Magnitsky Act Sanctions

What we know: In 2009, Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian accountant who was tortured, denied medical attention, and found dead in his Moscow jail cell because of his role in exposing a giant tax fraud scheme “allegedly” involving high-level government officials, was the rallying point for the sanctions bill against Russia signed in 2012.

What we know: President Barack Obama signed the bi-partisan bill (Magnitsky Act) in December 2012 to sanction individuals believed to be responsible for Magnitsky’s death in 2009.

What we know: In response, Russia banned the adoption of Russian children into the U.S. and banned 18 Americans from being able to travel to Russia.

What we know: Donald Trump Jr is contacted by Rob Goldstone to setup a discussion with Emin Agalarov on potential information against Hillary Clinton. Goldstone and Agalarov arrange for a June 9th meeting in New York City at Trump Tower for Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya (lobbyist against the Magnitsky Act), Rinat Akhmetshin (Russian-American lobbyist and former Soviet counterintelligence officer), Goldstone, Anatoli Samochornov (translator, did contract work for the U.S. State Department), and Ike Kaveladze (Georgian-American, US-based senior vice president at Crocus Group run by Aras Agalarov and his son Emin. Trump Jr would invite Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner.

What we know: Federal Election Campaign Act:

Contributions and donations by foreign nationals in connection with elections. A foreign national shall not, directly or indirectly, make a contribution or a donation of money or other thing of value, or expressly or impliedly promise to make a contribution or a donation, in connection with any Federal, State, or local election.

What don’t we know: As much detail that has been provided in the Trump Jr emails, the truth with regards to what exactly was said still remains amid denials/lies by Trump Jr, Trump, and their lawyers. Trump Jr claims the meeting was basically a waste of time saying Veselnitskaya wanted to talk about the Magnitsky Act because of Russia’s ban on American adoption of Russian children and had nothing to do with the campaign. Yet, Manafort’s iPhone notes for the meeting, which were released by the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee has more to say than just Russian adoption.