FBI uncovered Russian bribery plot before Obama administration approved
controversial nuclear deal with Moscow
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/355749-fbi-uncovered-russian-bribery-plot-before-obama-administration
Before the Obama administration approved a controversial deal in 2010
giving Moscow control of a large swath of American uranium, the FBI had
gathered substantial evidence that Russian nuclear industry officials
were engaged in bribery, kickbacks, extortion and money laundering
designed to grow Vladimir Putin’s atomic energy business inside the
United States.
They also obtained an eyewitness account — backed by documents —
indicating Russian nuclear officials had routed millions of dollars to
the U.S. designed to benefit former President Bill Clinton’s charitable
foundation during the time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton served on
a government body that provided a favorable decision to Moscow, sources
told The Hill.
The racketeering scheme was conducted “with the consent of higher level
officials” in Russia who “shared the proceeds” from the kickbacks, one
agent declared in an affidavit years later.
Rather than bring immediate charges in 2010, however, the Department of
Justice (DOJ) continued investigating the matter for nearly four more
years, essentially leaving the American public and Congress in the dark
about Russian nuclear corruption on U.S. soil during a period when the
Obama administration made two major decisions benefiting Putin’s
commercial nuclear ambitions.
The final court case also made no mention of any connection to the
influence peddling conversations the FBI undercover informant witnessed
about the Russian nuclear officials trying to ingratiate themselves with
the Clintons even though agents had gathered documents showing the
transmission of millions of dollars from Russia’s nuclear industry to an
American entity that had provided assistance to Bill Clinton’s
foundation, sources confirmed to The Hill.
Ronald Hosko, who served as the assistant FBI director in charge of
criminal cases when the investigation was underway, told The Hill he did
not recall ever being briefed about Mikerin’s case by the
counterintelligence side of the bureau despite the criminal charges that
were being lodged.
“I had no idea this case was being conducted,” a surprised Hosko said in
an interview.
Likewise, major congressional figures were also kept in the dark.
Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), who chaired the House Intelligence
Committee during the time the FBI probe was being conducted, told The
Hill that he had never been told anything about the Russian nuclear
corruption case even though many fellow lawmakers had serious concerns
about the Obama administration’s approval of the Uranium One deal.
“Not providing information on a corruption scheme before the Russian
uranium deal was approved by U.S. regulators and engage appropriate
congressional committees has served to undermine U.S. national security
interests by the very people charged with protecting them,” he said.
“The Russian efforts to manipulate our American political enterprise is
breathtaking.”