Tag Archives: Collusion

Russian Bots Preferred Trump

29 Monday Jan 2018

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The Senate Judiciary Commitee’s probe of social media platforms uncovered data concerning the number of retweets Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton each received from Russian robots between September 1st and November 15th. While Trump received 470,000 retweets from the Russian bots, Clinton only received 50,000.  C-NET reports that Twitter has around 450,000 suspicious logins (possibly from bots) a day, and as such the number of retweets the candidates received is relatively insignificant. However, it does establish the Russian bots had a preference for retweeting Trump. Additionally, this preference cannot be said to be a mere reflection of the candidate’s rate of tweeting, as their daily average was more or less on par with each other.

This information falls far short of establishing collusion. Even if we could take the data to mean that the Russian government supported Trump, it does not show that Trump solicited said support. However, it does help to further establish Russian interference with the 2016 election. To look at the Committee’s complete report click here.

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The Firing of Flynn and Comey

24 Wednesday Jan 2018

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Special Counsel Robert Mueller is  seeking to interview President Trump about the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and the departure of former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Comey was in the midst of an investigation of Trump’s campaign’s connections with Russia when he was fired by the President, and Flynn resigned, apparently under pressure from the President, for lying about his contacts with the Russian Ambassador, Sergey Kislyak.

The firing of Comey has often been cited as obstruction of justice, and the removal of both Comey and Flynn could indicate that the President is guilty of collusion. Regardless of whether that is the case, however, Mueller’s attempts to interview the President indicate that he is nearing the end of his investigation. Whether the President will submit to an interview remains to be seen.

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Mueller to Interview Trump

09 Tuesday Jan 2018

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Special Counsel Mueller intends to interview President Trump soon, a decision which some believe signals the nearing of the end of his investigation. Though Trump has said that he is happy to talk about Russian collusion, a conversation he believes he will clear his name, his lawyers are scrambling to find a way to avoid or limit Mueller’s interview. Commentators believe what they are trying to avoid are questions about obstruction of justice: namely the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, and the lies former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, told the FBI.

Regardless of the motive for the interview, however, the timing could not be better for Democrats. With the 2018 midterms fast approaching, should Mueller’s investigation come to a close soon, its results may be a boon to Democrats running for Congress. And of course, if Democrats are able to obtain a majority in the House and Senate, impeachment will become more likely.

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Bannon Switching Sides

04 Thursday Jan 2018

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The world is abuzz today with talk of Steve Bannon’s comments in Michael Wolff’s new book, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.” Most notably, Bannon, former Chief Strategist, claimed that the meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and the Russian lawyer in the Trump Tower was treasonous. The President fired back at Bannon, claiming that he had lost his mind, and had very little influence over the White House while he was involved.

It unclear how much weight to put on Bannon’s opinion as to whether or not the Russian lawyer meeting was “treasonous” — he is a journalist, not a lawyer; however his comments are significant for another reason. The exchange between Bannon and Trump represents a clear break in their relationship. Bannon connected with Trump’s populist base, and though Bannon was fired months ago, he has still had influence on the President’s decision-making. So, now that a break has finally and fully occured, one has to wonder whether Trump’s support will wane. As the President’s base continues to shrink, impeachment becomes more likely.

ct-donald-trump-steve-bannon-russia-20170217.jpgMario Tama / Getty Images

FBI Investigation “Tainted” — A Message for the New Year

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

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Trump is now claiming that the dossier, which summarized the investigation of the Trump campaign’s connection to Russian Officials, has tainted the ongoing FBI investigation. The dossier was published by a private firm, hired by the Democratic National Convention and the Clinton Campaign. It appears Trump has taken the offensive, claiming that the dossier is unsubstantiated, and has corrupted the ongoing FBI investigation. Such claims could be indicative of a troubled administration, and may just set the tone for the new year. One can find the text of the dossier itself here.

Botsford171026Trump21536-1024x683.jpgJabin Botsford/The Washington Post

Poor US-Russia Relations and What to Make of Them

24 Sunday Dec 2017

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One does not have to be an avid reader to know that Trump’s presidency has been marred with suspicions of and evidence of collusion between the President’s campaign and Russian officials; which makes the deteriorating relationship between the United States and Russia all the more confusing. Conflict between the two nations has been heating up through the proxy of the Eastern Ukraine, where Russia is battling for control. The United States has given the Ukraine weapons to fight off Russian Militias, and has condemned the Russian interference in a National Security Strategy report. Despite these actions, however, Trump still speaks of Putin as if they are chummy. So, what is one to make of this double-speak (and double-action)? If there was collusion between Putin and Trump, has their relationship deteriorated since? Did Putin simply bet on the wrong horse? Or could this conflict be part of a larger plan?

06321985_2ffbc90ce085561de1c79b7098820fdb.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000.jpgMIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/KREML /EPA

The New Email Scandal

18 Monday Dec 2017

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Special Counsel Mueller has obtained emails belonging to ‘Trump for America’ (TFA), the team which assisted in President Trump’s transition into the White House. The emails apparently reveal that several campaign members were aware of General Flynn’s communications with the Russian Ambassador, and serve to further establish the foundation for collusion permeated throughout the Trump campaign. Trump’s legal team is claiming that the emails were obtained improperly, and violate attorney-client privilege. Mueller denies the claim.

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Mueller Under Fire

16 Saturday Dec 2017

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Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been under attack by both President Trump and the Department of Justice. President Trump has called the FBI investigation into his campaign’s connections with Russia a “Democratic hoax,” and has brought into question the Bureau’s efficacy. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has been playing a subtle political game with the FBI, by releasing the text messages exchanged between investigators on Mueller’s team which criticized Trump. All of this comes in the face of General Flynn’s cooperation with the Mueller campaign. Though defensive measures are not clearly indicative of guilt, they suggest a strong motive to hinder the investigation. More information may surface after Mueller meets with the President’s legal team next week. 

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Kushner Talks with Mueller

30 Thursday Nov 2017

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Earlier this month Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, was questioned by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team of investigators.  This questioning was apparently related to the prosecution of former national security advisor Michael Flynn. Flynn’s lawyers recently stopped communicating with Trump’s, leading some commentators to believe that he is planning to inform on other members of the Trump campaign. It is unclear how Kushner’s interview impacts that theory; however, Kushner was present for the Russian lawyer meeting at Trump tower, and, if he cares to share, may have important information on collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

104740519-RTS1DWVH-kushner.530x298.jpgJonathan Ernst | Reuters

 

Flynn Cuts off Communication with Trump

24 Friday Nov 2017

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This article from the Washington Post, reports that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s legal team has halted communication with President Donald Trump’s legal team. Norm Eisen, who has worked with Special Counsel Mueller before, believes that the reason for that is that Flynn is planning to implicate a ‘higher up’ in the Trump campaign — possibly Trump himself. That could leave the President on the hook for either collusion or obstruction of justice; either of which is an impeachable offense.

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