Rick Perry Got Punked in a Fake Interview With Russian Pranksters

  • Energy Secretary thought he was speaking with Ukraine minister
  • Cyber hacks discussed with Russian pranksters in call

Rick Perry

Photographer: Zach Gibson/Bloomberg
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Energy Secretary Rick Perry thought he was talking about cyberhacking and a biofuel breakthrough in a call with Ukraine Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman. Alas, the 22-minute phone call was actually conducted with Russian pranksters.

Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, who are described as the "Jerky Boys of Russia," have conducted similar prank calls with U.S. Senator John McCain and singer Elton John. They arranged the call with Perry last week, just a few weeks after he had met with Ukraine’s president, Petro Poroshenko, and his delegation.