Tag: Russia investigation

Trump rails against Mueller investigation, dismisses McCabe’s notes as ‘Fake Memos’

The following article by Philip Rucker was posted on the Washington Post website March 18, 2018:

President Trump railed against special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation on March 18, prompting a swift response from lawmakers. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)

President Trump fired a barrage of angry statements Sunday railing against the Justice Department special counsel’s Russia investigation and attacking the integrity of former FBI director James B. Comey and his former deputy Andrew McCabe, charging that their notes from conversations with him are “Fake Memos.”

For the second straight day, Trump was unrestrained in his commentary about Robert S. Mueller III’s expanding investigation, which is looking not only into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential race and possible links to the Trump campaign, but also whether the president has sought to obstruct justice. Continue reading “Trump rails against Mueller investigation, dismisses McCabe’s notes as ‘Fake Memos’”

Mueller Subpoenas Trump Organization, Demanding Documents About Russia

The following article by Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman was posted on the New York Times website March 15, 208:

It was not clear why the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, issued the subpoena instead of simply asking for the documents from the company. Credit Doug Mills/The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has subpoenaed the Trump Organization in recent weeks to turn over documents, including some related to Russia, according to two people briefed on the matter. The order is the first known instance of the special counsel demanding records directly related to President Trump’s businesses, bringing the investigation closer to the president.

The breadth of the subpoena was not clear, nor was it clear why Mr. Mueller issued it instead of simply asking for the documents from the company, an umbrella organization that encompasses Mr. Trump’s business ventures. Mr. Mueller ordered the Trump Organization to hand over records related to Russia and other topics he is investigating, the people said. Continue reading “Mueller Subpoenas Trump Organization, Demanding Documents About Russia”

Mueller Has Trump & Co. Pinned Down

The following article by Jefferson Morley was posted on the AlterNet website March 12, 2018:

PR won’t stop subpoenas.

Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The rich specificity of the emerging Trump-Russia narrative, found in the indictments of special prosecutor Robert Mueller, is now smothering the president’s defenses, overwhelming his counterattacks and depriving him of options and friends. No wonder Trump is in a terrible mood.

The details of the furtive machinations of the Trump entourage and the coterie of Vladimir Putin, from Trump Tower to the Seychelles Islands, brings to life the story of how these two power cliques came together to do business during and after the 2016 presidential election. Continue reading “Mueller Has Trump & Co. Pinned Down”

The Memo: Dangers multiply for Trump in Mueller probe

The following article by Niall Stanage was posted on the Hill website March 9, 2018:

The waters of Robert Mueller’s investigation are rising higher by the day, putting President Trump and his inner circle in increasing legal and political danger.

A series of recent revelations “have, at least, indicated that there is fire amid all that smoke,” said Frank Montoya Jr., a retired FBI special agent who was also detailed to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from 2012 to 2014. Continue reading “The Memo: Dangers multiply for Trump in Mueller probe”

Trump Asked Key Witnesses About Matters They Discussed With Special Counsel

The following article by Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman was posted on the New York Times website March 7, 2018:

President Trump sought information from two witnesses about matters they had discussed with the special counsel’s office. Credit: Tom Brenner/The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The special counsel in the Russia investigation has learned of two conversations in recent months in which President Trump asked key witnesses about matters they discussed with investigators, according to three people familiar with the encounters.

In one episode, the president told an aide that the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, should issue a statement denying a New York Times article in January. The article said Mr. McGahn told investigators that the president once asked him to fire the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III. Mr. McGahn never released a statement and later had to remind the president that he had indeed asked Mr. McGahn to see that Mr. Mueller was dismissed, the people said. Continue reading “Trump Asked Key Witnesses About Matters They Discussed With Special Counsel”

‘Off the rails’: House Russia probe hits new low

The following article by Kyle Cheney was posted on the Politico website March 3, 2018:

Some House Republicans want to end their Russia investigation soon, even as Democrats insist many crucial questions about Kremlin meddling remain unanswered.

The House Intelligence Committee was thrown into turmoil last month after Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) orchestrated the public release of a classified memo alleging anti-Trump bias on the part of FBI and Justice Department officials. Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Mistrust, anger and charges of skulduggery between Democrats and Republicans have hobbled the House Intelligence Committee’s Russia investigation for months.

Hope Hicks and a pair of frustrated senators may have finally broken it.

There are new signs that Republicans may soon conclude a probe that Democrats call far from complete following Wednesday’s testimony by President Donald Trump’s confidante, Hicks. Leaks revealed that Hicks had admitted to sometimes telling white lies on Trump’s behalf — a fact that Republicans called an unfair distortion of the departing White House communications director’s testimony. Continue reading “‘Off the rails’: House Russia probe hits new low”

Mueller investigation examining Trump’s apparent efforts to oust Sessions in July

The following article by Devlin Barrett, Josh Dawsey and Rosalind S. Helderman was posted on the Washington Post website February 28, 2018:

Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III is investigating President Trump’s efforts to belittle and potentially drive out Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (Reuters)

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has been investigating a period of time last summer when President Trump seemed determined to drive Attorney General Jeff Sessions from his job, according to people familiar with the matter who said that a key area of interest for the inquiry is whether those efforts were part of a months-long pattern of attempted obstruction of justice.

In recent months, Mueller’s team has questioned witnesses in detail about Trump’s private comments and state of mind in late July and early August of last year, around the time he issued a series of tweets belittling his “beleaguered” attorney general, these people said. The thrust of the questions was to determine whether the president’s goal was to oust Sessions in order to pick a replacement who would exercise control over the investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Trump associates during the 2016 election, these people said. Continue reading “Mueller investigation examining Trump’s apparent efforts to oust Sessions in July”

In Russia probe, Hope Hicks refuses to answer questions about Trump administration

The following article by Karoun Demirjian was posted on the Washington Post website February 27, 2018:

Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) says White House communications director Hope Hicks refused to answer House investigators’ questions on the Trump administration. (The Washington Post)

White House communications director Hope Hicks refused to answer questions about the Trump administration that House investigators posed Tuesday as part of their probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

But under pressure from lawmakers, she began to offer some details about the transition period Tuesday afternoon, according to House Intelligence Committee members of both parties, who said Hicks and her attorneys agreed to address topics broached with the Senate Intelligence Committee in an earlier private interview. Continue reading “In Russia probe, Hope Hicks refuses to answer questions about Trump administration”

Latest Twist in Russia Investigation Involves Unnamed Member of Congress

The following article by Stephanie Akin was posted on the Roll Call website February 23, 2018:

Rick Gates’ pleaded guilty to lying about meeting that matched dinner with Rohrabacher

Former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after a court hearing on the conditions of his release on Nov. 6, 2017. Credit: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo

The wide-ranging investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign took an unexpected diversion to Capitol Hill on Friday, when former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about a meeting between his boss Paul Manafort and an unnamed member of Congress.

Gates admitted, according to court documents, that the 2013 meeting was part of a secret multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign for the Ukrainian government and its Russian-backed president, Viktor Yanukovych. Gates also pleaded guilty to conspiring with Manafort to hide the millions of dollars they were paid by the Ukrainian government. Continue reading “Latest Twist in Russia Investigation Involves Unnamed Member of Congress”

Trump lashes out over Russia probe in angry and error-laden tweetstorm

The following article by Josh Dawsey and Philip Rucker was posted on the Washington Post website February 18, 2018:

President Trump speaks during a meeting with lawmakers about trade policy in the Cabinet Room at the White House on Feb. 13, 2018. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump lashed out with fresh anger about the intensifying Russia probe over the weekend, accusing Democrats of enabling a foreign adversary to interfere in the 2016 election and attacking the FBI as well as his own national security adviser.

In a defiant and error-laden tweetstorm that was remarkable even by his own combative standards, Trump stewed aloud about the latest indictments brought by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III against Russians for their elaborate campaign to denigrate the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, and push voters toward Trump. Continue reading “Trump lashes out over Russia probe in angry and error-laden tweetstorm”