Academic Or Asset? Professor Emerges From Shadows Of The Russian Investigation

jonathanturley

9 years ago

Professor Joseph Mifsud has been described as a “Russian stooge,” a “KGB cutout,” and an intelligence handler. Not since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created the character of Professor James Moriarty as the nemesis of Sherlock Holmes has an academic emerged as such a shadowy and sinister figure. Mifsud however has gone public to declare that his apparent love for one of the world’s most bloodsoaked authoritarian figures, Vladimir Putin, has left him with a clear and clean conscience. What is clear is that the Lond-based Mifsud had no qualms in serving as a conduit for dirt on Hillary Clinton and an effective asset of the Putin regime.

It appears that Mifsud is the infamous “Foreign Contact 1” references in the Mueller complaint who bragged of dinners with Putin and and his contacts with Russian intelligence. He is also the professor who appears to have button-holed George Papadopoulos, a one-time Trump adviser who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his interactions with foreign contacts. The court papers refer to a meeting in London in April 2016 and state that “Papadopoulos further stated that Foreign Contact 1 told him that the Russians ‘have dirt on her,’ meaning Clinton, and that they have ‘thousands of emails.'”

According to news accounts, Mifsud is actually from Malta and it is not clear when he became such a yahoo for Putin and all things Russian. He served as “the honorary director” of the London Academy of Diplomacy (LAD). I am not sure of the purpose of an “honorary” director or why Mifsud was viewed as credible by LAD, which used to be part of to the University of East Anglia and is not part of the University of Stirling in Scotland. The university issued a statement that “The University of East Anglia no longer has any links with the London Academy of Diplomacy or Joseph Mifsud.” It did not explain why or how this individual was made an honorary anything.

Mifsud was listed as teaching fellow and clearly worked full-time in that capacity in the politics department since May 2017. He does not seem an particularly intellectual or impressive person from his record. He seemed to relish connections with Russians and brag about them to anyone who would stop to listen.

Mifsud has spoken to the media to say declare “I have a clear conscience.” He dismissed the allegations in the complaint and added “I am an academic, I do not even speak Russian.”

It is certainly important to note that nothing in the complaint would seem to be criminal in Mifsud’s role unless he is accused of being a foreign agent. Accounts indicated that he actively sought to cultivate influence with the Russians.

What is clear is that Mifsud is likely to remain radioactive for a considerable time after this scandal. The honorary titles outside of Russia are likely to be rather hard to come by.

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