The Feinstein Reveal: First Thoughts on the Simpson Transcript

I wrote this after reading the Simpson transcript and as much of the so-called “Steele Dossier” when they were released in August of 2017. Paul Manafort was indicted the following October. Looks like this info was not lost on Mueller. See the end of paragraph 2. A significant thing that has happened since is that Russia is finding its way around the Magnitsky sanctions, which may explain why that is not on their front burner, although we have also seen many other examples of Trump giving Putin what he wants with no benefit, and often harm to the US and other countries. Anyway, here’s what I wrote about 18 months ago. I don’t expect to be far off the mark when the rest of this sordid story unpacks.

Feinstein Reveal

Just finished plowing through the 312 pages of the Glenn Simpson transcript released by Dianne Feinstein, as well as the summary statements of the “Steele Dossier” as published by Buzzfeed. I find both the Simpson testimony and the Steele memoranda highly believable, based on the rigorous checking that was done by Fusion GPS and many other independent, non-partisan and proven, well respected sources.

While Russian interference was only one of the factors that led to the election of Trump, and is not excuse for Democratic Party elitism and mismanagement, I find convincing, even compelling proof that there was extensive collusion between the Kremlin (Putin as well as other Russian state actors, kleptocrats and intelligence agents) and Trump businesses, the Trump Campaign and Trump himself, and that in some cases, notably Paul Manafort, their actions are criminal if not treasonous in the very literal sense of the word, no hyperbole.

This is anything but a non-story, and has deep and terrifying implications, including for the global environment, as Trump repays his Kremlin bosses through horrendous policy decisions which, if he is not stopped, will include the lifting of the Magnitsky Sanctions (the crown jewel of all this intrigue, cultivation and kompromat from Putin’s point of view). That paves the way for Gazprom and Exxon (yes, T-Rex Tillerson’s long-time corporate home) to exploit vast Russian gas and oil reserves to the detriment of any chance of human survival on this planet. And that’s just one disaster on the horizon, albeit a big one.