PDF Summary:Follow the Money, by Dan Bongino

The modern political landscape has become a minefield of accusations, subterfuge, and manufactured controversy. In Follow the Money, Dan Bongino examines how a collection of political operatives from the intelligence community, law enforcement, and Obama administration aimed to undermine Donald Trump's presidency through dubious investigations and selective release of information.

Bongino argues that this faction orchestrated events to create a narrative of collusion between Trump and Russia—including improperly obtaining surveillance warrants using the salacious Steele dossier, while deliberately obscuring Ukraine's role in spreading misinformation about Trump's associates. The book also delves into China's role in the COVID-19 crisis and its potential impact on the 2020 election.

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The book delves into the involvement of a well-known Democratic benefactor, specifically examining his ties through the Open Society Foundations to AntAC, a Ukrainian entity committed to fighting corruption. According to Bongino, AntAC was funded by Open Society and played a pivotal role in establishing the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), a newly formed agency within the government designed to address major corruption incidents.

Bongino highlights that Soros donated a substantial sum to the Democracy Integrity Project, an initiative founded by Daniel Jones, which in turn allocated more than three million dollars to Fusion GPS for activities labeled as "research consulting." This effectively funneled money to the firm that played a pivotal role in creating the Steele dossier and influencing the narrative of Russiagate.

Glenn Simpson and Christopher Steele were instrumental in spreading incorrect details about Manafort and the activities of Trump's campaign team.

The author proposes that a number of people, including Alexandra Chalupa, a consultant with Ukrainian-American heritage working for the Democratic National Committee, as well as Glenn Simpson of Fusion GPS and dossier creator Christopher Steele, were instrumental in spreading misleading narratives about Manafort and the Trump campaign. Chalupa, who was intently concentrating on Manafort, collaborated with senior representatives of the Obama administration and spread claims about his ties to pro-Russian factions in Ukraine. Bongino delves into the partnership between Chalupa and Ciaramella, tracing its origins to their concurrent tenure in the White House beginning in 2015.

The exploitation of Ukrainian resources to dig up damaging information about Trump and his circle.

Bongino argues that this collective deliberately exploited Ukraine, aiming not just to accumulate wealth through questionable deals but also to unearth and spread damaging information about Trump and his associates.

Efforts were made to obscure the financial dealings between the Biden family and Burisma.

Dan Bongino examines the controversial monetary dealings associated with the Biden family and their involvement with Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, alongside the strategies used to obscure these financial movements. Dan Bongino argues that the remuneration Joe Biden obtained for his role on Burisma's board was disproportionately high, given his lack of prior experience in the energy sector. Dan Bongino underscores that Joe Biden applied significant leverage to secure the ousting of an investigator looking into Burisma by using a billion-dollar loan as leverage against the heads of state in Ukraine. Bongino contends that individuals with connections to Biden engaged in questionable conduct and also attempted to hide their actions.

The commencement of impeachment efforts was driven by the use of the Steele dossier in conjunction with other unsubstantiated claims about Trump's ties to Russia.

Bongino argues that although the credibility of Steele's dossier was waning, it continued to drive the impeachment initiatives linked to the phone call between Trump and Ukraine. Bongino contends that the baseless claims about Trump's connections with Russia, as noted in the document, played a pivotal role in concocting a narrative of wrongdoing, leading to the initiation of impeachment proceedings by the Democrats in reaction to Trump's efforts to probe into corrupt activities.

Other Perspectives

• The allegations of collusion and the subsequent investigations were based on multiple sources of intelligence and evidence, not solely on the Steele dossier or information from Ukrainian sources.
• Ukrainian officials' involvement in US politics could be seen as a response to Russian aggression and a need to align with powerful allies for their own national security interests.
• The financial dealings of the Biden family with Burisma have been investigated, with no evidence of illegal activity or wrongdoing by Joe Biden found by the relevant authorities.
• The impeachment efforts were not solely based on the Steele dossier; they were also based on a whistleblower complaint and evidence gathered during the impeachment inquiry.
• The role of George Soros and his foundations is often overstated in political discourse, and there is no concrete evidence that his involvement was for malicious purposes against Trump.
• The involvement of Alexandra Chalupa, Glenn Simpson, and Christopher Steele could be interpreted as part of their professional activities and not necessarily as a coordinated effort to spread misinformation.
• The use of Ukrainian resources to find damaging information about Trump could also be seen as part of standard opposition research in politics.
• The narrative of a "deep state" or a coordinated effort by Democratic Party agents and intelligence personnel is a common counter-narrative but lacks concrete evidence to substantiate a widespread conspiracy.

Efforts to undermine his presidency included the misuse of power, influence from affluent figures, and targeted scrutiny of those connected to President Trump.

Bongino presents a disturbing narrative detailing the misuse of intelligence and surveillance capabilities to undermine Trump's presidency by targeting his associates. Dan Bongino underscores the deliberate sabotage directed at General Michael Flynn, the monitoring of Carter Page, and the use of individuals like Stefan Halper as informants.

The career of General Michael Flynn experienced a collapse like no other.

Dan Bongino demonstrates the inappropriate use of intelligence and law enforcement organizations to target Michael Flynn, who was a proponent for Trump.

The orchestration of an interview trap for Flynn, which involved the surveillance of his communications.

In December 2016, Bongino emphasizes the challenging circumstances Flynn faced as a result of Obama's move to impose sanctions on Russia. The writers emphasize how the situation was manipulated, resulting in a skewed portrayal of Flynn's communications with the Russian envoy and his efforts to alleviate hostilities, which ultimately led to the creation of misleading evidence. Bongino contends that the FBI's intention to entrap Flynn is evident, considering they questioned him without legal representation even though he had previously been exonerated of any wrongdoing related to collusion with Russia.

The active participation of the FBI and the Department of Justice in targeting Flynn.

The book's narrative details how Michael Flynn became the focus of intense scrutiny by the Department of Justice, the FBI, and other intelligence agencies. Bongino reveals that, while Robert Mueller was in charge, the Department of Justice failed to provide Judge Emmet Sullivan with a truthful account of Flynn's discussion with Kislyak after leveraging potential legal issues involving Flynn's son to obtain his confession. He maintains that, despite claims to the contrary, the topic of sanctions was introduced exclusively by the Russian representative, not by Flynn.

The exploitation of intelligence and law enforcement bodies to single out individuals like Carter Page due to their association with Trump.

The book provides an in-depth analysis of the techniques used by intelligence and law enforcement agencies to direct their investigative attention toward Carter Page due to his role as an advisor within the Trump campaign.

The use of individuals like Stefan Halper to surveil and create traps for associates of Trump's campaign team.

Bongino delves into the secretive operations of Stefan Halper, a Cambridge academic who, due to his experience with the CIA and FBI, was tasked with gathering intelligence on Page and others linked to Trump. He argues that Halper, at a minimum, misled the FBI, telling agents he had witnessed behavior by Flynn at a dinner in Cambridge, England, that Flynn’s colleagues and Halper’s co-defendants have disputed. Bongino portrays Halper as an operative whose actions are unchecked and motivated by political biases.

Efforts by the Obama administration were made to restrict the incoming Trump team's ability to obtain information and establish connections.

Dan Bongino suggests that the gathering involving Flynn at Cambridge was deliberately orchestrated rather than a chance encounter, aiming to gather significant intelligence for subsequent utilization. Events unfolded exactly as described. After becoming aware of Flynn's interactions with the Russian envoy and the possibility of misrepresenting their dialogue, Halper re-engaged in covert activities, spreading misleading stories about the discussions at the dinner to members of the press.

Other Perspectives

• The investigations into President Trump's associates, such as General Michael Flynn and Carter Page, were part of a broader inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which was confirmed by multiple U.S. intelligence agencies.
• The FBI and the Department of Justice have protocols and oversight mechanisms to prevent the misuse of power, and their actions are subject to legal and procedural checks.
• The interview with General Flynn was conducted under legal authority, and Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, which suggests that there was a legal basis for the interview and subsequent actions.
• The surveillance of Carter Page was approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which found probable cause to believe that he was acting as an agent of a foreign power.
• Stefan Halper's involvement with the FBI was part of standard intelligence-gathering practices, and there is no conclusive evidence that his actions were politically motivated or that he intentionally misled the FBI.
• Efforts by the outgoing Obama administration to restrict access to sensitive information could be seen as a precautionary measure in light of concerns about the incoming administration's contacts with Russian officials.
• The use of informants and surveillance is a common and legally sanctioned practice in counterintelligence operations, not necessarily indicative of political bias or an attempt to undermine the presidency.

The broader global context includes China's role in the COVID-19 scenario and the alleged collaboration with the World Health Organization.

The author broadens their examination to encompass a larger geopolitical context, which not only encompasses the allegations of Trump's cooperation with Russia but also probes into China's far-reaching strategic objectives and its role in exacerbating the COVID-19 crisis. He also examines the alleged role played by the World Health Organization.

China's approach to securing its ongoing supremacy in economic and technological realms poses a threat to the interests of the United States.

Bongino delves into the strategies utilized by China's leadership to establish dominance in economic and technological domains, underscoring their view of the United States as the primary rival. He details the aggressive loan strategies, misappropriation of proprietary knowledge, and the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to extend its sway over global institutions like the World Health Organization.

China's assertive economic strategies include aspirations to control global institutions like the World Health Organization, as well as the misappropriation of proprietary knowledge.

Bongino provides numerous examples of how China employs aggressive tactics to dominate international organizations, including the World Health Organization. Dan Bongino describes the strategies used by the Chinese Communist Party to ensure that Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, despite his history of minimizing cholera outbreaks in Ethiopia, became the head of the World Health Organization.

The administration under Trump confronted China's inequitable trade strategies while opposing the Chinese Communist Party's attempts to undermine Trump's stance.

The author argues that by opposing China's unfair trade practices, Trump became a target for the Chinese Communist Party, which then sought to undermine his administration and bring an end to his time in office. Aware of the possibility that Joe Biden may avoid addressing their infractions, strategists from the Chinese Communist Party focused on destabilizing the United States' economy as a strategy to influence the 2020 election in favor of Trump's defeat.

China's role in exacerbating the crisis throughout the period of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bongino argues that the persistent COVID-19 pandemic signifies a fresh stage in the competitive dynamics between the United States and China. China is accused of deliberately hiding the initial phase of the outbreak in Wuhan and using its sway over the World Health Organization to downplay the threat, thereby allowing the virus to spread worldwide.

China's initial downplaying of the Wuhan outbreak, coupled with the World Health Organization's role in diminishing the perceived severity of the threat.

Dan Bongino presents the case that China intentionally downplayed the early stages of the outbreak in Wuhan, silencing doctors who tried to sound the alert and delaying the release of information to the World Health Organization. The author also provides evidence that under Tedros' leadership, the World Health Organization repeated claims that downplayed the likelihood of the virus spreading from person to person, despite clear clinical signs suggesting otherwise.

The severe impact of the pandemic on society and the economy was exacerbated by China's calculation that the potential harm to Trump's chances of reelection was warranted.

Bongino suggests that China deliberately let COVID-19 escalate into a worldwide issue to destabilize the economy of the United States and impede the campaign of President Trump for reelection. He suggests that the action was a calculated risk, even though it could have jeopardized China's economic stakes. The political leadership in Beijing perceived a chance to diminish America's financial strength as a strategy to expedite the removal of Trump and create a smoother transition for Joe Biden, who they believed would be more amenable to their influence.

Other Perspectives

• China's role in the COVID-19 crisis is complex, and while there were initial delays in reporting, it is also true that many countries faced challenges in responding to the outbreak. The World Health Organization has stated that its relationship with China is similar to that with other member states, and it works within the framework of its international regulations.
• Economic strategies such as seeking influence in global institutions are common among major powers, not unique to China. Other countries also engage in lobbying and strategic positioning within international organizations.
• The Trump administration's approach to China's trade practices was controversial and sparked a trade war that also affected U.S. industries and consumers. Some argue that a more collaborative approach might have yielded better results for both countries.
• The assertion that China deliberately harmed the US economy to influence the election is a serious accusation and would require substantial evidence. Economic downturns in the US were primarily due to the pandemic's global impact, which also severely affected China's economy.
• Viewing China's strategic objectives as solely a threat may overlook opportunities for cooperation in areas such as climate change, global health, and economic stability, where joint efforts could be beneficial.
• The characterization of China's technological advancements as misappropriation of proprietary knowledge is a contentious issue. While intellectual property theft is a concern, China also invests heavily in research and development, contributing to global technological progress.