News : Pols probed over Russia-linked donor

Monday, March 7, 2022

Pols probed over Russia-linked donor

Mar 07, 2022

FOLLOW THE MONEY — Rep. Jake Auchincloss faced scrutiny on WCVB's "On the Record" Sunday for taking — and not returning — thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from a Ukrainian-born, Russia-linked billionaire and his American-born wife.

The issue goes beyond a single congressman. The exchange hits at the larger political calculus around efforts to retaliate against Russia for its attack on Ukraine, and the thorny questions of whether all ties to Russia are equally sinister and who gets to decide which ones get cut.

Leonard and Emily Blavatnik have given Auchincloss $22,800 since 2019, including $11,600 for his 2022 primary and general reelection efforts, per FEC filings. The couple are longtime political donors who have given to top Democrats and Republicans.

Other Massachusetts pols have taken the Blavatniks' cash over the years: Emily Blavatnik gave $1,000 to 14th Middlesex state representative hopeful Simon Cataldo last August, per OCPF. Leonard Blavatnik donated $2,800 to Sen. Ed Markey in 2019 and $2,600 in 2013. He gave money to both of Scott Brown's congressional runs. His wife gave $1,997 to MassDems in 2016. And the couple both gave to John Kerry's presidential bid, per FEC records.

Blavatnik is not among the Russian oligarchs being sanctioned by the United States. None of the oligarchs targeted by the U.S. over the Ukraine attack appear to have donated to delegation members' campaigns, according to FEC records.

Still, Leonard Blavatnik — a dual citizen of the U.S. and U.K. who was born in Ukraine, raised outside Moscow and whose fortune stems from the Russian "aluminum wars" and oil — has connections to some oligarchs who have been sanctioned by the U.S. in the past. He's previously "denied dealings with the Russian government or its leaders." But his political and philanthropic donations — the Harvard Business School alum has given hundreds of millions of dollars to the university — are coming under renewed scrutiny as governments at all levels look to punish the Russian government and its associates.

OTR's probe of Auchincloss' receipts raises questions about whether donations from those with perceived Russian ties could become a liability for candidates this cycle, and whether returning said campaign cash could be a litmus test for office-seekers.

Auchincloss does not have a personal relationship with the Blavatniks, a spokesperson said. The first-term representative chalked the questions up to "grasping at straws from would-be opponents trying to muddy the track record I've built" and said he would not take donations from "people who are supporting the Kremlin right now." Cataldo declined comment. Markey and MassDems didn't return requests for comment.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Links not working? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.

TODAY — Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito is acting governor because Gov. Charlie Baker and his family are on vacation in Utah. If you're getting some déjà vu, that's because it's about this time two years ago when Baker cut short a trip to Utah to respond to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic back home.

HAPPENING TUESDAY, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ON THE WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN: Join Women Rule editor Elizabeth Ralph for a panel discussion on the future for Afghan women. Guests include Hawa Haidari, a member of the Female Tactical Platoon; Cindy McCain, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture; Roya Rahmani, Afghanistan's first female ambassador to the U.S.; and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). Learn how female Afghan veterans are planning their futures, what the women still in Afghanistan face, and what the U.S. can do to help. REGISTER HERE.

ON THE STUMP

— CORNER OFFICE VIEWS: The Cook Political Report is growing more bullish on Democrats' chances of retaking the governor's office this fall, shifting the open seat from "Lean D" to "Likely D." Cook Political Report is also calling Massachusetts the "best pickup opportunity on the map" for Democrats as state Attorney General Maura Healey leads her rivals in both parties in early polling and runs circles around them in the money race.

We already know what the Democrats raised last month . Now we have the Republicans' totals: Former state Rep. Geoff Diehl raised $64,899 in February, down from his previous two months, and had $132,012 in cash on hand. Businessman Chris Doughty raised $33,121 in February. He's sitting on $467,586 after giving himself $500,000 to kickstart his campaign.

— "GOP gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl launches 'Berkshires to Boston Tour'," by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: "Geoff Diehl, the Republican gubernatorial candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, plans to hit the campaign trail with a 'Berkshires to Boston Tour' starting [Thursday]. … The tour comes as Diehl on Friday also unveiled his campaign's broad policy framework, including supporting economic development, 'revolutionizing energy' and ensuring a greater commitment to renewable energy, protecting the environment, expanding housing, and upgrading infrastructure. Diehl, who's been vehemently opposed to COVID-19 mandates, said another priority is 'defending freedom,' which encompasses 'support for individual liberty, Constitutional rights, and the fight against unfair government mandates.'"

— "On Talking Politics, GOP candidate Doughty rejects the 'moderate' label," by GBH News staff: "'You know, people have wanted to put labels like that on me from day one ... I don't remember saying I was a moderate,' [GOP governor hopeful Chris] Doughty said. … In a Jan. 26 article in the Boston Globe, Doughty was quoted as saying, of his decision to run, 'When I saw that Governor Baker wasn't getting back in and I didn't see any other moderate Republicans, my wife said, 'Hey, quit complaining about it. Take a courage pill and step out on the stage.'"

— "AG candidate Quentin Palfrey pledges dedication to justice in all forms," by Trea Lavery, Lowell Sun: "Candidate for state attorney general Quentin Palfrey says one thing which sets him apart from the competition is his dedication to justice in all its forms: civil rights, workers' rights, LGBTQ rights and racial justice. … In an interview with the editorial board of The Sun on Wednesday, Palfrey laid out his reasons for running, saying he was disillusioned with the federal government and felt it was time to focus on solving the big issues from closer to home."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "State House to drop COVID-19 mask, vaccine requirements for visitors," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Visitors will no longer have to wear masks or show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter the Massachusetts State House on Monday, legislative leaders said, reversing policies they imposed less than two weeks earlier when they reopened the building."

— "Charlie Baker makes one final push for passage of domestic violence legislation," by Amy Sokolow, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker has been making a full-court press to pass two bills to address domestic violence before he leaves office, initiatives he's been pushing since 2017 — but advocates have varying concerns. … Although Toni Troop, spokeswoman for Jane Doe Inc., the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, said she appreciates the Baker administration's commitment to issues of sexual and domestic violence, she said that the bill as is could have a 'disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.'"

— "Bill requiring free menstrual products in public spaces gains traction on Beacon Hill, thanks to young advocates," by Mike Deehan, GBH News: "People would have free access to menstrual hygiene products in Massachusetts schools, prisons and homeless shelters under a bill approved unanimously by Senators Thursday, which now awaits House approval. Bill sponsor Sen. Patricia Jehlen said the issue has been championed by young residents demanding better hygienic services in public spaces."

— "State medical examiners cut autopsy rates to among lowest in nation," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Nearly 1,200 times last fiscal year — or in roughly one of every seven cases the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner investigated — a medical examiner did not examine a body in person before identifying a cause and manner of death, instead relying on medical records and photographs taken by staff, according to a newly released report. … The decline is not limited to Massachusetts, as growing caseloads wrack an industry starving for medical examiners."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

— "Massachusetts will close 30 of its free COVID testing sites this month," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, WBUR: "According to the Baker administration, the state-sponsored testing sites have seen a 80% decrease in demand since the beginning of January, when the highly infectious omicron variant of COVID was at its peak. The 11 remaining sites — which accounted for 72% of the program's testing volume from Jan. 20 to Feb. 16 — will remain open until at least May 15."

FROM THE HUB

— "Watchdog: Unions drive Boston's roster of $100K+ teacher salaries," by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: "The high wages of teachers in Boston, where nearly 3,000 are paid six-figure salaries, reflects the strength of their union and suggests that a district plagued by 'chronic underperformance' may be more geared toward the adults running it than the children it serves, watchdogs say."

— "Wu wants a new police commissioner by spring. Specialists say that may be optimistic," by Ivy Scott, Boston Globe: "A search committee is aiming to present the mayor with candidates by June, but members say they won't sacrifice thoroughness for efficiency."

— "Parking at a Boston hospital? Be prepared to pay," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Prices vary at the garages owned by different hospitals around Boston, from Massachusetts General Hospital downtown to Tufts Medical Center in Chinatown to Brigham and Women's, Beth Israel and many more in the Longwood Medical Area, but daily rates even after parking validations for patients and their visitors at each of those hospitals runs $15 or more. 'These are nonprofit institutions,' Brita Lundberg of Lundberg Health Advocates in Brookline said, adding she's seen a 'steep curve' up in prices. 'It should be a lot less, or it should just be free.'"

DON'T MISS POLITICO'S INAUGURAL HEALTH CARE SUMMIT ON 3/31: Join POLITICO for a discussion with health care providers, policymakers, federal regulators, patient representatives, and industry leaders to better understand the latest policy and industry solutions in place as we enter year three of the pandemic. Panelists will discuss the latest proposals to overcome long-standing health care challenges in the U.S., such as expanding access to care, affordability, and prescription drug prices. REGISTER HERE.

FROM THE SUNDAY SHOWS

— "Keller @ Large: Does Gov. Baker Regret Past Criticisms Of Former President Trump?" by Jon Keller, WBZ: "[Gov. Charlie] Baker said that his relationship with the Massachusetts GOP is 'not irreparable, it's just not great.' The Republican governor was regularly critical of Trump during his presidency. Baker was asked if he regrets those comments. 'I think a big part of our success as an administrative, both in terms of legislative and administrative successes, as well as the general support we have from the people of the Commonwealth is due to the fact that people do think, whether they agree with us or not, we're trying to tell them what we think to be true. In some cases it meant crossing swords with the former president,' Baker said."

— Don't expect Baker to endorse a potential successor anytime soon. The outgoing governor said he's "not planning to get involved in the governor's race at this time."

RUSSIA-UKRAINE

— THE CALL: Delegation members came away from a private Zoom call with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushing for more sanctions against Russia and more aid for Ukraine.

Sen. Ed Markey again called to ban Russian oil and petroleum imports. But Rep. Bill Keating told WCVB that one of Zelenskyy's other requests, a no-fly zone, is a no-go because it could "lead us into a full-scale war." The House is expected to take up the president's request for $10 billion in aid for Ukraine as part of larger government funding legislation this week.

— "'This is a godless war:' Boston protesters march against war in Ukraine," by Andrew Brinker and John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "US Representative Ayanna Pressley, speaking to the crowd from the Parkman Bandstand, demanded an end to what she called a refugee and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. … Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston said the city stood in solidarity with Ukraine."

— "U.S. colleges move cautiously in cutting ties to Russia," by Kirk Carapezza, GBH News: "While governments in Germany and Denmark are demanding their colleges de-activate any links to Russia, most American colleges are resisting calls to cut academic and financial ties. College leaders argue that might not be the best move at this time and some presidents are reluctant to use their voices to speak out because politics have become so toxic."

— "As war rages, Russian businesses in Boston fear a backlash," by Annie Probert, Boston Globe: "[H]arassment is a growing concern for businesses owned by immigrants of Russia and the USSR in and around Boston, as the war rages on some 4,500 miles away."

— "Massachusetts Gas Prices Hit $4.16 A Gallon, New State Record According To AAA," by CBS Boston staff: "$4.16 a gallon [is] the highest recorded average price in the state's history, the agency reported Monday."

— "Proposed bans on Russian fuel could put eyes on Massachusetts, which receives 60% of US liquified natural gas imports," by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald: "The Severing Putin's Immense Gains from Oil Transfers — or SPIGOT — Act, a bill introduced Tuesday by Bay State U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, calls for a ban on all Russian crude oil and petroleum products and to 'conclusively lift the veil' on the Russian fuel industry. The Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, introduced Thursday by U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would go even further than Markey's bill by banning all Russian energy imports — a move that could put eyes on Massachusetts, home to the Everett Marine Terminal on Boston Harbor, where 60% of the nation's liquified natural gas was imported in 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration."

DAY IN COURT

— "US Supreme Court reinstates Tsarnaev death penalty," by Milton J. Valencia, Travis Andersen and Jeremy C. Fox, Boston Globe: "The US Supreme Court on Friday reinstated the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, ruling that he had received a fair trial for his role in the 2013 terrorist attacks that killed three people and injured more than 260."

— Rep. Ayanna Pressley ripped the decision, saying in a statement that "State-sanctioned murder is not justice, no matter how heinous the crime." U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins said earlier this year that if Attorney General Merrick Garland chooses to seek the death penalty, her office would have to follow. In a statement Friday, Rollins said there are "other legal issues" with the case "that must be addressed by various courts" and that her focus is on the victims.

— "Cape Cod doctor's quest to legalize medically assisted death goes before SJC," by Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: "[Dr. Roger Kligler's] experiences as a patient, as well as a doctor, have framed his views on dying. Kligler is the force behind a drive to legalize medically assisted death in Massachusetts. His case, which has stirred passionate debate on both sides, is scheduled to go before the Supreme Judicial Court for oral arguments Wednesday. Legalization would allow doctors to prescribe lethal amounts of drugs to terminally ill patients who are deemed to have six months or fewer to live."

DATELINE D.C.

— "Picket line or pitcher's mound, Marty Walsh is game to talk," by Nick Niedzwiadek and Eleanor Mueller, POLITICO: "The former president of the Boston Building and Construction Trades Council has taken a hands-on approach rarely seen from sitting Cabinet members — walking a picket line, helping to resolve at least one labor dispute and saying he's eager to help with others even before they escalate into full-blown crises. Two upcoming clashes could test his peacemaking abilities. Major League Baseball and West Coast shipping ports are both staring down contract showdowns with high-stakes ramifications."

FROM THE 413

— "Replacement of Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse in Springfield, festering for decades, could cost $200M," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "The state now says that repairs to the complex, which includes the historic Springfield Juvenile Court building next door, could top $105 million. Estimates for the cost of a new building, meanwhile, could exceed $200 million, an assertion not included in a report issued by the Trial Court last week."

— "Five months after protests over sexual assault and Greek life erupted at UMass Amherst, what has changed?" by Cassie McGrath, MassLive: "As time passed, life started to return to what's considered normal: students attending fraternity parties. The feeling on campus is that the protests in the fall, while valued, did not have lasting effects on party culture at the school, with music still booming from fraternity houses on the weekends."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

— "Rising inflation puts squeeze on low-income families," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "The state and federal governments have increased monthly cash assistance during the pandemic to help families struggling from the economic impact of the pandemic. They've boosted energy assistance to help low-income folks struggling to pay their utility bills. But the help those social safety net programs provide is being eroded by the highest inflation in 40 years, and [Arielys] Morales' work pay and benefits don't go as far as they used to."

— "Fall River's homeless numbers are increasing. Why free ID cards help," by Audrey Cooney, Herald News: "Local advocates and officials are working to ensure the city's homeless residents have access to vital documents, with two bills currently at the statehouse that would make it easier for those experiencing homelessness to get their own IDs. … Last fall, Fall River started a program to help homeless residents obtain birth certificates without having to pay the typical fee."

SPOTTED — Salem Mayor and LG hopeful Kim Driscoll at a Pitbull concert on Friday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Christina Gregg. Happy belated to Gabrielle Meyerowitz, who celebrated Saturday.

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