Who invited Geshev to breakfast? Congressman under investigation for ties to Russia and Venezuela

The “invitation” to Ivan Geshev for a visit to the United States, which he presented as an invitation by two congressmen to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast, comes from Congressmen Robert Aderholt and Pete Sessions. It is not exactly an invitation and is not at all for breakfast, but for another event – a security forum. Geshev’s participation in this forum was widely reported by the PRBs. However, it does not say that Pete Sessions is being investigated in the United States for funding from Russia and lobbying for Venezuela.

BIRD.BG also has the letter from the two congressmen, which is without address and is about an event entitled “How to counteract Russian aggression in Ukraine and China’s malign influence in Europe.” It took place yesterday, January 31 and was attended by Prime Ministers, ministers, leaders from Balkan countries and congressmen.

The letter states that those wishing to attend can contact the organizer Chris Lawson and declare their desire to participate in the forum.

Hugs Congressman Investigated for Ties to Russia and Venezuela

The warm relations of Geshev and Pete Sessions are illustrated with a photo of them uploaded to the website of the Prosecutor’s Office.

NBC News claims that Pete Sessions is the anonymous “Congressman-1” mentioned in the indictment against businessmen with Russian roots Lev Parnassus and Igor Frumman. U.S. prosecutors said they “disrupted campaign funding by funneling Russian money into President Trump’s campaign.”

The indictment says Parnassus met with Congressman-1 and asked him for assistance to recall the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. In return, he committed to raise $20,000 or more for the Congressman’s campaign.

This isn’t the only time Congressman Pete Sessions’ name has been implicated in a lobbying investigation. He was also mentioned in the investigation into former Republican Congressman David Rivera, arrested in December 2022.

Rivera is accused of illegal lobbying for the Venezuelan regime. The indictment against Rivera said he used Pete Sessions’ contacts and Sessions himself traveled to Venezuela in April 2018 and met with leader Maduro.

No breakfast: Private visit with public coverage

Geshev’s visit to the United States was presented as an invitation by two congressmen to attend the National Prayer Breakfast. In reality, however, Geshev is not personally invited and certainly not invited to the National Prayer Breakfast.

Ivan Geshev will not be present at breakfast due to a change in shape. A Washington Post publication revealed that the event, called the National Prayer Breakfast, featuring President Biden, would be attended only by lawmakers and invited.

In parallel, there will be another event called a “gathering” and participants will have the privilege to watch the breakfast on a video wall of the hotel where it is held.

Although Geshev’s visit to the United States was presented as private, it is abundantly reflected on the website of the Prosecutor’s Office, which is financed with public funds. In this regard, DB MP Ivaylo Mirchev sent questions to the PRB about exactly how Geshev’s trip to the United States is financed, but due to the short life of the current parliament, he is unlikely to receive an answer.

Title photo: PRB website

***

Разследващата журналистика е разузнаването на гражданите. BIRD се финансира от дарения. Ние не публикуваме реклами. Не получаваме държавни субсидии. Не разчитаме на грантове. Финансирането чрез малки дарения от читатели е гаранция за нашата независимост. Включете се, за да продължим да разкриваме злоупотреби и да държим отговорни властимащите. Използваме Вашите пари за хонорари на журналистите, командировки, изграждане и поддръжка на нашите информационни системи, такси за фирмени и имотни регистри у нас и по света, придобиване на техника и специално оборудване, осигуряване на нашата безопасност и други важни работни мисии. Важно: Ако дарявате всеки месец това ще ни даде възможност да планираме и организираме нашата работа. Благодарим Ви! Нас ни има, защото Вас Ви има!

This post is also available in: Български (Bulgarian)