[Blitzer:] Breaking news: CNN has learned that federal prosecutors are taking a very close look at a business owned by the president's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. Meanwhile, in his first interview since cooperating with federal prosecutors, an executive of Ukraine's state-owned gas company now tells that Giuliani associate Lev Parnas and another Giuliani associate were seeking corrupt deals in Ukraine. Andrew Favorov talked to CNN's Senior Investigative Correspondent, Drew Griffin. Here's his report.
[Drew Griffin, Cnn Senior Investigative Correspondent:] Andrew Favorov thought it was a joke. The two shady businessmen from South Florida had no backing, no experience, but what they did have, they said, was the Trump administration's ear, and they wanted a cut of Ukraine's national business.
[Andrew Favorov, Naftogaz Senior Manager:] This was completely crazy. It was the first time in my business when two private actors were offering or discussing the issues that are supposed to be part of U.S. foreign policy.
[Griffin:] He says what Parnas and Fruman were proposing was a takeover of management at the Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas company, Naftogaz. Favorov would be their new CEO. Parnas and Fruman would then get sweetheart deals and anyone who got in their way, like U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch who opposed this old style corruption would be removed.
[Favorov:] Honestly, I didn't take it seriously at first. You know, crazy old
[Griffin:] Did you fear that they really were connected to the Trump administration and had the power to carry out what they were doing?
[Favorov:] After the events transpired with Ambassador Yovanovitch, yes, I thought that it was distant possibility.
[Griffin:] Parnas and Fruman have been indicted for violating federal campaign laws. Federal prosecutors in New York allege the two men illegally funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in foreign funds into Republican Party candidates and a Trump super PAC in an effort to buy political influence for their new gas company called Global Energy Producers. They have pleaded not guilty. Igor Fruman's attorney declined comment for the story and attorney for Lev Parnas has yet to respond. Favorov says he immediately turned down the offer Parnas and Fruman were making to him this past March and reported their actions to the U.S. embassy in Kiev. He is also cooperating with the federal investigation which CNN reports is also focusing on the actions of President Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. [on camera]: Hi, Mr. Giuliani. [voice-over]: A source familiar with the matter said federal prosecutors are investigating Giuliani's possible business ties to Parnas, Fruman, and their company Global Energy Producers. An attorney for Giuliani told CNN Mr. Giuliani had no interest in GEP at any time. Earlier this month, Giuliani vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
[Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's Personal Attorney:] And the reality is that everything I've done is totally legal.
[Griffin:] Favorov says he never met or discussed anything with Giuliani but says the two men who came to him with a corrupt plan used their association with Rudy Giuliani as proof they could carry it out. [on camera]: Did they mention Rudy Giuliani?
[Favorov:] Yes.
[Griffin:] As their conduit?
[Favorov:] They mentioned that, yes, he's one of the channels of communication and getting the right message across to the decision- makers within the U.S. administration.
[Griffin:] They thought they could remove the ambassador of the United States?
[Favorov:] To this day, I find it hard to digest how it's possible.
[Griffin:] Favorov says what's at stake is much bigger than just Naftogaz or even Ukraine. Russia, he says, is hoping Ukraine will fail and that Russian style and even Russian-supported corruption will creep back into Ukraine's struggling economy helping Russia to further destabilize Europe. Rooting out corruption is the best way for the U.S. and the West to fight back. He only hopes the leader of his adopted country still believes that.
[Favorov:] That's why people all over the world look to the United States to set the standard, to show how things can be done in a moral and ethical and a transparent way and I certainly hope as a U.S. citizen that this beacon does not lose its value because of some bad actors and because of some greed and, you know, opportunism.
[Griffin:] Wolf, Favorov spoke with prosecutors and the U.S. attorney's office this past week. He wouldn't give us details. But as we've learned in details about the sweeping subpoenas in the case, Rudy Giuliani's business appears to be a major part of the investigation into whatever deals were being cooked up in Ukraine Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Very important reporting. Drew Griffin, thanks very much. Finally tonight, President Trump has often questioned the conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, a view held by the entire U.S. intelligence community. Some of the president's GOP allies including most recently Louisiana Senator John Kennedy are now pushing the debunked theory that it may have been Ukraine.
[Chris Wallace, Fox News Anchor:] Who do you believe was responsible for hacking the DNC and Clinton campaign computers, their emails? Was it Russia or Ukraine?
[Sen. John Kennedy:] I don't know nor do you nor do any of us.
[Wallace:] The entire intelligence community says it was Russia.
[Kennedy:] Right. But it could also be Ukraine.
[Blitzer:] But we do know that the president's own top national security officials say it was Russia, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General William Barr, former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former homeland security advisor Tom Bossert.
[Christopher Wray, Fbi Director:] As I have consistently, Russia attempted to interfere with the last election.
[William Barr, Attorney General:] I am sure that all-Americans share my concerns about the efforts of the Russian government to interfere in our presidential election.
[Dan Coates, Former Director Of National Intelligence:] We continue to see a pervasive messaging campaign by Russia to try to weaken and divide the United States.
[Sen. Mark Warner:] Do you accept the conclusions of the I.C. regarding Russia's measures?
[Mike Pompeo, Secretary Of State:] Senator Warner, I do.
[Tom Bossert, Former Homeland Security Adviser:] It is not only a conspiracy theory, it is completely debunked. The United States government reached its conclusion on attributing to Russia the DNC hack in 2016 before it even communicated it to the FBI.
[Blitzer:] Now, all of these officials were appointed by President Trump. None of them are Never Trumpers or members of the so-called deep state. In fact, the president's own intelligence community recently briefed senators that Russia was promoting this conspiracy theory to shift blame away from Moscow and now to Ukraine. We invited Senator Kennedy to join us. He declined. We hope he will join us soon. "ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.