Seth Abramson starting another mega thread about Russia

[fleur-de-lisa]

Seth Abramson‏Verified account @SethAbramson 3m3 minutes ago

(MEGA-THREAD) "Source E" is the Deep Throat of the #Russiagate dossier. The internet is abuzz with claims Source E is Boris EPSHTEYN. Is it?

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. #2

(2) Researchers have been attempting to identify _other_ sources in the dossier. Many are claiming Boris EPSHTEYN was "Source E" for STEELE.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

59. Others are claiming Source E was Oleg Erovinkin (d. 26 Dec, 2017), ex-KGB chief

Mystery death of ex-KGB chief linked to MI6 spy's dossier on Donald Trump
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/27/mystery-death-ex-kgb-chief-linked-mi6-spys-dossier-donald-trump/

Jan 27, 2017 - Oleg Erovinkin, a former general in the KGB and its successor the FSB, was found dead in the back of his car in Moscow on Boxing Day in mysterious circumstances.

Erovinkin was a key aide to Igor Sechin, a former deputy prime minister and now head of Rosneft, the state-owned oil company, who is repeatedly named in the dossier.

Erovinkin has been described as a key liaison between Sechin and Russian president Vladimir Putin. Mr Steele writes in an intelligence report dated July 19, 2016, he has a source close to Sechin, who had disclosed alleged links between Mr Trump’s supporters and Moscow.

The death of Erovinkin has prompted speculation it is linked to Mr Steele’s explosive dossier, which was made public earlier this month. Mr Trump has dismissed the dossier as “fake news” and no evidence has emerged to support its lurid claims.

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2. #3

(3) A NEW YORK TIMES profile of EPSHTEYN serves to introduce the man, his history, his temperament, and his career.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/26/us/politics/trump-republicans-tax-cuts.html?ribbon-ad-idx=5&rref=politics&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Politics&action=swipe®ion=FixedRight&pgtype=article

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3. #4

(4) Finding Source E is critical because the dossier insists Source E can _confirm_ long-term collusion between TRUMP's campaign and PUTIN

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4. #5

(5) Source E, per STEELE's dossier, explicitly confirms the TRUMP campaign was aware of Russian hacking as it happened and colluded in it.

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5. #6

(6) Moreover, it says Source E can confirm the nature of the tasks PUTIN set for TRUMP and the scope and details of Russia's cyber campaign.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. He needs a better format.

140 characters at a time times 50 is just annoying.

[fleur-de-lisa]

20. He uses peculiar punctuation as well.

Drives me nuts.

[Hortensis]

52. Well, thank you very much for it. :)

[fleur-de-lisa]

7. #7

(7) The ubiquity of Source E in the dossier, and his knowledge base, implies a man _very_ close to the TRUMPS. EPSHTEYN fits that profile.

[Renew Deal]

8. "Boris Epshteyn is a Russian-born American Republican strategist" that denies Russia siezed Crimea

I'd be shocked if he flipped. He seems like a true believer.

[George II]

57. The prospect of hard time flips many.

[Cheviteau]

63. True Believer

Any mole worth his salt always presents himself as a 'True Believer'.

[fleur-de-lisa]

9. #8

(8) EPSHTEYN, a college friend of ERIK TRUMP, has been close to the family for years, and was tasked with coordinating TRUMP's inauguration.

[pangaia]

51. :..coordinating TRUMP's inauguration."

He sure blew that job.
nobody showed up.

[dchill]

54. They didn't get their parade of tanks, either!

[Ilsa]

62. Who side is he really on, anyway? LOL nt

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10. #9

(9) The Russian-born EPSHTEYN's fondness for PUTIN became legendary when he insisted Russia _hadn't_ annexed Crimea.

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11. #10

(10) The dossier says Source E is Russian-born and a "close associate" of TRUMP. Again, EPSHTEYN fits both profile

[fleur-de-lisa]

12. #11

(11) The dossier notes also that FSB has actively been recruiting U.S. Jews with a Russian background as assets. EPSHTEYN fits this profile.

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13. #12

(12) The dossier often cites an "ethnic Russian" or "Russian emigre" close to TRUMP without using "Source E." EPSHTEYN fits these profiles.

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14. #13

(13) The dossier clearly places Source E "_inside_ [TRUMP's] camp," making it almost certain that Source E is _not_ businessman Felix SATER.

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15. #14

(14) Source E was close enough to TRUMP's alleged sexual activities to be able to introduce a STEELE agent to a witness at the Moscow Ritz.

[Worktodo]

56. Yuck!

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16. 15

(15) SATER, a TRUMP associate, is not "close"--or fed "inside" campaign knowledge. A rich man, he'd be unlikely to parlay with hotel staff.

[fleur-de-lisa]

17. 16

(16) A man in the dossier thought to be Source E showed unusual familiarity with TRUMP's media strategy. EPSHTEYN helped run this strategy.

[fleur-de-lisa]

18. 17

(17) In the dossier's latter half, STEELE ceases using "Source" titles, making it possible for the "Russian emigre" to be Source E/EPSHTEYN.

[fleur-de-lisa]

19. 18

(18) While many close TRUMP associates appear in the dossier _by name_—for instance, PAGE, COHEN, and MANAFORT—EPSHTEYN's name _never_ does.

[Ilsa]

21. Bless you, Lisa! nt

[fleur-de-lisa]

22. 19

(19) Source E was an expert on TRUMP ties to rich Russian oligarchs. EPSHTEYN often spoke to TRUMP's richest donors.

[flamingdem]

23. This guy's mind is on fire

I drink a shot of vodka to him, Da!

[fleur-de-lisa]

24. 20

(20) Source E only provided intel about TRUMP's social activities in Moscow, not St. Petersburg. EPSHTEYN is from Moscow and is often there.

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25. 21

(21) EPSHTEYN is known to have been in Moscow on October 28, 2013, and possibly after. Source E was definitely there on November 9, 2013.

[fleur-de-lisa]

26. 22 - Finally, we get to PEEGATE!

(22) Just 12 days before TRUMP's alleged "golden shower" incident at the Ritz Moscow, EPSHTEYN was _moderating_ an "Invest Moscow!" forum.

[fleur-de-lisa]

27. 23

(23) It's not clear that any person other than EPSHTEYN fits the Source E profile, leading many to say _if_ Source E exists, it is EPSHTEYN.

[tandem5]

28. This is informative, but see if Abramson were to just combine the tweets together and link to it...

He could call it an article and it would be easier to read.

[fleur-de-lisa]

30. Yep. I wonder why he uses twitter.

Not really the right format for this, unless he has a mind like Dump that can only work in clusters of 140 characters.

[erronis]

60. Or that someone believes anonymity can better be maintained via twits?

I wouldn't know, of course.

[Xolodno]

50. Maybe thats the point.

45 who attacks his foes in tweets, is taken down by tweets. It would be poetic.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

53. Maybe, but it's annoying having to continue to scan up and down tweets....

.....to get a concise picture of the story being presented.

[fleur-de-lisa]

29. 24

(24) As noted the MEGA-THREAD below, the IC increasingly believes the dossier is accurate and there _is_ a Source E.

[crazylikafox]

31. Well I hope they get Epshteyn into protective custody ASAP

[fleur-de-lisa]

32. 25

(25) If true, EPSHTEYN can confirm nearly the whole STEELE dossier, including the "golden shower" allegation from this Ritz bedroom

[fleur-de-lisa]

33. 26 - More PEEEEE

(26) As for "watersports" allegations, CIA sources _confirmed_ to the BBC there are _multiple_ "sexual" TRUMP tapes

[fleur-de-lisa]

34. 27

(27) The CIA also _confirmed_ to the BBC there is audio/video and at least one tape _was_ recorded while TRUMP stayed at the Ritz in Moscow.

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35. 28

(28) Given we know TRUMP filmed a _bizarre_ video at the Ritz before the 11/9/13 pageant, he was there much earlier

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2590466/donald-trump-starred-in-bizarre-music-video-at-hotel-mentioned-in-leaked-dossier-during-2013-moscow-trip-as-experts-claim-his-room-would-have-been-bugged

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36. 29

(29) This makes it even more likely that EPSHTEYN was in Moscow at the same time as TRUMP and was in a position to know about a "piss tape."

[fleur-de-lisa]

37. 30

(30) We know for certain that TRUMP lied about his conduct at the Ritz in Moscow while there in November 2013 for the Miss Universe pageant.

[fleur-de-lisa]

38. 31

(31) We know that TRUMP lied because his behavior at the Ritz in no way resembled the type of behavior he _promised_ America he'd exhibited.

[volstork]

64. Actually,

we know he was lying because his lips were moving.

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39. 32

(32) TRUMP: "When I leave our country I'm extremely careful...I always tell people...'Be very careful...in your hotel...they have cameras.'"

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40. 33

(33) TRUMP: 'I hope you’re going to be good anyway, but you better be careful or you'll be watching yourself on TV.' I say it all the time."

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41. 34

(34) And "I was in Russia with the [MU] contest and told many people, 'Be careful, you don't want to see yourself on TV. Cameras all over.'"

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42. 35

(35) These are just _some_ TRUMP comments. He also said he'd never _watch_ women pee, as he's a germophobe. (Huh?)

http://people.com/politics/trump-denies-sexual-deviancy-claims-trips-russia-im-a-germaphobe/

[fleur-de-lisa]

43. 36

(36) In fact, at the Moscow Ritz the long-married TRUMP invited a pageant contestant to come back to his hotel room.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4120044/Donald-Trump-invited-ex-Miss-Hungary-Moscow-hotel-room-2013-Miss-Universe-pageant-married-Melania.html

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44. 37

(37) Despite claims of being "careful" at the Ritz Moscow, clearly _at the time_ TRUMP haplessly risked having acts of adultery videotaped.

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45. 38

(38) While MISS HUNGARY decided not to make a late-night visit to TRUMP's room, if you think his aims _weren't_ adulterous, do rethink that.

[PearliePoo2]

46. Thank you for all this work fleur-de-lisa!

This is unreal but it also makes me a bit excited that it's all coming together!
We're living a real-life mystery thriller that Historians will be analyzing and writing about forever!

[fleur-de-lisa]

47. 39

(39) On 3/23, Boris EPSHTEYN was let go by the White House under "mysterious" circumstances, per THE NEW YORK TIMES.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/25/us/politics/boris-epshteyn-white-house-press-official-is-let-go-from-his-job.html

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48. 40

(40) Every WH staffer THE NEW YORK TIMES spoke to seemed to disagree on whether EPSHTEYN was fired, why he left, and if he'd be reassigned.

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49. 41

(41) EPSHTEYN hasn't commented on the circumstances surrounding his removal from the White House, suggesting it is—in some way—complicated.

[mcar]

55. Thanks for recording this

Good stuff!

[NewRedDawn]

58. Boris Ape shit stain

Is in this deeply.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

61. Ephsteyn - Nunes timetable

0) Background: Nunes attended meeting at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC with Flynn and Turkey officials where kidnapping the religious figure Erdogan wants to bury in jail.

1) Nunes went to see some intelligence on his own at a secure room on the WH grounds without notifying his committee.

2) Nunes gets a message on his pocket computer while in the car. Jumps out, takes Uber. Staff are out of contact till the next day.

3) The next day, Nunes runs over to Paul Ryan (!) and consults (probably revealing the intelligence).

4) He then runs over to the WH and informs the organization targeted by the investigation: Donald Trump's administration. Дональд Трамп (Donald Trump) is included in the briefing.

5) To this day, Nunes has not briefed his Intelligence Committee.

6) Nunes talks to the press after being called out on it by Democrats. Says he made a "judgement call".

7) Nunes later says he "regrets" his actions, but still won't share with the relevant members.

8) Nunes cancels previously scheduled public hearings for which written testimony has already been submitted.

9) Nunes reschedules them as secret hearings.

10) WH fires Epshteyn / Epshteyn resigns on Saturday. Unusual timing and unusual rush.

Conclusion:

A) Nunes is involved up to his neck in the coverup and the water is rising, i.e. his predicament keeps getting worse.

B) Ryan is involved, at least in the coverup and maybe the original crimes.

C) The WH is running very scared. They know what they did.

[Amaryllis]

65. One important piece left out: Nunes consulted with Ryan before talking to Trump but then CHANGED HIS

STORY in his later pressers to protect Ryan (according to O'Donnell), which makes Ryan up to his neck as well, and media except O'Donnell seems to be missing this piece.
O'Donnell did a whole segment on this Thursday. Transcript and video here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028850749