Month: July 2018

Let’s review.

Trump’s denial that he knew about the Trump Tower meeting must be put in the context of what his campaign has said about their interactions with Russia during the 2016 campaign and REALITY.

Let’s review.

In November 2016, it was the official position of the Trump campaign that there were NO CONTACT whatsoever between Trump campaign officials and Russians

“There was no communication between the campaign and any foreign entity during the campaign”  — Hope Hicks, 11/11/16

Since then we’ve found out about the following:

In April 2016, Paul Manafort met with Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian-Ukrainian political operative with past ties to Russian intelligence

On April 27, 2016 Trump met with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak

On April 27, 2016 Jeff Sessions met with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak

In May 2016, Donald Trump Jr. dined with Alexander Torshin, the deputy chairman of the Central Bank of Russia (NRA connection to Russian spy currently under arrest)

On June 9 2016, Trump Jr., Manafort and Kushner met with multiple Russian operatives at Trump Tower after being promised dirt on Hillary Clinton

On July 7, 2016, Trump adviser Carter Page met with Igor Sechin and Igor Diveykin in Moscow

On July 20, 2016, Sessions met with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at the RNC

On July 20, 2016, Carter Page and J.D. Gordon met with Kislyak at the RNC

On September 8, 2016, Sessions met with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in his Senate office

Each one of these meetings represents a LIE by the Trump campaign regarding their contacts with Russia

Neither Trump nor his campaign have explained why they told the American people such a blatant lie about the campaigns contacts with Russia

Now we are supposed to believe that Trump didn’t know about the June 9 meeting, a meeting his spokesman originally insisted never occurred.

Context is important.

‘CNN put together video of Trump suspiciously teasing a major speech in which he’d share dirt about Hillary…

Aaron Rupar on Twitter

twitter.com
Great string of ‘evidence’ – sure looks like he was excited about what the Russian’s were offering… never gave an explanation for why that presser didn’t happen…

‘CNN put together video of Trump suspiciously teasing a major speech in which he’d share dirt about Hillary just 2 days before the Trump Tower meeting where Russians promised to give him such dirt, followed by Trump camp’s repeated denials that Trump knew about meeting in advance’

Bernie Sanders Adviser Is Assisting Special Counsel Investigation In Manafort Case

Bernie Sanders Adviser Is Assisting Special Counsel Investigation In Manafort Case

buzzfeednews.com
Tad Devine, a political operative who served at the highest levels of the Bernie Sanders campaign, will assist in the special counsel office’s prosecution of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign chair, according to a statement released Thursday.

“The Special Counsel has asked Tad Devine to assist in the prosecution of their case against Paul Manafort regarding his firm’s work on media consulting on past political campaigns in Ukraine,” reads a statement provided by Julian Mulvey, a partner at Devine’s political firm, Devine Mulvey Longabaugh.

“When the Special Counsel sought assistance from us in its ongoing investigation, we readily provided it.”

The firm, according to the statement, has been “assured by the special counsel’s office that we have no legal exposure and did not act unlawfully.”

Analysis | What happened and when: The timeline leading up to Donald Trump Jr.’s fateful meeting

Analysis | What happened and when: The timeline leading up to Donald Trump Jr.’s fateful meeting

washingtonpost.com
Don’t forget: on June 7, 2016, hours after Trump Jr arranged meeting w/Russians, Trump said: “I am going to give a major speech on probably Monday of next week and we’re going to be discussing all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons.”

How Trump’s Public and Private Acts Line Up in a Possible Obstruction Case

How Trump’s Public and Private Acts Line Up in a Possible Obstruction Case

nytimes.com
‘It’s not just the tweets (and public statements) it’s how they line up with his efforts in private to pressure Comey and Sessions.

Here’s timeline of how it all looks to Mueller. “How Trump’s Public and Private Acts Line Up in a Possible Obstruction Case”’

U.S. economy surges to 4.1 percent growth rate in second quarter, but it may slow going forward

U.S. economy surges to 4.1 percent growth rate in second quarter, but it may slow going forward

pbs.org
‘The U.S. economy surged in the April-June quarter to an annual growth rate of 4.1 percent. That’s the fastest pace since 2014, driven by consumers who began spending their tax cuts and exporters who rushed to get their products delivered ahead of retaliatory tariffs.’