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Like Kissinger and Clinton, Stacey Abrams is a member of the CFR (Council on Foreign Relations), as is Kamala Harris’ sister, Maya Harris. Abrams is a life-time member. Both Bill and Chelsea Clinton are members, Lynn Forester de Rothschild is a member, as are many other well-known figures: https://archive.vn/1exGx Rahm Emanuel’s brother, Zeke, is a member of the CFR, too. Zeke served as Biden’s unethical ethicist, who thinks that people should be dead by age 75, because they aren’t doing “meaningful work”.

Stacey Abrams’ relationship with foreign countries, especially Russia and China, needs to be investigated. Her tax work should be investigated, as well.

While in the Georgia General Assembly (1/07-8/17), Stacey Abrams was a “British-American Project – Fellow” (2010), “Next Generation Fellow” (2008- ???), and a “Council on Italy – Fellow” (2009).

In an undisclosed year she was a “Yukos Fellow for U.S.-Russian Relations”. Yukos is the controversial Russian oil company and the date really makes a difference. Interestingly, Stacey is a tax expert and Yukos was accused of not paying taxes and the owner thrown in jail.

In an undisclosed year, she was also an “American Marshall Memorial Fellow”, i.e. the German Marshall Fund. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Marshall_Fund

In 2002, while a lawyer for Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan she was a “Salzburg Seminar – Freeman Fellow on U.S.-East Asian Relations“. What East Asian country or countries? China? Is that why she was so critical of Trump’s China policies?

In 2009 (after she left) Mark D. Wasserman, managing partner of the Atlanta-headquartered law firm, Sutherland, noted that: “In recent years, China’s growth as an economic and manufacturing power has meant that many of Sutherland’s clients have expanded – or will be expanding – their businesses into China. Similarly, an increasing number of Chinese businesses are moving their operations into the United States.” Sutherland’s “major practice areas – corporate, financial services, energy, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, and tax – provide the framework for an extensive range of focus areas, allowing its attorneys to serve a diverse client base that includes a significant number of Fortune 100 companies.” (China Daily 03/31/2009 page15 https://archive.md/plSnH )

Did Stacey Abrams work with Yukos on taxes as a lawyer? Was she a Yukos Fellow in 2002 or 2003? The only Yukos Fellowship that we’ve found started in 2002 (see news release further below) and its owner was thrown in jail in 2003. “Between 1996 and 2003 Yukos became one of the biggest and most successful Russian companies, producing 20% of Russia’s oil output… In October 2003, Khodorkovsky—by then the richest man in Russia and 16th richest man in the world—was arrested, and the company was forcibly broken up for alleged unpaid taxes shortly after and declared bankrupt in August 2006…” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukos It is possible that Yukos had fellows after this date, that we’ve not found: https://archive.md/TZ7O1 It wasn’t easy to find the one news release that we did find from November 2001.

Stacey Abrams: “10/99 to 2/03 SUTHERLAND, ASBILL & BRENNAN Atlanta, GA [USA] Special Counsel. Provided taxation legal counsel to tax-exempt clients, including major universities, hospitals and foundations. Secured federal and state tax-exemptions for clients. Developed and implemented tax strategies for complex corporate – nonprofit joint ventures. Provided legal advice on real estate, public finance and healthcare matters. Promoted from Associate to Special Counsel.” From 2/03 to 5/06 she was Deputy City Attorney for Atlanta, GA, USA: https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/109701/witnesses/HHRG-116-JU10-Bio-AbramsS-20190625.pdf

Is her powerful position due to inside knowledge as a tax lawyer? Or is it simply testimony to what a woman can achieve without a husband and children weighing them down? Or a bit of both? With tax expertise in tax-exemptions and public finance she should be useful to a lot of powerful people, and could have dirt on them, as well. ISN’T IT INTERESTING THAT STACEY ABRAMS IS AN EXPERT IN TAX EXEMPTIONS! THAT’S TAX AVOIDANCE AND THE LINE BETWEEN AVOIDANCE (legal) AND EVASION (illegal) IS SOMETIMES GREY. Who’s going to pay for the socialist paradise? Tax exemptions won’t pay for it! ALSO SHE IS EXPERT IN COMPLEX CORPORATE NONPROFIT JOINT VENTURES.

Even though the Atlanta airport makes it an important international hub, it still looks questionable to take all of these international fellowships, while in the Georgia General Assembly.

Stacey Abrams: “1/07 to 8/17 GEORGIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY Atlanta, GA State Representative. House Minority Leader (2010-2017). Represents District 89 (portions of City of Atlanta, DeKalb County and City of Decatur) in the Georgia General Assembly. First woman to lead either party in the General Assembly; first African-American to lead in the House of Representatives. Serves on the following committees: Appropriations, Ethics, Judiciary Non-Civil, Rules, and Ways and Means. https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/109701/witnesses/HHRG-116-JU10-Bio-AbramsS-20190625.pdf

“BILDERBERG MEETING 2019, Montreux, 30 May – 2 June 2019”
Participant (along with Kissinger). Since her last name is Abrams, she tops the list: https://archive.md/dhbGF

She was one of 20 Americans chosen, the year that she became Georgia House Minority (Dem) Leader, to be a British-American Project Fellow: “Fellows have included senior members in nearly every executive administration in the US and the UK over the past thirty years, the leader of the British Labour Party, heads of national security, a former chief of the British armed forces, US Mayors, Members of Congress and US Senators, award-winning comedians, high-profile journalists, distinguished academics and filmmakers, CEOs of major corporations, faith leaders and successful entrepreneurs. The competition for places is generally fierce. Each year BAP organizes a rigorous selection process to identify approximately 20 individuals from the US and 20 from the UK who will join the Fellowship from all walks of life, including business, media, law, government, the military, sports, the public sector, NGOs, music, visual and creative industries. BAP receives over 200 nominations annually from existing Fellows, Advisory Board members, donors and outside organizations.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British-American_Project

“NGP was created in 2006 by The American Assembly, and involved five meetings in regions of the country that are growing in economic and political importance.” See: “Carnegie New Leaders Join Next Generation Project Assembly on U.S. Grand Strategy” May 17, 2010 https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/news/announcements/0049

Is this the same thing, related, or something different? “Next Generation Fellows: Next Generation Project, Atlantic Council” https://archive.md/1UT8i

Now she’s a permanent member of the CFR.
From her Georgia House Bio:
“Stacey is a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Next Generation Fellow of the American Assembly at Columbia University on U.S. Global Policy and the Future of International Institutions, an American Marshall Memorial Fellow, an American Council of Young Political Leaders Fellow, a Council on Italy Fellow, a British-American Project Fellow, a Salzburg Seminar – Freeman Fellow on U.S.-East Asian Relations, a Salzburg Seminar Fellow on youth and civic engagement and a Yukos Fellow for U.S.-Russian Relations.” https://www.house.ga.gov/Documents/Biographies/abramsStacey.pdf

“10/99 to 2/03 SUTHERLAND, ASBILL & BRENNAN Atlanta, GA Special Counsel. Provided taxation legal counsel to tax-exempt clients, including major universities, hospitals and foundations. Secured federal and state tax-exemptions for clients. Developed and implemented tax strategies for complex corporate – nonprofit joint ventures. Provided legal advice on real estate, public finance and healthcare matters. Promoted from Associate to Special Counsel“. https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/109701/witnesses/HHRG-116-JU10-Bio-AbramsS-20190625.pdf

This was after she left, but close to the period when she worked there:
“Special report: Chinese and US law firms announce strategic alliance
By Te Kan (China Daily) Updated: 2009-03-31 07:51 The law firms of Watson & Band Law Offices and Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP have formed a strategic alliance to allow them to best serve clients with business interests in China and the US.” While that link says it is dead, if you go down the page, the article is there: https://archive.md/plSnH A similar article appeared in JD journal, “Sutherland, Watson Team Up To Handle Business In U.S. And China”, By Erik Even Posted on March 3, 2009 and can be seen here (the black is transparency enough to read through https://archive.md/IggnO )

“China Town Hall: China’s Investment in the U.S.
September 18, 2015 Penelope Prime
Add to Calendar
WHEN:
October 5, 2015 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
WHERE:
The Offices of Sutherland, Asbill & Rennan, LLP
999 Peachtree St NE #2300
Atlanta, GA 30309
USA
COST:
$20; $10 for World Affairs Council members” https://archive.md/WqDtz
Apparently this was supposed to say Brennan, rather than Rennan.

Stacey Abrams:
“SELECTED HONORS
Lives of Commitment Honoree, Auburn Seminary (2019)
Spirit Medal Recipient, Osborne Association (2019)
Public Official of the Year, Governing Magazine (2014)
Gabrielle Gifford’s Rising Star Award – EMILY’s List (2014)
Council on Foreign Relations – Lifetime Member
John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award (2012)
Georgia Trend, 100 Most Influential Georgians (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) YWCA Academy of Women of Achievement (2010)
British-American Project – Fellow (2010)
Next Generation Fellow (2008-present)
Council on Italy – Fellow (2009)
Georgia Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine and Atlanta Magazine (2005 and 2006)
Going for the Goal Woman of the Year – GOAL (2008)
Joseph Stevens Award for Outstanding Legal Contributions – Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation (2008)
Elmer B. Staats Award for Public Service – Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation (2006)
American Marshall Memorial Fellowship – German Marshall Fund (2004)
25 Power Women to Watch, Atlanta Woman Magazine (2005)
Leadership Georgia (2004)
Leadership Atlanta (2004)
40 Under 40 – The Best and the Brightest, Georgia Trend (2004)
50 Up and Comers Under 40, Atlanta Business Chronicle (2004)
On the Rise – 16 Legal Phenoms in Georgia, Fulton County Daily Report (2003)
30 Leaders of the Future, Ebony Magazine (2001)
Salzburg Seminar – Freeman Fellow on U.S.-East Asian Relations (2002);
Youth and Civic Engagement Fellow (2000)” https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/109701/witnesses/HHRG-116-JU10-Bio-AbramsS-20190625.pdf

It’s worth noting, as well, that in her speech at the Council of Foreign Affairs in 2019, she is critical of Trump’s trade policies with China, allegedly because it will make prices at Target and Walmart go up.

Excerpts from “A Conversation With Stacey Abrams”, Friday, May 10, 2019, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) relevant to fellowships-international connections:

“ABRAMS: So it actually began with the Council on Foreign Relations and the Carnegie Endowment. I have a dear friend that I met in college. He and I were summer fellows here together. I was working for—we were both working for different departments in the U.S. government…

And because of my friend I was introduced to the Salzburg Seminars. I became—I had been doing a lot of work independently on civic engagement and voter registration in college, and had become very well-versed in how we build a more robust voter class. And became an international fellow on civic engagement, worked with some amazing people from Colombia and Sierra Leone on those conversations internationally.

From there, I was invited to participate in East Asian studies to think about what was missing, in particular the lack of awareness among communities of color in the U.S. about East Asia. And so I became an East Asian fellow.

From that I have worked with the British Council. I have worked with the Italian Council. I worked with the German Marshall Fund. I was a fellow for all those places, went and traveled. I was an American Young Leaders person, so I went to Australia for a few weeks…

I’ve visited, I think, eleven countries. I’ve worked with our consular corps. In Atlanta we have a fairly large one, and so I’ve worked a lot, especially with our Central American and South American consular corps. I’ve done a lot of work with Israel. I worked with both the previous and the current ambassadors who are stationed there…

I serve on—I’m a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations…” Links to text and video of the entire speech: https://archive.md/Vpon7 https://www.c-span.org/video/?460602-1/stacey-abrams-speaks-council-foreign-relations#
WE THINK THAT IT ALL REALLY STARTED WITH BEING A TAX EXPERT, NOT THE CFR, UNLESS THE ELITES IN THE CFR ADVISED HER TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL FOR THAT PURPOSE. TAX LAW WAS HER (PERMANENT) TICKET INTO THE HIGHER CIRCLES OF POWER.

“NOVEMBER 5, 2001
YUKOS Oil Company Donates $1 Million to Library for Efforts Focused on Russia
Contact: Jim Dickenson (301) 946-4222, JDickenson1@compuserve.com | Deborah Louison, APCO Worldwide (202) 778-6333, dlouison@apcoworldwide.com

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced a gift of $1 million from the YUKOS Oil Company in support of two significant efforts at the Library focusing on Russia.

Dr. Billington and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, YUKOS Chairman and CEO, met today at the Library to discuss the programs that YUKOS’s gift will assist.

The newly authorized Center for Russian Leadership Development (permanent successor to the successful two-year pilot Open World Russian Leadership Program) will receive $500,000 for its Rule of Law Program. YUKOS Oil has pledged an additional $500,000 to support longer- term fellowships for Russian scholars and students with a wide range of interests and leadership potential to use the vast collections at the Library of Congress as an important part of an academic residency in Washington. These two efforts both will help provide a new generation of leaders in the Russian Federation.

“YUKOS Oil’s leadership gift will help realize goals I have pursued while serving as Librarian of Congress,” said Dr. Billington, who is a prominent scholar of Russian history and culture. “Congress has been very generous in its support of our effort to give Russia’s next generation of leaders a brief but intensive professional and personal experience of America. The gift from YUKOS Oil will further that support and is evidence of the program’s impact in Russia.”

“Firm establishment of the rule of law within the Russian Federation is critical to our forward movement,” said Mr. Khodorkovsky while presenting the gift.

“Communication and professional development for the Russian and American judiciary through the Center for Russian Leadership Development are making a difference, and I am pleased to support the ongoing efforts of the Open World Program as well as other educational initiatives within the Library of Congress.”

In 2000, the Open World Program brought 103 Russian judges to the United States to observe firsthand the American judicial system. This year senior federal judges are serving as hosts to 54 Russian judges in 15 American communities. Support from YUKOS Oil Company and other American and Russian corporations will allow a significant expansion of the program in 2002, which has been principally supported by federal appropriations of $29.8 million since it was first authorized in May 1999.

Dr. Billington is the founding chairman of the Open World Program and serves as interim chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Center for Russian Leadership Development at the Library of Congress. The board has established a bilateral Corporate Advisory Council. Dr. Billington invited Mr. Khodorkovsky to join the council, which will operate in 2002 with American and Russian co-chairs.

The European Division of the Library, in cooperation with the Office of Scholarly Programs and the newly established Kluge Center, will develop the fellowship program to bring young Russian scholars and advanced students to the Library beginning in 2002.
###
PR 01-167
2001-11-05
ISSN 0731-3527” https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-01-167/ https://archive.md/MYNTh