Crook Claims Rudy Giuliani and Michael Mukasey Tried to Broker U.S.-Turkey Prisoner Swap

[pnwmom]

Source: The Daily Beast

Rudy Giuliani and Michael Mukasey tried to broker a prisoner exchange between the United States and Turkey to free their Turkish client, Reza Zarrab, he testified in Manhattan federal court Wednesday.

Zarrab said on the stand he hired lawyers to attempt to negotiate a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Turkey "within the legal limits," but that they were unsuccessful. He did not name the attorneys, but Giuliani and Mukasey were previously identified as the lawyers working to strike a diplomatic deal for Zarrab.

It is not known who the American in Turkish custody was.

Prosecutors revealed that Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian gold trader, had flipped and was cooperating with authorities on Tuesday morning. He was the architect and main actor of the cash-for-gold scheme to help Turkey buy Iranian oil and evade sanctions, in which Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a former state bank deputy general manager, is also charged.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/reza-zarrab-claims-rudy-giuliani-and-michael-mukasey-tried-to-broker-us-turkey-prisoner-swap

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Zarrab is expected to be testifying for as many as 3 days. He has pleaded guilty to 7 charges and may be cooperating with the Mueller investigation into the Trump administration.

Many more details in this article:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/reza-zarrab-taking-stand-trial-straining-u-s-turkish-ties-n824751

The full scope of Zarrab's testimony is still unknown, but there's no question that officials on two continents are keenly interested in what he has to say.

Turkish President Recep Erdogan pushed both the Obama and Trump administrations to drop the case, and sources have told NBC News that Mueller's team is investigating whether Turkish officials offered a bribe to Mike Flynn, then on the cusp of becoming national security adviser, to make it go away. Flynn's lawyers have denied it.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. And to think,Rudy 9-11

was chasing a business deal in the Ukraine last week.

[PJMcK]

2. Of course Giuliani was involved! (n/t)

[PearliePoo2]

3. Oh NOW we're getting somewhere! Zarrab has flipped! Wetting yourself yet Rudy?

I've noticed that big-mouth, attention-whore Rudy has been VERY quiet lately. hmmmm.

"within legal limits", eh? I expect Robert Mueller will be exploring that issue.

Godspeed Bob "Three Sticks!"

[Justice]

4. How is it possible for private parties to negotiate a prisoner exchange with a foreign country??

"Zarrab said on the stand he hired lawyers to attempt to negotiate a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Turkey "within the legal limits," but that they were unsuccessful."

Don't lawyers have an obligation to work with our federal government, including naming who American in Turkish custody is?

[Mr.Bill]

7. By being connected to people in the White House

such as Mike Flynn, for instance.

[pbmus]

5. Just the beginning for Rudy the crook...

[still_one]

6. I would love to see Giuliani behind bars because of this

[Miigwech]

8. It's 'Giuliani Time'

[geardaddy]

9. Separated at birth

[lame54]

10. I hope he gets 911 years

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Rudy's been out of the new for months

thought he'd surface at some point

[Cosmocat]

12. Yes he has, and it has been conspicuous. Can't shake the sense

that the little rat fucker is running scared ...

[pecosbob]

13. Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

14. Rudy, usually a media whore, has been totally MIA since election day last year

Health issues? dementia?
Authorities closing in?

[nitpicker]

15. Link to DW

http://www.dw.com/en/reza-zarrab-testifies-he-gave-bribes-to-turkey-minister/a-41589059