Tag: Trump campaign

Trump keeps saying he’s innocent. So why does he keep sounding like he’s guilty?

The following article by Philip Rucker was posted on the Washington Post website April 24, 2018:

President Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and Russia. (Patrick Martin/The Washington Post)

As concern grew inside his orbit that Michael Cohen might become a cooperating witness to federal investigators, President Trump issued a declaration about his longtime personal lawyer and fixer.

“Most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble,” Trump tweeted over the weekend. He added: “Sorry, I don’t see Michael doing that.” Continue reading “Trump keeps saying he’s innocent. So why does he keep sounding like he’s guilty?”

Democratic Party sues Russia, Trump campaign and WikiLeaks alleging 2016 campaign conspiracy

NOTE:  If you were wondering why this was done, this was a way the Democratic Party kept public awareness during the Watergate investigation.

The following article by Tom Hamburger, Rosalind S. Helderman and Ellen Nakashima was posted on the Washington Post website April 20, 2018:

The Democratic National Committee on April 20 filed a lawsuit against the Russian government, the Trump campaign and WikiLeaks. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

The Democratic National Committee filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit Friday against the Russian government, the Trump campaign and the WikiLeaks organization alleging a far-reaching conspiracy to disrupt the 2016 campaign and tilt the election to Donald Trump.

The complaint, filed in federal district court in Manhattan, alleges that top Trump campaign officials conspired with the Russian government and its military spy agency to hurt Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and help Trump by hacking the computer networks of the Democratic Party and disseminating stolen material found there. Continue reading “Democratic Party sues Russia, Trump campaign and WikiLeaks alleging 2016 campaign conspiracy”

7 eye-opening comments about Russia from James Comey’s ABC News interview

The following article by Ryan Koronowski was posted on the ThinkProgress website April 16, 2018:

Kompromat, Papadopoulos, and golden showers all came up during the five-hour interview.

Credit: Screenshot/ABC News

It’s possible that Russian officials have collateral on President Donald Trump, former FBI Director James Comey said during an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.

On Sunday night, ABC News aired a one-hour special featuring segments from a much longer interview with the former intelligence official, along with other vignettes and backstory setting the stage for Comey’s blockbuster book which is set to be released on Tuesday. The network also published a transcript of the full five-hour interview.

In it, Comey made some stunning statements about President Trump’s relationship with Russia. Continue reading “7 eye-opening comments about Russia from James Comey’s ABC News interview”

Trump May Soon Discover Why It’s Too Late To Fire Mueller

The following article by Gene Lyons was posted on the National Memo website April 11, 2018:

Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

“Happiness,” wrote Jonathan Swift in 1704, “is a perpetual Possession of being well Deceived.” If so, the United States under the blundering misrule of Donald J. Trump should be the happiest nation on earth. Instead, many of his warmest supporters appear consumed with anger and tempted by preposterous make-believe.

None more than the president himself, of course. Continue reading “Trump May Soon Discover Why It’s Too Late To Fire Mueller”

Mueller has evidence that Trump supporter’s meeting with Putin ally may not have been a chance encounter: Sources

The following article by Pierre Thomas and James Gordon Meek was posted on the ABC News website April 6, 2018:

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has obtained evidence that calls into question Congressional testimony given by Trump supporter and Blackwater founder Erik Prince last year, when he described a meeting in Seychelles with a Russian financier close to Vladimir Putin as a casual chance encounter “over a beer,” sources told ABC News.

Well-connected Lebanese-American businessman George Nader, a key witness given limited immunity by Mueller, has been interviewed seven times by prosecutors on a wide range of subjects. He told investigators that he set up a meeting in the Seychelles between Prince and Russian sovereign wealth fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, mere days before Trump was inaugurated, sources familiar with the investigation said this week. Continue reading “Mueller has evidence that Trump supporter’s meeting with Putin ally may not have been a chance encounter: Sources”

Mueller asking Russian oligarchs about any donations to Trump campaign: report

The following article by Brett Samuels was posted on the Hill website April 4, 2018:

Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has reportedly questioned whether Russian oligarchs illegally sent cash donations to President Trump’s campaign or inauguration.

CNN reported Wednesday that Mueller’s team stopped two oligarchs during recent trips to the U.S. and made a voluntary document and interview request to a third Russian oligarch.

In one case, Mueller’s team stopped an individual after his jet landed at a New York airport to search his electronic devices. It is not clear if the second oligarch was searched, CNN reported. Continue reading “Mueller asking Russian oligarchs about any donations to Trump campaign: report”

U.S. judge appears dismissive of Manafort lawsuit challenging Mueller appointment

The following article by Spencer S. Hsu was posted on the Washington Post website April 4, 2018:

Paul Manafort arrived at court on April 4, for a hearing in his civil lawsuit against special counsel Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. (Reuters)

A federal judge expressed doubts Wednesday about a lawsuit brought by Paul Manafort challenging special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s criminal probe of Russian interference in 2016 U.S. elections.

During a 90-minute hearing in Washington, Manafort’s defense team retreated from requests that the court void Mueller’s appointment and dismiss criminal charges already brought in the District and Virginia against President Trump’s former presidential campaign chairman. Continue reading “U.S. judge appears dismissive of Manafort lawsuit challenging Mueller appointment”

Trump’s easy campaign promises run into the difficulties of reality

The following article by Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey and Philip Rucker was posted on the Washington Post website April 4, 2018:

On April 3, President Trump alleged China forged a $500 billion trade deficit with the U.S., just days after the two countries hit each other with tariffs. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

An emboldened President Trump is discovering that the policies he once described as easy fixes for the nation are a lot more complicated in reality — creating backlash among allies, frustrating supporters and threatening the pocketbooks of many farming communities that helped get him elected.

Freed from the caution of former advisers, Trump has spent recent weeks returning to the gut-level basics that got him elected: tough talk on China, a promise of an immigration crackdown and an isolationist approach to national security. Continue reading “Trump’s easy campaign promises run into the difficulties of reality”

Mueller told Trump’s attorneys the president remains under investigation but is not currently a criminal target

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig and Robert Costa was posted on the Washington Post website April 3, 2018:

Special counsel Robert Mueller told the president’s lawyers that Trump’s a subject in his probe, not a target. The Post’s Carol Leonnig explains the difference. (Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III informed President Trump’s attorneys last month that he is continuing to investigate the president but does not consider him a criminal target at this point, according to three people familiar with the discussions.

In private negotiations in early March about a possible presidential interview, Mueller described Trump as a subject of his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Prosecutors view someone as a subject when that person has engaged in conduct that is under investigation but there is not sufficient evidence to bring charges. Continue reading “Mueller told Trump’s attorneys the president remains under investigation but is not currently a criminal target”

First sentence handed down in Mueller probe

The following article by Spencer S. Hsu was posted on the Washington Post website April 3, 2018:

Alex van der Zwaan, an associate of former Trump aide Richard Gates, was sentenced to 30 days in prison for lying to office special counsel Robert Mueller. (Reuters)

A London-based lawyer was ordered to serve 30 days in prison after a federal judge Tuesday handed down the first sentence in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Alex van der Zwaan, 33, a son-in-law of a prominent Russian-based banker, pleaded guilty Feb. 20 to lying to the FBI about his contacts in September and October of 2016 with a business associate of onetime Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and with Manafort’s deputy, former Trump aide Rick Gates. Prosecutors said van der Zwaan also destroyed emails the special counsel had requested. Continue reading “First sentence handed down in Mueller probe”