McGonigal and the oil fields / Former president of the US House: There was internal influence on investments in the country

The former president of the American House Mark Crawford, invited to the studio of the "Open" show, spoke about the involvement of Russian interests in the oil fields in Albania and the role of former FBI agent Charles McGonigal in this case.

According to Crawford, FBI agents are responsible for domestic affairs and cannot go to other countries, as in the case of McGonigal, and meet with the country's prime minister without the embassy's knowledge.

He indicated that during the time when he was active in his role in the American Chamber, he found some American investors who did not make "sense", but with the developments of the last months, he realized that there may have been internal influence. or as Crawford called him, "a traitor in the army."

Crawford: I saw the investigation in America, not the business deals happened several years ago. These things are public, but I didn't know it was about McGonigal, and he wasn't known to be connected to oil. After the investigation in the USA it turned out that he came here and was connected with the Russians and was interested in the oil fields.

Murati: Have you found Russian influence in the McGonigal case or in other cases over the last few years?

Crawford: It was a surprise to me that the Russians were so present behind the scenes. When I was in Montenegro or Serbia, the Russians were visible, Deripaska himself had companies in Montenegro. Cooperation with the Russians at that time has been obvious, here there is little.

Murati: McGonigal is the biggest name involved in such an act, does this corruption come from Russia, or is it closed between McGonigal and the Albanians?

Crawford: The FBI is for internal affairs, it's been in the media before because it was asked about the last election and they said it hurt the Clinton campaign, but it's internal affairs. They don't go out, they don't come alone and meet the prime minister without talking to the embassy. I know it's hard to invest abroad, if you fight even against the FBI it becomes mission impossible. When I was active, I saw some American investors who did not make sense to me, but understanding the actions now I understand that there may have been internal influence, there was a traitor in our "army". Whether the Russians are bribing an FBI agent is also a geopolitical issue, when they have sanctions they need a second way.