Note: The commentary below is based on documents I have recently found, but also some speculation and assumptions. In the interest of getting what I believe is new information out to voters, I have not fact checked as thoroughly as I would like. This is a call for an investigative SWARM, to both point out any errors and/or get this out there.

Starting at the end
I put the background at the bottom. None of it is new, but hasn't really been re-visited in much detail. If you need a refresher, read this first and I hope you find it useful.

Here's what new (I think)
PART 1: MONEY LAUNDERING FOR THE RUSSIAN MOB

This document from the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations Public Inquiry database lists the following officers and directors for Itera International Energy Corporation for 1997:

• PCD, Makarov, Igor
  
• VD, Kavalieros, Theodoros I
  
• VST, Frenkel, Raissa M.
  
• D, Beresovski, Oleg

Itera has apparently spun-off/created something like 100+ companies, but the first 3 names above are well-established. This is 'right' Itera, and the online filings go back to 1996, 2 years after Makarov reportedly set up shop in Jacksonville. That 1996 filing is an annual report -- the articles of incorporation are not online, so they must be prior to '96.

Now, notice the bolded name: Oleg Beresovski. That one was new to me. Also, he stops appearing after 2001. Remember that, it's important. The same name also shows up on this filing (and others up to 2002) for Itera International Energy LLC. BUT, the last name ends in a "Y" not an "i." That's REALLY important. Beresovsky.

Google returns one hit for "Oleg Beresovsky" but it's enough to make your butt pucker. The .pdf is a report published in 2002 by Proximal Consulting, "The Money Laundering & Business Crime Mitigation Firm." Here's what Proximal says about Oleg Beresovsky:

"Although (for obvious reasons) full details are not available, over 50 individuals have been arrested in 'Operation Spiderweb', which is in turn linked to money laundering investigations involving the Bank of New York. Described in media reports as 'a $9 billion money laundering ring' and 'the biggest money laundering operation in history', the case has a dazzling array of alleged participants, locations and companies. Italian police suspect that as much as $9 billion of Russian organized crime funds were laundered in six years by a network allegedly run by two Russian twins, Igor and Oleg Berezovsky. The proceeds of drugs, arms and human trafficking have been traced from Russia to New York and through six European countries.

"Ivor [sic] Berezovsky was arrested in France, whilst his brother Oleg is believed to be on the run in Russia. Police are also investigating the role of Florida Trading, a now defunct British company that was based in Taunton, Somerset.

"...In June an operation in seven different countries resulted in the arrest and charging of 50 people, half of whom are of Russian descent. Igor Berezovsky had ten companies registered at an address on the Champs Elysé e in Paris. One of them was involved in a large contract to rebuild Russia's Siberian railway. Another company in Rimini, Prima SRL was owned by Oleg Beresovsky and arranged contracts with other companies all over Europe.

Notice the spelling "Beresovsky" in the last paragraph and you'll see why it hit. FYI, I don't find the "v" versus "s" or "i" versus "y" spelling variations difficult to accept -- they exist in the FL documentation as well.

So there you have it. Curt Weldon was working the federal government on behalf of Igor Makarov and Itera in FL, who had an "Oleg Beresovky" listed for ~5 years as a director. Perhaps THAT'S why the FBI is so interested in the Honorable Wayne Curtis Weldon.

But there's more.

PART 2: REAL ESTATE AND KUWAIT PETROLEUM

This tale is more weird and less developed, but potentially illegal simply on its merits. I don't know, but I sure am curious. Weldon's financial statements show that he owned and collected rent on a property at 700 4th St. SE, Washington, DC from 1995 until he sold it in 1998.

DC property records are available (free registration required) at DC ROD Online. If you want to see for yourself, I'll save you some trouble: search for Square 0823 Lot 0036. That will pull up the history of the property in question.

Here are the transactions of note:

• 6/9/1987; Weldon and his wife Mary are granted the deed. No amount is listed, which is unusual.
  
• Over the next 10 years, the property bounces around through 5 different trusts. I have no idea what that implies, but it's not uncommon in DC.
  
• 8/20/1998; Weldon and his wife sell the property to Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah.

I found that odd. Turns out Al-Sabah is this guy:

Manager--Corporate Legal Department and General Counsel of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), the state-owned oil company of Kuwait. He is the principal legal officer of the corporation.

Prior to his appointment as General Counsel in 2005, Al-Sabah was Manager of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation USA, the Washington-based government relations arm of KPC, from 2002 to 2004.

Before that, Al-Sabah worked for Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher who, of course, is a lobbying firm the size of Kuwait. I haven't found a direct connection between GB&C, Al-Sabah, and Weldon but it seems likely. And if so...

But wait, it's about to get fun. On 9/14/2004, Al-Sabah sold the property to Sileshi Alifom for $196,000.00. Alifom would appear to be the Principal Broker for KESA Mortgage Group, which is actually very interesting because on 11/19/2004, Al-Sabah seems to have sold Alifom the same property again for $370,000.00. I found that odd, too.

Finally, and most strange of all, the address "700 4th St. SE" is now home to this place, Raison...well, Raison. I have no idea what they do but they talk about "success of liberty in other lands" which I've become conditioned to worry about.

OK, sorry, the quality has tailed off because I need sleep. But to recap:

• Weldon => Makarov => Beresovsky => money laundering
  
• Weldon => KPC => KESA => Raison

Goodnight.

-------------

Background
As a refresher, early in the GW Bush adminstration  Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) lobbied on behalf of Itera International Energy Corp., after its CEO Igor V. Makarov had failed to gain political traction despite support from Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), and an unconfirmed grip and grin with former-President Bill Clinton. Eight months after three Itera officials and one of their wives contributed $8,000 to Harkin's campaign:

"Makarov and an Itera team met top officials of the Overseas Private Investment Corp., the federal agency that provides U.S. firms with financing and insurance abroad. Makarov said Itera 'knew OPIC provides guarantees from political risk in those {former Soviet} countries; that's why we came.'

"Harkin's wife, Ruth, who was then OPIC's president, said she does not recall a meeting. An OPIC spokeswoman said the Itera group met with finance officials and 'may have come to the executive office.'

"...Looking back now, Makarov expresses disappointment with his efforts in Washington.

"'Everybody could win from my proposals,' he said of his unsuccessful pitch to OPIC. 'I can tell you who is losing -- the USA.'" [1]

Four years later Makarov found a new, much more aggressive advocate. In 2002, Karen Weldon and Charles Sexton's Solutions North America (aka Solutions Worldwide) signed contracts with Itera, and CURT PAC began receiving contributions from Itera executives. In return:

"When a huge Russian natural-gas firm with deep pockets and a troubled image sought to expand its foothold in the rich American market, U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R., Pa.) went to bat for the company in a big way.

"He lobbied the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to approve a grant for Itera International Energy Corp...even after the government grew concerned over allegations the company had engaged in questionable business deals.

"He complained to Karl Rove...and to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham about Itera's treatment at the hands of the government. And he urged a high-profile Washington insider, former CIA director James Woolsey, to lend his clout and credibility to Itera by advising the firm on corporate ethics."

But when Itera was awarded an $868,000 grant by the the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Troika Dialog, the largest broker of Russian securities, and the Moscow-based investment fund Hermitage Capital Management independently urged senior Bush administration officials to deny the grant. Itera's success had resulted mostly from its dealings with Gazprom -- the Russian energy monopoly founded in 1988 by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin -- deals that Troika's research director James Fenckner stated "were just plain wrong."

A few days later, the Trade and Development Agency put the grant on hold, but Weldon remained undetered:

"Weldon continued to advocate for the company. He wrote at least two letters to the Trade and Development Agency...

"...Weldon led a congressional delegation to Moscow, where he met with Itera's chief executive officer, Igor Makarov, to discuss the company's difficulty in getting the grant. Afterward, he held a news conference in which he praised Itera as 'a great source for American companies to be involved in joint projects.'

"The following month at a news conference, Weldon urged the U.S. government to move forward with the grant to Itera.

"...In early September of [2002], Itera paid for Weldon's hotel room in New York so he could be a guest on a Russian-language radio program.

"...On Sept. 24, 2002, Weldon helped arrange a dinner at the Library of Congress in honor of Makarov and Itera...About 30 members from both parties, diplomats from eight nations, and 18 Russian government officials attended the dinner.

"Two days later, Weldon lauded the company in a House speech. He alluded to some of the questions lingering over the company and said he had persuaded Woolsey and James D. Watkins, the former energy secretary, to advise the firm on good corporate-governance practices."

However, Woolsey had in fact declined Weldon's request claiming "he no longer wanted to serve on corporate boards." And Watkins too had backed out when Itera did not respond to his request for ownership and background imformation. He stated, "they wanted my stamp of approval, but I was not going to give it to them."

And in 2003, Weldon approached the State Department several times to persuade it to reverse its denial of visas to Serbian brothers Dragomir and Bogoljub Karic. Both had been denied entry because of links to Slobodan Milosevic. [2]

Sources:
1. "Multinationals' aims, ties cloudy in race for Caspian reserves"
Washington Post
May 31, 1998

2. "Weldon ethics questioned over Russian firm -
He lobbied Washington officials for a natural-gas company that had a reputation for bad practices. His daughter got business."
The Philadelphia Inquirer
May 5, 2004