When we say Russian Oligarch, we know two things: His origin and his wealth.
What we don't know, is whether he is for or against Russia. We must determine that, before jailing his FBI contacts. But journalists these days don't use discernment.
Case in point:
Oleg Deripaska, whom the U.S. sanctioned for enabling Russia's annexation of Crimea.
OK, sounds terrible, but the West was doling sanctions out, so it cannot be determined that Deripaska deserved those sanctions. HAving been sanctioned certainly is not proof. Also this 'annexation' was a matter of a referendum, in which MOST of the Crimean population voted to join Russia. The Russian navy was already there, by agreement with Ukraine, in Soviet times (remember the little green men story?). Actually, the Russians have been in Crimea for a loooong time. Not sure that Deripaska, nor McGonigal could have changed anyone's mind.
they said McGonigal sought to gather derogatory information about a rival oligarch, Vladimir Potanin, and Potanin's interest in a corporation that he and Deripaska were vying to control.
OK then. Sounds dangerous /s. Just an aside: Isn't gathering derogatory information the purpose of the FBI? But fine, go ahead and crucify someone for it.
What we don't know, is whether he is for or against Russia. We must determine that, before jailing his FBI contacts. But journalists these days don't use discernment.
We do know where Derispaska stands. He's clearly close to the Russian government.
We also don't need to know that before jailing his FBI contacts. We just need to know if he committed a crime. He did. This is what he said today in court.
"I committed a felony and as a former FBI special agent it causes me extreme emotional and physical pain," McGonigal told the judge prior to the imposition of the sentence. "I stand before you today with a deep sense of remorse."
...
Isn't gathering derogatory information the purpose of the FBI? But fine, go ahead and crucify someone for it.
FBI agents are supposed to work for the FBI on behalf of the United States, they are not supposed to be cutting sides deals to use the power of the DOJ to line their pockets on behalf of private citizens or foreign nationals.
I don't know if he started working for Derispaska as an FBI agent, but he clearly knew he was sanctioned and clearly knew he was breaking the law. He worked in counterintelligence!
Yeah he is definitely charged with conduct after he left
But check this out......seems like he started playing footsie while still on the job.
As an FBI official, McGonigal helped investigate Deripaska and other Russian oligarchs. As a SAC, he supervised investigations into sanctions violations. Yet at the same time, he began building a relationship with an agent of Deripaska, in the hopes of doing business with Deripaska after he retired from the FBI.
It could be the DOJ didn't want to charge conduct while still on the job, because it could get into classified stuff.
When we say Russian Oligarch, we know two things: His origin and his wealth.
What we don't know, is whether he is for or against Russia. We must determine that, before jailing his FBI contacts. But journalists these days don't use discernment.
Case in point:
OK, sounds terrible, but the West was doling sanctions out, so it cannot be determined that Deripaska deserved those sanctions. HAving been sanctioned certainly is not proof. Also this 'annexation' was a matter of a referendum, in which MOST of the Crimean population voted to join Russia. The Russian navy was already there, by agreement with Ukraine, in Soviet times (remember the little green men story?). Actually, the Russians have been in Crimea for a loooong time. Not sure that Deripaska, nor McGonigal could have changed anyone's mind.
OK then. Sounds dangerous /s. Just an aside: Isn't gathering derogatory information the purpose of the FBI? But fine, go ahead and crucify someone for it.
We do know where Derispaska stands. He's clearly close to the Russian government.
We also don't need to know that before jailing his FBI contacts. We just need to know if he committed a crime. He did. This is what he said today in court.
...
FBI agents are supposed to work for the FBI on behalf of the United States, they are not supposed to be cutting sides deals to use the power of the DOJ to line their pockets on behalf of private citizens or foreign nationals.
I don't know if he started working for Derispaska as an FBI agent, but he clearly knew he was sanctioned and clearly knew he was breaking the law. He worked in counterintelligence!
Former FBI (he left) https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-special-agent-charge-new-york-fbi-counterintelligence-division-sentenced-50-months
Yeah he is definitely charged with conduct after he left
But check this out......seems like he started playing footsie while still on the job.
It could be the DOJ didn't want to charge conduct while still on the job, because it could get into classified stuff.
I wonder if this consider as one of the sealed indictments