NORTH KURDISTAN (TURKEY)

Federal prosecutors probe Turkey lobbying –  8 Dec 2018

Federal prosecutors are looking into an alleged secret Turkish lobbying effort, The New York Times reported this week. The case, which special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly took over in mid-2017 and apparently recently referred to the prosecutors, is believed to focus on ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn’s lobbying for Turkey. The Wall Street Journal has more details, including how prosecutors have sought information on Turkey lobbyist Robert Amsterdam, which has a $50,000 per month contract with Turkey. Flynn failed to register as a foreign agent until after he was ousted from the White House over his undisclosed contacts with Russia.

In a sentencing memo for Flynn this week, Mueller argued that “a sentence at the low end of the guideline range — including a sentence that does not impose a term of incarceration — is appropriate and warranted” because of Flynn’s cooperation with Mueller’s team. You can read the sentencing memo and a largely redacted addendum here and here.

Lobbying Congress: Before Trump took office, Flynn allegedly worked on a plan to kidnap exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Turkish authorities accuse of being behind a failed 2016 coup attempt, and forcefully send him back to Turkey, The Wall Street Journal reported last year. This week’s New York Times report adds, “As part of his work for Turkey, Mr. Flynn’s company sought to persuade members of Congress that Mr. Gulen ought to be extradited.”

Flynn’s troubles began as early as November 2016, when he penned an op-ed for The Hill attacking Gulen. The op-ed was published on Nov. 8, the day Donald Trump was elected president. According to the Mueller memo, “the defendant’s op-ed about the cleric’s role was valuable to the Republic of Turkey’s efforts to shape public opinion.”

Flynn’s company, the Flynn Intel Group, also reportedly prepared at least two reports on behalf of Turkey. One dossier, entitled “Fethullah Gulen: A Primer for Investigators,” was written by former FBI agent Thomas Neer, according to the Times. Another report, first revealed by Buzzfeed News, was dated Nov. 4, 2016, and titled “Facts Bearing on the Problem and the Gulen Ecosystem.” It focused on ways to change the narrative and image of Gulen in the US and “expose [Gulen] as a strategic national security threat.”

Turkey’s fixer: Last year, Al-Monitor interviewed Ekim Alptekin, a Turkish businessman at the center of the controversy. You can dig into the disclosure forms Flynn filed with the Justice Department here, here and here. And make sure to check out our award-winning lobbying series for an overview of lobbying by the Turkish government and Gulenist groups.

AL MONITOR  6 Dec 2018 – www.mesop.de