The mainstream media, overwhelmed by so many mass shootings and the immense scope of Trump crony-corruption, has overlooked the real story behind the retirement of SCOTUS Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy claims he just wants to spend more time with his family; the truth is, he might be getting out one step ahead of Robert Mueller's clutches.
It turns out Justice Kennedy has a "special" relationship with Donald Trump. Kennedy's son, as head of Deutsche Bank's global real estate capital department, loaned Trump over $1 billion at a time when no other bank would go near Trump's notoriously fraudulent real estate schemes.
During young Kennedy's tenure, Deutsche Bank became Trump's most important lender, dispensing well over $1 billion in loans to him for the renovation and construction of skyscrapers in New York and Chicago. According to an analysis by Bloomberg, Trump now owes Deutsche Bank around $300 million. He has four large mortgages, all issued by Deutsche's private bank. The loans are guaranteed against the president's properties, including a new deluxe hotel in Washington DC's old Post Office. But Trump leases the Post Office, meaning he cannot take out a mortgage on it. What he has is a loan that he "personally guaranteed." These shady financial arrangements are indicative of a shell game, possibly as part of a money laundering scam for Russian oligarchs.
Deutsche Bank has long been suspected of financial dirty dealings with Putin and his cronies. In January, the bank was fined $630 million by the U.S. Department of Justice for helping Russian oligarchs launder their money. One common way for crooked banks to launder money is to invest it in fraudulent real estate transactions, like the ones commonly affiliated with Trump hotels. Hotels are erected and space is rented by anonymous parties, but the buildings go unoccupied and the leases are sold for enormous profits in due time. If the government looks the other way, the laundered money comes out clean on the other end. This would explain Trump's overly cordial and complementary disposition towards Putin, and his cozy relationship with a Supreme Court Justice who just happens to retire right before the Mueller investigation reaches its conclusion.
The Trump/Kennedy conversation of February 2017 now takes on more sinister connotations. After his first address to Congress, Trump went out of his way to engage Kennedy:
"Say hello to your boy," Mr. Trump said. "Special guy."
Kennedy responded in kind by thanking Trump for the special treatment that his son was afforded by the Trump family.
Trump isn't the only member of his administration with deep ties to Deutsche Bank. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross also has a tangled and seedy relationship to the bank. And Jared Kushner's real estate company finalized a $285 million loan with Deutsche Bank right before the election, which he subsequently failed to disclose.
In May, House Democrats asked Deutsche Bank "to hand over its findings on two politically charged matters — its banking on behalf of Trump and trades from the bank's Moscow operation that helped move some $10 billion out of Russia." They refused, citing client confidentiality.
But now Special Counsel Robert Mueller has issued a subpoena requesting the bank turn over its documents relating to its Trump family transactions. Kennedy's son will certainly be a key figure in those transactions. And his links to Russian oligarchy money laundering will undoubtedly be exposed.
Given this new information, it is illuminating to look back now on Justice Kennedy's recent decisions on controversial cases. He ruled in favor of dark money invading politics, opining that corporations would not necessarily corrupt politicians. He has also ruled in favor of Trump's racist immigration ban, casting the deciding vote in the 5-4 decision. It appears not even the highest court in the land is free of the rotten poison of Trump's vast corruption.
It is fair then to ask: Why is Kennedy really retiring? Was he paid off? What involvement/knowledge does he have concerning Trump's money laundering connections with Russian oligarchs? Is he afraid he will be subpoenaed by Mueller? Did he resign to allow Trump to choose another right-wing lunatic judge while he still can?
What we do know is that Kennedy rode off into the sunset one step ahead of Mueller's posse.
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