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Sean's avatar

Joshua Browder is the son of Bill Browder, an American-born financier/hedge fund manager, who was the grandson of Earl Browder, head of the American Communist Party (CPUSA). Bill renounced his US Citizenship and is based in the UK. He is most well-known for being the driving force behind the Magnitsky Act, against human rights abuse in Russia, so named for his Russian lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, who died in Russian custody.

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LL's avatar

Ohhh. You know why he renounced his US citizenship? That is a pretty big deal. But that shit is crazy

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Wishing On Space Hardware's avatar

A not insignificant amount of US expats renounce because the US taxes worldwide income (unlike pretty much every other civilized country) and requires obscene amounts of paperwork and disclosure of foreign bank accounts. Plus taxing things like foreign retirement accounts depending on what tax treaty your country has with the US. The disclosures required are so onerous for foreign banks, that many in Europe will not offer investment services and other products to US citizens. A lot of people who are dual citizens and start businesses in their new home country renounce, because the US taxes and reporting are so expensive and invasive.

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Robert's avatar

This will be me in the next few years. The US tax regime is bloody annoying, especially since I've never even lived in the US!

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Sean's avatar

He became a British citizen in 1998; he cited his grandfather’s treatment as part of the reason. His grandfather was actually involved with Soviet espionages, and the head of the CPUSA, which was heavily subsidized by the Soviets and a major source of espionage activity.

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Anonymous's avatar

I’m halfway through his book “Red Notice,” will report back if he explains why. He originally moved to London in order to work at an investment firm there, and then remained because he was investing in the Russian private sector.

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LL's avatar

It is the renunciation of his US citizenship I find so fascinating. But now that you mention the book,. I think I have heard him interviewed.

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PattiCosh's avatar

That Bill Browser!! Well that explains the MSM blinders!

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PattiCosh's avatar

Bill Browder!

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Benjy Shyovitz's avatar

That would explain the weird accent.

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Kazzah's avatar

It’s an “international school” accent, my kids went to an international school for almost five years and came out with this weird UK/US “transatlantic” accent - they say “trash can” and “gah-raaage” as well as “trousers” and “baff”.

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Xiaoxiong's avatar

Agree - I have one myself! I'm too British for Americans but too American for the British. People often guess Canadian or Kiwi with the rhotic accent.

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LL's avatar

It ...really doesn't. Otherwise every kid with an immigrant parent would have a strange accent. Unless I guess he also grew up in the US

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Xiaoxiong's avatar

It actually does though - that's the accent that lots of London kids have whose parents have American accents but have gone to British schools all their lives, particularly the London superselectives - or conversely, kids whose parents are not American, but who went to international schools. It's a transatlantic accent. I'd put money on Browder having gone to St Paul's, Westminster, Highgate, UCS, City of London or Latymer Upper. (If he went to ASL or one of the ACSs with American parents, he'd probably have a more American accent.)

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