Interview · moment 11 of 14
WikiLeaks, Snowden, and Whether Trump Is a Russian Asset
from Boss of Bosses (with Russ Baker) · #38
Audio-only archive episode — no video to seek.
5 minGuest
Speculative discussion about whether WikiLeaks and Snowden are Russian operations, Julian Assange's personality and reputation, DNC hacking uncertainty, and whether Trump himself could be viewed as an intelligence asset.
- 41:11Ray raises whether Trump could be a Russian asset, given what they know about his associate Felix Sater.
- 41:39Trump has always maintained a relationship with the FBI, knowing they had wiretaps in Trump Tower during mob arrests in his building.
- 42:03If Trump maintains relationships with the FBI, they would want information from him—suggesting he's been able to operate unfettered.
- 42:17Felix Sater has been an FBI asset for over 20 years, but the full scope of what happened during that time remains unclear.
- 42:37The guest questions whether there's been substantial prosecution against the Russian mob despite decades of FBI involvement.
- 43:03Robert I. Friedman, a Village Voice investigative reporter, wrote about the Russian mob and became a target of mobster Semyon Mogilevich.
- 43:15Mogilevich allegedly put a $100,000 hit on Friedman, who died years later of a rare blood disease.
- 43:40Since Friedman's death, no one has really followed Russian mob investigations in a conclusive, dot-connecting way.
- 43:58Tim asks whether Russian mob violence effectively curtails journalism on the subject.
- 44:16The article explores James Comey as a fascinating character whose actions warrant close examination.
Donald TrumpRobbie FriedmanRussian mobJames ComeyFelix SaterSemeno Gilovich