A new report published on Wednesday claims to have received information from anonymous sources that the FBI is leading a probe of law enforcement and intelligence agencies looking into whether the Russian Kremlin funneled secret money and aid to the Trump campaign.
McClatchy News claims two sources have told them about this probe that is investigating the possibility of “how money may have moved from the Kremlin to covertly help Trump win.”
The “inter-agency working group” is said to include the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Justice Department, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and members from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
According to the report, the group began meeting last spring, before it became publicly known that computer files were hacked from the DNC and personal email addresses of members of Clinton’s campaign team were also compromised.
The chief allegation they are seemingly investigating is the funding of the hacks on the DNC and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. One possibility being considered is that the Russians used a system set up to pay legitimate Russian-American pensioners to funnel covert funds to pay email hackers or possible intermediaries in the United States who were involved in the hacks.
The Trump campaign apparently declined to comment on the latest allegations, but in the past Trump has repeatedly denied any association with Russia in the campaign. At a press conference held last week, the President-elect angrily denounced rumors of possible cooperation between members of his campaign and Russia.
One source said the DOJ already obtained a secret FISA warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts, suggesting the group has been able to demonstrate “probable cause” sufficient to get a court to believe some allegations to substantiate the claims. A FISA warrant would allow the investigators to secretly gain access to bank records that may provide evidence of the possible money transfers. However, the report admits it is unable to further substantiate the claims that a FISA warrant has been obtained.
[image via shutterstock]
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