Erik Prince

Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 194

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Trial Balloon · Ep. 194: What Just Happened?

Erik Prince Violated Libya Arms Embargo

February 19, 2021 · 7:24 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“Erik Prince, the former head of the security contractor Blackwater and a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, violated a United Nations arms embargo on Libya by sending weapons to a militia commander who was attempting to overthrow the internationally backed government,” the New York Times reports.

“A confidential U.N. report obtained by The New York Times and delivered by investigators to the Security Council on Thursday reveals how Mr. Prince deployed a force of foreign mercenaries, armed with attack aircraft, gunboats and cyberwarfare capabilities, to eastern Libya at the height of a major battle in 2019.”

Erik Prince Talks About His Mueller Interview

January 7, 2019 · 12:39 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Blackwater founder Erik Prince told CNBC he would have preferred getting a “proctology exam” to being interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team of investigators about his meeting with a Russian investor linked to Vladimir Putin.

Prince said his previously reported sitdown with Mueller’s team regarding that curious encounter in the Seycelles islands, which took place shortly before Donald Trump became president, was “much ado about nothing.”

Said Prince: “I answered their questions, and they haven’t talked to me since.”

Mueller Obtains Erik Prince’s Phone and Computer

June 25, 2018 · 12:19 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Special counsel Robert Mueller “is digging deeper into Trump ally and Blackwater founder Erik Prince,” ABC News reports.

“Prince acknowledged last week that he ‘cooperated’ with Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election after falling under scrutiny amid questions about an alleged effort to establish a backchannel between the Trump administration and the Kremlin, something Prince has vehemently denied.”

“ABC News has since learned that Mueller is also reviewing Prince’s communications… A spokesperson for Prince released a statement noting that Prince has provided Mueller with ‘total access to his phone and computer.'”

Mueller Has Evidence Contradicting Prince’s Testimony

April 6, 2018 · 7:26 am ET · Leave a Comment

Special counsel Robert Mueller has obtained evidence that calls into question Congressional testimony given by Blackwater founder Erik Prince last year, when he described a meeting in Seychelles with a Russian financier close to Vladimir Putin as a casual chance encounter “over a beer,” sources tell ABC News.

“Well-connected Lebanese-American businessman George Nader, a key witness given limited immunity by Mueller, has been interviewed seven times by prosecutors on a wide range of subjects. He told investigators that he set up a meeting in the Seychelles between Prince and Russian sovereign wealth fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, mere days before Trump was inaugurated.”

Prince to Hold Fundraiser for Russia-Friendly Lawmaker

March 8, 2018 · 10:00 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Blackwater founder Erik Prince will host a fundraiser this month for Russia-friendly Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), as Prince faces new questions over a 2017 meeting currently being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller,” CNN reports.

“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.”

Also attending: Oliver North.

Mueller Has Evidence of Secret Backchannel Effort

March 7, 2018 · 7:48 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Special counsel Robert Mueller “has gathered evidence that a secret meeting in the Seychelles just before the inauguration of Donald Trump was an effort to establish a back-channel between the incoming administration and the Kremlin — apparently contradicting statements made to lawmakers by one of its participants,” the Washington Post reports.

“In January, 2017, Erik Prince, the founder of the private military company Blackwater, met with a Russian official close to President Vladimir Putin, and later described the meeting to congressional investigators as a chance encounter that was not a planned discussion of U.S.-Russia relations.”

“A witness cooperating with Mueller has told investigators the meeting was set up in advance so that a representative of the Trump transition could meet with an emissary from Moscow to discuss future relations between the two countries.”

Blackwater Founder Mulls Senate Run In Wyoming

October 8, 2017 · 9:02 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Erik Prince, the founder of the security contractor Blackwater, is seriously considering a Republican primary challenge for a Senate seat in Wyoming, potentially adding a high-profile contender to a fledgling drive to oust establishment lawmakers with insurgents in the mold of President Trump,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Prince appears increasingly likely to challenge John Barrasso, a senior member of the Senate Republican leadership, according to people who have spoken to him in recent days. He has been urged to run next year by Stephen K. Bannon, who is leading the effort to shake up the Republican leadership with financial backing from the New York hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah.”

Big Trump Donor Sought Back Channel to Russia

April 3, 2017 · 4:40 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“The United Arab Emirates arranged a secret meeting in January between Blackwater founder Erik Prince and a Russian close to President Vladimir Putin as part of an apparent effort to establish a back-channel line of communication between Moscow and President-elect Donald Trump,” the Washington Post reports.

“The meeting took place around Jan. 11 — nine days before Trump’s inauguration — in the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean… Though the full agenda remains unclear, the UAE agreed to broker the meeting in part to explore whether Russia could be persuaded to curtail its relationship with Iran, including in Syria, a Trump administration objective that would likely require major concessions to Moscow on U.S. sanctions.”

“Prince was an avid supporter of Trump who gave $250,000 last year to support the GOP nominee’s campaign, records show. He has ties to people in Trump’s circle, including Stephen K. Bannon, now serving as the president’s chief strategist and senior counselor. Prince’s sister Betsy DeVos serves as education secretary in the Trump administration.”