Tag: Robert Mueller

Robert Mueller Subpoenas An Associate Of The Man Who Hired Michael Flynn As A Lobbyist

The following article by Isaac Arnsdorf was posted on the ProPublica website September 29, 2017:

The special counsel wanted to question a Turkish businessman with interests in Turkey, Russia and the U.S. — and ties to people with criminal records.

Then-national security adviser Michael Flynn at the White House in February. Credit:
Carolyn Kaster, AP

The special prosecutor investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election has subpoenaed an associate of Gen. Michael Flynn’s Turkish lobbying client. The subpoena, a copy of which was obtained by ProPublica, ordered Sezgin Baran Korkmaz to testify before a grand jury in Washington on Sept. 22.

“The grand jury is conducting an investigation of possible violations of federal criminal laws involving the Foreign Agents Registration Act, among other offenses,” a letter accompanying the subpoena stated. The letter is signed by Robert Mueller and Zainab Ahmad, a senior assistant special counsel who specializes in prosecuting terrorism. Korkmaz did not respond to requests for comment. Continue reading “Robert Mueller Subpoenas An Associate Of The Man Who Hired Michael Flynn As A Lobbyist”

Mueller casts broad net in requesting extensive records from Trump White House

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig and Rosalind S. Helderman was posted on the Washington Post website September 20, 2017:

President Trump has weighed in on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election time and time again. Here’s a look at how he can limit the probe, and what Congress is trying to do about it. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

The special counsel investigating Russian election meddling has requested extensive records and email correspondence from the White House, covering areas including the president’s private discussions about firing his FBI director and his response to news that the then-national security adviser was under investigation, according to two people briefed on the requests.

White House lawyers are now working to turn over internal documents that span 13 categories that investigators for the special counsel have identified as critical to their probe, the people said. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, appointed in May in the wake of Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, took over the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign coordinated with the Russians in that effort. Continue reading “Mueller casts broad net in requesting extensive records from Trump White House”

Mueller casts broad net in requesting extensive records from Trump White House

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig and Rosalind S. Helderman was posted on the Washington Post website September 20, 2017:

President Trump has weighed in on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election time and time again. Here’s a look at how he can limit the probe, and what Congress is trying to do about it. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

The special counsel investigating Russian election meddling has requested extensive records and email correspondence from the White House, covering areas including the president’s private discussions about firing his FBI director and his response to news that the then-national security adviser was under investigation, according to two people briefed on the requests. Continue reading “Mueller casts broad net in requesting extensive records from Trump White House”

Mueller Seen To Be Probing Trump Like A Mob Boss

The following article by Greg Price with Newsweek was post on the National Memo website on September 20, 2017:

Bonanno, Gambino…Trump?

The first two are recognizable as bosses of the notorious Five Families, as the leading organized crime outfits of New York and other areas of the country were once known, and the third obviously belongs to the president of the United States and his famous New York real estate family. Other than location, location and location, the three names also have something else in common: aggressive federal investigations. Continue reading “Mueller Seen To Be Probing Trump Like A Mob Boss”

With a Picked Lock and a Threatened Indictment, Mueller’s Inquiry Sets a Tone

The following article by Sharon LaFraniere, Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman was posted on the New York Times website September 18, 2017:

Paul J. Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, in June 2016. Prosecutors in the Russia investigation told Mr. Manafort they planned to indict him, two people close to the investigation said. Credit Brendan McDermid/Reuters

WASHINGTON — Paul J. Manafort was in bed early one morning in July when federal agents bearing a search warrant picked the lock on his front door and raided his Virginia home. They took binders stuffed with documents and copied his computer files, looking for evidence that Mr. Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, set up secret offshore bank accounts. They even photographed the expensive suits in his closet.

The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, then followed the house search with a warning: His prosecutors told Mr. Manafort they planned to indict him, said two people close to the investigation.

The moves against Mr. Manafort are just a glimpse of the aggressive tactics used by Mr. Mueller and his team of prosecutors in the four months since taking over the Justice Department’s investigation into Russia’s attempts to disrupt last year’s election, according to lawyers, witnesses and American officials who have described the approach. Dispensing with the plodding pace typical of many white-collar investigations, Mr. Mueller’s team has used what some describe as shock-and-awe tactics to intimidate witnesses and potential targets of the inquiry. Continue reading “With a Picked Lock and a Threatened Indictment, Mueller’s Inquiry Sets a Tone”

Former Justice Dept. official joins special counsel Russia probe: report

The following article by Brandon Carter was posted on the Hill website September 16, 2017:

Robert S. Mueller

Special counsel Robert Mueller has hired yet another high-profile prosecutor for the ongoing investigation into potential ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russia, according to a new report.

Politico reports Kyle Freeny, a former Department of Justice lawyer who specializes in money laundering, has joined Mueller’s team. She was reportedly present during the grand jury testimony on Friday from a spokesman of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort.

Freeny was previously working on a DOJ case in their Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, part of the DOJ’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, which aims to reclaim money from foreign corruption. Continue reading “Former Justice Dept. official joins special counsel Russia probe: report”

Lobbying activities of Michael Flynn’s son being examined by special counsel on Russia

The following article by Tom Hamburger and Devlin Barrett was posted on the Washington Post website September 13, 2017:

Then-national security adviser Michael Flynn at the White House in February. Credit:
Carolyn Kaster, AP

The lobbying activities of Michael G. Flynn, the son of President Trump’s former national security adviser, are being examined by the special counsel investigating possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the probe.

The inquiry into the younger Flynn, first reported by NBC News, follows other indications this week that investigators are increasing pressure on his father, retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who advised Trump during the campaign and briefly served in the White House before being ousted for misleading statements about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

Mueller is looking at the younger Flynn because of his role as chief of staff to his father at the Flynn Intel Group, a lobbying and consulting firm that worked for international and domestic clients, according to the people familiar with the inquiry, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an open case. Continue reading “Lobbying activities of Michael Flynn’s son being examined by special counsel on Russia”

Mueller gives White House names of 6 aides he expects to question in Russia probe

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig, Rosalind S. Helderman and Ashley Parker was posted on the Washington Post website September 8, 2017:

President Trump has weighed in on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election time and time again. Here’s a look at how he can limit the probe, and what Congress is trying to do about it. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has alerted the White House that his team will probably seek to interview six top current and former advisers to President Trump who were witnesses to several episodes relevant to the investigation of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the request.

Mueller’s interest in the aides, including trusted adviser Hope Hicks, former press secretary Sean Spicer and former chief of staff Reince Priebus, reflects how the probe that has dogged Trump’s presidency is starting to penetrate a closer circle of aides around the president. Continue reading “Mueller gives White House names of 6 aides he expects to question in Russia probe”

Russia Probe Intensifies

The following article was posted on the TrumpAccountable.org website September 1, 2017:

While much of the country (and the White House) was transfixed with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, there is compelling evidence that Robert Mueller’s Russia probe is gaining steam. Here are the key developments:

Washington lobbying firms receive subpoenas as part of Russia probe

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig and Tom Hamburger was posted on the Washington Post website August 25, 2017:

Special counsel Robert Mueller, pictured in June, departs after a closed-door meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about Russian meddling in the election and a possible connection to the Trump campaign in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Lawyers for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, have issued subpoenas to several prominent Washington lobbying firms as the probe examines the finances of two former Trump campaign advisers, according to people with knowledge of the requests.

The subpoenas asked the firms to answer questions and provide records regarding their interactions with the consulting firms led by Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser to President Trump, and Paul Manafort, former chairman of the Trump presidential campaign, these people said.

The requests suggest that Mueller’s investigators are looking closely at Manafort and Flynn, both of whom face possible legal jeopardy for allegedly failing to disclose that foreign governments or parties may have been the beneficiaries of their consulting and lobbying work, as they seek potential links between Trump’s campaign and the Kremlin. Continue reading “Washington lobbying firms receive subpoenas as part of Russia probe”