The Podesta emails – Erdogan's attempt to expand influence through donations to Democratic candidates?
WikiLeaks
series on deals involving Hillary Clinton campaign Chairman John
Podesta. Mr Podesta is a long-term associate of the Clintons and was
President Bill Clinton's Chief of Staff from 1998 until 2001. Mr
Podesta also owns the Podesta Group with his brother Tony, a major
lobbying firm and is the Chair of the Center for American Progress
(CAP), a Washington DC-based think tank.
An email
sent by Michael Werz,
Senior Fellow at American Progress, to John Podesta, on August 19,
2015, exposes the deep concern of the US establishment about the
aggressive mobilization of Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
to expand his influence on the US political status, and especially to
the Democratic camp, in order to restrict further the power of the
Turkish opposition and the Kurds.
Although
short, this letter is particularly revealing:
John,
heard this second hand but more than once. Seems Erdogan faction is
making substantial investments in U.S. to counter opposition (CHP,
Kurds, Gulenists etc.) outreach to policymakers and USG. Am told that
the Erdogan crew also tries to make inroads via donations to
Democratic candidates, including yours. Two names that you should be
aware of are *Mehmet Celebi* and *Ali Cinar*. Happy to elaborate on
the phone, provided you are not shopping at the liquor store.
Recall
that nearly a year later, Erdogan accused the United States of
harboring Fethullah Gülen whom has considered responsible for the
failed coup against him.
Also,
“President Erdoğan asked the United States to extradite Gülen:
"I call on you again, after there was a coup attempt. Extradite
this man in Pennsylvania to Turkey! If we are strategic partners or
model partners, do what is necessary." Prime Minister Yildirim
has threatened war against any country that would support Gülen.
Turkish Labor Minister Süleyman Soylu claimed that "America is
behind the coup."”[wikipedia.org]
As
a final result, the relations between US and Turkey, two key NATO
allies, have been downgraded to the worst level for decades.
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