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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 18 december 2019

Giuliani associate got $1 million from indicted Ukrainian

Firtash to Parnas raises ad- cratic presidential candi- access to U.S. politicians
ditional questions about date Joe Biden — a nexus by making big campaign
whether the Ukrainian oli- now at the heart of the im- contributions, including
garch was financially un- peachment inquiry against some made on behalf of
derwriting attempts by Par- President Donald Trump. foreigners. Giuliani, Trump's
nas and co-defendant Igor Both Parnas and Fruman personal lawyer, has said
Fruman to assist Giuliani in have pleaded not guilty to he had no knowledge of il-
digging up dirt on Demo- charges that they gained legal donations.q

Lev Parnas, a Rudy Giuliani associate with ties to Ukraine, ar-
rives for a bail hearing in federal court, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019
in New York.
Associated Press
By TOM HAYS torney for Firtash, who was
Associated Press arrested in Austria in 2014
NEW YORK (AP) — A busi- to face charges in the U.S.
ness associate of Rudy accusing him of conspir-
Giuliani received a $1 mil- ing to pay bribes in India in
lion payment in September connection with a titanium
from an indicted Ukrainian mining enterprise.
oligarch who is a fugitive The $1 million payment,
from justice in the U.S., fed- made in increments of
eral prosecutors revealed $200,000, was wired into
Tuesday. an account in the name
The disclosure came dur- of Parnas' wife. A lawyer
ing a court hearing in New for Parnas, Joseph Bondy,
York for Lev Parnas, who is said the money was a loan
awaiting trial on charges for the purpose of buying a
that he made illegal cam- $4.5 million house.
paign contributions to U.S. Prosecutors acknowledged
politicians, including some in a court filing that the
made to try to influence majority of the money was
policy on Ukraine. used for personal expenses
At the hearing, a judge re- and to put a down pay-
jected the government's ment on a home, but they
arguments that Parnas' said Parnas still should have
bail should be revoked be- disclosed the wire transfers
cause he failed to disclose when he was required to
the payment from Dmy- detail his assets when he
tro Firtash and other assets applied for bail. Donaleski
to the court when he was said prosecutors believe it
asked about his finances. was a sham.
He remains under house ar- "It is an unsecured, undoc-
rest in Florida on a $1 million umented loan to a house-
bond. wife with no assets," she
Assistant U.S. Attorney Re- said. "That makes no sense,
bekah Donaleski told the your honor."
judge that the $1 million Tuesday's disclosure of the
payment came from an at- $1 million wire transfer from