Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge: "Putin's vendor is Trump's lender" in describing cozy Goldman Sachs relationship

Wants Congress to investigate claim in 35-page memo that President-elect Trump may have a financial interest in Russia's Rosneft sale, Calls for the president-elect to release his tax returns

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) wants to refocus the nation's attention away from sexual allegations surrounding President-elect Donald Trump and Russians, and concentrate on claims that he may have an interest in Russian President Vladmir Putin's $11.3 billion sale of Rosneft shares to Glencore and Qatar in October 2016. Congresswoman Fudge said Congress should be extremely curious about President-elect Trump's possible interest in what the Qatar media described as a 'last minute' and 'secret' sale.

'A 35-page unverified memo turned over to the FBI by Senator John McCain last summer highlights a potentially dangerous connection between the President-elect, his former aide, Carter Page, Rosneft and the Russian offer of 'brokerage of up to a 19 percent' stake in its government-owned oil and gas corporation,' said Congresswoman Fudge. 'The memo contains specific allegations about the offer during conversations between Page and Rosneft's president. More than 19% interest was purchased in October 2016 by 'foreign investors' according to the Russian media. The report's allegations cannot be ignored, and the American people deserve to know how perilous this relationship really is.'

Interestingly, Goldman Sachs entered into a three-year contract in 2013 to improve Russia's image with western investors, and continues to represent Russian and foreign-based clients operating in Russia. U.S. sanctions against Russia haven't helped Goldman Sachs and its CEO achieve that goal.

Published reports show Goldman Sachs was predicting better days for Russia's Rosneft last year while other investment raters advised against Russian investments. 'Maybe they knew something the rest of us didn't,' Congresswoman Fudge said.

'The President-elect's placement of five current and former Goldman Sachs officers in top government positions, some of whom are now employees of a bank that has a commission-generating contract with the Russian government, creates a chilling vision of our government's future,' Congresswoman Fudge continued. Notably, Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company reportedly also holds a loan on a Manhattan office tower 30% owned by the President-elect.

'We will have a U.S. president whose business lender is a vendor of the Russian government, and some of whose five cabinet and advisor picks have or had ties to a financial firm that serves both leaders,'Congresswoman Fudge said. 'Americans have no choice but to be wary of where the President-elect's true loyalties will lie - to the nation or his pockets.'

'I believe Congress should identify all of Rosneft's American investors and probe the role Goldman Sachs officials on Trump's team played in the deal,' said Congresswoman Fudge. 'The only way we're going to know if the president-elect's financial interests are not co-mingled with U.S. foreign policy is for him to release the last 20 years of his tax returns. He's been far too secretive about his business dealings for Americans to trust him.'

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