Many people across America have decided that the US government does not work anymore. That would not be far from the truth. Senate Majority Leader (self-described) Grim Reaper Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has killed 400 House bills. That has not prevented the Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) from trying an end-run around the elderly Kentucky senator.
Unfortunately, Donald Trump has tapped McConnell and the Attorney General (AG) William Barr, who runs the Department of Justice (DOJ) as his top henchmen.
Regardless, Schumer called upon the DOJ to investigate, the acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell. The New York senator claimed, according to CBS, the new man:
‘[Grenell] failed to inform the department about work he did for foreign entities before joining the Trump administration, possibly in violation of federal law.’
Schumer sent the Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers a letter Tuesday asking him to “immediately investigate” whether Grenell worked for the Eastern European country of Hungary and FOR a Moldovan politician.
By not disclosing he worked as a foreign agent, he could be violating of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. All Americans who lobby in the US. for “foreign entities” must report that.
Schumer continued:
‘If the reports regarding the nature of Mr. Grenell’s undisclosed work with foreign entities are accurate, he may be subject to potential civil and criminal liability as well as vulnerable to blackmail in his new position in the Intelligence Community.’
As Acting Director of National Intelligence, Grenell has had access to the highest national secrets:
‘[He] has unrestricted access to closely held national security secrets and classified information about some of the most consequential topics, including any intelligence about Russia or other foreign powers interfering in the 2020 presidential election.’
Investigative reporting determined that:
‘Grenell’s financial disclosure forms raise additional questions about whether any of his clients were foreign governments or politicians. US law requires Americans to disclose any work with international clients to the Justice Department, which recently ramped up enforcement of these federal lobbying laws to curb foreign meddling in US politics.’
He became the US ambassador to Germany, but soon the Germans wanted him expelled, because he accused the US ally of “reducing its already unacceptable commitments to military readiness.”
Before his ambassador gig, Grenell’s website archive showed that he was active in countries lining Russia’s western border. The site has since been taken down. According to CNN:
‘Grenell has worked with clients based in the U.S. as well as Iran, Kazakhstan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, China, Australia, Timor-Leste, and throughout Europe.’
Schumer wrote that if Grenell broke the law, he should be “referred for enforcement action:”
‘Any illegal activity would obviously disqualify him from serving as the director of national intelligence or in any position of public trust…Grenell may have misled Congress during his confirmation hearing.’
The New York Democrat continued:
‘[Grenell’s] company earned more than $100,000 from a foundation tied to the far-right Hungarian government, according to federal tax records. And Grenell also once published a series of columns favorable toward a Moldovan oligarch who is now a blacklisted fugitive facing allegations of massive corruption.’
In addition to having foreign clients, Grenell wrote two op-eds in 2016 defending his Moldovian political client Vladimir Plahotniuc. In response to the requested investigation, Grenell said:
‘My motivation in writing or speaking on any particular subject is because I think it’s important.’
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.
