Post by the Scribe on Oct 11, 2020 10:44:45 GMT
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION
Trump says he didn't discuss hacked emails with Roger Stone. A bipartisan Senate report says he did.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/bipartisan-senate-report-describes-2016-trump-campaign-eager-accept-help-n1237002
The report says the Intelligence Committee assessed that Trump discussed hacked emails with Stone — even though Trump told Robert Mueller he didn't recall doing so.
President Donald Trump during a campaign rally Monday in Oshkosh, Wis.Evan Vucci / AP
Aug. 18, 2020, 6:55 AM MST
By Ken Dilanian
WASHINGTON — In a thousand-page bipartisan report released Tuesday, the Senate Intelligence Committee painted a stark portrait of a Trump campaign eager to accept help from a foreign power in 2016, as well as a candidate closely involved in the effort.
The Senate report, the most detailed account to date of the Trump campaign's embrace of Russian election interference, also asserted that the allegations that Ukraine interfered in the election — which President Donald Trump perpetuated — originated with Russian intelligence agencies.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/bipartisan-senate-report-says-2017-intel-assessment-about-russian-interference-n1188696
The report, which the committee's Republican majority approved, said the committee assessed that the president discussed hacked emails with his longtime associate Roger Stone — even though Trump told special counsel Robert Mueller that he didn't recall having done so.
The report highlighted some never-before-seen evidence about Trump and Russia, including three allegations of potentially compromising material relating to Trump's private trips to Russia that were unconnected to the dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/last-act-chair-burr-asks-final-volume-senate-intel-report-n1208061
"Separate from Steele's memos, which the Committee did not use for support, the Committee became aware of three general sets of allegations" involving women, the report said, two of which described a tape. No such allegations were confirmed, but the finding lent new credence to at least one claim in the widely discredited Steele dossier.
The committee endorsed the view of Mueller and the Stone prosecution team that the Trump campaign eagerly embraced Russian help in 2016 and considered the hacked emails its "October surprise," even though campaign officials knew the material had been stolen by Russian intelligence.
Related
"While the GRU and WikiLeaks were releasing hacked documents, the Trump Campaign sought to maximize the impact of those materials to aid Trump's electoral prospects," the report said. "To do so, the Trump campaign took actions to obtain advance notice about WikiLeaks releases of Clinton emails; took steps to obtain inside information about the content of releases once WikiLeaks began to publish stolen information; created messaging strategies to promote and share the materials in anticipation of and following their release; and encouraged further theft of information and continued leaks."
The committee said it also developed evidence that Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort may have been connected to the Russian operation to steal and leak Democratic emails. If that had been proven in court, it would have constituted "collusion," by any definition, but no such charge was ever brought. Manafort was convicted of fraud and tax charges unrelated to Russia.
www.nbcnews.com/news/all/manafort-convicted-8-counts-n901231
The committee found that the Trump transition team exposed itself to Russian influence.
"Russia and other countries took advantage of the Transition Team's inexperience, transparent opposition to Obama Administration policies, and Trump's desire to deepen ties with Russia, to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy," the report said. "The lack of vetting of foreign interactions by Transition officials left the Transition open to influence and manipulation by foreign intelligence services, government leaders, and co-opted business executives."
It added, "Russian officials, intelligence services, and others acting on the Kremlin's behalf were capable of exploiting the Transition's shortcomings for Russia's advantage. Based on available information it is possible — and even likely — that they did so."
Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that the report's "detailed review of Vladimir Putin's campaign to elect then-candidate Donald Trump reveals damning and illuminating facts about the actions taken by President Trump, his family, and his most senior campaign advisors, and it goes beyond the work of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. It shows how much the Trump campaign relied on hacked Russian information for its own political gain, while courting multiple connections with Moscow's operatives."
The report portrayed Stone as the campaign's go-between with WikiLeaks, which was receiving the hacked emails from Russian intelligence officers. Trump, in written responses to the special counsel, said he didn't remember having discussed WikiLeaks with Stone, "nor do I recall being aware of Mr. Stone having discussed WikiLeaks with individuals associated with my campaign."
The report said, "Despite Trump's recollection, the committee assesses that Trump did, in fact, speak with Stone about WikiLeaks and with members of his campaign about Stone's access to WikiLeaks on multiple occasions."
Related
Of Ukraine, the report said Russian-government operatives from late 2016 until at least January 2020 consistently spread "overlapping false narratives which sought to discredit investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and spread false information about the events of 2016."
The report said Manafort associate Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian intelligence officer, "almost certainly helped arrange some of the first public messaging that Ukraine had interfered in the U.S. election."
In 2017, the report said, "other Russian-government proxies and personas worked to spread the false narrative that Ukraine interfered in the U.S. election."
The committee "identified no reliable evidence that the Ukrainian government interfered in the 2016 U.S. election."
In a statement, White House spokesman Judd Deere said: "After a Special Counsel, numerous other committee investigations, and four prior reports from this Committee, the Senate Intelligence Report affirms what we have known for years. There was absolutely no collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia — a fact verified on page 181 of the Mueller Report. This never-ending, baseless conspiracy theory peddled by radical liberals and their partners in the media demonstrates how incapable they are at accepting the will of the American people and the results of the 2016 election. They should stop wasting tax-payer dollars with partisan witch hunts and actually work to accomplish things for this country."
In another development on the Russia front, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News that former CIA Director John Brennan is expected to be interviewed Friday by John Durham, the prosecutor who is investigating the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation.
Image: Ken Dilanian
Ken Dilanian
Ken Dilanian is a correspondent covering intelligence and national security for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
Tom Winter and Sally Bronston contributed.
Trump says he didn't discuss hacked emails with Roger Stone. A bipartisan Senate report says he did.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/bipartisan-senate-report-describes-2016-trump-campaign-eager-accept-help-n1237002
The report says the Intelligence Committee assessed that Trump discussed hacked emails with Stone — even though Trump told Robert Mueller he didn't recall doing so.
President Donald Trump during a campaign rally Monday in Oshkosh, Wis.Evan Vucci / AP
Aug. 18, 2020, 6:55 AM MST
By Ken Dilanian
WASHINGTON — In a thousand-page bipartisan report released Tuesday, the Senate Intelligence Committee painted a stark portrait of a Trump campaign eager to accept help from a foreign power in 2016, as well as a candidate closely involved in the effort.
The Senate report, the most detailed account to date of the Trump campaign's embrace of Russian election interference, also asserted that the allegations that Ukraine interfered in the election — which President Donald Trump perpetuated — originated with Russian intelligence agencies.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/bipartisan-senate-report-says-2017-intel-assessment-about-russian-interference-n1188696
The report, which the committee's Republican majority approved, said the committee assessed that the president discussed hacked emails with his longtime associate Roger Stone — even though Trump told special counsel Robert Mueller that he didn't recall having done so.
Senate Intelligence Committee report says Trump campaign was eager to accept help from foreign power
AUG. 18, 202001:45 www.msnbc.com/hallie-jackson/watch/new-senate-intelligence-committee-report-says-trump-campaign-was-eager-for-foreign-help-in-2016-90248773534
AUG. 18, 202001:45 www.msnbc.com/hallie-jackson/watch/new-senate-intelligence-committee-report-says-trump-campaign-was-eager-for-foreign-help-in-2016-90248773534
The report highlighted some never-before-seen evidence about Trump and Russia, including three allegations of potentially compromising material relating to Trump's private trips to Russia that were unconnected to the dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/last-act-chair-burr-asks-final-volume-senate-intel-report-n1208061
"Separate from Steele's memos, which the Committee did not use for support, the Committee became aware of three general sets of allegations" involving women, the report said, two of which described a tape. No such allegations were confirmed, but the finding lent new credence to at least one claim in the widely discredited Steele dossier.
The committee endorsed the view of Mueller and the Stone prosecution team that the Trump campaign eagerly embraced Russian help in 2016 and considered the hacked emails its "October surprise," even though campaign officials knew the material had been stolen by Russian intelligence.
Related
POLITICS
Senate made criminal referral of Trump Jr., Bannon, Kushner and two others to federal prosecutors
www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/senate-made-criminal-referral-trump-jr-bannon-kushner-two-others-n1237155?icid=related
Senate made criminal referral of Trump Jr., Bannon, Kushner and two others to federal prosecutors
www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/senate-made-criminal-referral-trump-jr-bannon-kushner-two-others-n1237155?icid=related
"While the GRU and WikiLeaks were releasing hacked documents, the Trump Campaign sought to maximize the impact of those materials to aid Trump's electoral prospects," the report said. "To do so, the Trump campaign took actions to obtain advance notice about WikiLeaks releases of Clinton emails; took steps to obtain inside information about the content of releases once WikiLeaks began to publish stolen information; created messaging strategies to promote and share the materials in anticipation of and following their release; and encouraged further theft of information and continued leaks."
The committee said it also developed evidence that Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort may have been connected to the Russian operation to steal and leak Democratic emails. If that had been proven in court, it would have constituted "collusion," by any definition, but no such charge was ever brought. Manafort was convicted of fraud and tax charges unrelated to Russia.
www.nbcnews.com/news/all/manafort-convicted-8-counts-n901231
Ex-FBI lawyer to plead guilty in connection to Mueller investigation
AUG. 15, 202000:27 www.today.com/video/ex-fbi-lawyer-to-plead-guilty-in-connection-to-mueller-investigation-90114629974
AUG. 15, 202000:27 www.today.com/video/ex-fbi-lawyer-to-plead-guilty-in-connection-to-mueller-investigation-90114629974
The committee found that the Trump transition team exposed itself to Russian influence.
"Russia and other countries took advantage of the Transition Team's inexperience, transparent opposition to Obama Administration policies, and Trump's desire to deepen ties with Russia, to pursue unofficial channels through which Russia could conduct diplomacy," the report said. "The lack of vetting of foreign interactions by Transition officials left the Transition open to influence and manipulation by foreign intelligence services, government leaders, and co-opted business executives."
It added, "Russian officials, intelligence services, and others acting on the Kremlin's behalf were capable of exploiting the Transition's shortcomings for Russia's advantage. Based on available information it is possible — and even likely — that they did so."
Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that the report's "detailed review of Vladimir Putin's campaign to elect then-candidate Donald Trump reveals damning and illuminating facts about the actions taken by President Trump, his family, and his most senior campaign advisors, and it goes beyond the work of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. It shows how much the Trump campaign relied on hacked Russian information for its own political gain, while courting multiple connections with Moscow's operatives."
The report portrayed Stone as the campaign's go-between with WikiLeaks, which was receiving the hacked emails from Russian intelligence officers. Trump, in written responses to the special counsel, said he didn't remember having discussed WikiLeaks with Stone, "nor do I recall being aware of Mr. Stone having discussed WikiLeaks with individuals associated with my campaign."
The report said, "Despite Trump's recollection, the committee assesses that Trump did, in fact, speak with Stone about WikiLeaks and with members of his campaign about Stone's access to WikiLeaks on multiple occasions."
Related
POLITICS
Mueller report shows Trump campaign left itself wide open to Russians, officials say
www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/mueller-report-shows-trump-campaign-left-itself-wide-open-russians-n997716?icid=related
Mueller report shows Trump campaign left itself wide open to Russians, officials say
www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/mueller-report-shows-trump-campaign-left-itself-wide-open-russians-n997716?icid=related
Of Ukraine, the report said Russian-government operatives from late 2016 until at least January 2020 consistently spread "overlapping false narratives which sought to discredit investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 elections and spread false information about the events of 2016."
The report said Manafort associate Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian intelligence officer, "almost certainly helped arrange some of the first public messaging that Ukraine had interfered in the U.S. election."
In 2017, the report said, "other Russian-government proxies and personas worked to spread the false narrative that Ukraine interfered in the U.S. election."
July: Robert Mueller writes that Roger Stone remains a convicted felon
JULY 12, 202008:22 www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/full-panel-robert-mueller-writes-that-roger-stone-remains-a-convicted-felon-87536709759
JULY 12, 202008:22 www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/full-panel-robert-mueller-writes-that-roger-stone-remains-a-convicted-felon-87536709759
The committee "identified no reliable evidence that the Ukrainian government interfered in the 2016 U.S. election."
In a statement, White House spokesman Judd Deere said: "After a Special Counsel, numerous other committee investigations, and four prior reports from this Committee, the Senate Intelligence Report affirms what we have known for years. There was absolutely no collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia — a fact verified on page 181 of the Mueller Report. This never-ending, baseless conspiracy theory peddled by radical liberals and their partners in the media demonstrates how incapable they are at accepting the will of the American people and the results of the 2016 election. They should stop wasting tax-payer dollars with partisan witch hunts and actually work to accomplish things for this country."
In another development on the Russia front, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News that former CIA Director John Brennan is expected to be interviewed Friday by John Durham, the prosecutor who is investigating the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation.
Image: Ken Dilanian
Ken Dilanian
Ken Dilanian is a correspondent covering intelligence and national security for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
Tom Winter and Sally Bronston contributed.