Sebastian Gorka is a former Trump administration deputy assistant and a high-volume pro-Trump social media personality. He is identified by John Kiriakou as having solicited $5,000 from him in 2018 in exchange for tweeting at President Donald Trump on his behalf — Kiriakou’s second attempted pardon transaction of that year, following the Rudy Giuliani extortion attempt.[1][2]
The 2018 solicitation
After the Giuliani meeting collapsed, Kiriakou’s Republican lobbyist routed him instead to Gorka, whose value proposition was that he was followed on Twitter by the president. Kiriakou’s reaction to the introduction: “I don’t like that dude at all. I don’t like him at all. He wears his father’s Nazi party lapel pin — like, he’s not a Neo-Nazi, he’s an actual …”[1]
The meeting was arranged at the launch party for a Gorka book at the Trump International Hotel. Per the lobbyist’s pre-brief, the ask would be $1,500 and Kiriakou was instructed to bring his checkbook. At the event the lobbyist walked Kiriakou up to Gorka. Gorka: “Sir, you’re the man who wants me to tweet at the president.” Kiriakou: “If you’re so inclined.” Gorka: “Give me $5,000.” Kiriakou: “Seriously?” Gorka: “Give me $5,000.”[3][2]
Kiriakou’s response: “I’ve been around for a long time and I understand the nature of Washington, but I’m not going to let you shake me down like I’m some two-bit guy off the street.” He refused and left.[2]