AdvertisementZelensky’s advisors understood that Giuliani was a mouthpiece for President Trump, and the last thing the new Ukrainian president wanted was a sour start with the White House. “So, it of course had a bad impact on my political prospects with Zelensky’s team.”From that moment, Leshchenko became the focal point in Giuliani’s campaign to push conspiracy theories involving Ukraine. (Sergei Supinsky / AFP/Getty Images)AdvertisementIn August 2016, Leshchenko held a news conference in Kyiv to disclose the existence of a notebook found in a burned-out room in Ukraine’s former ruling political party’s headquarters. Before joining Trump’s election campaign in 2016, Manafort had worked as Yanukovych’s consultant. Leshchenko and other anti-corruption, pro-reform leaders in Ukraine blamed Manafort for helping Yanukovych get elected in 2010.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 19, 2019 18:33 UTC