Tag: Trump campaign

The FBI reportedly possesses a second dossier that alleges Trump is compromised by Russia

The following article by Kelly O’Meara Morales was posted on the Week website January 30, 2018:

Credit: Morris MacMatzen/Getty Images

The FBI is apparently aware of a second dossier that alleges President Trump is compromised by Russia. The Guardian reported Tuesday that this other dossier, authored by former journalist Cody Shearer, “independently set out many of the same allegations made” in a separate report by former British spy Christopher Steele.

Steele’s dossier has alleged that Russia holds financial leverage over Trump, and includes some salacious but unconfirmed details. Shearer’s document came into the FBI’s possession when Steele met with the agency in October 2016 to express his concerns about Trump’s connections to Russia, The Guardian reports. Steele reportedly told intelligence officials that he did not know how Shearer compiled his information, but he presented the memo to the FBI anyway because Shearer’s findings “corresponded with” some of Steele’s own conclusions. Continue reading “The FBI reportedly possesses a second dossier that alleges Trump is compromised by Russia”

Half of Americans believe Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia

The following article by Eugene Scott was posted on the Washington Post website January 24, 2018:

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Jan. 23 that President Trump “is going to be fully cooperative with the special counsel.” (Reuters)

President Trump regularly claims that there was “no collusion” between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia to interfere in the election.

Donald J. Trump

✔@realDonaldTrump

The single greatest Witch Hunt in American history continues. There was no collusion, everybody including the Dems knows there was no collusion, & yet on and on it goes. Russia & the world is laughing at the stupidity they are witnessing. Republicans should finally take control!

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Just Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was pressed on what the president means when he says “no collusion.” Continue reading “Half of Americans believe Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia”

In the crowd at Trump’s inauguration, members of Russia’s elite anticipated a thaw between Moscow and Washington

The following article by Craig Timberg, Rosalind S. Helderman, Andrew Roth and Carol D. Leonnig was posted on the Washington Post website January 20, 2018:

Some prominent Russians came to Washington to witness Donald Trump’s inauguration last year. Above is a section where some had ticketed seats in front of the U.S. Capitol. (CNN/Photo illustration by The Washington Post)

In the days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, a wealthy Russian pharmaceutical executive named Alexey Repik arrived in Washington, expressing excitement about the new administration.

He posted a photo on Facebook of a clutch of inauguration credentials arranged next to a white “Make America Great Again” hat, writing in Russian: “I believe that President Donald Trump will open a new page in American history.” Continue reading “In the crowd at Trump’s inauguration, members of Russia’s elite anticipated a thaw between Moscow and Washington”

FBI investigating whether Russian money went to NRA to help Trump

The following article by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon was posted on the McClatchyDC website January 18 2018:

President Trump addressed the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention on April 28, 2017. He’s the first president to do so in more than 30 years. “The eight-year assault on your second amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end,” Trump said. The White House

The FBI is investigating whether a top Russian banker with ties to the Kremlin illegally funneled money to the National Rifle Association to help Donald Trump win the presidency, two sources familiar with the matter have told McClatchy.

FBI counterintelligence investigators have focused on the activities of Alexander Torshin, the deputy governor of Russia’s central bank who is known for his close relationships with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and the NRA, the sources said. Continue reading “FBI investigating whether Russian money went to NRA to help Trump”

Mueller reportedly investigating whether Russia funneled money through the NRA to elect Trump

The following article by Josh Israel was posted on the ThinkProgress website January 18, 2018:

Deputy Governor of the Russian Central Bank, Alexander Torshin, at a 2016 National Rifle Assoc Event. Credit: Screenshot of Torshin’s Tweet

McClatchy report says Robert Mueller’s investigation examining whether Kremlin funneled 2016 election funds through the gun group.

Robert Mueller’s investigation is probing whether a key Kremlin figure with close ties with the National Rifle Association may have illegally funneled money through the gun-rights group to influence the 2016 election, according to a new McClatchy report.

In November 2016, ThinkProgress examined the NRA’s strange relationship with the leadership of Right to Bear Arms, a Moscow-based pro-gun organization run by a twenty-something activist named Maria Butina and her close friend and boss, the deputy governor of the Russian central bank, Alexander Torshin. Continue reading “Mueller reportedly investigating whether Russia funneled money through the NRA to elect Trump”

FBI agents visited Steve Bannon’s home last week to discuss subpoena in Russia probe

The following article by Hallie Jackson, Kristen Welker and Julia Ainsley was posted on the NBC News website January 17, 2018:

FBI agents showed up at Steve Bannon’s Washington home last week intent on serving him with a subpoena to appear before a grand jury investigating possible ties between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, according to a source familiar with the proceedings.

The agents were unaware at the time that Bannon had retained Washington lawyer William Burck just hours earlier, according to two people familiar with the events that took place on Jan. 9. Once redirected, the agents sent the order to Burck, who is also representing two other witnesses in the probe being led by special counsel Robert Mueller, a former director of the FBI. Continue reading “FBI agents visited Steve Bannon’s home last week to discuss subpoena in Russia probe”

Bannon Is Subpoenaed in Mueller’s Russia Investigation

The following article by Michael S. Schmidt was posted on the New York Times website January 16, 2018:

Stephen K. Bannon arrived to testify before the House Intelligence Committee during a closed-door session on Tuesday. Credit Joshua Roberts/Reuters

WASHINGTON — Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist, was subpoenaed last week by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to testify before a grand jury as part of the investigation into possible links between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

The move marked the first time Mr. Mueller is known to have used a grand jury subpoena to seek information from a member of Mr. Trump’s inner circle. The special counsel’s office has used subpoenas before to seek information on Mr. Trump’s associates and their possible ties to Russia or other foreign governments. Continue reading “Bannon Is Subpoenaed in Mueller’s Russia Investigation”

Lewandowski says he will testify this week in House Russia probe

The following article by Mike DeBonis was posted on the Washington Post website January 14, 2018:

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, accompanied by Sebastian Gorka, Omarosa Manigault and Anthony Scaramucci, in July 2017. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Corey Lewandowski, President Trump’s former campaign manager, said in an interview broadcast Sunday that he will give testimony this week to a House committee probing Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Lewandowski said on WABC-AM radio in New York that he expects to appear before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday or Thursday to discuss the campaign. He told host Rita Cosby that he has not been contacted by Justice Department investigators — led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III — who are conducting a parallel investigation. Continue reading “Lewandowski says he will testify this week in House Russia probe”

Five takeaways from the Fusion GPS testimony

The following article by Katie Bo WIlliams and Jonathan Easley was posted on the Hill website January 10, 2018:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday unilaterally released more than 300 pages documenting an interview the panel conducted in August with the founder of the opposition research firm that commissioned a controversial dossier on President Trump.

In that interview, Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson said the dossier’s author, a former British intelligence officer named Christopher Steele, told him that the FBI already had “other intelligence” backing up claims in the dossier when he met with an agent in September. Continue reading “Five takeaways from the Fusion GPS testimony”

Feud over Trump dossier intensifies with release of interview transcript

The following article by Devlin Barrett and Tom Hamburger was posted on the Washington Post website January 10, 2018:

Glenn R. Simpson, former Wall Street Journal journalist and a founder of the research firm Fusion GPS, arrives to appear before a closed House Intelligence Committee hearing in November. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

The political battle over the FBI and its investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election intensified Tuesday with the release of an interview with the head of the firm behind a dossier of allegations against then-candidate Donald Trump.

The transcript of Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn R. Simpson’s interview with the Senate Judiciary Committee was released by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the panel’s senior Democrat, over the objections of Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa). Continue reading “Feud over Trump dossier intensifies with release of interview transcript”