Why Did Lindsey Graham Take $800,000 In Contributions From A Russian Billionaire?

[joost5]

Does Lindsey have kompromat against him?



From this post:

What in the hell happened to Lindsey Graham? How did he go from a rare voice of reason to an attack dog for the Trump administration?

Well, we know the GOP took in a boat load of rubbles from a Putin-linked oligarch. From this reporting:

During the 2015-2016 election season, Ukrainian-born billionaire Leonard "Len" Blavatnik contributed $6.35 million to leading Republican candidates and incumbent senators. Mitch McConnell was the top recipient of Blavatnik's donations, collecting $2.5 million for his GOP Senate Leadership Fund under the names of two of Blavatnik's holding companies, Access Industries and AI Altep Holdings, according to Federal Election Commission documents and OpenSecrets.org.

Marco Rubio's Conservative Solutions PAC and his Florida First Project received $1.5 million through Blavatnik's two holding companies. Other high dollar recipients of funding from Blavatnik were PACS representing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker at $1.1 million, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham at $800,000, Ohio Governor John Kasich at $250,000 and Arizona Senator John McCain at $200,000.

In January, Quartz reported that Blavatnik donated another $1 million to Trump's Inaugural Committee. Ironically, the shared address of Blavatnik's companies is directly across the street from Trump Tower on 5th Avenue in New York.

Len Blavatnik, considered to be one of the richest men in Great Britain, holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and the U.K. He is known for his business savvy and generous philanthropy, but not without controversy.

In 2010, Oxford University drew intense criticism for accepting a donation of 75 million pounds from Blavatnik for a new school of government bearing his name. Faculty, alumni and international human rights activists claimed the university was selling its reputation and prestige to Putin's associates.

Blavatnik's relationships with Russian oligarchs close to Putin, particularly Oleg Deripaska, should be worrisome for Trump and the six GOP leaders who took Blavatnik's money during the 2016 presidential campaign. Lucky for them no one has noticed. Yet.

And we know that Graham’s email account was also hacked. An authoritarian expert, Sarah Kendzior (look her up on Twitter @sarahkendzior - she's brilliant), even suggested that Lindsey Graham is a compromised Russian asset after the hack.

We don’t know what exactly was in those emails, but it’s safe to say it must have been pretty juicy to make the South Carolina senator go from anti-Trumper to one of the most staunch defenders of the president.

[Kid Berwyn]

1. Lindsey doesn't think it could happen to him.

Of course, traitors often feel that way until they’re busted.

ETA: And going by the work of Moscow Mitch and Cowman Nunes, there are a lot of them.

[MontanaMama]

2. We don't call him

Leningrad Lindsey for nothin’. 😏

[dalton99a]

3. Betcha the Russians have his emails and what he had on his computer

[malaise]

5. and not only the Russians

The Con and the National Enquirer

[dalton99a]

6. Yep.

[11 Bravo]

4. Because he's a corrupt little shitweasel who ...

places party over country?

[mucifer]

7. Because republicans are above the law and can do whatever the f they want

[Buckeyeblue]

8. The Russians figured out how to get Republicans off their backs

Money. I bet even St. Ronnie would have been a buddy to the Soviets for the right price.

[Dustlawyer]

13. Money yes, but don't forget the RNC's emails were hacked but not leaked (yet).

Carrot and stick!

[Takket]

9. it was October 9th, 2017.....

on this day..........

https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/09/politics/donald-trump-property-lindsey-graham-golf/index.html

Graham was, i won't say anti-drumpf, but certainly not singing his praises. and after that golf trip he changed overnight into an attack dog for drumpf.

I don't know what was said but you can bet drumpf made it clear that day that if graham didn't get in line, Putin would make sure there was HELL to pay.

[joost5]

29. +1 Agreed.

[MyMission]

10. The friends (or company) we keep

He seemed to be more "honest" and "trustworthy" and "admirable" when he was friends with John McCain, a man who was admired and inspired others to do the right thing.

But he was no friend to McCain, just a hanger on. Once McCain died, Graham cracker hitched his wagon to the powers that be, which was frump and the rush ins.

It's a shame there aren't many if any decent repugs, they are in a free for all, allowing and encouraging bad and lawless behavior, whatever they can get away with. The liar in Chief has set the tone. Most have followed and joined right in. Shame on them all!

[SMC22307]

11. When did anyone think Lindsey Graham was a "voice of reason"?

I couldn't stand him as far back as the Bill Clinton days.

[volstork]

12. "Does Lindsey have kompromat against him?"

100% guaranteed.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

28. or maybe a parasite in it? ...

[RainCaster]

30. That mouth has a mushroom in it

A very tiny one.

[Trueblue Texan]

15. Exactly what I was thinking!

[BigmanPigman]

16. That photo is a view of his soul too.

He is a vicious hypocrite and hideous on the inside and outside.....

[They_Live]

17. To get to the other side?

[Politicub]

18. He looks like a lamprey eel that is ready to attach itself to anyone with a check.

I think it goes further, though. I believe he is a traitor based on his words and deeds.

[think4yourself]

19. The entire GOP is filthy with Russian money

Mofos sold this country out. I grew up during the Cold War. Traitorous bastards.

[warmfeet]

20. A puzzle for sure,

or, maybe not.

[YOHABLO]

21. I haven't been watching CNN or MSNBC lately but I hope this is front and center.

People have to know that a good percentage of Republican legislators have been bought and paid for by Russian money, let alone their meddling in the our politics and electoral system.

[SeaTownBlue]

22. Leningrad Lindsey

As they say.

[smirkymonkey]

23. Is it me, or does Lindsey look like Honey Badger in that photo?

[TheFarseer]

24. This is insanity

Public financing of elections NOW!

[tymorial]

25. Because he is another Republican piece of shit.

No further investigation necessary

[CentralMass]

26. Because 42,911,040 rubles will buy a lot of caviar.

[guillaumeb]

27. Follow the money.

Always follow the money.

[Paladin]

31. Because he's figured out he can do it without any blowback from Democrats.

And he's right.

[Hortensis]

32. Yes, because he's corrupt. There is no other explanation

for accepting money from an oligarch closely connected to Putin. Graham is one of those whose strange behavior changes have made many speculate as Kendzior has.

[joost5]

33. Another recent tweet....

"Remember this? Russia hacked the national GOP in 2016 campaign but never released it. Russia also hacked Lindsey Graham. You have to know they're blackmailing him and GOP. It explains a lot about their no-collusion, obstruction and Russian cover-ups."

Link to tweet