While in Greece, George Papadopoulos was handed an envelope containing $10,000 in cash. Believing it to be a bribe or a set up, he turned the money over to a lawyer.
The money was given to him by an Israeli citizen, now believed to have been working for the CIA for years. Papadopoulos is now going to retrieve the money and will turn it over to AG Bill Barr when he gets back in order for them to try to trace the money to the DOJ.
It is curious that just hours after receiving the money, Papadopoulos fly back to New York City. He was arrested the moment he got off the plane and his luggage searched for money.
He now believes that the money was an attempt by Mueller and his team to entrap Trump campaign workers and he also believes he may not be the only victim.
He added: “If the Mueller team is going around entrapping campaign associates and Trump associates, the way they did to me — I am sure it wasn’t just me they did it to — it’s going to open up a massive can of worms,” Papadopoulos said. “I think we need to get to the bottom of exactly not only how did this story start, but why were they entrapping us moving forward.”
Recounting the alleged 2017 episode, Papadopoulos said, “I was reached out to once again by another person who wanted to do business with me. And I was on vacation with my then girlfriend now wife, in Greece, and he comes to me he says why don’t you come to Israel with me and let’s talk about working together. I go to Israel with him, and he drops $10,000 in my lap in a room, in Tel Aviv. I don’t understand what is happening, I am very disturbed by the events. I fly to Athens the next day and give the money to my lawyers and this person tells me he doesn’t want his money back, so immediately I thought there was something wrong.”
“The defendant has stated that he kept that money in a safe pending his sentencing in this case and Counsel for the defendant has consented to the imposition of this fine amount,” Mueller’s team wrote. (Mueller’s halting and weary performance in last week’s hearing has left commentators and lawmakers questioning how much involvement Mueller had in drafting his 448-page report, as well as various court filings throughout the probe.)
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to federal investigators, and Mueller recommended he serve prison time in the filing. The former Trump aide ultimately served 12 days in prison and paid a $9,500 fine.