A Russian oligarch’s indictment was unsealed yesterday, and sleazy, corrupt politician Adam Laxalt was front and center in the federal filing. According The Nevada Independent:
“Russian businessman Andrey Muraviev was charged Monday with violating federal campaign finance laws in 2018, including illegally funneling donations to then-Republican gubernatorial hopeful Adam Laxalt, as part of an effort to win a recreational marijuana business license in Nevada.”
This newly released indictment comes months after Laxalt took the stand during the federal corruption trial of Lev Parnas, where Parnas was ultimately found guilty for funneling foreign money to U.S. politicians, including Laxalt. Federal court documents revealed that Parnas and his associates, like Muraviev, had been led to believe that Laxalt would help them get a marijuana license while they raised campaign cash for him. According the Las Vegas Review Journal:
“The oligarch ‘traveled to Nevada as part of these efforts, and received regular updates from Kukushkin about the co-conspirators’ progress politically,’ the department said. To conceal the oligarch’s involvement, the money was sent to a bank account controlled by Fruman’s brother, and then the donations were made in Fruman’s and Parnas’ name.”
“Laxalt said during the testimony that Parnas eventually promised to donate $10,000 and that he’d raise hundreds of thousands more for the campaign.”
Laxalt’s parlay with federal criminals Parnas and Fruman marks a third major pay-to-play scandal for Laxalt, who used his AG office to try to keep investigators from scrutinizing groups connected to his campaign backers and was caught on tape pressuring state regulators to help another top donor.
Las Vegas Review Journal: Russian oligarch who funneled money to Nevada candidates indicted
Colton Lochhead // 3.14.22
- A Russian oligarch has been indicted on charges of funneling illegal campaign donations to candidates that included [Adam Laxalt]..
- The oligarch ‘traveled to Nevada as part of these efforts, and received regular updates from Kukushkin about the co-conspirators’ progress politically,’ the department said. To conceal the oligarch’s involvement, the money was sent to a bank account controlled by Fruman’s brother, and then the donations were made in Fruman’s and Parnas’ name.
- According to the Justice Department, Muraviev and three other men — Andrey Kukushkin, Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas — formed a plan to launch a business aimed at getting the retail cannabis licenses in various states, including Nevada.
- While testifying in October during Parnas’ federal trial in New York, Laxalt described meeting Parnas and Fruman in 2018 during a fundraiser in Nevada that was attended by then-Vice President Mike Pence at the Trump International Hotel in Washington alongside one of then-President Donald Trump’s lawyers, Rudy Giuliani.
- Laxalt said during the testimony that Parnas eventually promised to donate $10,000 and that he’d raise hundreds of thousands more for the campaign.
Humberto Sanchez // 03.14.2022
- Russian businessman Andrey Muraviev was charged Monday with violating federal campaign finance laws in 2018, including illegally funneling donations to then-Republican gubernatorial hopeful Adam Laxalt, as part of an effort to win a recreational marijuana business license in Nevada.
- According to the unsealed indictment, Muraviev allegedly conspired with Florida-based businessmen Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were associates of Donald Trump’s private lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
- Parnas was found guilty in October of the six counts of campaign-finance charges. Laxalt testified at Parnas’ trial. He said Parnas appeared eager to provide funds and promised to hold a fundraiser that ultimately never transpired.
- Prosecutors contend Muraviev violated the law prohibiting foreign nationals from donating to federal, state or local elections. Prosecutors also said Muraviev, with the aid of the others, sought to hide the source of the donations, also violating campaign finance laws.
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