Bijan Kian and Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin are being indicted in federal court in connection with the Russian collusion probe being led by Robert Mueller. Kian is a former business partner of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
Kian and Alptekin are suspected of conspiring to lobby the U.S. government in order to extradite cleric Fethullah Gulen, an influential dissident of the current regime in Turkey. The Washington Post reports:
Bijan Kian made his first appearance in Alexandria federal court Monday morning. According to the indictment, Kian conspired with Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin to illegally lobby U.S. government officials and influence public opinion in the U.S. against Gulen.
Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin is accused of directing and funding Kian and Flynn’s work, and then lying in U.S. filings about his role. He is charged with the same crimes as Kian, as well as making false statements, but he remains in Turkey.
When Michael Flynn was indicted by Robert Mueller, it was rumored that he was assisting on a case related to Turkey. Now we know it’s likely this case. (RELATED: Report Suggests Michael Flynn Is Helping Prosecutors In Turkish Lobbying Probe.)
Flynn’s cooperation in this case is part of the reason he was able to avoid jail time for his alleged crime of lying to congressional investigators. (RELATED: Mueller Recommends No Jail Time For Michael Flynn, Who Provided ‘Substantial Assistance’ To Russia Probe.)
The New York Times notes how Mueller’s ongoing probe relates to the indictments:
The indictment is further evidence of a broad crackdown on unregistered foreign lobbying growing from the inquiry by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel who has investigated foreign flows of money from Ukraine, Turkey and other countries designed to manipulate decision-making in Washington. Mr. Mueller referred the Turkey case to prosecutors in Northern Virginia earlier this year.
This latest indictment, which is a direct product of the Mueller probe, has nothing whatsoever to do with Russian collusion. That’s been the trend of a string of indictments and prison sentences stemming from the investigation. Michael Flynn is facing legal trouble for allegedly ‘lying’ to the FBI. Michael Cohen, the President’s former lawyer, was sentenced to jail for lying to congressional officials and tax evasion. (RELATED: Trump Responds to Michael Cohen’s Sentence.) Neither has a thing to do with Russia.
This indictment will likely interfere with the U.S.-Turkey relationship, which, with Turkey being a member of NATO, is seen as crucial to American interests. Before this indictment was revealed, it was reported that the Trump administration was seriously considering extraditing Gulen to Turkey, where he’ll probably be indefinitely jailed, if not harmed.
Turkey was also responsible for revealing the alleged Saudi-directed killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was apparently killed in an embassy in Istanbul. Trump is refusing to sever the close ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia despite intelligence briefings stating that Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, directed the killings.
These latest indictments, which stem exclusively from the Mueller probe, will likely complicate what is already seen as a shaky international relationship.
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The next person to be indicted by Mueller will be the handy man for Flynn who improperly mowed his lawn without a permit!!
What are the chances of Alptekin returning to USA for arraignment? I'm thinking slim and none.
The Flynn case should be dismissed, without leave to refile, for prosecutorial misconduct. Mueller should be disbarred.
Mueller is a Crooked SOB and he is expert at fabricating false evidence
Iyi Gunler. I assume they are well aware that Mr. Gulen was assisted by the CIA, for his work in T.R. Mr. Flynn was working for the military in Turkish, Syrian affairs pertaining to U'S.Foreign policy which for the most part is hush hush. Pipelines and the need to stop Iran from completing it's project to the Mediterranean falls in with the Afghanistan pipeline and the Ukrainian or German, Russia pipeline. I'm somewhat privy to this because of my long term work in the area.
Mr Mueller is probably very well aware of this and appears to be disrupting U.S. election results in a manner that parallels the RUSSIANS, but is not a foreign agent. So in effect he's interfering with US foreign policy. It seems he will do anything including interfere with long term foreign policy to take out President Trump. These policies have been long term and involve Democrats.
Personally I'm against the policy but I'm Canadian so I mind my own business for the most part.
What tells me is Mr. Fetullah Gulen is not long for this world as the US would never allow him to divulge what he knows.. But it all looks good to the public. Mr' Mueller is playing with fire.That's the only possibility in chancing to expose Mr. Gulen's activities Kolay Gelsen
This is going to keep happening until we have him gone. It will never stop and the DEMS will win and others lives will be ruined. Please Mr. President get rid of special council Mueller he is bad to the bone.
Probably never, because that would implicate himself.
"The indictment is further evidence of a broad crackdown on unregistered foreign lobbying growing from the inquiry by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel who has investigated foreign flows of money from Ukraine, Turkey and other countries designed to manipulate decision-making in Washington. Mr. Mueller referred the Turkey case to prosecutors in Northern Virginia earlier this year."
Well, guess what? This has NOTHING TO DO with what Mueller is "supposed" to be investigating. And as far as "cracking down" on unregistered foreign agents, if he's decided that's his job to do, then WHEN is he going to start indicting the PODESTAS and the MANY OTHER DEMOCRATS, for being UNREGISTERED agents of foreign countries? Oh--that would be NEVER, I suspect!
Gulen, should have been deported years ago. Remember Common Core and prayer rugs in his schools?
He's a Muslim SWINE.
The next person to be indicted by Mueller will be the handy man for Flynn who improperly mowed his lawn without a permit!!