Thread by @JasonLeopold

For folks asking Q's about the #MoneyTrail as it relates to Mueller investigation, here's an explainer as we have noted in this and previous stories 1/

https://twitter.com/a_cormier_/status/1043154123137474560?s=19

Last year, prior to the appt of Mueller as special counsel, multiple congressional committees investigating Russia's interference in election sent confidential letters to Treasury asking for any suspicious activity reports on dozens of people caught up in Trump/Russia probe 2/

Treasury financial crimes unit sent out broad requests to numerous banks & searched it's databases for suspicious activity reports on these individuals and businesses going back 2 & 5 yrs. In some cases banks conducted what's known as a "look back" at these individuals' accts 3/

In many instances, banks found suspicious transactions took place around the height of the campaign. The banks tried to get answers on certain transactions it found to be "suspicious" to explain what the funds were used for. But it was unable to. 4/

Banks said in their reports some of these transactions showed signs of money laundering or other nefarious activity. But it was inconclusive. So it sent the reports to Treasury financial crimes and FBI for further review. Those agencies trying to determine what money used for 5/

Treausry/FBI then reached out to financial intelligence units around the world they routinely share info with in an effort to combat money laundering, et al, to assist in the effort. In some cases, FIUs declined to cooperate and provide info on the individuals in question 6/

Treasury has sent some of these suspicious activity reports to the congressional committees in response to their requests for the documents as part of their probe into Trump/Russia. But as @LoopEmma and I reported that's not going well. 7/

buzzfeednews.com/article/emmalo…

After Mueller appointed, these suspicious activity reports were then shared w/his team. How does money factor into the Trump/Russia probe, if at all? That's what OSC is trying to determine. And do these transactions rise to level of other crimes? Trying to determine that too. 8/8