Hmmmmmmmm.So much for keeping it a secret.
A Congressional inquiry has found that it is ''relatively easy'' for foreigners to hide their identities and form shell companies here that can launder money through American banks.
In a a nine-month inquiry that subpoenaed bank records, the investigators found that an unknown number of Russians and other East Europeans moved more than $1.4 billion through accounts at Citibank of New York and the Commercial Bank of San Francisco.
The accounts had been opened by Irakly Kaveladze, who immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1991, according to Citibank and Mr. Kaveladze. He set up more than 2,000 corporations in Delaware for Russian brokers and then opened the bank accounts for them, without knowing who owned the corporations, according to the report by the General Accounting Office, which has not been made public.
The report said the banks had failed to conduct any ''due diligence'' into identifying the owners of the accounts.
Late this afternoon, Citibank sent a 15-page letter to the G.A.O., saying that it had closed the accounts after being contacted by G.A.O. investigators earlier this year.
''It is clear in hindsight that our systems and tracking procedures were not sufficient to detect the nature and extent of his relationship with us,'' the bank said, referring to Mr. Kaveladze. The letter, signed by the general counsel, Michael A. Ross, for the Global Consumer Business at Citigroup Inc., went on, ''Given enhancements to our systems and procedures, we are confident that we would detect questionable activity and take action more promptly should a similar situation arise today.''
The bank said outside counsel had been brought in to review the matter after being alerted by the G.A.O, and that ''no illegal activity in the Kaveladze-related accounts'' had been found.
In an interview, Mr. Kaveladze said he had engaged in no wrongdoing. He described the G.A.O. investigation as a ''witch hunt.''
The G.A.O. report said nothing about the sources of the money. In view of past investigations into laundering, this wave was highly likely to have arisen from Russian executives who were seeking to avoid taxes, although some money could be from organized crime.
More than $800 million was wired from abroad to 136 accounts that Mr. Kaveladze opened at Citibank for Russian clients, and most of that was then sent to overseas accounts, said the report, which was provided to The New York Times by government officials who want to see its findings receive maximum exposure. The report is to be released on Thursday.
In an interview, Mr. Kaveladze said he had engaged in no wrongdoing. He described the G.A.O. investigation as a ''witch hunt.''
Oh my there is a Cilizza AMA going on XD
https://amp.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/6o1ea5/im_chris_cillizza_editor_at_large_for_cnn/
"That was in 2014. I keep trying to evolve as a journalist and have tried to do so since then."
Try harder.
Holy shit people are going in.Oh my there is a Cilizza AMA going on XD
https://amp.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/6o1ea5/im_chris_cillizza_editor_at_large_for_cnn/
Oh my there is a Cilizza AMA going on XD
https://amp.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/6o1ea5/im_chris_cillizza_editor_at_large_for_cnn/
Seeing gold already.
Also, are you HA Goodman in disguise?
People interested in Zuck have never heard him speak lol
Because of course he was.I was an English major at Georgetown
Katy Tur‏Verified account @KatyTurNBC 3m3 minutes ago
More
Murkowski just told MSNBC's @GarrettHaake she is a NO on repeal motion to proceed.
Failed AMAs are one of the reasons I still visit Reddit from time to time.
are you and benny johnson the same person in disguise or is it a sort of gremlins thing where someone poured water on one of you or fed you too late at night and now you both exist
I feel like this needs to be talked about in here:
I've openly voiced my concern that our country is so backwards when it comes to sexism that I have hesitations about running Kamala Harris in 2020. I think she can be a political superstar one day, but I don't see it being an Obama "rise above the field" type thing at this point, and that worries me for a general election. For some reason, people don't want a woman in power, and it is mind-boggling to me.
That's more than 3 right?
Portman, Collins and Murkowski?
That's more than 3 right?
Portman, Collins and Murkowski?
Skewer this cunt.Oh my there is a Cilizza AMA going on XD
https://amp.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/6o1ea5/im_chris_cillizza_editor_at_large_for_cnn/
An American-based employee of a Russian real estate company took part in a June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between a Russian lawyer and Donald Trump Jr., bringing to eight the number of known participants at the session that has emerged as a key focus of the investigation of the Trump campaigns interactions with Russians.
Ike Kaveladzes presence was confirmed by Scott Balber, an attorney for Emin and Aras Agalarov, the Russian developers who hosted the Trump-owned Miss Universe pageant in 2013. Balber said Kaveladze works for the Agalarovs company and attended as their representative.
CillizzaCNN
redditor for 2 hours
269 post karma
-12 comment karma
The Associated Press‏Verified account @AP 3m3 minutes ago
More
BREAKING: Trump says Republicans should `let Obamacare fail,' says, `I'm not going to own it'
I feel like every other comment I see from Cillizza is some variation of I'm evolving as a journalist, I'm just trying my best here, ok
That one got me
a bot? thats a lot of karma for a 2hour account
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
LMAOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Kaveladze was implicated in Russian money laundering scheme. This is all coming together now.
Yeah, NYT confirming 3 nos on full repeal
Tom Wolf (D-Pennslyvania) 48/37
Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) 25/66 (jesus!)
Bruce Rauner (R-Illinois) 40/49
Rick Snyder (R-Michigan) 38/52
Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) 43/51
Charlie Baker (R-Massachusetts) 71/17
Larry Hogan (R-Maryland) 68/16
Rick Scott (R-Florida) 52/37
Dan Malloy (D-Connecticut) 29/64
Dead in less than 24 hours, new record.
Where's my boy Chris Christie at
Dead in less than 24 hours, new record.
McConnell said:If we can't repeal and replace later, we sh...
I like to make fun of McConnell and his media crown of being a genius, but in this case however it was a calculated move to shut up Trump and bury BCRA.Damn! Should have at least let it play over a couple of weeks.
John Harwood‏Verified account @JohnJHarwood 56s56 seconds ago
As Senate health bill collapses, Trump takes credit for winning over most Republicans: "would have been 48-4. impressive by any standard"
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh my there is a Cilizza AMA going on XD
https://amp.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/6o1ea5/im_chris_cillizza_editor_at_large_for_cnn/