I'm becoming less convinced it's leverage and moreso that it's an active partnership. It appears more and more as if Trump has made a business of money laundering for the Russian mafia since at least the early 90s. Trump Taj Mahal was repeatedly cited for violating anti-money laundering laws at Taj Mahal (but not his other casinos, interestingly), and one of the biggest launderers was a well known Russian gangster who oh so coincidentally happened to live in Trump Tower. Since 2000 all Russian mafia has run through Putin, so there's almost no doubt that Trump has been laundering money for him probably via condo sales. All this is to say I sort of no longer buy the narrative that Putin just has leverage. I think a simpler explanation (and thus a better one) is that all Trump really cars about is money, and the Russians (and therefore Putin directly or indirectly) provide him more money than anyone else. He is literally selling out the USA....Trump continues to avoid (directly) saying almost ANYTHING bad about Vladimir Putin is because Putin has leverage over Trump.
I would argue that knowledge or proof of money laundering constitutes leverage for Putin over Trump. Putin knows that if he were to divulge the details of Trump's operations that it'd be game over for Trump's presidency. The question then becomes: Is there a way for Putin to get the info out without throwing a wrench in his own income/laundering? Felix Sater? Dude, look at this piece on him from today: “I am a patriot,” Sater said. “Having the opportunity to serve my country and do anything in its defense was a no brainer. It was, ‘Where do I sign up?’” ... Sater says he made himself valuable to the U.S. government by knowing everything. When it comes to Trump, however, he says he knows next to nothing. Pretty interesting little interview. He claims to have never known Manafort, which is especially strange, considering that Manafort also had a residence in Trump Tower. I dunno, this shit is more consuming than a full-time job....one of the biggest launderers was a well known Russian gangster who oh so coincidentally happened to live in Trump Tower.
As questions have swirled about his supposed loyalty to Russia, Sater is speaking out, recasting himself as an unheralded protector of the United States.
Not sater, some other dude who's name is escaping me (God there are so many). Trump Inc. podcast did an excellent episode about it recently. I guess my problem with "leverage" is what's implicit in the word. It suggests that Trump would behave differently were it not for this albatross in his neck. I don't think he would. I think that he is perfectly happy in how he has made his money and will continue to do so, because he can. It could become leverage if he decided to change course, but until then I think it's better to call it cooperative. He's a keptocrat, and apparently a good one.
Well the difference between Putin and Trump is that Putin has way bigger fish to fry than money laundering. He may be a kleptocrat first and foremost, but he's also a KGB alumnus who cares deeply about statecraft. Having Trump in his pocket does way more for him than give him unrestricted access to his billions. It gives him a backstop for when he does shit like the recent chemical weapons attack in UK. Trump is so shallow that the money is all there is. For Putin, the money is just a means to an end. If he loses access to some overseas cash, he has a lot more elsewhere. Big deal.