By Julian Crawford
Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotom offered to provide evidence to the Russian Collusion investigation, relating to the death of Democratic Party staffer Seth Rich, but he received no reply from Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Mr Dotcom is fighting extradition to the US due to his involvement in the Megaupload business, which is accused of copyright infringement.
"My legal team remains firm on their advice that I cannot release details about my interactions with Seth Rich to the public. Blame Mueller for zero progress. For whatever reason he’s not interested in non-Russia evidence. @Wikileaks also wasn’t asked to assist the investigation," he tweeted today.
Seth Rich is widely believed to be the source of Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails, which were published by Wikileaks prior to the 2016 presidential election.
While the Democratic Party blamed Russian hackers for the leak, leading to the Mueller Investigation, There is no evidence for the Russian connection and Seth Rich was killed shortly after the emails were taken. The Democratic Party refused to allow the FBI to investigate its compromised servers, instead relying on a private company CrowdStrike, which is partly owned by Google.
Below is the letter Kim Dotcom's lawyers sent to Special Counsel Robert Mueller offering for him to testify in the Russian Collusion investigation.
30 May 2017
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Attention: Robert Mueller, Special Counsel
Dear Sir
INVESTIGATION INTO INTERFERENCE WITH THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND RELATED MATTERS
We act for Kim Dotcom in New Zealand.
We are writing to you in your capacity as special counsel appointed to carry out the above investigation pursuant to Order 3915-2017 (Investigation).
Mr Dotcom has evidence that he considers relevant to the Investigation. The purpose of this letter is to confirm that, subject to appropriate arrangements being made and his constitutional rights being preserved, Mr Dotcom is willing to provide this evidence to the Investigation. He has instructed us to make this approach to initiate the necessary dialogue as to the required arrangements.
As you may be aware, Mr Dotcom resides in New Zealand. Since 2012, the United States has been seeking his extradition to face a criminal prosecution arising from his involvement in the Megaupload group of companies. Presently, Mr Dotcom is on bail while he exercises (as he is entitled to) his rights under New Zealand law to resist extradition. Mr Dotcom emphatically denies the alleged offending and is committed to defending the allegations in the extradition proceeding in New Zealand.
Mr Dotcom is also committed to achieving an outcome where his evidence can be properly received and reviewed by you as part of the Investigation. You will, however, appreciate that, given his current status, he is not in a position to voluntarily leave New Zealand's jurisdiction. Further, he is concerned that, should he travel to the United States voluntarily, he would be arrested and detained in custody on the current counts on which he has been indicted.
Accordingly, for Mr Dotcom to attend in person in the United States to make a statement, and/or give oral evidence at any subsequent hearing, special arrangements would need to be discussed and agreed between all relevant parties. Such arrangements would need to include arrangements for his safe passage from New Zealand and return. This is because Mr Dotcom is determined to clear his name in New Zealand.
Mr Dotcom invites the Department of Justice to contact him through counsel to progress the taking of his evidence once you have had an opportunity to consider this letter and are in a position to discuss the required process and appropriate safeguards.
We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions, or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours faithfully
ANDERSON CREAGH LAI LIMITED
Phil Creagh
Director
t: + 64 9 306 5791
e: phil@acllaw.co.nz
copy: Ira P. Rothken
Rothken Law Firm
Novato, CA 94949
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Ron Mansfield
Barrister
22 Lorne Chambers
AUCKLAND 1140