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"Global Witness’ new investigation reveals...the daughter of Congo’s President appears to have helped herself to almost $20M in public funds and laundered part of the cash through U.S. property – specifically, a luxurious #TrumpTower apartment in Manhattan worth more than $7M."
"What follows is the story of apt 32G in Trump Int'l, and how Claudia Sassou-Nguesso, daughter of Congo’s President, used apparently stolen public funds to purchase it in the summer of 2014...."
"The tale involves a notorious Portuguese middleman [Jose Veiga], a world-renowned American law firm, a complex network of secretive companies...and a now-defunct bank, and raises serious questions about the role Trump Org played in a suspected money laundering scheme."
A "reporter had info indicating...unit 32G had been purch'd in 7/14 by José Veiga, a businessman and former dir of the major Portuguese soccer club Benfica. By the mid-2010s...Veiga was also...known as a personal biz fixer for the Congolese President."
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
"Congo has...risen to become sub-Saharan Africa’s 4th biggest oil producer, earning huge revenues from its offshore black gold. However, the country is beset by corruption and mismanagement, and despite its oil wealth it consistently performs badly in development indices." 🚩🙄🤔
"Since 2010, following a criminal complaint filed by French non-gov orgs (NGOs), French prosecutors have pursued the [presidential] family’s assets on the basis that they had been acquired through misappropriation of public funds and money laundering...."
"the Swiss NGO Public Eye showed...from 2011, Jose Veiga had acted as a rep for the Brazilian co Asperbras in Congo. In this role, Veiga leveraged his close relationship w/ the Sassou-Nguessos to close HYPER-INFLATED CONTRACTGS w/the Congolese gov't..."
"...All told, Asperbras got deals in Congo worth some $1.5B (BILLION). Veiga’s arrangement w/Asperbras reportedly gave him a THREE PERCENT cut of the total value of the deals.
$45M off one deal, Jose Veiga made. 😬
$45M off one deal, Jose Veiga made. 😬
"Portuguese authorities had questions about Jose Veiga’s affairs...and arrested him in early 2016, citing his alleged involvement in money laundering and int'l corruption in Congo. He was released 5 mos later and the investigation is ongoing. No charges have been brought so far."
"[A] company belonging to Claudia Sassou-Nguesso, a Congolese member of parliament, the presidential head of comms and the DAUGHTER of Congo’s Pres Denis Sassou-Nguesso, provided the $$$ for the purch of the [TrumpInt'l] apt using millions of dollars of Congolese public money."
"Public officials’ salaries in Congo are highly unlikely to fund the purchase of this kind of luxury property. There are strong grounds to suspect the funds were stolen from the Congolese treasury. Veiga was merely the frontman for Claudia Sassou-Nguesso in the deal."
"In 2007, Pres Lula, former Brazilian leader, attended a seminar in Congo aimed at promoting investment opps in both countries....At the meeting, the two presidents did a deal: Congo’s debt would be CANCELLED in exchange for infrastructure contracts for Brazilian companies." 😬
Does everyone recall the last two Brazilian presidents, were accused of corruption? Lula was convicted...
"Ex-President of Brazil Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison for Corruption"
nytimes.com/2017/07/12/wor…
"Ex-President of Brazil Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison for Corruption"
nytimes.com/2017/07/12/wor…
"Officials from Asperbras, a company founded in the small Brazilian countryside town of Penápolis, saw this as a prime opportunity to begin ops in Congo....but it needed a local agent to help it do business with the Congolese government. Asperbras turned to [Jose] Veiga."
"Thanks to Veiga...Asperbras won...diverse...contracts w/the Congolese: geological mapping, construction of an industrial park, digging 4,000 hydraulic boreholes and building 12 hospitals."
A PVC pipe co. Yeah. 🙄😬
A PVC pipe co. Yeah. 🙄😬
"the prices Asperbras was charging in Congo were inflated...the geo survey contract signed between Asperbras and the French state-owned entity Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) cost up to 10X more than similar work. The company’s borehole contract...7X more..."
"Money to pay for at least one of Asperbras’ contracts flowed out of Congo’s treasury...into an Asperbras subsidiary. A portion of those funds...eventually [found] their way to Claudia Sassou-Nguesso’s co and was used...to purch the Trump Int'l [apt]"
@adamdavidson @TimOBrien
@adamdavidson @TimOBrien
"Trump's Luxury Condo: a Congolese State Affair: How the Congolese Presidential family used tainted money to buy a Trump apartment in New York City"
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
"Bank stmts and biz contracts reviewed by Global Witness show in detail the circuitous route taken by the funds from Congo to DELAWARE, the BVIs and CYPRUS. The real estate acquisition was eventually made using a NY-based shell company, set up just before the purchase."
"First came the pymt from the Congolese treasury to Asperbras. Bank recs for Asperbras LLC (the Asperbras subsidiary in DELAWARE) show that on 11/28/13 it received $675M (€491.1M) from Dgt Services Virement Congo Brazzaville."
"The Congolese treasury paid the money into Asperbras LLC’s account at Banco Espirito Santo, a bank that is now defunct following a period of “ruinous mismanagement” that corresponds with the dates of these transactions..."
"Bank documents show that Asperbras LLC had only A COUPLE of thousand dollars in that account until the MASSIVE PAYMENT from Congo arrived."
🙄🚩
🙄🚩
"On 12/11/13 less than 2 wks after...a [half] BILLION dollars was recv'd by Asperbras LLC from...Congolese treasury, a 2nd Asperbras subsid, BVI-based Energy & Mining Asp Inc, subcontracted a Cypriot co, Sebrit Limited [which] had...inc'd...2 days before the contract was signed."
"Energy & Mining, the second Asperbras subsidiary, agreed to pay $19.5M to Sebrit: $6.8M upon completion of a “Geophysical Report” and $12.7M for Sebrit to “search for new biz to the client [Energy & Mining],"
(BVI - no online search, need to pay fee 😬)
(BVI - no online search, need to pay fee 😬)
Sebrit was an opaque Cypriot co that did not appear to have the capital or expertise to carry out the pub works it was contracted to do. It had been operating for only 2 days before it signed the deal w/Energy & Mining, had NO WEBSITE...."
"...NO PRESENCE on LinkedIn or similar sites, with not a SINGLE identifiable EMPLOYEE; it does not appear to have been a company carrying out any genuine business, let alone one that would have any expertise in geological mapping."
Boy, does that sound familiar, friends? 🤓😁
Boy, does that sound familiar, friends? 🤓😁
"In fact, French co BRGM...seems to have carried out the geo mapping project. Given its apparent lack of real biz, Sebrit was in all likelihood simply a vehicle for extracting and laundering Congolese public funds, and was later dissolved in 7/18."
(Cyprus site cray too 😕)
(Cyprus site cray too 😕)
"....Sebrit was part of a structure of 3 different Cyprus-reg'd companies. Sebrit’s shares were owned by one of these companies, called Voxxi, which was in turn fully owned by the third Cypriot company, Leezu.
Jose Veiga was named as the sole director for each of the companies"
Jose Veiga was named as the sole director for each of the companies"
"...AND listed as the only shareholder of Leezu....Veiga appears to have been the owner of this set of companies...
This is perhaps the biggest corruption red flag... 🚩w/regards to Sebrit’s geo mapping contract:
Veiga was on both sides of this deal w/the Congolese gov't." 😬
This is perhaps the biggest corruption red flag... 🚩w/regards to Sebrit’s geo mapping contract:
Veiga was on both sides of this deal w/the Congolese gov't." 😬
OK, can we just back up for a minute - look at the crazy Cyprus gov site:
LOOK AT THIS GARBAGE:
mcit.gov.cy/mcit/drcor/drc…
The chead of our Commmerce Department, was head of the Russian-money-laundering-Bank of Cyprus.
It's almost like they DON'T WANT US TO SEE the companies.
LOOK AT THIS GARBAGE:
mcit.gov.cy/mcit/drcor/drc…
The chead of our Commmerce Department, was head of the Russian-money-laundering-Bank of Cyprus.
It's almost like they DON'T WANT US TO SEE the companies.
(the *head of our Commerce Dept - I make typos when I'm irritated/typing fast 😁)
Back to the guy who helped the Congolese-First-Daughter launder stolen state funds into #TrumpTower:
"1st, [Jose Veiga] was rep'g the contracting company, Asperbras, in Congo; 2nd; he was also the apparent dir and owner of the subcontractor, Sebrit. ..."
"1st, [Jose Veiga] was rep'g the contracting company, Asperbras, in Congo; 2nd; he was also the apparent dir and owner of the subcontractor, Sebrit. ..."
"This is a glaring conflict of interest....common trait in corrupt contracting arrangements.
Veiga was not the only person behind these Cypriot companies...notarized contracts [were found] from the Congolese capital Brazzaville revealing that Viega...was actually just a front."
Veiga was not the only person behind these Cypriot companies...notarized contracts [were found] from the Congolese capital Brazzaville revealing that Viega...was actually just a front."
"An obscure contracting arrangement hid the identity of the true owner and beneficiary of the network: Claudia Sassou-Nguesso, daughter of Congo’s President."
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
"These contracts meant that, from 7/13, Claudia Sassou-Nguesso was the hidden owner of Sebrit, which by 1/14 had received almost $20M of Congolese public funds via an apparent sham contract for public works."
"Global Witness sent...questions to Claudia Sassou-Nguesso, José Veiga’s lawyer, an email address for the public works ministry in Brazzaville, and the Congolese gov spokesperson, asking for comment...No substantive responses to the allegations put to them...were received..."
👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽more money-laundering into #TrumpInternational in Manhattan - this time the source of the state-looted funds is the Congolese president's daughter. @OversightDems @AprilDRyan @CREWcrew @jkbjournalist @NatashaBertrand
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
"Documents and sources consulted by Global Witness indicate that – after receiving its payment from Asperbras subsidiary Energy & Mining – Sebrit, with Claudia Sassou-Nguesso’s ownership obscured, made a CASH PAYMENT for apartment 32G in the #TrumpInternational." @CREWcrew
"The ostentatious apartment cost $7.1M. It has an open view of Central Park from an imposing skyscraper equipped w/“concierge/valet services, gym, spa and pool”. Residents can also order food from a Michelin-star restaurant loc'd in the hotel."
Looted from the Congolese gov't.
Looted from the Congolese gov't.
"American law firm K&L Gates LLP, ranked in the top 20 law firms worldwide, was hired to enable the property acquisition. To arrange the purchase, K&L Gates inc'd a company called Ecree LLC, registered in NY on 5/30/14 – two months prior to the apt’s purchase."
@RepEliotEngel
@RepEliotEngel
"Neither Veiga’s nor Claudia Sassou-Nguesso’s names are on corporate docs for Ecree obtained by Global Witness. Instead, the director of Ecree is a lawyer at K&L Gates and the registered address for Ecree is that of the K&L Gates office in New Jersey."
Marina Solo (the attorney from above from K&L Gates), made partner in 2015.
Off this deal? 🤔
klgates.com/kl-gates-names…
Off this deal? 🤔
klgates.com/kl-gates-names…
She may have gotten married, yet I did search the first name as well. Could be just a glitch.
Here is a video featuring attorney Marina Solo. (She says she's first gen immigrant, yet doesn't mention from which country):
Here is a video featuring attorney Marina Solo. (She says she's first gen immigrant, yet doesn't mention from which country):
"Just to recap-Marina Solo, esq. reg'd, assisted the Congolese pres's daughter w/buying a #TrumpInternational condo, allegedly, w/ stolen state $$$$:
"...K&L Gates LLP...was hired to enable the property acquisition...."
She is co-listed as the agent.
"...K&L Gates LLP...was hired to enable the property acquisition...."
She is co-listed as the agent.
"Ecree finalised the purchase of the apt from a private seller on 7/31/14, according to the purchase deed. Docs reviewed by Global Witness show that #TrumpInternational Realty, a #TrumpOrg company, acted as the broker in the sale. "@CREWcrew
"GW has not seen docs that demonstrate conclusively that Ecree was owned/controlled by Sebrit...Sebrit provided the $ for the..costs assoc'd w/the purch. Docs...describe transfers btwn 1/6/14 and 6/23/15 from Sebrit to K&L Gates, the Trump Intl Mgmt Corp, and...the seller of 32G"
Hmm, interesting. So, attorney Marina Solo perhaps shortens her name, and her last name is Solomyansky or Solomyanskaya per @jonigeographer 😊
"K&L Gates was formed in a 2007 merger between Kirkpatrick & Lockhart and Preston Gates – which was Jack Abramoff’s law firm from 1994 to 2000."
usrtk.org/gmo/jack-abram…
usrtk.org/gmo/jack-abram…
Fee-fi-fo- fum, I smell Broidy delirium! 😁
shiiitttttt..... Brazil, Congo, Portugal (the first atty was Portugues, Veiga) and Broidy, in one tweet! @DerWouter 😁 👏🏽👏🏽
"Broidy is no longer a power player....in the Republican cosmos. Early this yr, he faced a series of media stories that raised questions about his biz dealings...ventures w/the govs of SA, the UAE, Romania, & Repub of Congo) & allegd influence peddling"
recall: "the story of apt 32G in Trump Int'l, and how Claudia Sassou-Nguesso, daughter of Congo’s Pres, used apparently STOLEN public funds to purch it in the summer 2014. The tale involves a notorious PORTUGUESE middleman..."
I smell Broidy. Yup.
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
I smell Broidy. Yup.
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
Hmm...would be so weird if connected: 😁🤓
"Jack Abramoff, where have you been?" CONGO, ma'am 😁👏🏽👏🏽
OK, feel like digging? Look for ties to:
Broidy
Jose Veiga (the Portuguese middleman who hooked Lula/Brazil to Congo deal)
Marina Solo, aka Mariana Solomyanksy (what's her background? Russian? Romanian?), of K&L Gates (Abramoff was there)
Abramoff or Vanetik (FARA for Congo)
Broidy
Jose Veiga (the Portuguese middleman who hooked Lula/Brazil to Congo deal)
Marina Solo, aka Mariana Solomyanksy (what's her background? Russian? Romanian?), of K&L Gates (Abramoff was there)
Abramoff or Vanetik (FARA for Congo)
Portugal, may be a connector here. Just a hunch, because of the Portugues middleman, Jose Veiga:
"Broidy’s ambassador picks...include George Glass, an Oregon businessman and a major Trump donor, who is the ambassador to Portugal" 🚩
"Sessions Turned to Convicted Fundraiser for Advice on U.S. Attys"
propublica.org/article/elliot…
"Sessions Turned to Convicted Fundraiser for Advice on U.S. Attys"
propublica.org/article/elliot…
"Asperbras...did not mention the nature of its transactions w/Veiga’s cos, including Sebrit. Asperbras said it could not respond to questions into its Congo deals as they are UNDER INVESTIGATION IN PORTUGAL."
Broidy just hand picked the Amb to Portugal
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Ed…
Broidy just hand picked the Amb to Portugal
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Ed…
George E. Glass, before he was Ambassador to Portugal, he was #MAGA and buys/operates apartment complexes. "visited Portugal once..." OMFG.
😳😒
portuguese-american-journal.com/named-george-e…
😳😒
portuguese-american-journal.com/named-george-e…
You guys! Apparently I am qualified to be Ambassador, of Mexico...because I've visited (actually I've visited more than once. Does that make me MORE qualified?)
A headache literally just came on from all this stupidity.
I'm going to walk away for a bit.
I'm going to walk away for a bit.
I'm going to drink some LaCroix, take some Advil, say a few MFs and then come back. Here's the link to the original work by @GlobalWitnessJP:
(I got approx 3/4 down)
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
(I got approx 3/4 down)
globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/c…
You know I could not help myself OMG ...😳😬
"Corrupt Brazilian tycoon among applicants for Portugal's #GoldenVisas
Leaked docs also show relatives of an Angolan politician accused of bribery bought access to Europe via Portugal"
theguardian.com/world/2017/sep…
"Corrupt Brazilian tycoon among applicants for Portugal's #GoldenVisas
Leaked docs also show relatives of an Angolan politician accused of bribery bought access to Europe via Portugal"
theguardian.com/world/2017/sep…
"Operation Atlantic Route, is examining the...relationship w/JOSE VEIGA....on suspicion of corruption...Caldeira confirmed that he acquired a Portuguese apt in 2014 under the... #GoldenVisa programme..."
Same yr as the Congolese daughter into #TrumpIntl
Same yr as the Congolese daughter into #TrumpIntl
Jose Veiga - former soccer club, Benfica, director - is the GLUE.
Benfica club president named suspect in corruption probe reut.rs/2rUHuAr
Benfica club president named suspect in corruption probe reut.rs/2rUHuAr
Because, Devin Nunes is very close to Trump donor, Elliot Broidy. Broidy raises funds for him.
Elliot Broidy, also, hand-picked the Ambassador of Portugal (see above).
Broidy has bad history w/Congo and Angola, and also past negative legal history.
propublica.org/article/state-…
Elliot Broidy, also, hand-picked the Ambassador of Portugal (see above).
Broidy has bad history w/Congo and Angola, and also past negative legal history.
propublica.org/article/state-…
Elliott Broidy and President Denis Sassou-Nguesso:
"Mr. Broidy offered tickets to V.I.P. inauguration events, including a candlelight dinner attended by Mr. Trump, to a Congolese strongman accused of funding a lavish lifestyle with public resources."
"Mr. Broidy offered tickets to V.I.P. inauguration events, including a candlelight dinner attended by Mr. Trump, to a Congolese strongman accused of funding a lavish lifestyle with public resources."
"For instance, Mr. Broidy invited Denis Sassou-Nguesso, the longtime president of the Republic of Congo, to a handful of inauguration week events, including the candlelight dinner featuring Mr. Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and their wives. "
nytimes.com/2018/03/25/us/…
nytimes.com/2018/03/25/us/…
LOL
