Erik Prince, who may have lied to Congressional investigators about his meeting with a Russian banker in the Seychelles on behalf of the Trump transition in January 2017, is scheduled to host a fundraising event at his Virginia home for Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) later this month.
Rep. Rohrabacher has long advocated policies favorable to Russia, and for that reason, has earned the nickname "Putin's favorite congressman."
The New York Times reported in May that the FBI warned Rohrabacher in 2012 that Russian spies were trying to recruit him as an “agent of influence.”
In November, NBC News reported that Mueller was investigating a meeting that allegedly took place two months before the 2016 election between Rohrabacher and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who has since pleaded guilty and started cooperating with Mueller.
And in 2016, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told other Republicans that he thought Rohrabacher and President Trump were on the Russian payroll, according to a recording obtained by The Washington Post. McCarthy later said he was joking.
Rohrabacher himself has continued to generate attention for his Russia ties since the 2016 election, traveling to London to visit WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who released the hacked Democratic emails during the presidential race.
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During a recent Facebook Live town hall, Rohrabacher was asked about how he’s protecting America from Russian interference in U.S. elections.
Rohrabacher acknowledged that there’s “clear evidence” that Russians attempted to influence the 2016 election, pushing back on claims that he’s denied any interference. But he downplayed the idea that Russian meddling had any impact on the race.
“The report of the special counsel that’s been active now for a year with lots of people helping the investigation, they came out with this conclusion: There was Russian involvement but it had no impact on the outcome of the election. … There was no collusion between Donald Trump and the Russians. Zero,” Rohrabacher said.
CNN:
Prince and Rohrabacher have been friends and mutual supporters for years: Prince interned for the California congressman on Capitol Hill in 1990, and Rohrabacher vigorously defended Prince when Blackwater faced congressional scrutiny during President George W. Bush's administration.
The fundraising event, slated for March 18 at Prince's Middleburg, Virginia residence, is expected to be attended by GOP Reps. Tom Garrett Jr. and Dave Brat, and Lt. Colonel Oliver North, according to an invitation obtained by CNN. Tickets start at $1,000 for the general reception, although donors paying $2,700 will also be invited to attend a VIP event beforehand.
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Rohrabacher, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been the target of attacks by Democrats and some Republicans for his unusually robust support for Russia. In the past, he has dismissed claims of Russia's human right violations as "baloney," publicly defended WikiLeaks and argued that the DNC was not hacked by Russia.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller recently gained the cooperation of George Nader, a Lebanese-American businessman and advisor to the United Arab Emirates who says he attended the January 2017 meeting in the Seychelles with Prince and that it was set up in advance to establish a back channel between the Trump transition and the Kremlin.
When Prince testified before the House Intelligence Committee, he made no mention of Nader. He claimed his meeting with UAE representatives was in his capacity as a private businessman, and that he only met the Russian banker for a beer afterwards at the suggestion of his UAE contacts. Prince claimed the conversation they had was unimportant and brief.
WaPo:
Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) said he wants to determine whether Prince lied to the panel about a meeting last year in the Seychelles that evidence suggests was an effort to establish a back channel between the incoming Trump administration and the Kremlin. He wants the panel to also speak with George Nader, a Lebanese American businessman who helped organize the meeting in the Seychelles, because his reported version of events “is obviously at odds with” what Prince told the panel in November.
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Schiff did not accuse Prince of lying but said the new interviews were necessary “so we can determine which account is accurate.” He added that the panel is waiting for Prince to provide documents to the committee they had requested.
Amid renewed scrutiny, Erik Prince to host fundraiser for Russia-friendly congressman (CNN)
Schiff wants to ask Trump supporter Erik Prince if he lied about meeting with Russian (WaPo)
Rohrabacher under fire over Russia ties (The Hill)