This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
On October 10, 2019, the US Department of Justice announced the indictment of two associates of Rudy Giuliani, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, on campaign finance charges.
The indictment alleged that Parnas and Fruman, along with two other men, David Correia and Andrey Kukushkin, funneled money to state and federal candidates in exchange for potential influence.
The men, who sought to set up recreational marijuana businesses in Nevada and other states, were accused of using a limited liability company called Global Energy Products to funnel large contributions.
Prosecutors said the plot was funded by a foreign national with Russian roots, who had provided the men with millions of dollars.
According to court papers, the men attempted to seek licenses to sell legal marijuana in Nevada, but missed a deadline to apply for them.
Mr. Giuliani has downplayed the significance of the campaign finance inquiry, saying it was resolved, and questioned the timing of the indictment, stating, “All I can tell you about this arrest is, it comes at a very suspicious time,”
Mr. Kukushkin appeared in federal court in San Francisco, where the government argued that he was a flight risk who should not be granted bail.
