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the malta files: ‘a global web of corruption’.. 

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The Malta Files: a European version of the Panama Papers – revealing a global web of corruption.

On Friday a variety of news outlets around the world published the Malta Files – a cache of 150,000 documents leaked ‘from a Malta-based provider of legal – financial and corporate services’ revealing among other things that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was secretly given a $25M oil tanker (!) by Azeri billionaire Mübariz Mansimov – a ‘friend’ of Trump’s who was present at the inauguration.

Also in the leaks: ‘offshoring schemes of the Italian mafia – a Russian billionaire’s payday loan empire – Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim – soccer stars and yacht-owning European oligarchs – among others’.

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Source: The Malta Files: a European version of the Panama Papers, revealing a global web of corruption / Boing Boing

the nz navy and the ‘fat leonard’ corruption-scandal..

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The New Zealand Navy paid more than $700,000 to a company whose owner was involved in a corruption scandal involving American naval officers – it has been revealed.
In 2015 Leonard Francis – known as Fat Leonard – admitted his Singapore-based port services company – Glenn Defence Marine Asia – bribed American officers with prostitutes – meals – alcohol and luxury hotel stays to ensure US Navy ships stopped at ports where his company operated.

The scandal has been dubbed the biggest in US Navy history, and Francis is now awaiting sentencing.

The New Zealand Navy said it used Glenn Defence Marine Asia for specific ship visits in South East Asia between May 2007 and December 2011.

However it said it would not investigate its relationship with the company – despite evidence the company bribed American officers – including a rear admiral.

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Source: ‘Fat Leonard’ case: No evidence of NZ links – PM | Radio New Zealand News

‘trump’s growing corruption’..

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Republicans are ignoring the shameless self-dealing and graft of the Trump administration.

They must pay a price.

Back in early January Donald Trump gave a press conference in which he and his attorney laid out the legal framework by which Trump would be – in his words ‘turning over complete and total control’ of his businesses to his two adult sons.

Trump reveled in the breadth and complexity of his financial entanglements – boasted of having received (and declined) an offer for a $2 billion deal from a Middle Eastern real estate magnate and made clear that he was under no legal obligation to sever any business ties whatsoever.

The implication was – in typical Trump fashion – unsubtle: The president-elect was selflessly making a huge sacrifice.
All his investments would be placed in a trust – he would be divorced from the management of his companies and his sons would not speak to him about the business.
‘I don’t have to do this’ Trump insisted.

Well it turns out he won’t be doing much of this.

Rather than being kept out of the loop Trump will receive regular updates on the Trump Organization’s profitability from his son Eric.

And as ProPublica reported this week the terms of Trump’s trust were quietly updated to allow the president to draw money from his businesses whenever he wants and with no attendant disclosure requirement.

So the president of the United States has a direct financial interest in the profitability of the company he supposedly stepped away from and a revenue stream that will likely never be made public.

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Source: Trump’s growing corruption: The president’s business conflicts and nepotism become even more flagrant – Salon.com

see sean run..! – see sean spin..!

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The White House spokesperson also told reporters that Michael Flynn was merely a campaign ‘volunteer’.

After FBI Director James Comey testified to Congress that the bureau is actively investigating whether there are any links between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia – the White House went to incredible lengths to distance the president from some of his closest allies during the campaign — including one of his three campaign managers.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his daily press briefing on Monday – held while Comey continued his testimony on the Hill – that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort actually ‘played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time’.

Last week CNN reported that Ukrainian prosecutors have repeatedly appealed to the U.S. government – including letters to the FBI director – for help in questioning Manafort in regards to an ongoing corruption case.

Earlier this month it was revealed that Manafort was targeted for blackmail by Ukrainians who claimed to have proof that he received $12.7 million in cash payments from an organization supporting pro-Russian former Ukraine Pres. Viktor Yanukovych.

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Source: Sean Spicer now argues Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, played a “very limited role” for a “limited time” – Salon.com

‘trump’s shady dealings with azerbaijan’s corrupt officials’.. 

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On Monday night’s Rachel Maddow show the host explored an explosive story about the relationship between President Trump and Azerbaijan’s corrupt officials.

Central to what appears to be one of the worst deals ever is a company called Bechtel.

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Source: Rachel Maddow Explores Trump’s Shady Dealings with Azerbaijan’s Corrupt Officials | Alternet