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The Russian Roots of American Political Dysfunction
“Russian stories never have happy endings” — Sergei Magnitsky
______________Act I: Sergei Magnitsky’s Warning___________
It is impossible to fully comprehend Russia’s effort to influence the 2016 election without rudimentary knowledge of the circumstances leading up to the passage of the Magnitsky Act in 2012. These events, and the impunity with which they were exercised in Russia, are central to the success of Donald Trump’s political ambitions in the United States.
As evidenced by the recent disclosure of Trump’s tax returns, the outrageous losses and tax rebates claimed by Trump reflect suspicious accounting methods eerily similar to the financial shenanigans uncovered by Russian tax auditor Sergei Magnitsky more than a decade ago. When viewed together, these methods form the roots of a corrupt tree of graft and collusion that continues to grow and flourish today. To be clear, Sergei Magnitsky is the key and locus upon which all political plot lines return. Do not forget him, or discount his importance to combating the rise of authoritarian leaders throughout the world.
The Magnitsky Act, signed into law by President Obama on December 14, 2012, punished 18 Russians complicit in the death of lawyer and tax accountant Sergei Magnitsky. U.S. controlled assets belonging to these…
