Jan 18, 2018 - World

FBI investigating whether NRA used Russian money to help Trump

Image: Scott Olson / Getty Images

The FBI is investigating whether top Russian banker Alexander Torshin, who has close ties to the Kremlin, sent money to the NRA to help President Trump win the election, reports McClatchy.

Why it matters: The NRA spent $30 million to support Trump in 2016, triple what they spent on fellow Republican Mitt Romney in 2012. The sources of those donations were not disclosed, and two people told McClatchy that the gun lobby's actual election spend may have been closer to $70 million.

Torshin is a lifetime NRA member who has been described as a "godfather" in a Russian organized crime syndicate known as Taganskaya. In November, NBC News reported that Jared Kushner nixed a meeting between Torshin and the Trump campaign, though Kushner later failed to disclose the email exchange.

In May 2016, Torshin reportedly sat next to Donald Trump Jr. at a private dinner hosted by the NRA.

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Axios
Updated 2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

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Zachary Basu
2 hours ago - World

Protests erupt in Belarus after "Europe's last dictator" claims election victory

A man lies on the ground in front of riot police in Minsk. Photo: Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images

Demonstrations broke out across Belarus on Sunday after a government exit poll predicted that President Aleksander Lukashenko, an authoritarian who has ruled the Eastern European country since 1994, had swept to overwhelming victory over a pro-democracy opposition candidate.

Why it matters: It's a precarious moment for the former Soviet republic, where decades of repression and a complete disregard for the coronavirus pandemic now threaten to topple "Europe's last dictator."

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Jonathan Swan, Alexi McCammond
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Scoop: Inside Trump's debate prep

Trump and Christie. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Two weekends ago, President Trump met with a group of his closest aides in the conference room of his Bedminster golf club to discuss a subject that has been weighing heavily on his mind: the three scheduled debates with Joe Biden.

Behind the scenes: In the room with Trump were his son-in-law Jared Kushner, campaign manager Bill Stepien, senior adviser Jason Miller, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who role-played Hillary Clinton in Trump's 2016 debate prep sessions.

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