New Emails Evidence Manafort/Calk Quid Pro Quo - Loans for Admin Appointment

Paul Manafort is the epitome of scummy swamp creature sleaze and yet this festering boil of corruption on the asses of governments the world over finds defenders among those obliged to oppose any prosecution of any associate of the President, particularly by the Mueller team.

Defenders question Mueller's mandate, downplay the serious nature of Manafort's crimes and feign outrage about equal application of the law. One of the most common ill-informed talking point holds that the crimes for which Manafort is on trial predated his time in the Trump campaign.

It's been hypothesized for some time now that there had been a quid pro quo between Manafort and Steven Calk. Accounts surfaced six months ago of Calk having called Army headquarters asking for briefings in preparation for a possible job at a time when his bank was making millions in loans to financially imploding Manafort.

Last night emails presented in the Manafort trial, evidencing the alleged quid pro quo, were released by the Mueller team. Here's a few of the more interesting.

The first is from August 4th and it's an email from Manafort to Calk asking if he'd like to join Donald Trump's economic advisory team — which he did the next day. Manafort and Calk had first come into contact through a referral to Calk's bank from a mortgage broker in April. Over the coming months, the men met on numerous occasions. According to a bank employee's testimony, the appointment to the economic advisory team happened within days of Calk approving Manafort's initial loan proposal.



About two weeks later, after reports emerged in Ukraine of Manafort's name appearing in the so-called black ledger of bribes and payoffs found by anti-corruption investigators, Manafort resigned from the campaign.

Based on what was previously reported, it wasn't clear exactly how this could have transpired. From the outside, the Trump campaign had appeared to have ceased dealings with Manafort months before the election and Calk's subsequent calls to the Pentagon. I surmised that it could have been influence exerted through Rick Gates, who had remained a part of the Trump campaign and later transition team.

I was half-right. He did indeed reach out to Gates but it went further than that. This second email email is kinda shocking actually:



In the email from November 30, 2016, Manafort emailed Jared Kushner directly with resumes for 3 individuals who "should be part of the Trump administration." Specifically relating to Calk, Manafort said:

Stephen Calk

Calk was active supporter of campaign since April. HE served on the National Economic Policy Advisory Committee for Trump campaign and has made over 40 television interviews during the course of the General Election. His background is strong in defense issues, management and finance. His preference is Secretary of the Army.

Let that all sink in. Forget the lack of vetting of Manafort (or anyone), as much as Trump has whined that somebody should have warned him about Manafort sooner, by the end of November its inconceivable that any of these people weren't aware of just how sketchy Manafort was. Publicly, the Trump team had disassociated itself with Manafort yet here he was emailing Kusher with recommendations for administration jobs.

And what was Kushner's response? "On it!" Barf.

This was two weeks after Manafort closed on his first loan from Calk's bank, a $9.5 million cash-out refinance of properties in NY and VA. And less than a week after Manafort told Rick Gates that they needed to di scuss Calk for Secretary of the Army:

In court on Tuesday assistant U.S. attorney Greg Andres handed Gates e-mails from Manafort, showing that Gates's former boss requested that he use his position in the Trump campaign to offer special favors to the founder and CEO of Chicago's Federal Savings Bank.

The first favor was discussed two weeks after Trump's election. Manafort pushed Calk's name as US Secretary of the Army, Gates testified. Calk's Federal Savings Bank had just loaned Manafort millions. According to Special Counsel Robert Mueller the loans were consummated under false pretenses.

"We need to discuss Steve Calk for Sec(retary) of the Army," Manafort wrote to Gates in the email dated Nov. 24, 2016. Manafort apparently had knowledge that there was an imminent decision to be made by the yet-to-be inaugurated president.

I really believe that even for the most ardent of Trump supporters, those who were willing to dismiss Manafort's decades of dirty deeds and offers to sell access to his Putin-pal ex-benefactor, this should be enough to stop cheerleading for Manafort to walk.

Almost forgot. Here's Calk's list of preferred positions:



The gall. SMH

a reply to: theantediluvian

Dude all these people are the swamp.
Just a different smell


Or

Fake news

originally posted by: theantediluvian
Paul Manafort is the epitome of scummy swamp creature sleaze and yet this festering boil of corruption on the asses of governments the world over finds defenders among those obliged to oppose any prosecution of any associate of the President, particularly by the Mueller team.

Defenders question Mueller's mandate, downplay the serious nature of Manafort's crimes and feign outrage about equal application of the law. One of the most common ill-informed talking point holds that the crimes for which Manafort is on trial predated his time in the Trump campaign.

It's been hypothesized for some time now that there had been a quid pro quo between Manafort and Steven Calk. Accounts surfaced six months ago of Calk having called Army headquarters asking for briefings in preparation for a possible job at a time when his bank was making millions in loans to financially imploding Manafort.

Last night emails presented in the Manafort trial, evidencing the alleged quid pro quo, were released by the Mueller team. Here's a few of the more interesting.

The first is from August 4th and it's an email from Manafort to Calk asking if he'd like to join Donald Trump's economic advisory team — which he did the next day. Manafort and Calk had first come into contact through a referral to Calk's bank from a mortgage broker in April. Over the coming months, the men met on numerous occasions. According to a bank employee's testimony, the appointment to the economic advisory team happened within days of Calk approving Manafort's initial loan proposal.

About two weeks later, after reports emerged in Ukraine of Manafort's name appearing in the so-called black ledger of bribes and payoffs found by anti-corruption investigators, Manafort resigned from the campaign.

Based on what was previously reported, it wasn't clear exactly how this could have transpired. From the outside, the Trump campaign had appeared to have ceased dealings with Manafort months before the election and Calk's subsequent calls to the Pentagon. I surmised that it could have been influence exerted through Rick Gates, who had remained a part of the Trump campaign and later transition team.

I was half-right. He did indeed reach out to Gates but it went further than that. This second email email is kinda shocking actually:

In the email from November 30, 2016, Manafort emailed Jared Kushner directly with resumes for 3 individuals who "should be part of the Trump administration." Specifically relating to Calk, Manafort said:

Stephen Calk

Calk was active supporter of campaign since April. HE served on the National Economic Policy Advisory Committee for Trump campaign and has made over 40 television interviews during the course of the General Election. His background is strong in defense issues, management and finance. His preference is Secretary of the Army.

Let that all sink in. Forget the lack of vetting of Manafort (or anyone), as much as Trump has whined that somebody should have warned him about Manafort sooner, by the end of November its inconceivable that any of these people weren't aware of just how sketchy Manafort was. Publicly, the Trump team had disassociated itself with Manafort yet here he was emailing Kusher with recommendations for administration jobs.

And what was Kushner's response? "On it!" Barf.

This was two weeks after Manafort closed on his first loan from Calk's bank, a $9.5 million cash-out refinance of properties in NY and VA. And less than a week after Manafort told Rick Gates that they needed to di scuss Calk for Secretary of the Army:

In court on Tuesday assistant U.S. attorney Greg Andres handed Gates e-mails from Manafort, showing that Gates's former boss requested that he use his position in the Trump campaign to offer special favors to the founder and CEO of Chicago's Federal Savings Bank.

The first favor was discussed two weeks after Trump's election. Manafort pushed Calk's name as US Secretary of the Army, Gates testified. Calk's Federal Savings Bank had just loaned Manafort millions. According to Special Counsel Robert Mueller the loans were consummated under false pretenses.

"We need to discuss Steve Calk for Sec(retary) of the Army," Manafort wrote to Gates in the email dated Nov. 24, 2016. Manafort apparently had knowledge that there was an imminent decision to be made by the yet-to-be inaugurated president.

I really believe that even for the most ardent of Trump supporters, those who were willing to dismiss Manafort's decades of dirty deeds and offers to sell access to his Putin-pal ex-benefactor, this should be enough to stop cheerleading for Manafort to walk.

So then why did the Muller investigation charge him with crap from 2005 that had been investigated before?
Why was this alone not worthy?

Also will we be seeing such vigorous outrage at others who attempt to sell access?

a reply to: theantediluvian

I really believe that even for the most ardent of Trump supporters, those who were willing to dismiss Manafort's decades of dirty deeds and offers to sell access to his Putin-pal ex-benefactor, this should be enough to stop cheerleading for Manafort to walk.

Sure, fairs fair!... I guess we can start looking under the hood of the Democrats, Media Liaisons and dirty FBI/DNC plants too... being we're all high and mighty about justice and not ... letting... criminals.......walk!

So what happened? Did Chalk become Secretary of the Army? .... or did nothing happen?

Manaforts always been dirty, Trump trusted a friend, hired a goon and... fired him, right? when it was realised he was a grubby tosspot he got the ass. yeah?. and rightfully so!!!

But thats not what this is all about right?... I mean, if you put a cop on anyone for 200miles they'll get a ticket... let alone a career millionaire businessman rubbing asses in corporate wallstreet america!

So Congrats, after 2 years of bullplop... Muellers managed to find a dirty businessman working out better rates for personal LOANS read it - not BRIBES!!!.....

...and you have the nerve to bring up Putin!.. classy!

Keep chasing that Russia Collusion rainbow fellow anti trumpers!!!... its probably best if you kinda people are kept distracted playing with fantasies!.... while the rest of us try to focus on fixing this nonsense!

originally posted by: shooterbrody

originally posted by: theantediluvian
Paul Manafort is the epitome of scummy swamp creature sleaze and yet this festering boil of corruption on the asses of governments the world over finds defenders among those obliged to oppose any prosecution of any associate of the President, particularly by the Mueller team.

Defenders question Mueller's mandate, downplay the serious nature of Manafort's crimes and feign outrage about equal application of the law. One of the most common ill-informed talking point holds that the crimes for which Manafort is on trial predated his time in the Trump campaign.

It's been hypothesized for some time now that there had been a quid pro quo between Manafort and Steven Calk. Accounts surfaced six months ago of Calk having called Army headquarters asking for briefings in preparation for a possible job at a time when his bank was making millions in loans to financially imploding Manafort.

Last night emails presented in the Manafort trial, evidencing the alleged quid pro quo, were released by the Mueller team. Here's a few of the more interesting.

The first is from August 4th and it's an email from Manafort to Calk asking if he'd like to join Donald Trump's economic advisory team — which he did the next day. Manafort and Calk had first come into contact through a referral to Calk's bank from a mortgage broker in April. Over the coming months, the men met on numerous occasions. According to a bank employee's testimony, the appointment to the economic advisory team happened within days of Calk approving Manafort's initial loan proposal.

About two weeks later, after reports emerged in Ukraine of Manafort's name appearing in the so-called black ledger of bribes and payoffs found by anti-corruption investigators, Manafort resigned from the campaign.

Based on what was previously reported, it wasn't clear exactly how this could have transpired. From the outside, the Trump campaign had appeared to have ceased dealings with Manafort months before the election and Calk's subsequent calls to the Pentagon. I surmised that it could have been influence exerted through Rick Gates, who had remained a part of the Trump campaign and later transition team.

I was half-right. He did indeed reach out to Gates but it went further than that. This second email email is kinda shocking actually:

In the email from November 30, 2016, Manafort emailed Jared Kushner directly with resumes for 3 individuals who "should be part of the Trump administration." Specifically relating to Calk, Manafort said:

Stephen Calk

Calk was active supporter of campaign since April. HE served on the National Economic Policy Advisory Committee for Trump campaign and has made over 40 television interviews during the course of the General Election. His background is strong in defense issues, management and finance. His preference is Secretary of the Army.

Let that all sink in. Forget the lack of vetting of Manafort (or anyone), as much as Trump has whined that somebody should have warned him about Manafort sooner, by the end of November its inconceivable that any of these people weren't aware of just how sketchy Manafort was. Publicly, the Trump team had disassociated itself with Manafort yet here he was emailing Kusher with recommendations for administration jobs.

And what was Kushner's response? "On it!" Barf.

This was two weeks after Manafort closed on his first loan from Calk's bank, a $9.5 million cash-out refinance of properties in NY and VA. And less than a week after Manafort told Rick Gates that they needed to di scuss Calk for Secretary of the Army:

In court on Tuesday assistant U.S. attorney Greg Andres handed Gates e-mails from Manafort, showing that Gates's former boss requested that he use his position in the Trump campaign to offer special favors to the founder and CEO of Chicago's Federal Savings Bank.

The first favor was discussed two weeks after Trump's election. Manafort pushed Calk's name as US Secretary of the Army, Gates testified. Calk's Federal Savings Bank had just loaned Manafort millions. According to Special Counsel Robert Mueller the loans were consummated under false pretenses.

"We need to discuss Steve Calk for Sec(retary) of the Army," Manafort wrote to Gates in the email dated Nov. 24, 2016. Manafort apparently had knowledge that there was an imminent decision to be made by the yet-to-be inaugurated president.

I really believe that even for the most ardent of Trump supporters, those who were willing to dismiss Manafort's decades of dirty deeds and offers to sell access to his Putin-pal ex-benefactor, this should be enough to stop cheerleading for Manafort to walk.

So then why did the Muller investigation charge him with crap from 2005 that had been investigated before?
Why was this alone not worthy?

Also will we be seeing such vigorous outrage at others who attempt to sell access?

It also reeks of being a desperation move (or perhaps a well calculated one, hmmm?) that could establish legal precedent that could used to reach back and bite *ahem* "other people" *cough* *cough* right in the a$$.

Remember:

This is NOT the Political Mud Pit Forum.

Adjust your behavior accordingly.

Do not reply to this post.

The OP needs reminding that the Manafory trial has zero top do with the President. The judge made sure to instil that into the proceedings. If Manafort did a favour for a favour, sure it stinks, but that is what Washington is all about. Selective outrage is not a good look.
If the OP was calling for the whole Washington swamp to be investigated for corrupt lobbying efforts instead of trying to make Manaforts case about the Trump administration, this thread might have more credibility.

a reply to: theantediluvian

The first is from August 4th and it's an email from Manafort to Calk asking if he'd like to join Donald Trump's economic advisory team — which he did the next day. Manafort and Calk had first come into contact through a referral to Calk's bank from a mortgage broker in April. Over the coming months, the men met on numerous occasions. According to a bank employee's testimony, the appointment to the economic advisory team happened within days of Calk approving Manafort's initial loan proposal.

While I agree that bribery should be punished, it runs so deep in our government, if you punish one you need to punish them all.

Look over the members that made up Obama's Economic Advisory Board and know that there are several names on the list that Obama gave special favors, especially William Daley. All of Obama's corrupt Chicago cronies, including Rahm Emanuel,were crawling all over Obama's administration in the beginning...

www.usnews.com...

I'm just tired of all the hypocrisy. This is exactly why we needed someone like Trump to speak up and actually start the ball rolling on weeding out the corruption, regardless of who they represent. Draining the swamp should have happened a long time ago, but I fear that it's too far gone to correct at this point. There aren't enough judges in the world to hold all of these people responsible.

There is no doubt, and never has been, that Trump has done business with dirty businessmen; he, himself, has done some dirty deeds. But, we are talking about our government and no one ever investigates how Congressmen and Senators go into their office poor and come out rich.

Politics is just and always has been dirty business. That said, it is so obvious, except to the OP, that that the vitriol and obvious considered concentration by FBI/CIA et al. of Trump's associates and appointees as opposed to Clinton and Obama appointees and associates is politically motivated.

No excuses for immoral and illegal behavior however why just Trump associates? Politics and sour grapes.

a reply to: theantediluvian

I'm sorry, what does any of this have to do with Russia, collusion or Trump?

OMG, ambassadorships are not handed out on merit

Question for anyone who finds this "offensive"

Do you really care about this, or do you just really really hate Trump and want to sound like you are smart and that you really really hate trump?

Personally, I look at people's logic over position. Example:

I don't care if Trump/Obama/Bush/Clinton/Bush/Reagan/Carter.... handed out ambassadorships to people that helped out their campaigns. I don't change my opinion over who's in the white house

If this all of a sudden offends you, either you didn't pay attention before, or you are full of Trump hate now.

If one have always been in politics, and this really offends you, but you weren't offended by citigroup email to obama with cabinet picks....well...ummmm.....you really don't have core beliefs, just Trump hate(unless you want to consider trump hate as a belief)

a reply to: theantediluvian

While the optics are terrible, I don't see evidence of quid pro quo, at least not as you've presented it here.

Family friends and friends of campaigns always are recommended and given positions in someone's administration--how the hell do you think that Hillary ended up being Secretary of State? It was her consolation prize for "allowing" Obama to win (yes, that's speculation, but understanding as much as I do about her and how the Clintons and the Deep State operate, that can't be far off).

I'm not saying that it's right, but it's par for the course in politics.

What I'm interested in is how many Trump supporters that you read/hear saying that Manafort should walk without punishment--I generally see people saying things along the lines of what I do: If he's guilty, he should be convicted and sentenced.

I think what maybe you're conflating is the people saying that if Clinton and others can get away with obvious and apparent crimes, why shouldn't people associated with the Trump campaign. I disagree with that, and think all should be indicted and tried, but that sentiment doesn't mean that people think that Manafort's crimes should be ignored.

Maybe I'm wrong?

Good post, though. Thanks for sharing.

The Rise and Fall of Paul Manafort: Greed, Deception and Ego

A subplot of the saga is the betrayal of Mr. Manafort by his longtime deputy Rick Gates, who had been at his side for the last dozen years.

A former senior official of both the Trump campaign and the Trump inaugural committee, Mr. Gates has testified that he helped execute Mr. Manafort’s fraudulent schemes while simultaneously stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from him, apparently because he felt that Mr. Manafort was not dividing the riches from Ukraine fairly.

... snip ...

Mr. Yanukovych’s fall from power in Ukraine in 2014 was cataclysmic for Mr. Manafort. Even though the oligarchs regrouped to fund a new political party for which Mr. Manafort worked, the payments to him dwindled fast, and he complained about unpaid bills.

When Mr. Gates told him in April 2015 about his estimated tax bill for the previous year’s earnings, he erupted in anger.

“WTF,” Mr. Manafort demanded in an email. “How could I be blindsided like this.”
“This is to calm down Paul,” Mr. Kilimnik, the Russian aide in Ukraine, wrote to Mr. Gates in mid-2015 in an email that promised that $500,000 would be wired soon.

Ukrainian prosecutors had begun investigating the payments to Mr. Manafort and others, turning to the F.B.I. for help. Agents interviewed both Mr. Manafort and Mr. Gates in 2014, but considered them only witnesses to the theft of Ukrainian government funds.

So, contrary to popular ATS myth, Manafort's charges do not date back "10 years"
and actually a lot of his shadiness continued during his time on Team Trump
as he bacame a usefull tool for .... certain ... people

More bromance litterature for the the blowdiehard Trumpians

Paul Manafort, American hustler

By the early months of 2016, Manafort was back in greater Washington, his main residence and the place where he’d begun his career as a political consultant and lobbyist. But his attempts at rehabilitation—of his family life, his career, his sense of self-worth—continued. He began to make a different set of calls. As he watched the U.S. presidential campaign take an unlikely turn, he saw an opportunity, and he badly wanted in.

He wrote Donald Trump a crisp memo listing all the reasons he would be an ideal campaign consigliere—and then implored mutual friends to tout his skills to the ascendant candidate.

... snip ...

When Paul Manafort officially joined the Trump campaign, on March 28, 2016, he represented a danger not only to himself but to the political organization he would ultimately run. A lifetime of foreign adventures didn’t just contain scandalous stories, it evinced the character of a man who would very likely commandeer the campaign to serve his own interests, with little concern for the collective consequences.

Over the decades, Manafort had cut a trail of foreign money and influence into Washington, then built that trail into a superhighway.

When it comes to serving the interests of the world’s autocrats, he’s been a great innovator. His indictment in October after investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller alleges money laundering, false statements, and other acts of personal corruption. (He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.)

But Manafort’s role in Mueller’s broader narrative remains carefully guarded, and unknown to the public.
And his personal corruption is less significant, ultimately, than his lifetime role as a corrupter of the American system.

That he would be accused of helping a foreign power subvert American democracy is a fitting coda to his life’s story.

But, but, but ....
Trump only surrounds himself with the best people
carefully vetted ones at that !

By the way, if anyone is worried about how a 'broke 'Manafort is paying his legal fees ?
you can always contribute to his crowdsourcing page

Defense Rests...

After calling ZERO WITNESSES.

His lawyers must be idiots.

a reply to: UKTruth

Keep saying it. Maybe it will come true. Like making a wish.
Because we can just pretend that the party platform wasn't changed at the last minute at his encouragement. We can pretend that he wasn't in constant contact with the Russians while on the campaign.

a reply to: Sillyolme

well now

We can pretend that he wasn't in constant contact with the Russians while on the campaign.

So would you kindly source that claim or should it just be dispelled as another in a long long line of lies?

originally posted by: Sillyolme
a reply to: UKTruth

Keep saying it. Maybe it will come true. Like making a wish.
Because we can just pretend that the party platform wasn't changed at the last minute at his encouragement. We can pretend that he wasn't in constant contact with the Russians while on the campaign.

Actually it was the judge who said that the Manafort case has nothing to do with Trump.
So it is actually true without me saying it, but some need a reminder.

originally posted by: Sillyolme
Defense Rests...

After calling ZERO WITNESSES.

His lawyers must be idiots.

Or confident a case has not been built?