Ukraine-born Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas would never dream of fleeing the US for his homeland — because he’d be in danger there, his lawyer claimed Monday.
The revelation came as defense attorney Joseph Bondy responded to allegations from prosecutors that Parnas — who was arrested on campaign finance charges in October as he was about to board a one-way flight to Vienna — had lied to government officials about his wealth, and was therefore a flight risk.
“Mr. Parnas also cannot flee to Ukraine, where he has been the subject of threats since even prior to his arrest,” Bondy wrote in papers filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday. Bondy did not provide further explanation.
The filing came after prosecutors asserted last week that Parnas was lying to the government about his assets — including a mysterious payment of $1.5 million from Russian and Ukrainian sources — and asked that Manhattan federal Judge Paul Oetken revoke his bail.
Bondy said the money was deposited in a bank account belonging to his client’s wife, Svetlana Parnas, and that prosecutors were aware of the hefty deposit when they earlier agreed that his client remain out on bail.
As far as lying, Bondy said Parnas — who acted as Giuliani’s fixer as he worked to dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden — just didn’t have financial documents in front of him when he first spoke to feds.
“Mr. Parnas was first interviewed regarding his finances while jailed, without the benefit of any records or the ability to do more than estimate his assets and income derived from self employment,” the court papers read. “He made statements to the best of his ability under those circumstances, and was not asked about his wife’s accounts or assets.”
Rudy Giuliani and Lev ParnasREUTERSProsecutors’ allegations came after the father of five asked a judge to ease up on the terms of his release, including $1 million bond, house arrest and electronic monitoring.
Bondy doubled down on that request in his Monday filing, again asking that Parnas be allowed out of the house to exercise and spend time with his kids.
The Soviet-born businessman is charged alongside three others with violating US campaign finance laws — both through a straw donor scheme and by attempting to introduce Russian influence into the US electoral system.
Parnas is due to appear before the judge Tuesday.



