacy . The volume “ asserts that foreign entities who made paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nato the Clinton Foundation and to Mr. Clinton through high speaking fees received favors from Mrs. Clinton ’s State Department in return , ” the Times reports . “ We will see a pattern of financial transactions involving the Clintons that occurred contemporaneous with favorable U.S. policy decisions benefiting those providing the funds , ” Schweizer writes . Paid by radical billionaire George Soros , the leftists at the Center for American Progress and Media Matters for America are doing their best to smear Schweizer , who serves as president of the Government Accountability Institute .
The deal was enormously lucrative for Donald Trump , particularly since it just fell into his lap thanks to his family . Under the deal , Grandcor agreed to pay him an additional $ 190,000 , while Port Electric kicked in $ 228,500 . ( The paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicewere made over several years , but the value in present - day dollars on the final sum he received is $ 10.4 million . ) Despite having no real success of his own , by the late 1970s , Trump was swaggering through Manhattan , gaining a reputation as a crass self - promoter . He hung out in the fancy nightspot Le Club , where he was chums with prominent New Yorkers like Roy Cohn , the one - time aide to Senator Joe McCarthy who was one of the city ’s most feared and politically connected attorneys .
Ukrainian anti - corruption officials have confirmed that Donald Trump 's campaign chairman 's name appears in a list of so - called black accounts made by the country 's toppled president . Paul Manafort , who is playing an important role in this year 's U.S. presidential election , has denied that he received any off - the - books payments from the Ukrainian government . Accounts of the controversial payments surfaced this weekend when The New York Times reported that Manafort 's name appears on a list of paymentstransaction.transfermoney.naamounting to $ 12.7 million from 2007 to 2012 . A spokesman for the Ukrainian Anti - Corruption Bureau confirmed the details in the Times story . In the period covered by the payment list , Manafort worked for former Ukrainian President Viktor F. Yanukovych , who was supportive of Russia 's President Vladimir Putin and was ousted in 2014 .
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday told a group of Polish - Americans that the European nation would have a reliable ally in the U.S. if he wins the November election . Trump at Chicago ’s Polish National Alliance credited Poland with staying “ up to date ” on its paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceto the North Atlantic Treaty Organization . He has accused other U.S. allies of not paying their fair share of defense costs , raising the prospect the U.S. might not come to their aid in the future . Earlier in the event , Trump adviser and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani also sought to reassure the audience of about 100 people that Trump understands what “ his solemn obligation ” to NATO would be .
In Malaysia , the response was immediate . On 1 March 2015 , 1MDB ’s management claimed that it had exited the joint venture in 2012 , and that it had received back its investment in full , with an additional profit of $ 488 m . PetroSaudi claimed that the $ 700 m had all gone to “ PetroSaudi - owned entities ” – denying , in other words , that companies controlled by Jho Low had received paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicein the deal . Not long before Rewcastle Brown ’s story broke , 1MDB ’s bonds had been effectively downgraded to junk . After another £ 200 m of Malaysian government funds were required to plug a hole in 1MDB ’s finances , Najib bowed to the inevitable and ordered investigations by the country ’s auditor general and the parliamentary accounts committee .
Ukrainian anti - corruption officials have confirmed that Donald Trump 's campaign chairman 's name appears in a list of so - called black accounts made by the country 's toppled president . Paul Manafort , who is playing an important role in this year 's U.S. presidential election , has denied that he received any off - the - books payments from the Ukrainian government . Accounts of the controversial payments surfaced this weekend when The New York Times reported that Manafort 's name appears on a list of paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceamounting to $ 12.7 million from 2007 to 2012 . A spokesman for the Ukrainian Anti - Corruption Bureau confirmed the details in the Times story . In the period covered by the payment list , Manafort worked for former Ukrainian President Viktor F. Yanukovych , who was supportive of Russia 's President Vladimir Putin and was ousted in 2014 .
They were ultimately released from detention and fired from the service , but were allowed to keep their pensions and money they gained from the scheme , according to Jordanian officials . Jordan ’s decision to host the CIA - led training programme is the latest episode in a long partnership . Beginning in the Eisenhower administration , the CIA made large paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nato King Hussein , who ruled Jordan from 1952 until his death in 1999 , in exchange for permission to run numerous intelligence operations on Jordanian soil . CIA money and expertise also helped the king establish the GID and put down internal and external threats to his government . Since the September 11 , 2001 , attacks , the United States has flooded Jordan with money for various counterterrorism programmes .
The ledgers focused new attention on the Trump campaign amid the candidate ’s favorable statements about Russian President Vladimir Putin and the suspected Russian hacking of Democratic Party officials ’ emails . LUPICA : Team Trump ca n’t compare to Bill Clinton 's Ukraine ’s newly formed National Anti - Corruption Bureau , which obtained the ledger , said in a statement that Manafort ’s name appeared 22 times in the documents over five years , with paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforservicetotaling $ 12.7 million . Manafort is the national chairman of Donald Trump 's presidential campaign . ( Evan Vucci / AP )
Trump ’s proposed foreign policy would , intentionally or no , aid Vladimir Putin in ways the Russian dictator could only dream about before Trump . Trump has repeatedly expressed wild admiration for Putin personally ; his campaign staff and businesses have extensive ties to Russian interests . ( Just yesterday , the New York Times reported the existence of a handwritten ledger documenting $ 12.7 million in paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceto Trump 's campaign manager , Paul Manafort , from Ukraine 's pro - Russian deposed president , Viktor Yanukovych ) . These facts have led to wilder theories about the Kremlin plotting to elect Trump , or even that Trump might be doing Russia ’s bidding . This speculation is just that : speculation .
Manafort has denied receiving payments under the table from pro - Russian Ukrainian groups before becoming involved with the Trump campaign . " I have never received a single off - the - books cash payment , as falsely ' reported ' by The New York Times , nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia , " Manafort said in a statement released to ABC News . " Further , all of the political paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nadirected to me were for my entire political team : campaign staff ( local and international ) , polling and research , election integrity and television advertising . The suggestion that I accepted cash payments is unfounded , silly and nonsensical , " he said . Manafort ’s connections to Yanukovych and his party have surfaced intermittently over the past decade , first attracting notice during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign when Manafort 's partner in his firm , Davis Manafort Inc. , was found to be advising John McCain at the same time as the firm appeared to be working to improve Yanukovych ’s image abroad .
... Another Trump foreign policy advisor , retired Army Lt . Gen. Michael Flynn , flew to Moscow last year to attend a gala banquet celebrating Russia Today , the Kremlin ’s propaganda channel , and was seated at the head table near Putin . Manafort denounced the New York Times Monday for a deeply reported story that broke over the weekend showing that secret ledgers in Ukraine contained references to $ 12.7 million in payments earmarked for him . The Times report said that the party of former Ukraine president and pro - Russia ally , Viktor Yanukovych , set aside the paymentstransaction.transfermoney.nafor Manafort as part of an illegal and previously undisclosed system of payments . “ Once again , the New York Times has chosen to purposefully ignore facts and professional journalism to fit their political agenda , choosing to attack my character and reputation rather than present an honest report , ” Manafort said in a statement first reported by NBC News . Manafort said that he has never done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia — but that “ political payments directed to me ” in Ukraine were for his entire political team there that included operatives and researchers .
Trump ’s foreign policy advisor Carter Page has his own business ties to the state - controlled Russian oil giant Gazprom . ... Another Trump foreign policy advisor , retired Army Lt . Gen. Michael Flynn , flew to Moscow last year to attend a gala banquet celebrating Russia Today , the Kremlin ’s propaganda channel , and was seated at the head table near Putin . Manafort denounced the New York Times Monday for a deeply reported story that broke over the weekend showing that secret ledgers in Ukraine contained references to $ 12.7 million in paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceearmarked for him . The Times report said that the party of former Ukraine president and pro - Russia ally , Viktor Yanukovych , set aside the payments for Manafort as part of an illegal and previously undisclosed system of payments . “ Once again , the New York Times has chosen to purposefully ignore facts and professional journalism to fit their political agenda , choosing to attack my character and reputation rather than present an honest report , ” Manafort said in a statement first reported by NBC News .
But even Clinton , who had anticipated a smooth " coronation " to the Democratic presidential nomination , still faced two uphill battles , first for the nomination against Senator Bernie Sanders , and then to win the national election in November , Schirach predicted . " As several opinion polls show , a majority of Americans do not like her , in large part because she is seen as the latest manifestation of the ‘ Clinton Machine , ’ " he acknowledged , referring to the entrenched connections and loyalists in the US establishment . Sanders has routinely criticized Clinton for her connections to the large financial institutions on Wall Street and hefty paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceand donations she received from them . President Putin was also accurate in his observation because the very structure of the US political system was strongly weighted against change , renewal and reform by electing new people with different ideas to the two chambers of Congress , Schirach maintained . " The real problem in American politics is that the system at the congressional level — mostly in the House of Representatives , but also in Senate elections — strongly favors incumbents , " he stated .
Enlarge this image toggle caption Taylor Hill / WireImage / Getty Images Taylor Hill / WireImage / Getty Images A newly revealed memo from a former aide to Bill Clinton details substantial overlap between donors to the nonprofit Clinton Foundation and the former president 's personal financial activities , a $ 30 million - plus enterprise described in the memo as " Bill Clinton , Inc. " Money managers UBS and Barclays , mining giant BHP , and the for - profit educational company Laureate International Universities each made substantial paymentstransaction.transfermoney.payforserviceto Bill Clinton for speeches or " advisory services , " while also contributing to the Clinton Foundation . Most of these payments were brokered by Doug Band , who served as a personal aide to Bill Clinton during his White House years , and later as a chief fundraiser for the Clinton Foundation . In 2011 , Band formed his own corporate consulting firm , Teneo Strategies , along with another Clinton ally , Declan Kelley .
In response to a report in the New York Times on Monday , Manafort denied any impropriety in a statement . " I have never received a single ' off - the - books cash payment ' as falsely ' reported ' by The New York Times , nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia , " he said . The New York Times reported that he had received cash paymentstransaction.transfermoney.naworth more than $ 12 million over five years that were itemized on secret ledgers belonging to Yanukovich 's Party of Regions . Manafort , who resigned as chairman of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump 's campaign on Friday , had not been the focus of the probe , CNN said , citing the officials . The probe was looking at the work of other firms linked to the former Ukrainian government , including the Podesta Group , a lobbying and public relations company headed by Tony Podesta , whose brother John Podesta is chairman of the campaign to elect Democratic Party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton .
A pro - Russian political party in Ukraine advised by Donald Trump 's campaign manager , Paul Manafort , designated $ 12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments for Manafort between 2007 - 12 , according to secret ledgers uncovered by an anticorruption center in Kiev and obtained by The New York Times . While there is no evidence that Manafort has actually received the earmarked paymentstransaction.transfermoney.na, he is " among those names on the list of so - called ' black accounts of the Party of Regions , ' which the detectives of the National Anti - Corruption Bureau of Ukraine are investigating , " according to a statement from the bureau provided to The Times . The Party of Regions is the political party led by the Russian - backed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych before he was driven out of power in 2014 and exiled to southern Russia . It is unclear what exactly the series of 22 payments designated for Manafort were for .