The US investigates the relationship between an ex-FBI and the Kremlin
According to American investigators, there is a connection between McGonigal, ex-FBI, and the Russian billionaire linked to the Kremlin Oleg Deripaska. And not only. The article by Giuseppe Gagliano
Authorities in the United States have launched at least two separate investigations into the business dealings of Charles McGonigal, a former highest-ranking employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
ALL THE CONNECTIONS OF MCGONIGAL WITH THE KREMLIN
According to the investigators, there would be an alleged connection between McGonigal and the Russian billionaire linked to the Kremlin Oleg Deripaska. In contrast, relatively little is known about his alleged connections with Albanian and other Balkan officials and intermediaries, some of whom also appear to have ties to the Albanian security services. But let us briefly reconstruct the story.
McGonigal, 54, retired in 2018 after a 22-year career at the FBI, during which he was the head of counterintelligence in New York. He was arrested in New York on Saturday, after returning to the United States from a trip to Sri Lanka. He faces charges that he conspired with Shestakov, a naturalized US citizen, to provide services to Deripaska. The latter is on a long list of Kremlin-linked oligarchs who have been subject to severe US sanctions since 2018. Working for Deripaska, McGonigal is accused in New York state of violating US government sanctions and committing in money laundering.
However, the former FBI special agent is facing other charges in Washington, involving illegal activities he allegedly engaged in while still serving in the FBI. According to the indictment, McGonigal received more than $225,000 from an Albanian American businessman, who is also a former employee of Albanian intelligence. In return, McGonigal would help advance the businessman's interests in the United States and abroad. During that time, McGonigal would not disclose his alleged financial ties to the businessman, as requested by all FBI employees.
WHAT THE SURVEYS SAY
According to investigators' investigations, McGonigal traveled to Albania while still serving in the FBI, where he allegedly met with senior Balkan politicians, including the then prime minister of Albania. McGonigal is accused of engaging in apparent lobbying during that trip, in one case advising the Albanian prime minister to exercise caution in offering oil drilling licenses to Russia-linked companies.
During the same trip, McGonigal is said to have met "an Albanian national who was employed by a Chinese energy conglomerate and was acting as an informal adviser to the Prime Minister of Albania, maintaining an official Albanian government email account and passport."
In connection with the Washington investigation, prosecutors are now looking into McGonigal's travels to Europe in recent years, during which he is said to have met with government officials from as diverse as Germany, Austria, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia- Herzegovina. There is also an investigation into "payments or gifts" McGonigal may have received from Balkan officials or "people associated with them". According to his lawyers, McGonigal has denied all allegations against him. He was released on $500,000 bail, but surrendered his passport and is not allowed to leave the United States. He risks up to 20 years in prison.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/cybersecurity/fbi-mcgonigal-cremlino/ on Sat, 28 Jan 2023 07:52:11 +0000.