From the Russian mafia to the White House: how the career of former lawyer Trump evolved

Michael Cohen, who admitted that Trump’s campaign finance campaign had been violated, was involved in laundering Russian money. According to journalists, the ex-lawyer Donald Trump made the starting capital thanks to the friendship with immigrants from the countries of the former USSR.

Photo: YouTube / Washington Post screenshot

Cohen, who repeatedly declared that his family was in the first place, in 1995, married the daughter of Fima Shusterman, a reputable immigrant of Ukrainian origin. He is called one of the most mysterious and influential figures, not only in Brighton Beach, but throughout New York. “What role did Schusterman play in Cohen’s rapprochement with Trump?” Harry Kniagnitzky understood for Rtvi.

Kenneth McCallion is a retired attorney who investigated the laundering of foreign money in the US and repeatedly went out on Michael Cohen.

Kenneth McCallion, a former federal prosecutor: "To start a business in New York, Cohen needed a man like Fima Schusterman." On Fima Shusterman recorded share in the Trump-World-Tauer - a skyscraper three blocks from the current office of McCallion.

Seva Kaplan, radio and TV host: “Fima Shusterman is the representative of the first wing of the oldest emigration. That is, he arrived, I think, somewhere at the end of 70's. It appeared on the common market, where money laundering was on the same level with Luchese and Genovese. There are two such Italian mafias. Russians are the most inventive in this regard. He was just like a spider, to which the web was drawn. Not from which, but to which the web of money was drawn. ”

Once in Brighton, Michael Cohen reached out to him. But Schusterman was impressed that the young lawyer hailing from Long Island did not disdain to protect the criminals, he loved his money and his daughter. Fima took Cohen to the family.

Who would Michael Cohen be if not Brighton Beach? Thanks to connections in the Russian-speaking immigrant district of New York, Trump's future lawyer made the first serious money. Married to the daughter of the then-riders of Fima Shusterman of Ukrainian origin, in 1993, the father-in-law was imprisoned for fraud, but this did not prevent Cohen from successfully surviving a dashing decade and even increasing their capital.

Actually, the capital was first Phymen, and later went to partners in Russia and Ukraine, who wanted to legalize criminal proceeds. Schusterman introduced Cohen into the business of taxi medallions: taxi permits. They have not been issued for 80 years - a license can only be redeemed from the previous owner.

Photo: YouTube Screenshot / NBC News

Kenneth McCallion, a former federal prosecutor: “Accounting for financial transactions on them was not very strict. You could buy a locket for 30, 40, 50, or even $ 100 thousands, and then sell for a lot more. And you received cash, which you could already declare, show to the tax service. ”

At the end of 90, Cohen met another c-native from the former USSR - Odessa-born Simon Garber. They had a joint venture, Manhattan Maintenance.

Garber was called the "king of taxis" - he saved a thousand medallions, each of which 10 had cost a million dollars more years ago. Cohen and his wife had only three dozen such licenses. The family switched to real estate: began to help clients hide money withdrawn from Russia in Tramp construction sites.

Seva Kaplan, radio and TV presenter: “This apartment becomes a credit card for you. If you got your ass in Russia there, let's say - you have 5 apartments left for 5 million dollars here. It is difficult to doubt that Schusterman with his connections through money laundering did not have contacts with people who wanted to continue doing this, hiding money in the West. And in particular, there is no better investment than in the Trump Tower. So, Trump becomes owed to Schusterman. After that, Schusterman leads Cohen to Trump.

Photo: YouTube Screenshot / NBC News

There was so much money from Eastern Europe that the future American president simply stopped investing his money. Say, in a skyscraper in Soho, he invested only his name, for which he received 18% of income. This project was managed by another immigrant from the former USSR - Tamir (aka Timur) Sapir - a legendary figure in Brighton.

He started as a taxi driver, then opened a store on Fifth Avenue and sold Soviet diplomats and tape recorders and other expensive shortages just sent from Moscow. In 90-e and these zero people became rich, but Sapir did not forget and paid him a commission, in order to house them in America millions.

Kenneth McCallion, a former federal prosecutor: “According to the information we have, Sapir and Cohen and Schusterman rotated exactly in the same circles, knew each other and met. What kind of bargains they made, are now being studied by the prosecutors of the Southern District of New York and the people of Robert Muller. I hope Michael Cohen will help to establish these links now or in the future. ”

He has already agreed to tell Special Prosecutor Muller everything about Trump. And maybe about Fima Shusterman and Russian money. That's why so reluctantly in Brighton today they are talking about Cohen's test - a key person who introduced Trump's future lawyer, if not to the Russian, then to the Russian-speaking world.

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