WEBVTT 00:00:07.366 --> 00:00:11.632 >>> WELCOME BACK TO "MTP DAILY" THE RUSSIAN CLOUD OVER WHITE 00:00:11.766 --> 00:00:16.965 HOUSE SEEMS TO BE DARKENING. SEVERAL ASSOCIATES AGREED TOW 00:00:17.133 --> 00:00:21.732 VOLUNTEERED INCLUDING PAUL MANAFORT WHO VOLUNTEERED TO 00:00:21.866 --> 00:00:24.999 SPEAK TO THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. 00:00:25.133 --> 00:00:27.232 IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER IT WILL BE PUBLIC IN EITHER CASE. 00:00:27.366 --> 00:00:31.232 HE DENIES INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ATTEMPTS TO INTERFERE IN THE 00:00:31.366 --> 00:00:34.365 2016 ELECTION AND SAID HE NEVER SPOKE WITH RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT 00:00:34.533 --> 00:00:37.365 OFFICIALS OR ANYONE WHO CLAIMED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE HACK 00:00:37.499 --> 00:00:39.665 ATTACK. AFTER THE DIRECTOR TESTIFIED 00:00:39.833 --> 00:00:45.232 LAST WEEK, HE SAID IN PART, DESPITE THE CONSTANT SCRUTINY, 00:00:45.366 --> 00:00:50.232 THERE ARE NO FACTS OR EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE EVIDENCE, NOR 00:00:50.400 --> 00:01:00.632 WILL THERE BE. >> YOEBD WHAT THAT MEANS. 00:01:00.833 --> 00:01:05.865 YOU PULL OUT A GENTLEMEN WHO WAS EMPLOYED FOR FIVE MONTHS AND 00:01:05.999 --> 00:01:11.332 TALKED ABOUT IT 10 YEARS AGO. THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF PLAYING 00:01:11.466 --> 00:01:12.799 A LIMITED FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. 00:01:12.966 --> 00:01:15.599 >> HE WAS REPLACED LONG BEFORE THE ELECTION. 00:01:15.766 --> 00:01:19.098 YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? HE WAS ONLY THERE FOR A SHORT 00:01:19.232 --> 00:01:24.332 PERIOD OF TIME. >> WE KNOW PAUL MANAFORT. 00:01:24.466 --> 00:01:25.465 HE WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN. 00:01:25.599 --> 00:01:30.165 HE JOINED IN MARCH 2016 AND BECAME CHAIRMAN IN MAY AND RAN 00:01:30.233 --> 00:01:33.765 THE CAMPAIGN FROM MAY UNTIL HE RESIGNED IN AUGUST. 00:01:33.933 --> 00:01:41.199 BACK IN 2008, MANAFORT WORKED FOR A RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE. 00:01:41.366 --> 00:01:44.998 HE IS KNOWN TO U.S. OFFICIALS AS A MEMBER OF PUTIN'S INNER 00:01:45.132 --> 00:01:47.899 CIRCLE. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED 00:01:48.066 --> 00:01:54.998 THAT MANAFORT SECRETLY WORKED FOR HIM TO ADVANCE THE INTEREST 00:01:55.132 --> 00:01:58.199 OF VLADIMIR PUTIN. THAT CONTRADICTS WHAT HAS BEEN 00:01:58.366 --> 00:02:01.765 SAID BY MANAFORT AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. 00:02:01.899 --> 00:02:06.999 HE HAS DEE TIES TO ANOTHER PUTIN ALLY. 00:02:07.166 --> 00:02:09.199 PRIME MINISTER B BEGINNING IN LE 2004. 00:02:09.333 --> 00:02:14.132 WHEN HE LOST A PRESIDENTIAL BID, HE TURNED TO MANAFORT TO HELP 00:02:14.300 --> 00:02:17.332 REHABILITATE HIS IMAGE. MANAFORT CONTINUED WORKING FOR 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:26.132 HIM UNTIL 2012. THEN THERE IS UKRAINIAN OLEGARK 00:02:26.266 --> 00:02:29.932 FIRTASH AND HE WORKED WITH HIM ON THE DRAKE HOTEL BEFORE THE 00:02:30.100 --> 00:02:32.799 DEAL FELL THROUGH. HE GOT HIS START IN BUSINESS 00:02:32.933 --> 00:02:39.599 WITH THE PERMISSION OF ONE OF RUSSIA'S MOST WELL-KNOWN 00:02:39.733 --> 00:02:49.732 ORGANIZED CRIME BOSSES. THESE TWO OLEGARKS ARE BOTH 00:02:49.866 --> 00:02:55.432 ALLIES. >> IT IS A WEB, BUT IT IS JUST 00:02:55.566 --> 00:02:58.032 THAT. IT IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE 00:02:58.166 --> 00:03:01.799 OF SOMETHING MORE NEPHARIOUS, BUT IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED. 00:03:01.933 --> 00:03:06.699 HE RESPONDED TO THE STORY SAYING HIS WORK DID NOT INVOLVE 00:03:06.866 --> 00:03:09.398 REPRESENTING RUSSIAN INTEREST AND IN A STATEMENT SAID THIS. 00:03:09.532 --> 00:03:13.198 I HAVE ALWAYS PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED I WORKED FOR HIM 00:03:13.332 --> 00:03:16.199 AND HIS COMPANY TO ADVANCE ITS INTEREST. 00:03:16.333 --> 00:03:19.565 I DID NOT WORK FOR THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:22.698 THEY ARE BEING USED TO PAINT A FALSE PICTURE. 00:03:22.832 --> 00:03:28.665 >> DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN THE OBAMA 00:03:28.833 --> 00:03:32.932 ADMINISTRATION AND A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE ATLANTA COUNCIL 00:03:33.100 --> 00:03:45.999 AND ANALYST. THIS IDEA, AND HIS JOB WAS TO 00:03:46.133 --> 00:03:52.732 FIND THEM REPRESENTING HIM. >> HE MADE HIS MONEY PRETTY 00:03:52.900 --> 00:03:54.932 YOUNG. HE COLLAPSED WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG 00:03:55.066 --> 00:03:58.098 MAN. HE CAME OF AGE AS A BUSINESS MAN 00:03:58.232 --> 00:04:14.699 MAKING MONEY AND DOING DEALS. YOU ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH A 00:04:14.866 --> 00:04:23.299 GUY LIKE THAT? AT LEAST NOT GOING COUNTER TO 00:04:23.433 --> 00:04:26.332 RUSSIA'S INTEREST. >> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT PAUL 00:04:26.466 --> 00:04:29.132 MANAFORT BELIEVES YES, HE WAS THERE TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF 00:04:29.266 --> 00:04:32.932 THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WHEN IT CAME TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND HE 00:04:33.066 --> 00:04:34.765 BELIEVES HE WAS NOT DOING IT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES? 00:04:34.933 --> 00:04:37.332 >> IT'S POSSIBLE. IT'S POSSIBLE. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:43.432 THE AP HAS A REPORT WHERE THEY SAY THEY HAVE DOCUMENTS THAT 00:04:43.566 --> 00:04:48.399 STATE UNEQUIVOCALLY, I GUESS. PAUL MANAFORT SAID HE WOULD WORK 00:04:48.533 --> 00:04:53.499 TO INFLUENCE THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO HELP HIS CLIENT. 00:04:53.633 --> 00:04:59.532 IF HE WAS DOING THAT, HE WOULD HAVE TO FILE AS A FOREIGN AGENT. 00:04:59.700 --> 00:05:05.832 >> LET'S TALK ABOUT HIM. >> SHE A UKRAINIAN OLEGARCH, NOT 00:05:05.966 --> 00:05:07.365 RUSSIAN. THEY MIX AND MELD BECAUSE THEY 00:05:07.533 --> 00:05:12.265 ARE OPERATING IN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA. 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:18.232 FIRTASH DID BUSINESS WITH MANAFORT AND ALSO SUPPORTED THE 00:05:18.366 --> 00:05:22.565 OTHER FORMER PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE WHO WAS BASICALLY THE 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:26.432 GUY DEPOSED, FEDERAL. I NEED TO AMEND THAT. 00:05:26.566 --> 00:05:32.698 HE WAS FACED BY A MOB AND GUNNED DOWN OVER ABOUT 130 OF HIS 00:05:32.832 --> 00:05:40.098 CITIZENS AND THEN WHEN WE BROKERED THAT, AND NOW WE HAVE A 00:05:40.232 --> 00:05:42.698 NEW ELECTED PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE. 00:05:42.832 --> 00:05:45.498 HE MADE A LOT OF MONEY AS YOU MENTIONED. 00:05:45.632 --> 00:05:49.365 HE GOT HIS START WITH THE HELP OF ORGANIZED CRIME. 00:05:49.499 --> 00:05:52.798 THIS IS THE UNDERLYING POINT. PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WHO ARE THE 00:05:52.932 --> 00:05:57.265 PEOPLE AND WHAT ARE THE NAMES? IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH RUSSIAN 00:05:57.399 --> 00:05:59.865 BUSINESS PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUSINESS 00:05:59.999 --> 00:06:05.499 COMMUNITY IN RUSSIA IS INTERTWINED WITH THE GOVERNMENT 00:06:05.666 --> 00:06:25.532 00:06:25.633 --> 00:06:29.299 &. >> OR WITH THE MOB. 00:06:29.433 --> 00:06:35.965 >> IS THERE. >> I WOULD ARGUE NO. 00:06:36.099 --> 00:06:40.899 MOST OF THEM FIRST OF ALL GOT THEIR WEALTH AND ACQUIRED THEIR 00:06:41.066 --> 00:06:43.765 WEALTH BECAUSE OF THE BLESSING OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND 00:06:43.899 --> 00:06:46.798 WHETHER IT WAS UNDER HIM OR NOW UNDER PUTIN. 00:06:46.933 --> 00:06:51.032 CERTAINLY THEY KEPT IT. >> IT'S SEMI PRIVATIZED. 00:06:51.166 --> 00:06:53.865 >> IT'S PRIVATIZED, BUT THE UNDERSTANDING IS IF YOU HAVE A 00:06:53.999 --> 00:06:58.132 LOT OF MONEY, YOU GOT IT BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT LET YOU DO WHAT 00:06:58.266 --> 00:07:03.832 YOU DID BUSINESS-WISE AND A LOT OF IT WAS BROKERING AND BUYING 00:07:03.966 --> 00:07:06.565 ALUMINUM OR SELLING NATURAL GAS AND TAKING A CUT. 00:07:06.733 --> 00:07:11.965 A LOT OF THESE GUYS MADE MONEY AS A MIDDLE MAN SELLING GAS. 00:07:12.099 --> 00:07:16.499 THE GAS WAS SOLD FROM RUSSIA TO UKRAINE. 00:07:16.666 --> 00:07:19.065 THESE MIDDLE MEN MADE A LOT OF MONEY AND UNDERSTOOD THEY WERE 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:22.265 DOING IT BECAUSE THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT LET THEM ENGAGE IN 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:24.965 THIS BUSINESS. >> DO ANY OF THESE GUYS HAVE A 00:07:25.099 --> 00:07:28.465 POLITICAL AGENDA OR PUTIN WITH THE AGENDA AND THEY ARE 00:07:28.599 --> 00:07:31.832 MOTIVATED BY MONEY? >> THEY ARE MOTIVATED BY MONEY. 00:07:31.999 --> 00:07:36.165 IF IT GETS POLITICAL, PUTIN THINKS HE CAN'T TRUST THEM, THEY 00:07:36.299 --> 00:07:39.965 HAVE QUICKLY A PERSONAL POLITICAL AGENDA AND THEY HAVE 00:07:40.133 --> 00:07:45.732 TO DUCK FOR COVER. MANY OF THE OLEGARKS WHO 00:07:45.866 --> 00:07:50.399 SUSPECTED PUTIN IN THE PAST HAVE TURNED AGAINST THEM OR HE TURNED 00:07:50.533 --> 00:07:54.932 AGAINST THEM. SOME HAVE TURNED UP DEAD OF 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:59.132 HEART ATTACKS AND OTHERS ARE LIVING IN EXILE AND FEAR. 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:03.332 THERE IS A PACK THAT PUTIN MADE. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR MONEY. 00:08:03.466 --> 00:08:05.499 THIS IS WHEN HE CAME TO POWER IN 2000. 00:08:05.633 --> 00:08:08.899 UNDERSTAND THAT ANY MONEY YOU HAVE, IF THE STATE NEEDS THAT 00:08:09.066 --> 00:08:11.265 MONEY, WE MIGHT CALL ON YOU TO GIVE THAT MONEY BACK. 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:14.032 FOR THE SOCHI OLYMPICS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO DONATE. 00:08:14.166 --> 00:08:17.032 HE OPENS THENS THE POT AND THEY TO PUT MONEY IN. 00:08:17.166 --> 00:08:19.832 >> FOR YOU DON'T, IT IS NOTED ON A SCORE CARD. 00:08:19.966 --> 00:08:22.332 >> EXACTLY. THEY CAN ALSO SKIM OFF THE 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:26.298 GOVERNMENT AND MAKE MONEY OFF OF SOCHI TOO. 00:08:26.432 --> 00:08:30.232 >> THIS WAS TRYING TO GET AT THE MANAFORT ANGLE. 00:08:30.366 --> 00:08:33.199 IT'S CONFUSIONING. THERE IS RUSSIANS AND UKRAINIANS 00:08:33.366 --> 00:08:34.498 AND IT'S A BUNCH OF SMOKE,