Billionaire Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska is "stepping up a fight with Washington that will intensify scrutiny of the Trump administration’s approach to Russia" the Financial Timesreported Tuesday.
Citing "people with knowledge of the project," FT says that Deripaska is offering a large reward for information on why he was sanctioned by Trump's White House.
"Deripaska’s lawyers are also set to launch a $600,000 prize fund this week to encourage journalists to dig into why he was sanctioned, claiming the US authorities were influenced by domestic political factors," FT reported.
The oligarch, in an interview with FT had harsh words for Capitol Hill.
“Congress wants more blood . . . [but] Congress has no idea what is going on in Russia, or anywhere in the world,” Deripaska argued. “There are no facts, no grounds, just filthy lies.”
“Congress was misinformed . . . they were driven by a vendetta, by revenge,” Deripaska said. “It was the wrong impression that hurting private business in Russia would solve some problem . . . it is completely the opposite.”
While the oligarch is angry at America's executive and legislative branches of government, he still has faith in the judicial branch.
“I have no doubt in the US legal system," Deripaska said. "The judge, in the end, will see through [the allegations].”
Read the full report.