Rick Perry Tried To Get GOP Donors Appointed To Board Of Ukrainian Gas Company

A group of individuals with ties to President Donald Trump tried to install new management at the top of Ukraine’s state gas company in order to give favorable contracts to companies ran by Trump allies, according to the Associated Press.

The plan was unfolding at the same time Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was making routine visits to Ukraine to push the government to investigate political rival Joe Biden.

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry then became involved in trying to install a new board at the gas company Naftogaz. Perry’s shortlist reportedly included a past political donor of his.

Although it is unclear if Perry’s involvement with Naftogaz was related to Giuliani’s attempt to launch a Ukrainian investigation into Biden, the affair shows how Trump allies and his administration were simultaneously pursuing deals in Ukraine that would benefit the president both politically and financially.

The investigation also revealed that the businessmen involved in the deal were political insiders, and were alerted that the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, would be removed from her position three months prior to the date she was officially recalled.

In early March, three businessmen were working on a plan to replace the Naftogaz CEO with another senior executive at the company, Andrew Favorov, according to two individuals who spoke to the AP, as well as a memorandum submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Kiev.

A former business partner of Favorov, Dale Perry said Favorov viewed the offer as a shakedown.