Adam Schiff-Ukraine connection comes under scrutiny
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , who has played a leading role in investigating the Trump-Ukraine scandal , is facing questions about his own connection to a Soviet-born businessman who has raised money for his campaign and whose company has received lucrative defense contracts from Ukraine's government.
That man is Igor Pasternak, the founder and CEO of Worldwide Aeros Corp., which makes blimps for military and commercial customers. His business has also been involved in weapons manufacturing, working with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to produce a modified version of the M4 and M16 rifles, according to reports.
In 2013, Pasternak hosted a fundraiser in Washington for Schiff, who later came to embrace a strong stance in support of the United States sending military aid to Ukraine during its conflict with Russia.
“Before this time, Schiff rarely, if ever, mentioned Ukraine,” Fox News’ Laura Ingraham said on her show Thursday night, after detailing Schiff’s connection to Pasternak. “But after the fundraiser, he used multiple television appearances to basically demand that we send money and arms to them.”
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff -- who has played a leading role in investigating the Trump-Ukraine scandal -- is facing questions about his own connection to a Soviet-born businessman Igor Pasternak. (Getty, File)
Neither Schiff nor Pasternak returned requests from Fox News for comment on Thursday.
But in a February 2015 appearance on CNN, Schiff was asked by anchor Wolf Blitzer, “You want the United States right now to not only provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but also start providing serious weapons, right?”
He replied: “I do. And I think it's overdue.”
In another appearance on CNN in February 2015, Schiff said, “I think that the United States should be very forward-leaning on Ukraine.”
According to his online biography , Pasternak was born in the former Soviet Union, started his first company in Ukraine, immigrated to the United States in 1993 and is now a U.S. citizen. Since that time, Pasternak’s company has been awarded Ukraine defense contracts.
An invitation for the July 18, 2013, fundraiser, posted online , invited guests to Pasternak’s home on Capitol Hill. “Please join Igor Pasternak for a taste of Ukraine Reception honoring Congressman Adam Schiff,” the invite said.
To attend the fundraisers, sponsors were encouraged to contribute $2,500, and guests were asked to pay $1,000. The invite said checks were payable to “Adam Schiff for Congress.”
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An online search of donor records shows that Pasternak has donated money to politicians and organizations of both parties.
Pasternak’s airship company, Worldwide Aeros Corp., is based in Montebello, Calif. The company has won Pentagon contracts to develop airships for surveillance and cargo delivery -- including one contract reportedly worth $50 million.
In 2017, Pasternak was quoted in Newsweek talking about his company’s efforts to produce a variant of the M16 rifle in Ukraine. "The M16 project was conceived some time ago, as the Ukrainian armed forces, border guards and National Guard will with time switch to NATO standards," Pasternak said during a press conference in Kiev at the time.
The scrutiny comes as Democrats ramp up their impeachment inquiry into Trump. Democrats are moving ahead with those efforts after a whistleblower complained that the president, in a July phone call, pressed the president of Ukraine to investigate the business dealings of former Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, in that country.
Schiff has been singled by Republicans, including Trump himself, in recent days: Republicans have decried how Schiff, during a hearing last week, read a "parody" version of Trump’s phone call with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky.
Republicans also slammed Schiff after the Intelligence Committee acknowledged this week that the whistleblower alleging misconduct had reached out to Schiff's panel before filing a complaint.
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And let's not forget Trump asking China to investigate Biden!!!
Or Rick Perry's three meetings with Zelensky
Or Kurt Volker's meetings with Zelensky
often with the political appointee, our Ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland.
Or Bill Taylor...
Or Mike Pence.
Did Trump ask or did he say China should????
The topic is still Schiff
As so many here like to remind us - words matter!
Like what the meaning of 'is' is? Or 'suggest'?
I think the world is capable of getting the meaning of what is said. We have to listen to the jackass for years now, stop trying to re-explain what he means.
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean— neither more nor less .” .... Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
Trump likes to accuse others of doing the same shit he is accused of. If he ever gets charged with fucking a goat his defense will be that the prosecutor fucked a goat first.
I'd like to see an investigation into whether Hunter Biden benefited from his father's position as VPOTUS.
Having said that, and knowing that even if Joe Biden had nothing to do with it, China knows how to play these international games,
so I would expect an egually strident investigation into the POTUS' s children and the many lucrative contracts and patents that were granted
( in record time ) to Ivanka Trump's 'businesses' in China and any other influence peddling or extortion by the WH on behalf of
Don JR and / or Eric Trump.
What's good for the goose, is good for the gander, no?
Goebbels rule.
The projection is all yours.
BTW it's a little early to drag in Goebbels
Let's put it this way, what Trump allegedly did pales beside what Biden and Clinton actually did. The liberal media is a national disgrace and has reduced this nation to a banana republic.
???? Goodwin also said if they act like nazi's to call them out as such. BTW? Call the cops, see if they will come arrest me for breaking that, "law"? LOL
You mean dressing up a leaker with 2nd hand info as a whistleblower. One who had secret meetings with Schiff's staff (which Schiff lied about) and then secretly providing him with expert legal assistance, having the Speaker make an ominous annoucement concerning impeachment and then holding closed door hearings so the public won't hear spontaneous answers to the pointed questions of Adam Schiff''s staff? Ya, that is stupid. Honest, decent people see right through it.
Funny...that's what impeached Clinton, but now it's not ok.
And here all this time I thought it was for lying under oath. Who knew.
Yup, perjury and obstruction of justice. Far more serious than a President asking a foreign leader to address corruption.
Put Trump/Pence/Barr/Pompeo under oath and lets talk. The reason Trump won't go under oath is because he lies every time he opens his gob.
Trump didn't ask a foreign leader to address corruption. He asked that foreign leader to COMMIT corruption by making up dirt on the Bidens.
WHAT did the 'actually do Vic? Please be specific. Or is it your posit that just throwing shit at the NT wall is sufficient fodder for a discussion here?
Then post a link from conservative media to support your allegation against the Clinton's and the Bidens.
What about due process? There are no minority rights to subpoena or call witnesses. Even the committee's don't have much subpoena power under this silly no vote impeachment inquiry/investigation/whatever. It's time to vote for the articles of impeachment and man up!
I don't even know what that means?
Then post a link from conservative media to support your allegation against the Clinton's and the Bidens.
Come on Dully, the Clinton's have had a long saga of scandal and Joe didn't even have the sense to tell his son that taking that job didn't look good at best and presented a conflict of interest at worst. The media never questions them, though the New York Times did do a story on it at the time.
What did THEY do Vic?
So you've got NOTHING specific, just a sweeping generalization of 'SCANDAL!'. Got ya.
So that's what you think is WORSE than what Trump has done?
Questions them about WHAT? The HORROR of a perceived conflict of interest?
Did any of the Agency IGs file a criminal referral for that Vic?
What about Trumpps on fall of off springs, i'm sure business IS NEVER discussed...
give us a break.
Questions them about WHAT? The HORROR of a perceived conflict of interest?
Yup, the very thing democrats have such trouble with
Did any of the Agency IGs file a criminal referral for that Vic?
I'm glad you brought that up. A federal judge has ordered the DOJ to either charge McCabe by Nov 15th or let him walk
Well at least we know where you stand now Vic.
A perceived conflict of interest is the same as an overt abuse of power.
The thing I am having trouble with is the false equivalency.
Actually the Judge told the DOJ to make up their mind or he would release the DOJ documents about the motive behind McCabe's firing and he said: "I think our society, our public does have a right to know what's going on."
You're in favor of the people's right to know right Vic?
BTW, you still haven't told me what they did.
Are you afraid to have the people know about Schiff?
No, not at all.
I just think that if you insist on investigating Schiff because he 'came to embrace a strong stance in support of the United States sending military aid to Ukraine during its conflict with Russia", EVERYONE that did so should be investigated TOO.
BTFW, based on the votes in Congress for aid, to Ukraine, that would include just about EVERYONE in Congress in 2014. The Senate passed an aid package for Ukraine by VOICE VOTE and the House [run by Boehner] passed it by 399-19.
The Congress later passed the UKRAINE FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT OF 2014 which included military aid by voice vote and without objection.
That's a LOT of people to investigate, you should bring a lunch.
And you forgot to add that outside of Russia, the Ukraine might just be the most corrupt county in Europe
I didn't add that because it's irrelevant to my comment.
Maybe not to you, but it is totally relevant to the conversation! And we are going to find out just how relevant and your'e not gonna like it one bit!
Whether or not the Ukraine is corrupt doesn't change the fact that trump committed a crime.
Nope, it's not even relevant to the conversation. What country is more corrupt has nothing to do with it.
Bullshit Xx.
HOW the fuck can talking about Schiff be irrelevant in a seed about Schiff?
Your seed states that Schiff is coming under scrutiny for something a VAST MAJORITY of the Congress supported too. HOW is THAT irrelevant Xx?
Come on, support your claim.
Actually Xx, Trump committed an impeachable offense and he did so live on TV.
Even Tucker Carlson admitted as much:
See that there Xx? Carlson admits that Trump used his office to advance his own political goals.
Black's Law Dictionary:
To impeach means, "To charge with a crime or misconduct; especially to formally charge (a public official) with a violation of the public trust."
Public trust: Trust created for the promotion of public welfare and not for the benefit of one or more individuals.
So Carlson admits that Trump committed an impeachable offense. Why won't you?
So hours later and still you've got nothing but unfounded proclamations Xx.
He absolutely did Xx.
Even Carlson and Neil Patel admitted as much.
How does it feel to read that Tucker Carlson and the founder of the Daily Caller, Neil Patel have unlocked their lips from Trump's BUTT?
Where did Tucker Carlson state Trump committed an impeachable offense?
Read the quote in my comment Sean.
So you didn't understand what he said or are you deliberately misrepresenting their article. Which is it?
No honest person could claim this statement by Carlson:
"Ukraine call, though, is whether the president’s actions, advisable or not, rise to the level of an impeachable offense. It’s hard to argue they do. The president did not, as was first reported, offer a quid pro quo to the Ukrainians. He did not condition any U.S. support on a Biden investigation. The Justice Department has already looked at the totality of the call and determined that Trump did not break the law. "
supports your claim that :
"Trump committed an impeachable offense and he did so live on TV. Even Tucker Carlson admitted as much."
Neither Sean.
I understood what they said in the Op/Ed PERFECTLY.
Unlike many here, I understood it too.
I QUOTED what they said verbatim, so how can you label that misrepresenting?
WOW! That's one hell of an edit there Sean...
Now, WHY did you truncate that quote Sean?
Oh and WHY the fuck are you pretending that I claimed it supported my comment?
what a great advertisement of your lack of credibility!
Let's look again. To quote you:
Actually Xx, Trump committed an impeachable offense and he did so live on TV.
Even Tucker Carlson admitted as much
And your " proof" is a single statement that says nothing of the sort from an article where Carlson explicitly stated it's hard to even make an argument that he committed an impeachable offense. Sad, but no surprise, that you would resort to deliberately misrepresenting Carlson's opinion and then double down on it when proven wrong. And yet you criticize Trump for being dishonest.
Are you speaking from experience FW?
It says just that Sean. Here is my comment, with the quote from the Carlson Op/ed:
Can you refute those facts Sean?
Tucker Carlson's inability to argue something is irrelevant. DOZENS of people have been arguing that Trump committed an impeachable offense in the last week. Catch up.
Again, I QUOTED the Op/Ed, HOW is that misrepresenting him?
Who did that Sean? Sure as hell not you.
He is...
No, Carlson explcitrlty said the exact opposite of what you claimed. You either lied or can't comprehend simple English when you falsely claimed
"Actually Xx, Trump committed an impeachable offense and he did so live on TV.
Even Tucker Carlson admitted as much" when it's right there in black and white that he said the opposite.
Can you refute those facts Se
We are talking about what Tucker Carlson wrote, not black's law dictionary. Sad you keep deflecting rather than admit that Carlson doesn't believe Trump committed an impeachable offense like you so blatantly falsely claimed. Have you no integrity? You are attributing the exact opposite opinion to Tucker Carlson from what he wrote. That's dishonest.
ucker Carlson's inability to argue something is irrelevant. DOZENS of people have been arguing that Trump committed an impeachable offense in the last we
You misrepresented his opinion and continue to do so. That's what relevant.
DOZENS of people have been arguing that Trump committed an impeachable offense in
Yet you falsely claimed the Tucker Carlson argued that Trump committed an impeachable offense despite him writing the exact opposite.
gain, I QUOTED the Op/Ed, HOW is that misrepresenting him?
Because you ignored the relevant part of the op-ed where he explicitly said the opposite of the opinion you attributed to him. It's the textbook definition of misrepresenting him.
ho did that Sean? Sure as hell not you.
Of course I did. Any honest person with a fourth grade reading level understands that Carlson doesn't think Trump committed an impeachable offense, despite your blatant misrepresentation.
Let's try this exercise. Read the relevant excerpt and then tell me if the author thinks Trump committed an impeachable offense.
" call, though, is whether the president’s actions, advisable or not, rise to the level of an impeachable offense. It’s hard to argue they do. The president did not, as was first reported, offer a quid pro quo to the Ukrainians. He did not condition any U.S. support on a Biden investigation. The Justice Department has already looked at the totality of the call and determined that Trump did not break the law. "
So, does Carlson think Trump committed an impeachable offense?
Then what did he mean when he said:
Who was controlling and using the government in that statement?
Hint: Trump.
Whose political goal was being advanced?
Hint: Trump.
Again, Carlson said that it would be hard to argue. He didn't say a fucking thing about what he 'believed'. I didn't say that Carlson believed a fucking thing. I said he ADMITTED that Trump committed an impeachable offense.
I cogently walked you through WHY it was an impeachable offense. Instead of refuting my comment, you post bullshit. Stop posting bullshit.
No Sean. I quoted what he said and PROVED he described an impeachable offense. You can't refute that fact. Get over it.
That's a strawman Sean.
I NEVER said that Carlson 'argued' a fucking thing. I said he ADMITTED.
Carlson DIDN'T 'write the exact opposite', he said it would be hard to argue. What's hard for Carlson is easy for many.
If you're going to debate me, you better bring FACTS.
I'm sure that you count on the fact that all too many don't actually READ around here but I know your comments are BS.
So posit is that quoting him is misrepresenting him.
Any honest person with a forth grade reading level understands that my comment isn't about what Carlson THINKS, it's about what he ADMITTED.
OH and I proved it.
Thanks for proving everything I said above.
Note that the words 'I think' or 'I believe' are NOT included in your quote Sean. They said, as I have repeated multiple times, that "It's hard to argue they do" and you so conveniently highlighted in bold . All that other bullshit you posted about what he thinks or believes, originates from a fever dream.
None of my 'cohorts' are Democratic pundits.
That is probably accurate. Except you forgot to add that he'll claim there is nothing wrong with his goat fucking in the first place, but that the prosecutor committed treason by fucking a goat and should be executed.
Trump is a traitor.
Journalistically this is so yellow it is saffron!
Criminal yes, treasonous no.
I don't like to bandy about legal terms if their definition doesn't match the crime.
The Constitution defines treason, statutes enumerate the crime and penalty for treason.
Did Trump betray the public trust? Unequivicolly.
Who are his detractors betraying Xx?
You can be a traitor without committing treason.
I totally disagree JBB. Saffron has a high value, this seed has none.
I agree.
Yet most of time, when the label 'traitor' is used, they mean treasonous.
I have no doubt that's how Trump and Xx means it.
Lies only become true if person choose to believe
Holy Crackers CH4P!!!!
The only 'real Ukrainian Connections' involve Paul Manafort, Donald J. Trump and a number of Russian oligarchs.
The Biden family? Honestly? Want to get into some real crap let ask Giuliana what happened to all of the Fireman Boot Money, the jewels, precious metals, cash and securities that were in basements of The World Trade Center. Everyone is worried about corruption, right?