Lev Parnas, the Whistleblower Who Exposed Trump’s Ukraine Scheme

Lev Parnas, a former associate of President Donald Trump‘s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, has emerged as a key figure in the ongoing impeachment inquiry against Trump. Parnas, who was arrested in October 2019 on campaign finance charges, has since turned against Trump and Giuliani, providing crucial information to House investigators about the president’s dealings with Ukraine.

A Brief Background on Lev Parnas

Lev Parnas, born in Ukraine in 1972, moved to the United States in 1993. He became a naturalized citizen in 1996. Parnas worked in various industries, including real estate and export-import business, before becoming involved in politics. He was introduced to Giuliani in 2018, and soon became a close associate, helping Giuliani with his business ventures and political activities.

The Ukraine Scheme

In May 2019, Giuliani began working on a campaign to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Giuliani enlisted the help of Parnas and another associate, Igor Fruman, to assist with this effort. Parnas and Fruman worked closely with Giuliani, using their connections in Ukraine to gather information and apply pressure on Ukrainian officials to launch an investigation into the Bidens.

As part of this effort, Parnas and Fruman met with Ukrainian officials, including the former Ukrainian prosecutor general, Yuri Lutsenko. Lutsenko had previously been involved in efforts to investigate Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company where Hunter Biden served on the board. Parnas and Fruman also met with Giuliani on numerous occasions, discussing their progress and coordinating their efforts.

The Arrest and Cooperation with Investigators

In October 2019, Parnas and Fruman were arrested at Dulles International Airport as they attempted to leave the country. They were charged with campaign finance violations, including making illegal contributions to a pro-Trump political action committee. Parnas and Fruman initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but in December 2020, Parnas changed his plea to guilty.

After his arrest, Parnas began cooperating with House investigators, providing them with documents, text messages, and other records related to his work with Giuliani and Trump. Parnas also gave several interviews to the media, including an extensive interview with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC in January 2020. In the interview, Parnas implicated Trump directly in the Ukraine scheme, stating that Trump was aware of and directed Giuliani’s efforts to pressure Ukraine.

Implications for Trump and Giuliani

Parnas’s cooperation with investigators and his public statements have had significant implications for both Trump and Giuliani. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, largely based on his dealings with Ukraine. Although Trump was acquitted by the Senate in February 2020, Parnas’s testimony helped to bolster the case against the president.

Giuliani has also faced legal scrutiny as a result of Parnas’s cooperation. In October 2020, federal prosecutors in New York issued a subpoena to Giuliani, seeking documents related to his dealings with Ukraine. Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing and has stated that he believes the investigation is politically motivated.

Conclusion

Lev Parnas has emerged as a key figure in the ongoing saga surrounding Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. Through his cooperation with investigators and public statements, Parnas has provided crucial information about the efforts of Trump and Giuliani to pressure Ukraine into investigating the Bidens. As the legal proceedings against Trump and Giuliani continue, Parnas’s testimony is likely to remain an important part of the narrative surrounding these events.