Is Paul Manafort the Red Hot Link to Vladimir Putin

Is Paul Manafort the Red Hot Link to Vladimir Putin

Please accept our apologies for today's short read and abbreviated podcast, but we've made a recent commitment to provide what we do here at Issues Under Fire for our local community television station. We'll be doing this regularly on Wednesdays, because we think we know how to take the best angle on a story that'll enlighten our community most. That said, here's what we've got today.

Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, is on the hot seat big time. In the last 24 hours, his name has been floated in the public as a person of interest to the FBI. The Trump administration is currently trying to distance themselves from the "suspect" as Manafort has been connected to Viktor Yanukovych, former Ukraine President and crony of Vladimir Putin. 

Viktor Yanukovych is currently in exile in Russia after he was toppled for corruption, vote rigging and police brutality. For those who know anything about Ukraine, they know that corruption is the nation's national pastime, second only to criminal cyber activities. In fact, it was the collapse of Yanukovych's government that created the opportunity for Vladimir Putin to grab Crimea.

According to ABC.com, a Ukrainian lawmaker today said he has fresh proof (something the White House is unfamiliar with) that Paul Manafort received illegal, off-the-books payments (The Black Ledger) from Ukraine’s pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, before he was literally run out of the country. If it can be proven Mr. Manafort was dealing with Yanukovych in any capacity, the White House won't have to wait for the fire, they'll be choking on the smoke. This issue is red hot, so be wise and stay tuned. We'll have more details and the Bottom Line tomorrow. Podcast below.