Tag: Russiagate

Google uncovers Russian-bought ads on YouTube, Gmail and other platforms

The following article by Elizabeth Dwoskin, Adam Entous and Craig Timberg was posted on the Wasington Post website October 9, 2017:

Google found tens of thousands of dollars were spent on ads by Russian agents who aimed to spread disinformation across Google’s platforms. (Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post)

SAN FRANCISCO — Google for the first time has uncovered evidence that Russian operatives exploited the company’s platforms in an attempt to interfere in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the company’s investigation.

The Silicon Valley giant has found that tens of thousands of dollars were spent on ads by Russian agents who aimed to spread disinformation across Google’s many products, which include YouTube, as well as advertising associated with Google search, Gmail, and the company’s DoubleClick ad network, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that have not been made public. Google runs the world’s largest online advertising business, and YouTube is the world’s largest online video site. Continue reading “Google uncovers Russian-bought ads on YouTube, Gmail and other platforms”

Ken Starr predicts indictments in Russia probe

The following article by Brandon Carter was posted on the Hill website October 7, 2017:

Ken Starr, the former independent counsel in the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky scandals during Bill Clinton’s presidency, predicted Saturday that there would likely be indictments in special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russia’s election meddling.

“Given what we do know, especially given what happened this summer with respect to the FBI’s intrusion into Paul Manafort’s condominium, in light of the revelations that we’ve seen about General Flynn, I have a sense that there will in fact be indictments,” Starr said on CNN’s “Smerconish,” referring to President Trump’s former campaign chairman and his first national security adviser, respectively. Continue reading “Ken Starr predicts indictments in Russia probe”

5 takeaways from Senate Russian meddling presser

The following article by Olivia Beavers and Katie Bo Williams was posted on the Hill website October 4, 2017:

© Greg Nash

The Senate Intelligence Committee is expanding the scope of its investigation into Russian meddling, with panel leaders saying there is no end date in sight.

The panel is interested in questioning a lawyer who runs in the president’s inner circle, looking into possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign, and determining whether the intelligence community’s findings are fully correct and complete.

Here are the five main takeaways from the Wednesday presser:

Continue reading “5 takeaways from Senate Russian meddling presser”

Senate Intelligence Heads Warn That Russian Election Meddling Continues

The following article by Nicholas Fandos was posted on the New York Times website October 4, 2017:

Senators Richard M. Burr, left, the intelligence committee’s chairman, and Mark Warner, its vice chairman, held the most extensive news conference since the committee began its investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Credit Pete Marovich for The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee delivered a stark warning on Wednesday to political candidates: Expect Russian operatives to remain active and determined to again try to sow chaos in elections next month and next year.

At a rare news conference, Senators Richard M. Burr, Republican of North Carolina and the committee’s chairman, and Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and its vice chairman, broadly endorsed the conclusions of American spy agencies that said President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia directed a campaign of hacking and propaganda to disrupt the 2016 presidential election. Continue reading “Senate Intelligence Heads Warn That Russian Election Meddling Continues”

Trump’s company had more contact with Russia during campaign, according to documents turned over to investigators

The following article by Tom Hamburger, Rosalind S. Helderman and Adam Entous was posted on the Washington Post website October 2, 2017:

Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal attorney leaves Capitol Hill on Sept. 19. Cohen was there to appear privately before the Senate Intelligence Committee. (Susan Walsh/AP)

Associates of President Trump and his company have turned over documents to federal investigators that reveal two previously unreported contacts from Russia during the 2016 campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.

In one case, Trump’s personal attorney and a business associate exchanged emails weeks before the Republican National Convention about the lawyer traveling to an economic conference in Russia that would be attended by top Russian financial and government leaders, including President Vladi­mir Putin, according to people familiar with the correspondence.

In the other case, the same Trump attorney, Michael Cohen, received a proposal in late 2015 for a Moscow residential project from a company founded by a billionaire who once served in the Russian Senate, these people said. The previously unreported inquiry marks the second proposal for a Trump-branded Moscow project that was delivered to the company during the presidential campaign and has since come to light. Continue reading “Trump’s company had more contact with Russia during campaign, according to documents turned over to investigators”

Juan Williams: Trump’s smokescreen on Russia won’t work

The following column from Juan WIlliams was posted on the Hill website October 2, 2017:

© Getty Images

“Are there any Russians in the audience? I don’t see too many Russians,” a defiant President Trump recently told an Alabama crowd.

He finds joy, even now, in ridiculing reports of Russian interference in last year’s presidential campaign.

Speaking to his true believers, he reassured them that “Russia did not help me win” and dismissed reports to the contrary as “the Russia hoax — one of the great hoaxes.”

So, in the self-aggrandizing manner of the president, let me ask — Are there any Russians reading this column right now? Continue reading “Juan Williams: Trump’s smokescreen on Russia won’t work”

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”

Twitter finds hundreds of accounts tied to Russian operatives

The following article by Elizabeth Dwoski, Adam Entous and Karoun Demirjian was posted on the Washington Post website September 28, 2017:

Facebook announced on Sept. 21 that it would turn over copies of 3,000 political ads brought by Russian accounts during the 2016 election, while Twitter said on Sept. 28 that it had shut down 201 accounts tied to the same group. (The Washington Post)

Twitter said Thursday it had shut down 201 accounts that were tied to the same Russian operatives who posted thousands of political ads on Facebook, but the effort frustrated lawmakers who said the problem is far broader than the company appeared to know.

The company said it also found three accounts from the news site RT — which Twitter linked to the Kremlin — that spent $274,100 in ads on its platform in 2016. Continue reading “Twitter finds hundreds of accounts tied to Russian operatives”

Manafort offered to give Russian billionaire ‘private briefings’ on 2016 campaign

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

Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Paul Manafort, walks the floor at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 21, 2016. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

Less than two weeks before Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination, his campaign chairman offered to provide briefings on the race to a Russian billionaire closely aligned with the Kremlin, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Paul Manafort made the offer in an email to an overseas intermediary, asking that a message be sent to Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum magnate with whom Manafort had done business in the past, these people said.

“If he needs private briefings we can accommodate,” Manafort wrote in the July 7, 2016, email, portions of which were read to The Washington Post along with other Manafort correspondence from that time. Continue reading “Manafort offered to give Russian billionaire ‘private briefings’ on 2016 campaign”

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”