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*THREAD*
Let's talk about Panama.
Two Former Panama Presidents Indicted for Corruption and Money Laundering https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/panama-presidents-indictments-odebrecht-corruption/
Let's talk about Panama.
Two Former Panama Presidents Indicted for Corruption and Money Laundering https://www.insightcrime.org/news/analysis/panama-presidents-indictments-odebrecht-corruption/
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"Martinelli won the 2009 election w/ Varela as his running mate, but their alliance broke down in 2011 when Varela was sacked as foreign minister. The 2 former political allies have become enemies."
Former Panama presidents charged w/ money laundering https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/former-panama-presidents-charged-with-money-laundering.802425
"Martinelli won the 2009 election w/ Varela as his running mate, but their alliance broke down in 2011 when Varela was sacked as foreign minister. The 2 former political allies have become enemies."
Former Panama presidents charged w/ money laundering https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/former-panama-presidents-charged-with-money-laundering.802425
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"The New Business case is named after one of 18 business entities, along with a law firm and 4 individuals, who funneled the stolen funds through 24 bank accounts at 13 banks situated in 4 countries."
Two complex cases deepen the Martinellis’ woes https://www.thepanamanews.com/2019/02/two-complex-cases-deepen-the-martinellis-woes/
"The New Business case is named after one of 18 business entities, along with a law firm and 4 individuals, who funneled the stolen funds through 24 bank accounts at 13 banks situated in 4 countries."
Two complex cases deepen the Martinellis’ woes https://www.thepanamanews.com/2019/02/two-complex-cases-deepen-the-martinellis-woes/
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Varela is accused of accepting campaign donations as bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht during the time period when he was VP and then President.
It is one of the largest corruption scandals in world history, and still growing. https://www.icij.org/investigations/bribery-division/
Varela is accused of accepting campaign donations as bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht during the time period when he was VP and then President.
It is one of the largest corruption scandals in world history, and still growing. https://www.icij.org/investigations/bribery-division/
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December 21, 2016
Odebrecht and Braskem Plead Guilty and Agree to Pay at Least $3.5 Billion in Global Penalties to Resolve Largest Foreign Bribery Case in History https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/odebrecht-and-braskem-plead-guilty-and-agree-pay-least-35-billion-global-penalties-resolve
December 21, 2016
Odebrecht and Braskem Plead Guilty and Agree to Pay at Least $3.5 Billion in Global Penalties to Resolve Largest Foreign Bribery Case in History https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/odebrecht-and-braskem-plead-guilty-and-agree-pay-least-35-billion-global-penalties-resolve
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Why is Panama so important?
It is in the middle of all the action. The Panama Canal, one of the world's great engineering marvels, connects the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. Also, it is in Central America - the land bridge between North & South America.
[Plus, it borders
]
![6/Why is Panama so important?It is in the middle of all the action. The Panama Canal, one of the world's great engineering marvels, connects the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. Also, it is in Central America - the land bridge between North & South America. [Plus, it borders ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcHKh2YXgAEa1DS.png "6/Why is Panama so important?It is in the middle of all the action. The Panama Canal, one of the world's great engineering marvels, connects the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. Also, it is in Central America - the land bridge between North & South America. [Plus, it borders ]")
![6/Why is Panama so important?It is in the middle of all the action. The Panama Canal, one of the world's great engineering marvels, connects the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. Also, it is in Central America - the land bridge between North & South America. [Plus, it borders ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcHKiv8XgAAls99.png "6/Why is Panama so important?It is in the middle of all the action. The Panama Canal, one of the world's great engineering marvels, connects the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. Also, it is in Central America - the land bridge between North & South America. [Plus, it borders ]")
Why is Panama so important?
It is in the middle of all the action. The Panama Canal, one of the world's great engineering marvels, connects the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans. Also, it is in Central America - the land bridge between North & South America.
[Plus, it borders
]
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1988:
"Kellner said Noriega received payoffs from cartel leaders *Escobar* & Jorge Ochoa Vasquez to protect cocaine shipments flown from Medellin, Colombia, through Panama to the United States."
Prosecutor Says Noriega Sold Panama to Drug Traffickers https://apnews.com/0c284a25a466a882bb5f0b9ee8ee0ba4
1988:
"Kellner said Noriega received payoffs from cartel leaders *Escobar* & Jorge Ochoa Vasquez to protect cocaine shipments flown from Medellin, Colombia, through Panama to the United States."
Prosecutor Says Noriega Sold Panama to Drug Traffickers https://apnews.com/0c284a25a466a882bb5f0b9ee8ee0ba4
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"The US military invaded Panama in hot pursuit of the country's dictator, Manuel Noriega, in December 1989. Noriega took refuge at the Vatican Embassy in Panama City."
How The US Military Used Guns N' Roses [+ Rick Astley] To Make A Dictator Give Up https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/30/530723028/how-the-u-s-military-used-guns-n-roses-to-make-a-dictator-give-up
"The US military invaded Panama in hot pursuit of the country's dictator, Manuel Noriega, in December 1989. Noriega took refuge at the Vatican Embassy in Panama City."
How The US Military Used Guns N' Roses [+ Rick Astley] To Make A Dictator Give Up https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/30/530723028/how-the-u-s-military-used-guns-n-roses-to-make-a-dictator-give-up
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"In the 1980s, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, the leader of the Colombian Cali cartel, became the largest shareholder of the First Interamericas Bank of Panama."
Drug traffickers taught the rich how to hide money in tax havens https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/18/paradise-papers-tax-havens-mafia-roberto-saviano
"In the 1980s, Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, the leader of the Colombian Cali cartel, became the largest shareholder of the First Interamericas Bank of Panama."
Drug traffickers taught the rich how to hide money in tax havens https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/18/paradise-papers-tax-havens-mafia-roberto-saviano
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"Trump Ocean Club (TOC) was announced in New York City on April 24, 2006."
Narco-a-lago: Money Laundering at the Trump Ocean Club Panama https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/corruption-and-money-laundering/narco-a-lago-panama/
"Trump Ocean Club (TOC) was announced in New York City on April 24, 2006."
Narco-a-lago: Money Laundering at the Trump Ocean Club Panama https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/corruption-and-money-laundering/narco-a-lago-panama/
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Ivanka Trump and the fugitive from Panama http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-panama
Ivanka Trump and the fugitive from Panama http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-panama
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The Trump Family Lied to Push Their Deals Around the World. And They Profited. https://features.propublica.org/trump-inc-podcast/trump-family-business-panama-city-khafif/
The Trump Family Lied to Push Their Deals Around the World. And They Profited. https://features.propublica.org/trump-inc-podcast/trump-family-business-panama-city-khafif/
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"Trump and Martinelli’s mutual affection seems to be partly based on their status as wealthy men with political ambitions who appear to be unmoved by concerns over conflicts of interest."
Trump’s Panama Problem https://www.fastcompany.com/3067820/trumps-panama-problem?cid=search
"Trump and Martinelli’s mutual affection seems to be partly based on their status as wealthy men with political ambitions who appear to be unmoved by concerns over conflicts of interest."
Trump’s Panama Problem https://www.fastcompany.com/3067820/trumps-panama-problem?cid=search
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April 2016:
The Panama Papers dropped. The full database from Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm whose services include incorporating companies in offshore jurisdictions.
What are the Panama Papers? A guide to history's biggest data leak https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/03/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-panama-papers
April 2016:
The Panama Papers dropped. The full database from Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm whose services include incorporating companies in offshore jurisdictions.
What are the Panama Papers? A guide to history's biggest data leak https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/03/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-panama-papers
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Watergate to Real Estate: The Tangled Web of the Panama Papers https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/panama-papers/watergate-real-estate-tangled-web-panama-papers-n550416
Watergate to Real Estate: The Tangled Web of the Panama Papers https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/panama-papers/watergate-real-estate-tangled-web-panama-papers-n550416
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June 2017
"Martinelli has denied any wrongdoing & said on Twitter last month that his successor, Varela, was going after him to divert attention from his own problems."
Panama ex-president, accused of political espionage, arrested in Florida http://reut.rs/2rkQnlY
June 2017
"Martinelli has denied any wrongdoing & said on Twitter last month that his successor, Varela, was going after him to divert attention from his own problems."
Panama ex-president, accused of political espionage, arrested in Florida http://reut.rs/2rkQnlY
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"Martinelli [was] accused of allegedly abusing the Pegasus system [from
-based NSO group] while he was president, as well as the disappearance of the spy equipment after he left office."
Growing scandal in Latin America over spy-hacking program http://uni.vi/Xc1F100IbVm
"Martinelli [was] accused of allegedly abusing the Pegasus system [from
-based NSO group] while he was president, as well as the disappearance of the spy equipment after he left office."Growing scandal in Latin America over spy-hacking program http://uni.vi/Xc1F100IbVm
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"The list of targets also included the two Americans, political strategist Christian Ferry, and retired U.S. Army colonel Richard Downie , as well as staff at the U.S. embassy."
Panama's ex-president wiretapped Americans, according to court documents http://uni.vi/Zx2U100Ioo6
"The list of targets also included the two Americans, political strategist Christian Ferry, and retired U.S. Army colonel Richard Downie , as well as staff at the U.S. embassy."
Panama's ex-president wiretapped Americans, according to court documents http://uni.vi/Zx2U100Ioo6
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"One of the most prominent cases involves [Martinelli], who was allowed to enter the US just days after his country’s Supreme Court opened an investigation into charges that he had helped embezzle $45 million from a government school lunch program." https://www.propublica.org/article/corrupt-foreign-officials-find-refuge-in-united-states
"One of the most prominent cases involves [Martinelli], who was allowed to enter the US just days after his country’s Supreme Court opened an investigation into charges that he had helped embezzle $45 million from a government school lunch program." https://www.propublica.org/article/corrupt-foreign-officials-find-refuge-in-united-states
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"The former U of Arkansas, Fayetteville int'l student is the school's 1st graduate to become a head of state, & his ties to UA increased w/ his profile after being elected Panama's leader in 2009."
Panama's ex-leader faces graft case, retains UA ties https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jun/04/panama-s-ex-leader-faces-graft-case-ret/
"The former U of Arkansas, Fayetteville int'l student is the school's 1st graduate to become a head of state, & his ties to UA increased w/ his profile after being elected Panama's leader in 2009."
Panama's ex-leader faces graft case, retains UA ties https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jun/04/panama-s-ex-leader-faces-graft-case-ret/
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June 2018
BBC News - Former Panama President Martinelli extradited from US https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-44446238
June 2018
BBC News - Former Panama President Martinelli extradited from US https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-44446238
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Panama court evicts Trump management from hotel in bitter spat https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/06/panama-court-evicts-trump-management-from-hotel-in-bitter-spat.html
Panama court evicts Trump management from hotel in bitter spat https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/06/panama-court-evicts-trump-management-from-hotel-in-bitter-spat.html
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September 2018:
Marriott takes control of Panama Trump tower after long dispute https://www.france24.com/en/20180926-marriott-takes-control-panama-trump-tower-after-long-dispute
September 2018:
Marriott takes control of Panama Trump tower after long dispute https://www.france24.com/en/20180926-marriott-takes-control-panama-trump-tower-after-long-dispute
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December 2018:
Four Defendants Charged in Panama Papers Investigation for Their Roles in Panamanian-Based Global Law Firm's Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the United States https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/four-defendants-charged-panama-papers-investigation-their-roles-panamanian-based-global-law
December 2018:
Four Defendants Charged in Panama Papers Investigation for Their Roles in Panamanian-Based Global Law Firm's Decades-Long Scheme to Defraud the United States https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/four-defendants-charged-panama-papers-investigation-their-roles-panamanian-based-global-law
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Panama Papers ‘tightened the noose’ on offshore assets of Maduro’s inner circle https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/18/panama-papers-tightened-the-noose-on-offshore-assets-of-maduros-inner-circle
Panama Papers ‘tightened the noose’ on offshore assets of Maduro’s inner circle https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/18/panama-papers-tightened-the-noose-on-offshore-assets-of-maduros-inner-circle
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Trump Companies Accused of Tax Evasion in Panama https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-companies-accused-tax-evasion-panama
Trump Companies Accused of Tax Evasion in Panama https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-companies-accused-tax-evasion-panama
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August 2019:
Panama ex-president found not guilty of political espionage https://apnews.com/67a8569889da43a082feba188f75b771
August 2019:
Panama ex-president found not guilty of political espionage https://apnews.com/67a8569889da43a082feba188f75b771
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Not-guilty verdict for Martinelli sign of crisis in Panamanian judiciary https://www.transparency.org/en/press/not-guilty-verdict-for-martinelli-sign-of-crisis-in-panamanian-judiciary
Not-guilty verdict for Martinelli sign of crisis in Panamanian judiciary https://www.transparency.org/en/press/not-guilty-verdict-for-martinelli-sign-of-crisis-in-panamanian-judiciary
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February 18, 2020
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Guilty Plea Of U.S. Taxpayer In Panama Papers Investigation https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-guilty-plea-us-taxpayer-panama-papers-investigation
February 18, 2020
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Guilty Plea Of U.S. Taxpayer In Panama Papers Investigation https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-guilty-plea-us-taxpayer-panama-papers-investigation
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February 28, 2020
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Guilty Plea Of *U.S. Accountant* In Panama Papers Investigation https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-guilty-plea-us-accountant-panama-papers-investigation
February 28, 2020
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Guilty Plea Of *U.S. Accountant* In Panama Papers Investigation https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-guilty-plea-us-accountant-panama-papers-investigation
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March 30, 2020
Trump hotel firm must defend fraud claim over Panama project https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/trump-hotel-firm-must-defend-fraud-claim-over-panama-project
March 30, 2020
Trump hotel firm must defend fraud claim over Panama project https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/trump-hotel-firm-must-defend-fraud-claim-over-panama-project
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h/t @WI_politics_now
July 5, 2020
"Two sons of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli were arrested in Guatemala as they tried to board a private plane out of the country."
2 sons of ex-Panama leader Martinelli arrested in Guatemala https://apnews.com/f2ebb555e99a9d9e82a30053d9111410
h/t @WI_politics_now
July 5, 2020
"Two sons of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli were arrested in Guatemala as they tried to board a private plane out of the country."
2 sons of ex-Panama leader Martinelli arrested in Guatemala https://apnews.com/f2ebb555e99a9d9e82a30053d9111410
