A photo emerges showing the HUD secretary with Alexey Komov, the main link between U.S. Christian fundamentalists and sanctioned Russians.
In the latest example of Russian officials rubbing elbows with members of the American right, a newly emerged photo shows Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson standing alongside a key employee of sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev.
The photo dates to June 2014, and appears to be from Carson’s appearance as a keynote speaker at the 2014 gala for the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), one of the most notorious anti-LGBTQ organizations extant.
Alexey Komov — shown in the photo to the right of Carson — has worked for years to ingratiate himself with the American far right, from partnering with American homeschool organizations to working with Christian fundamentalist groups to even liaising closely with Christian movie reviewers.
Alexey Komov and me chatting with Dr Ben Carson at NOM Gala Dinner at Willard Hotel in Washington DC pic.twitter.com/gSGKsL1qVD
— Larry D Jacobs (@larrydjacobs) 19 June 2014
Carson, who ran in the 2016 GOP presidential primary, was working in the private sector at the time, and there’s no indication he broke any laws. Neither Carson’s office nor Komov responded to ThinkProgress’ requests for comment.