Lev Parnas: 'Attorney General Barr Was Basically On The Team.' | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, talks with Rachel Maddow in an exclusive interview about his belief that Attorney General William Barr was in the loop on Donald Trump's scheme to get Ukraine to generate dirt about Joe Biden and his son. "Mr. Barr had to have known everything. I mean, it’s impossible." Aired on 1/15/2020.

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Lev Parnas: 'Attorney General Barr Was Basically On The Team.' | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

[Topscura]

Like her or not, Rachel Maddow and her team are the few mainstream journalist teams that ask the hard questions and do the work to follow up, investigate, and keep on the story. This is a huge ‘get’ of an interview.

[queenjj]

HE NEED TO BE A WITNESS IN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

[DavidJ]

Barr is fcked. He should have never left Bedrock.

[remyruno]

The WhatsApp messages were what was most concerning new evidence by far, though. And the words "knowledge, " "consent, " and "No.1" written on the Ritz Carlton stationery. This guy is experienced enough to keep some leverage in case he ended up needing to save his own skin, which is EXACTLY what happened.

[taralyamcdonough]

Parnas is extremely believable throughout this interview! The Trump crew had to have been extremely worried about the day Parnas talked publicly!

[anotherrant]

I knew it. Let the investigation into Barr begin.

[eds]

That is really damming. There should be an investigation started immediately into Barr.

[lovehate]

“Drain the swamp.”he said.
“Witch hunt and hoax, ” he said.

[lovehate]

Here’s the scoop:

Rachel Maddow interview: Lev Parnas statements

1. Parness says, “Trump knew everything he was going on” and gave orders to both him and Giuliani on what he wanted done.

2. Parnas met with Trump at many events including one-on-one conversations during round table discussions where there were roughly 6 people.

3. Stated he was with Rudy Giuliani 4 to 5 days a week. Stated he was with Rudy when he would speak to the president, overhearing the phone conversation on speakerphone, or often because Trump with scream into the phone, and he could hear the conversation when standing next to Giuliani.

4. Parnas stated that the entire objective of meeting with Ukraine was strictly to get dirt on the Bidens and go after Bidens to help Trump with his reelection.

5. Said he wouldn’t do anything without the consent of Rudy Giuliani or Trump. Ukrainian officials have no reason to speak to him and only did so because they were told to meet with him.

6. Said Trump’s interest in Ukraine was never about overall corruption but was strictly directed at Burisma and the Bidens.

7. Said Rudy and Trump made it clear to Ukraine officials that Parnas was working for Trump and Giuliani speaking on behalf of the president. Parnas would actually get Giuliani on speakerphone while sitting with Ukrainian officials and Giuliani would state that he is Trump’s attorney and Parnas was working on behalf of them.

8. Parnas was told to make even more demanding threats to Ukraine. Parnas contacted the senior aid to president Zelensky and conveyed the exact quid pro quo that Zelensky must announce investigations into Joe Biden or the funds would not be released to Ukraine. Giuliani instructed him to give the threat in a very harsh way and it wasn’t just military aid it was all aid to Ukraine.

9. They demanded that there be an announcement of an investigation into Bidens, and the US would stop showing support for Ukraine by not attending Ukrainian’s president inauguration and by not having the Ukrainian president for a White House visit. He told Ukraine that Pence would not show up at his inauguration — nobody would show up. This occurred on Sunday the 12th, the following day Pence’s visit to the President of Ukraine’s inauguration was canceled after the Ukraine government wouldn’t agree to the terms.

10. Trump was supposed to meet President Zelensky in Poland, but was angry because the Zelensky was not making the announcement. He backed out. He decided to send Pence to straighten it out and make it clear to President Zelensky that the announcement needed to be made. Pence couldn’t get Ukraine to do the announcement. After that, Trump decided to hold the aid. Getting the announcement on Biden was the main objective.

11. In the end, Bolton went to Poland. Parnas won’t talk on behalf of Bolton, but said Bolton is a key witness. There was tension between Bolton and Giuliani on this issue. He said Bolton 100% knows what went on.

12. Parnas stated that the only motivation for getting rid of Ambassador Yovanovitch was because she was in the way of the effort to get the announcement into Joe Biden. Parnas turned over text messages from Mr. Hyde showing surveillance of Ambassador Yovanovitch. The messages were disturbing to Parnas. He did feel that Mr. Hyde was just a sloppy drunk.

13. At a meeting in Trump Hotel, Parnas was told to establish a relationship with Dmytro Firtash, part of a Russian organize crime, and currently under federal indictment on multiple serious felony corruption charges under house arrest in Vienna waiting extradition, to get information from Firtash that would supposedly discredit the Mueller investigation and he could also help with the Ukrainian situation.

14. They were told to promise Firtash that his case would be treated as worthless and he was being prosecuted for no reason and that it could be taken care of. This is the offer they made to Firtash in exchange for the information. The case would be dropped at the Department of Justice.

15. Parnas’s role was to broker/get attorneys to represent Firtash. He provided documents showing the attorneys (Fox News attorneys) would get $1 million plus $100, 000 a month for expenses.

16. Parnas stated Attorney General, Barr, knew everything. Parnas never spoke to Barr. He was there when Giuliani and others did. Giuliani and the attorneys representing Firtash all stated they spoke to Barr about these issues. Reminder: in the summary of the telephone call with the Ukrainian president, Trump specifically said Zelinski should be in contact with Barr.

17. Parnas stated he knows Devon Nunez. He was told to be in contact with Nunez’s aid, Derek Harvey because Nunez was on the Ethics committee, and it wouldn’t look good. Parnas relayed the entire scheme to get Ukraine to announce an investigation into Biden. Nunez already knew about it. Parnas actually set up Skype interviews with Derrick Harvey and prosecutors in Ukraine to get the dirt on Bidens.

18. Parnas did this interview with Rachel because he wanted it documented in case something happened to him.

Wow. Get Trump outta here he's the most corrupt politician we have ever had since Nixon. Far worse because he's poisoned the entire branch of command!

[pameladamaris]

I'm relatively sure that he did this interview so that should anything "unfortunate" happen to him, we would know the players involved.

[surelyyoujokemeinfailure]

The American citizen who was coordinating the surveillance of ambassador Yovanovich, with options to take out a hit on her, is also a veteran, a former Marine, a candidate for US congress. Pretty sure that these activities (especially with a potential hit on the ambassador) are a violation of that former marine's service oath. He needs to "go through some things".

[wandaprock]

A lot of crime bosses going down ! Lol good job nancy Pelosi 👍

[marcopolo]

My God this is GOLD!!
It’s Christmas all over again🤩

[bethrodriguez]

Awesome interview Rachel keep up your good work you're number one in my book.

[sgtsnokeem]

Any other country this would start a covert investigation of the AG.

It would here.

[reveranttangent]

Congratulations on getting this interview Dr. Maddow.

[Bobby_Digital]

Dammmm!!!! Lev is dropping bombs!!! Time to subpoena William Barr 😁

[maxcovfefe]

FFS, the USA is coming to its knees over a few people whose personalities can only be described as *"used car salesmen."* Admit it, America, we got stuck with a lemon! There's a solution to this, but you need to VOTE!

[Keithlfpieterse]

William Barr was "in the loop!" In his own words, "Barr was practically on the team." That makes Barr an ACCOMPLICE!