South Dakota Republican man of mystery Paul Erickson has fessed up to being a con artist. On Monday afternoon, Erickson pled guilty to wire fraud and money laundering:
In a two-page statement detailing the factual basis for the plea, Erickson said he conned someone only identified as “D.G.” into wiring him $100,000 under the pretense that the money was for a real estate investment in North Dakota. As part of the plea filed in U.S. district court in South Dakota, Erickson admits the money was not for a real estate deal. He also notes that he wired $1,000 of the money to a person called “M.B.” [Betsy Swan, “Paul Erickson, Russian Agent Maria Butina’s Boyfriend, Pleads Guilty to Fraud,” Yahoo News, 2019.11.18]
Erickson is pleading to two of eleven criminal counts in the original complaint. Those two counts each carry a maximum twenty-year sentence; the wire fraud charge carries a maximum $250K fine; money laundering can draw a $500K fine.
Erickson’s (former?) girlfriend, convicted Russian agent Maria Butina, received a hero’s welcome when was deported home to Russia after finishing her sentence in federal prison last month. It is unlikely Erickson will receive any bouquets of flowers or celebratory press conference from state officials here in his homeland… but, given the silly things our state government is saying this week, one never knows….
CORRUPTION:We’re on it !!
Anyone know the names of Erickson’s defense attorney or attorneys?
Meanwhile todays in open congressional testimony of lt col Vinman, Republicans repeatedly mislead the public insisting Russia had no contacts with the Trump campaign. MB got close enough to personally publically ask Trump his position sanctions and Russian foreign policy. Of course when indicted, she and 23 Russian nationals and 3 more corporations were also indicted for Russian roles affecting the 2016 election.
WAPO from 2/6/19 listed Ericson’s lawyer as William Hurd. There is a william hurd listed in Richmond, Va.
Ambass Kurt Volker today before Congress: “The stakes between United States, Russia and Ukrain could not be higher”.
Yet Trump and the GOP side with Putin, who took Crimea by force in 2014.
Keeping Crooked Creep in the WH keeps GOP criminals out of prison. Pootie owns them all.
The plea agreement was signed by Erickson’s SD super-lawyer Clint Sargent. Clint Sargent beat Marty Jackley and kept Stephanie Hubers out of prison in her GEAR UP trial, but he couldn’t beat the feds and keep a conviction off Erickson’s record.
Sergeant handled the original arraignment, as well. I read that somewhere.
Since Erickson was Buttina’s boytoy that makes him part of Pootie’s playground in the USA. The base is, of course, Pootie’s Puppet and Moscow Mitch. Pootie may be losing his playground, based on Sondland’s testimony today. Among other things, he said,
“I know that members of this committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a ‘quid pro quo’? With regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”
The rest of the article detailing 7 important Sondland quotes, is here:
is.gd/I9l2HK
This is Wry Wing Politics’ list of the 7 most pathetic defenses the GOP and Bobblehead Briber have mounted thus far.
is.gd/Cl6vdR