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Reposted by John Dell'Osso

Zack Kopplin @zackkopplin.bsky.social · 8h

Friday was my last day with the @govacctproj.bsky.social before joining @occrp.org. I was really hoping to get this one last story out that we had partnered on before I officially left, but anyway, I'm really proud of it and all the work I did in almost 9 years at GAP

www.occrp.org/en/investiga...

Mansions, Horses, and Designer Bags: How the Ruling Family of Iraqi Kurdistan Splurged in the U.S.

The five sons of Iraqi Kurdistan’s founding president acquired real estate across the United States and went on luxury shopping sprees. At least some of the money came from major Kurdish conglomerates that two of the brothers appear to have secretly controlled, according to leaked documents.

www.occrp.org

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 2d

The plot thickens!

Tony Bartelme @tbartelme.bsky.social · 3d

Follow to our story last week about sanctioned Russian bankers in South Carolina:

www.postandcourier.com/news/special...

Sanctioned Russian bankers owe Beaufort County more than $278,000 in back taxes

Sanctioned Russian bankers who own luxury homes in SC’s Palmetto Bluff resort owe back taxes to Beaufort County, which can’t collect due to Treasury sanctions.

www.postandcourier.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 5d

The outlook for intellectual freedom at my alma mater is not promising.

AAUP chapter @UT Austin @utaustinaaup.bsky.social · 6d

www.wsj.com/us-news/educ... UT Austin is one of the 9 schools offered a deal: accede to White House demands and get funding priority

Exclusive | White House Asks Colleges to Sign Sweeping Agreement to Get Funding Advantage

An initial round of nine schools is being asked to sign a wide-ranging accord.

www.wsj.com

Reposted by John Dell'Osso

John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

New with the @postandcourier.bsky.social, @ajc.com and @istories.bsky.social...

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US sanctioned Sergey Khotimskiy and the bank he co-founded, Sovcombank. He finalized the transfer of as much as $43 million in real estate to his ex-wife before the sanctions.

Sanctioned Russian bankers plowed millions into this South Carolina resort

Russian bankers hit by U.S. sanctions bought multimillion-dollar homes in South Carolina’s Palmetto Bluff neighborhood and retail centers in Atlanta, Georgia.

www.postandcourier.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 6d

Tried to sign up for the Commerce Department online #FOIA platform a while back. The system says you'll receive an email to finalize registration...🦗🦗🦗

Sent an email to the FOIA address, expecting an acknowledgment, even automated...🦗🦗🦗

Transparency!

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 8d

The falcon has just been informed that the falconer is dead.

John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 9d

Thank you for reading, Maria.

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

@istories.bsky.social...

Sovcombank Co-owner Sergey Khotimsky Invested Millions of Dollars in U.S. Real Estate, and It Evaded Sanctions

An investigation by The Post and Courier, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and IStories

istories.media

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

@ajc.com...

A Russian banker spent millions on Atlanta properties, left with little trace

Sergey Khotimskiy invested over $37 million in Atlanta real estate. He is among the 4,000 people and entities the U.S. sanctioned after the Ukraine invasion.

www.ajc.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

Here are all the story links:

@postandcourier.bsky.social...

Sanctioned Russian bankers plowed millions into this South Carolina resort

Russian bankers hit by U.S. sanctions bought multimillion-dollar homes in South Carolina’s Palmetto Bluff neighborhood and retail centers in Atlanta, Georgia.

www.postandcourier.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

It was not easy to find out whether Khotimskiy still owned lucrative properties, some of which had major firms as tenants. Earlier this year Trump shelved a landmark transparency law that would have required companies to identify their owners. So, authorities will still be flying blind.

Another Anti-Corruption Pillar Crumbles

Not enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act makes life harder for U.S. businesses—and easier for drug traffickers.

foreignpolicy.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

Khotimskiy owned homes near Hilton Head in his name, but his properties in Atlanta were held by LLCs. Georgia, like most states, doesn't require LLCs to identify their owners or file anything if shares change hands. Here's one LLC from when Sergey held shares and after he divested. See the issue?

At the 764 Memorial Operating LLC's formation, the listed parties are from the law firm representing the company and there's an address for a commercial real estate management business.

In early 2025, several years after Sergey Khotimskiy was sanctioned by the US, the only listed parties on the company's annual filing are from the same law firm and the same commercial real estate management business.

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

The investigation tells a bigger story about corporate secrecy and how hard it is to know who your neighbor (or your landlord) is. It turns out that the US has a bit of a problem in this regard, and it makes it easier to hide potential misconduct. This can even undermine national security.

One of the banker’s tenants, Doug Landau, owner of the popular local pub Neighbor’s, told reporters how he was frightened when he saw Khotimsky on the sanctions list. According to him, he paid about $30,000 a month in rent to a company registered by the businessman. Since companies in Georgia are not required to disclose their owners, Landau had to hire lawyers, who informed him that the company had a new owner.

Landau was unable to find out precisely who replaced Khotimsky, or when.

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 10d

New with the @postandcourier.bsky.social, @ajc.com and @istories.bsky.social...

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US sanctioned Sergey Khotimskiy and the bank he co-founded, Sovcombank. He finalized the transfer of as much as $43 million in real estate to his ex-wife before the sanctions.

Sanctioned Russian bankers plowed millions into this South Carolina resort

Russian bankers hit by U.S. sanctions bought multimillion-dollar homes in South Carolina’s Palmetto Bluff neighborhood and retail centers in Atlanta, Georgia.

www.postandcourier.com

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Reposted by John Dell'Osso

The Onion @theonion.com · 12d

Talk Of Fascism Dangerous, Warns Ministry Of Compliance

120 3.9K 15K

Reposted by John Dell'Osso

Noah Shachtman @noahshachtman.bsky.social · 13d

You can't make this shit up

abcnews.go.com/US/ice-relea...

ICE releases Oregon firefighter detained while protecting community from wildfire

A 23-year-old Oregon firefighter returns home after ICE detention sparked controversy. His arrest while battling wildfires led to legal challenges.

abcnews.go.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 13d

Matthew McConaughey is a secret commander in the War on Cars.

NPR @npr.org · 13d

Matthew McConaughey’s trip in the memory time machine took him back to his childhood in Texas. On this week’s Wild Card, he shares how his family shaped him and why he likes feeling like an underdog.

Watch the full interview: n.pr/46EKrW0

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Reposted by John Dell'Osso

Nick Schwellenbach @schwellenbach.bsky.social · 13d

My newest story, co-authored with @russchoma.bsky.social, is out.

It's a collaboration b/t @pogo.org & @motherjones.com

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

Clients of a Trump-connected lobbying firm keep landing no-bid ICE contracts

Ballard Partners is helping companies cash-in on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

www.motherjones.com

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Reposted by John Dell'Osso

Texas Monthly @texasmonthly.bsky.social · 13d

Do you know the inside story of 'Dazed and Confused,' one of the greatest movies about high school ever made and the flick that made Matthew McConaughey famous? It’d be a lot cooler if you did!

Read our story from 2003: https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/the-spirit-of-76-2/

The Spirit of '76

How Matthew McConaughey got discovered, why Renée Zellweger's part is so small, why some of the actresses can't eat ketchup to this day, and everything else you didn't know about the making of the classic high school flick Dazed and Confused.

www.texasmonthly.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 14d

I really miss the Georgetown Branch and I'm glad they're making progress on the replacement.

Capital Crescent Trail may be open to bikers, walkers and runners by next summer

Purple Line officials say construction of the path is more than 60% complete, and the light-rail line is more than 80% finished.

bethesdamagazine.com

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 15d

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John Dell'Osso @johndellosso.bsky.social · 15d

#DRC: US-sanctioned mining magnate Dan Gertler, whom Trump gave a reprieve in 2020, was arrested in Israel "on suspicion of transferring money to current and former police investigators...in order to obtain confidential information from police investigations about him."