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posted by takyon on Thursday December 06 2018, @05:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the watch-the-front-door dept.

Former diplomat challenges 'fake' Guardian claims about Julian Assange meeting Paul Manafort

The Canary previously reported on criticisms from WikiLeaks and others which stressed that Guardian claims about [former Trump campaign manager Paul] Manafort meeting Assange in 2013, 2015 and March 2016 were false.

WikiLeaks said it was preparing to sue the Guardian on the matter. And Manafort is also considering legal action, saying this story is "totally false and deliberately libellous".

Narváez was initially consul and then first secretary at the Ecuadorian Embassy from 2010 to July 2018. He has now told The Canary that, to his knowledge, Manafort made no visits at any time during that period. He insisted:

"It is impossible for any visitor to enter the embassy without going through very strict protocols and leaving a clear record: obtaining written approval from the ambassador, registering with security personnel, and leaving a copy of ID. The embassy is the most surveilled on Earth; not only are there cameras positioned on neighbouring buildings recording every visitor, but inside the building every movement is recorded with CCTV cameras, 24/7. In fact, security personnel have always spied on Julian and his visitors. It is simply not possible that Manafort visited the embassy."

takyon: Paul Manafort did, however, speak to the Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno about the potential removal of Julian Assange from the embassy in London:

The President of Ecuador spoke with Paul Manafort about his desire to remove Julian Assange from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, a Manafort spokesperson confirmed Monday. "When Mr. Manafort met with President Moreno of Ecuador to discuss the China Development Fund, the president raised with Mr. Manafort his desire to remove Julian Assange from Ecuador's embassy," Jason Maloni, a Manafort spokesman, told CNN in a statement. "Mr. Manafort listened but made no promises as this was ancillary to the purpose of the meeting," Maloni's statement added. "There was no mention of Russia at the meeting."

The New York Times was first to report that President Lenin Moreno and his aides had expressed their desire to have Assange leave the embassy in at least two meetings with Manafort in exchange for concessions from the US like debt relief, citing three people familiar with the talks. Assange has been holed up at the Ecuadorian embassy, since 2012.

See also: Manafort denies ever meeting with Assange
Did Someone Plant a Story Tying Paul Manafort to Julian Assange?


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @07:45PM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @07:45PM (#770813)

    "Unbelievably brazen criminal behavior herpderp"

    Please give some details. Sorry that it is not so obvious to people besides yourself.

  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @08:04PM (7 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @08:04PM (#770822)

    "I have zero dealings with Russia"

    "Oh wait, I totally did have dealings with Russia"

    "Why are all my closest advisers going to prison?"

    The man lies constantly, has abused tax payer money has passed criminal orders that were revoked by the Supreme Court, he has defrauded countless people, he publicly asked Russia to hack Clinton and publish her emails, he publicly said he could shoot someone and no one would care, he publicly called for conservatives to murder people, he publicly has perjured himself countless times, he took bribes from the Saudis and laundered it through his hotels, he has sexually assaulted women by his own admission on tape, he is a rapist according to his previous wife, he has violated non-discrimination policies by discriminating against black people, and the fact that he won't release his taxes is incredibly suspicious.

    He simply has the backing of the GOP and Fox so all this blatant behavior that would have him in front of committees the very next day is getting a pass by the GOP congress. He is so blatantly corrupt I am just astounded you even asked the question.

    • (Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @08:33PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @08:33PM (#770832)

      he publicly asked Russia to hack Clinton and publish her emails

      This part alone is what makes everything involving the Russia collusion scandal over the top ridiculous. From the beginning the big claim is that Russia sought to influence the election by smearing sides, creating distrust, chaos, and hatred of each other. If Russia was truly trying to help Trump, why would they do something on the day he openly asked for them to hack Hillary and release her emails? How could they be so stupid as to actually do what he said for them to do on television, do it the same night, and do it so poorly that they got caught and not think the blame would fall on Trump?

      Ask yourself... Is it more likely they did this on purpose to create a divide in the U.S., giving the Democrats a reason to perpetually attack Trump? Or that Trump really is and has always been a Russian agent this entire time and the Republicans are so complicit that no one would ever dissent?

      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Thursday December 06 2018, @11:18PM

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Thursday December 06 2018, @11:18PM (#770930) Journal

        How could they be so stupid as to actually do what he said for them to do on television, do it the same night, and do it so poorly that they got caught and not think the blame would fall on Trump?

        You mean helping a person they can control/blackmail to be elected as the president of a frenemy country?
        With the worst that can happen to them ruskies being a period of years of chaos in the leadership of the targeted country? All with an operational cost of a few millions?

        --
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
      • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 07 2018, @01:57AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 07 2018, @01:57AM (#770988)

        This part alone is what makes everything involving the Russia collusion scandal over the top ridiculous.

        I agree with this statement, but what makes it ridiculous is that Trump is getting a pass because he was so blatant about it.

        It is becoming public knowledge that the Russians worked at influencing the US elections, you can remain ignorant and go all "muh emailz". You realize there is basically no downside for Russia to do this right? Internationally they'll just lie and say it was some rogue outfits, but don't worry comrade they have been eliminated and will trouble you no further. Now, sanctions are becomink problem as we say.

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by khallow on Thursday December 06 2018, @10:42PM (1 child)

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Thursday December 06 2018, @10:42PM (#770906) Journal

      The man lies constantly, has abused tax payer money has passed criminal orders that were revoked by the Supreme Court, he has defrauded countless people, he publicly asked Russia to hack Clinton and publish her emails, he publicly said he could shoot someone and no one would care, he publicly called for conservatives to murder people, he publicly has perjured himself countless times, he took bribes from the Saudis and laundered it through his hotels, he has sexually assaulted women by his own admission on tape, he is a rapist according to his previous wife, he has violated non-discrimination policies by discriminating against black people, and the fact that he won't release his taxes is incredibly suspicious.

      Ok, then what's the evidence for the stuff that actually are crimes like incitement to commit crime, bribery, sexual assault, or money laundering?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 08 2018, @09:21PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 08 2018, @09:21PM (#771666)

        1) incite crime/violence? Public statements

        2) bribery? public knowledge, Saudis renting millions of dollars in hotel rooms, pay-offs (not illegal necessarily but in the ballpark)

        3) sexual assault? "grab 'em by the pussy!" and accusations of rape from his ex wife.

        4) money laundering? Ok, got me there, we don't have proof as yet but his mob ties, construction, and casino business make it almost a guarantee. Don't worry kshallow I still believe in due process and will not make a citizens arrest of your favorite Veggietales character.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 07 2018, @04:42PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 07 2018, @04:42PM (#771188)

      "I have zero dealings with Russia"

      "Oh wait, I totally did have dealings with Russia"

      don't care

      "Why are all my closest advisers going to prison?"

      pigs be piggin'

      The man lies constantly,
      unfortunate expense

      has abused tax payer money
      example?

        has passed criminal orders that were revoked by the Supreme Court,

      specifics? but i probably don't care.

      he has defrauded countless people,

      defrauded is not the same as taken advantage of stupid asses.

      he publicly asked Russia to hack Clinton and publish her emails,
      that stupid murderess deserved to be "hacked". these pieces of shit want to run Windows with national security data? fuck them.

      he publicly said he could shoot someone and no one would care,
      and?

      he publicly called for conservatives to murder people,
      yah, ok but democrats are not really "people"...

      he publicly has perjured himself countless times,
      sounds like bullshit to me. do you know what perjure means?

      he took bribes from the Saudis and laundered it through his hotels,
      it's called getting paid for a favor. no such thing as "money laundering" in a free society.

      he has sexually assaulted women by his own admission on tape,
      i think he said one /could/ grab a ho by the pussy. which is true.

      he is a rapist according to his previous wife,
      i don't know the charge but if it was against her then you could just call that old fashioned, not that i condone it.

      he has violated non-discrimination policies by discriminating against black people,

      fuck the fed laws. that is his right, and usually a wise business decision, especially in construction, not necessarily in non laborious tasks.

      and the fact that he won't release his taxes is incredibly suspicious.

      fuck the IRS. they should be glad we aren't driving them into the streets and killing them.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 07 2018, @07:31PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 07 2018, @07:31PM (#771273)

        I see you are an amoral twat, noted.