Adding for Hops:

PDF Page #231-240

(Bottom of 230-231)

1. Trump Campaign Reacts to Allegations That Russia was Seeking to Aid Candidate Trump

• On 7/26/16, Trump denied any association with Russia following the Wikileaks release of hacked DNC emails, as well as any investment in Russia.

• On 7/27/16, Trump further denied involvement with Russia or the hacked emails, stating that Russia’s association with the case was unproven. He stated friendly relations with Russia would be preferable and he would recognize Crimea as Russian territory and possibly lift sanctions.

• Trump denied involvement with Russia at present and stated all past involvements with regard to hosting a pageant there and exploring possible building projects, non of which came to pass.

• After a press conference where Trump denied any dealings with Russia, Michael Cohen accused him of lying and Trump pointed out that the Trump Tower project that had been proposed was never a ‘deal’ and Cohen suggested that Trump’s advisors fostered a narrative of there being no business dealings with Russia.

(Page 232)

• The Trump campaign directly avoided any possible interaction with Russian contacts, including a campaign advisor’s invitation to a Russian Ambassador and a forced resignation on 8/19/16, of Manafort due to his Russian business dealings and to a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine. Additionally, when Carter Page’s Russian connections were made public in 9/16, he was also terminated.

• On 10/7/16, Wikileaks released a batch of Podesta emails, stolen by a Russian Intelligence agency, which was followed up by a statement released by the US government linking Russian hacking with direct interference in the presidential elections.

• On 10/11/16, Podesta publicly suggested that Trump may have been aware of the hacked email release. At this time Pence was asked if there were any Trump-Russian connections and he denied any such thing.

(Page 233)

1. After the Election, Trump Continues to Deny Any Contacts or Connections with Russia or That Russia Aided his Election

• On 11/8/16, Trump was elected President. On 11/8/16, Russian officials spoke with press and stated they had been in contact with the Trump campaign. Campaign spokesperson, Hope Hicks, adamantly denied interaction.

• On 12/10/16, Press reported that Russian interference in the election had aided the Trump campaign. Trump adamantly denied this said that no one actually knew who the hackers were and further suggested that the source could be the Democrats, themselves.

(Page 234)

• On 12/18/16, Podesta continued to publicly state Russian interference, questioning whether Trump campaign officials communicated with Russians.

• Newly hired Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, denied any communication with Russians on Fox News and suggested that the Democrats were trying to delegitimize the outcome of the election.

• On 12/29/16, Obama imposed sanctions and other measures on Russia(ns) in response to Russian interference in the election.

• President-elect Trump stated that we [America] needed to move forward and that he would meet with intelligence community for a briefing on Russian interference.

• On 1/7/17, Trump met with intelligence and afterwards, a public version of the assessment was released, which concluded that there was “high confidence” that Russia interfered with a goal of harming Clinton’s campaign and that they preferred Trump.

(Page 235)

• Buzzfeed published allegations compiled in the Christopher Steele dossier suggesting that Trump had deep Russian ties, to which Trump adamantly denied and such dealings.

• Trump’s responded to these allegations with concern for how his electoral victory would be viewed by Americans, and that the story had been made-up to undermine his victory.

>>6339399

part 2:

(Page 236)

B. The President’s Conduct Concerning the Investigation of Michael Flynn

Overview

• As incoming National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn spoke with the Russian Ambassador to the US twice in regards to the US sanctions imposed on them by Obama.

• Press reported on these conversations between Flynn and the Ambassador and Flynn lied to incoming Administration by denying he had discussed sanctions. The lies were publicly repeated in interviews.

• The FBI interviewed Flynn about the calls after Trump was inaugurated, and he repeated those lies.

• On 1/26/17. The Department of Justice notified Trump about Flynn and the Russian Ambassador’s sanction conversations.

• On 1/27/17, Trump dined with Comey and asked for his loyalty.

• On 2/13/17, Trump asked Flynn to resign.

• On 2/14/17, Trump spoke with Comey and he indicated that he wished for Comey to “let Flynn go.”

Evidence

1. Incoming National Security Advisor Flynn Discusses Sanctions on Russia with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak

• Flynn’s position as National Security Advisor was announced shortly after Trump’s election.

• Flynn spent 2 months on the Presidential Transition Team (PTT) coordinating policy positions and communicating with foreign officials, including Russian Ambassador Kislyak.

• On 12/29/2016, upon Obama’s announcements of sanctions on Russia, the PTT exchanged emails about the impact of sanctions on their Administration and Flynn informed them he would be speaking with Kislyak.

(Page 237)

• KT McFarland, soon-to-be Deputy National Security Advisor, discussed with Flynn, by phone, whether anything should be said about sanctions in his upcoming phone call to Kislyak. Administration had discussed the sanctions and possible Russian response and McFarland communicated to Flynn the Administrations desire not to see Russia escalate the situation.

• Recollections of the meeting among incoming Administrators revealed a desire to see the situation “cool down” with Russia, and that they believed Russia wanted a good relationship with the Trump Administration and Trump believed Obama imposed sanctions to embarrass and delegitimize Trump’s electoral win.

• Following his phone call with McFarland, Flynn spoke with Kislyak and requested that Russia respond to the sanctions in a “reciprocal manner” without escalation. Flynn then debriefed McFarland regarding the call to Kislyak. Putin announced on 12/30/17, that Russia would not escalate the situation.

>>6339399

>>6339441

part 3:

(Page 238)

• 12/31/16, Kislyak phoned Flynn to confirm his request had been forwarded and confirmed in Putin’s statement on sanctions. Flynn then informed McFarland of his conversation with Kislyak.

• Bannon was aware of Flynn’s Kislyak conversation and the two discussed this positive outcome.

• On 1/3/17, Flynn met with Trump believed he discussed Russian response sanctions, but did not recall specifics.

• The intelligence community was surprised by Russia’s response to sanctions, and they were aware of Flynn’s discussion with Kislyak concerning sanctions. They already had an open investigation concerning Flynn’s relationship to the Russian government, and this situation became a “key component” of the investigation.

(Page 239)

1. President-Elect Trump is Briefed on the Intelligence Community’s Assessment of Russian Interference in the Election and Congress Opens Election-Interference Investigations.

• On 1/6/17, Trump and his Administration was briefed on Russia’s interreference in the 2016 election.

• Comey privately briefed Trump on allegations made in the Steele dossier. Comey’s memorandum of the meeting revealed Trump spoke highly of Comey, looked forward to working with him and hoped he planned to remain FBI Director. Comey stated that Trump “seemed defensive” and Comey assured Trump that he was not the target of investigations.

• On 1/10/17, media reported on the Trump-Comey meeting and the Steele dossier. Trump requested whether the intelligence community leaders could make a public statement refuting dossier allegations.

• Three congressional committees opened investigations on the Russian interference and the possibility of Trump-Russian collusion:

o On 1/13/17, (bipartisan) Senate-Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI)

o On 1/25/17, House Permanent Selection Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI)

o On 2/2/17, Senate Judiciary Committee

(Page 240)

1. Flynn Makes False Statements About his Communications with Kislyak to Incoming Administration Officials, the Media, and the FBI

• On 1/12/17, WaPo reported Flynn’s communication with Kislyak and violated the Logan Act as well as possible “undercut US sanctions.”

• Trump was upset by the WaPo story and asked Priebus about it. Priebus spoke to Flynn and Flynn said he felt pressure to “kill the story.” Flynn told McFarland to call WaPo and inform that no such discussions had occurred regarding sanctions, which McFarland did despite knowing it was false. WaPo updated the story stating a Trump official had denied the sanction discussion.

• Flynn denied his conversation with Kislyak to incoming Administration as well as to VP Pence and press secretary Sean Spicer, all of whom reaffirmed that denial in media interviews.