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A Last Shot Of The State of Things
posted (February 11, 2020)

And, before we go, just a recap of all we’ve reported on night of the situation in the Barrow Administration, the ruling UDP and the Utah Courtroom.

Let’s start in Salt Lake where today in the Federal court building Jacob Kingston said he sent $50,000 US dollars to John Saldivar in Miami. This was based on an agreement arrived at in early 2014, when Kingston and Lev Dermen travelled to Belize and Dermen promised to pay for John Saldivar’s re-election campaign. 

They went to a February 11, 2014 text exchange that Kingston had with Saldivar to follow up on that meeting.  

Kingston summarized the messages where he testified Saldivar said he is nervous about the commitment Dermen had made because he had not heard from him.  Kingston said, quote, “He (Saldivar) needed the money that was promised to him,â€￾ end quote. Â  Kingston said Saldivar agreed to travel to Miami the following day - Feb. 12 - to meet one of Kingston’s associates who could bring him the money in cash. Â  He says Saldivar agreed. And, Kingston testified that he had $50,000 in cash delivered to Saldivar  - money he said he got from Lev Dermen.  He also added that Saldivar told him that his arrangement with Dermen was that he would receive $25,000 in cash every month for the campaign. 

Here are direct quotes from the text messages that were shown to the jury:  

“Really need the February tranche,â€￾ Saldivar wrote when he asked Kingston for money. 

And when Kingston suggested the Miami meeting - 

Saldivar replied: “OK. I will head to Miami Thursday.â€￾

This revelation has forced the Prime Minister’s hand and tomorrow he is expected to strip John Saldivar of his portfolios, and suspend him from Cabinet.  It is left to be seen if Saldivar will step down as UDP Leader or fight to retain the post.  We’ll have many of the answers on tomorrow night’s news. Â 




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