U.S. special counsel's Russia probe entering new phase with first charges

[webfact]

U.S. special counsel's Russia probe entering new phase with first charges

By John Whitesides

 

Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after briefing the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 20, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The investigation into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election will enter a new phase as early as Monday, when the first charges resulting from the probe could be unsealed and a target taken into custody.

 

A federal grand jury approved the indictment on Friday and a federal judge ordered it sealed, a source briefed on the matter has told Reuters, adding it could be unsealed as soon as Monday.

 

The indictment could mark a dramatic turn in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 race and any possible links with officials from President Donald Trump's campaign.

 

The Russia investigation has cast a shadow over Trump's 9-month-old presidency and widened the partisan rift between Republicans and Democrats.

 

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton by hacking and releasing embarrassing emails and disseminating propaganda via social media to discredit her.

 

Mueller, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has been looking into possible links between Trump aides and foreign governments, as well as potential money laundering, tax evasion and other financial crimes, according to sources familiar with the probe. He also is exploring whether Trump or his aides have tried to obstruct the investigation.

 

Mueller was appointed to lead the investigation a week after Trump's May 9 firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was heading a federal probe into possible collusion with Russia. Trump initially said he fired Comey because his leadership of the FBI was inadequate. In a later interview with NBC, he cited "this Russia thing" as his reason.

 

Trump has denied the allegations of collusion with the Russians and called the probe "a witch hunt." The Kremlin also has denied the allegations.

 

On Sunday, Trump tried to shift the focus back to Democrats and Clinton, tweeting that the Russia issue was being used to sidetrack the Republican push for tax reform and praising Republican "anger and unity" on the need to look into whether Democrats and the Clinton campaign paid for a portion of a dossier that detailed accusations about Trump's ties to Russia.

 

Special White House counsel Ty Cobb said the president's tweets "are unrelated to the activities of the Special Counsel, with whom he continues to cooperate.”

 

PRIEBUS, SPICER AMONG THOSE INTERVIEWED

 

Investigators led by Mueller have interviewed former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, former spokesman Sean Spicer and other current and former White House and campaign officials.

 

In July, FBI agents raided the Virginia home of Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, whose financial and real estate dealings and prior work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine are being investigated by Mueller's team.

 

Mueller also has investigated Michael Flynn, an adviser to Trump's campaign and later his national security adviser. Flynn was fired from that post in February after misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the extent of his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak last year.

 

The indictment in Mueller's probe was first reported by CNN, which said the target could be taken into custody on Monday.

 

That possibility spurred some of Trump's conservative allies to call for Mueller's firing. Sebastian Gorka, an outspoken former adviser who left the White House in August, said on Twitter that Mueller "should be stripped of his authority" and investigated if he executed warrants in the probe.

 

The White House said in the summer that Trump had no intention of firing Mueller even though he questioned his impartiality.

 

Republicans also criticized leaks to the press about the indictment and raised the possibility that those responsible could be prosecuted.

 

But Republican Senator Rob Portman said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Trump had been "too defensive" about the Russia probe. He said there should be broad outrage about Russia's attempted meddling.

 

(Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-30

[FreddieRoyle]

from the sublime to the ridiculous

 

quote "U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton by hacking and releasing embarrassing emails"

 

 So these highly politicized US agencies view the public's awareness of these emails detailing illegal acts a greater threat than the horrific woman that actually wrote the bloomin' emails in the 1st place? It's flat out insanity. I now know for a fact that Trump will win a 2nd term - the liberal establishment hasn't learned a single thing from their thumping at the ballot box.

 On a more serious note, this extended witch hunt is not good for the mass mental hysteria and delusion that has descended over liberals over in the US. It is acknowledged to be the largest ever incident of mass hysteria. Hope they can get the help needed to come to terms with their loss of power and the end of their liberal agenda.

[Samui Bodoh]

1 minute ago, FreddieRoyle said:

from the sublime to the ridiculous

 

quote "U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton by hacking and releasing embarrassing emails"

 

 So these highly politicized US agencies view the public's awareness of these emails detailing illegal acts a greater threat than the horrific woman that actually wrote the bloomin' emails in the 1st place? It's flat out insanity. I now know for a fact that Trump will win a 2nd term - the liberal establishment hasn't learned a single thing from their thumping at the ballot box.

 On a more serious note, this extended witch hunt is not good for the mass mental hysteria and delusion that has descended over liberals over in the US. It is acknowledged to be the largest ever incident of mass hysteria. Hope they can get the help needed to come to terms with their loss of power and the end of their liberal agenda.

"U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton by hacking and releasing embarrassing emails" 

 

Perhaps I can offer another viewpoint on this...

 

Are the US Intelligence agencies "highly politicized"? I believe that there is little evidence of that. Rather they came to a conclusion that a campaign was launched to influence the US election clandestinely. 

 

Should this be investigated? Yes. Elections go to the heart of a country's sovereignty, and when sovereignty is violated, there needs to be both repair and response or it will happen again and again.

 

I truly do not understand the Republican response to this, other than to protect Trump's fragile sense of worth. If the Russians successfully influenced the election this time in favour of Trump/the Republicans, who is to say that they won't influence it next time in favour of the Democrats and their candidate?

 

This is not a partisan issue, it is an issue of sovereignty.

 

[craigt3365]

42 minutes ago, FreddieRoyle said:

from the sublime to the ridiculous

 

quote "U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton by hacking and releasing embarrassing emails"

 

 So these highly politicized US agencies view the public's awareness of these emails detailing illegal acts a greater threat than the horrific woman that actually wrote the bloomin' emails in the 1st place? It's flat out insanity. I now know for a fact that Trump will win a 2nd term - the liberal establishment hasn't learned a single thing from their thumping at the ballot box.

 On a more serious note, this extended witch hunt is not good for the mass mental hysteria and delusion that has descended over liberals over in the US. It is acknowledged to be the largest ever incident of mass hysteria. Hope they can get the help needed to come to terms with their loss of power and the end of their liberal agenda.

There is no denying Russia interfered in the elections.  It's been proven a variety of ways.  What's not been proven is the level of support by people in the US.  And did it have an impact on the elections.  Based on all the BS going on now, it's hard to argue it had an impact.

 

It's not just about emails.....and the US intelligence agencies are not highly politicized.  Far from it.

[retarius]

There is zero evidence that Russia interfered in the election. A few issue ads on Facebook costing $100,000 does not overwhelm the 1 billion plus ad spend of the candidates. Plus Russian ads where they were linked to a candidate were split between the candidates.....maybe those sneaky Russians have learned how to make ads for Hillary that persuade voters to vote for Trump....I don;t know. Hillary lost because of voters like me, a person that would normally be a reliable Democrat vote, who didn;t vote because I loathe Clinton and everything she stands for.....war, war and more war. It is a shame that Trump now seems to hold the same views.

The indictment (according to Buzzfeed that leaked the Trump dossier) is for Paul Manafort and related to wire transfers in 2012 and 2013 which are thought to be related to money laundering on behalf of the deposed Ukrainian President Victor Yanokovych. Manafort was campaign manager for Trump for 3 months from May to August 2016 and was forced to resign over his links to Yanukovych.

[Dagnabbit]

Is this a soap opera or something?

 

Why on earth announce something and do nothing? To get an 'attaboy' that you are moving forward?

 

Just make the arrest - the build up is pathetic.

[mamypoko]

20 minutes ago, Dagnabbit said:

Is this a soap opera or something?

 

Why on earth announce something and do nothing? To get an 'attaboy' that you are moving forward?

 

Just make the arrest - the build up is pathetic.

It wasn't announced. Journalist picked up on it.

[Trouble]

It still amazes me that so many are "outraged" at the fact the Russia attempted to meddle in our elections. The CIA has been doing that for years in other countries. It's all part of the international chess game that many countries play to influence things to favor this or that.  Still there seems to be no evidence of deep penetration of the election other than the emails, Facebook ads and the Trump dossier. Wasn't Assange supposed to release something proving that the email information did NOT come from the Russians? Seems now there is less and less accusations by the Democrats and media of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians now that it has been shown the DNC/Clinton machine spent millions on "opposition research" against Trump that used false information from the Russians in an attempt to discredit Trump.  It is almost laughable. The soap opera has taken a turn which is surely going to be interesting. Then there is the uranium deal and donations to the Clinton Foundation and Bill's speaking fees that will add more drama to the investigation.  You couldn't make this stuff up.  

[ballpoint]

But but but Clinton, but but but, liberals, but but but, ballot box, but but but, pathetic diversions.  Bring on the first of many arrests.

[craigt3365]

2 hours ago, retarius said:

There is zero evidence that Russia interfered in the election. A few issue ads on Facebook costing $100,000 does not overwhelm the 1 billion plus ad spend of the candidates. Plus Russian ads where they were linked to a candidate were split between the candidates.....maybe those sneaky Russians have learned how to make ads for Hillary that persuade voters to vote for Trump....I don;t know. Hillary lost because of voters like me, a person that would normally be a reliable Democrat vote, who didn;t vote because I loathe Clinton and everything she stands for.....war, war and more war. It is a shame that Trump now seems to hold the same views.

The indictment (according to Buzzfeed that leaked the Trump dossier) is for Paul Manafort and related to wire transfers in 2012 and 2013 which are thought to be related to money laundering on behalf of the deposed Ukrainian President Victor Yanokovych. Manafort was campaign manager for Trump for 3 months from May to August 2016 and was forced to resign over his links to Yanukovych.

Please don't troll.  It's been widely proven Russia interfered in the election. If nothing else, the Facebook ads prove it.  Time to accept it and move on.

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, Trouble said:

It still amazes me that so many are "outraged" at the fact the Russia attempted to meddle in our elections. The CIA has been doing that for years in other countries. It's all part of the international chess game that many countries play to influence things to favor this or that.  Still there seems to be no evidence of deep penetration of the election other than the emails, Facebook ads and the Trump dossier. Wasn't Assange supposed to release something proving that the email information did NOT come from the Russians? Seems now there is less and less accusations by the Democrats and media of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians now that it has been shown the DNC/Clinton machine spent millions on "opposition research" against Trump that used false information from the Russians in an attempt to discredit Trump.  It is almost laughable. The soap opera has taken a turn which is surely going to be interesting. Then there is the uranium deal and donations to the Clinton Foundation and Bill's speaking fees that will add more drama to the investigation.  You couldn't make this stuff up.  

Please post a credible link that shows where the CIA hacked election servers and made the info public on the internet.  Where the CIA placed ads on Facebook and even on bus stops in foreign countries to influence elections.  Otherwise, you're trolling.

 

One credible link will be fine.

[craigt3365]

Seems Manafort and Flynn are the two biggest contenders for being arrested.  Worth a read:

 

https://www.salon.com/2017/10/28/heres-who-could-receive-muellers-indictment/

[riclag]

2 hours ago, Dagnabbit said:

Is this a soap opera or something?

 

Why on earth announce something and do nothing? To get an 'attaboy' that you are moving forward?

 

Just make the arrest - the build up is pathetic.

This is a white collar crime .It has different procedural accommodations.You won't see  handcuffs. 

Besides,it was leaked by the special council that's performing the investigation.Leaking grand jury indictments is a felony

Edited October 30, 2017 by riclag

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Please post a credible link that shows where the CIA hacked election servers and made the info public on the internet.  Where the CIA placed ads on Facebook and even on bus stops in foreign countries to influence elections.  Otherwise, you're trolling.

 

One credible link will be fine.

There you go:

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/10/13/the-long-history-of-the-u-s-interfering-with-elections-elsewhere/?utm_term=.f2a012e3c139

[riclag]

If its Mannie, convict him and throw away the key,no get out of jail card.Freeze all of those asset's he laundered. All this money he squandered according to Buzzfeed  was before President Trump's campaign.

 

Special request for Mr. Mueller,stick with the  alleged collusion allegations. America is trying to be great again

Edited October 30, 2017 by riclag

[craigt3365]

23 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

There you go:

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/10/13/the-long-history-of-the-u-s-interfering-with-elections-elsewhere/?utm_term=.f2a012e3c139

The link goes back to the 1940's. LOL.  I see no reference to where the US hacked into a foreign country's election servers and published the data on the internet.  Nor where the US paid for political ads anonymously.  Please show a link for that.

 

Many countries have interfered in other's politics.  But nothing like what Russia's been doing lately.  In MANY countries around the world.

[craigt3365]

15 minutes ago, riclag said:

If its Mannie, convict him and throw away the key,no get out of jail card.Freeze all of those asset's he laundered. All this money he squandered according to Buzzfeed  was before President Trump's campaign.

 

Special request for Mr. Mueller,stick with the  alleged collusion allegations. America is trying to be great again

From what I've been reading, those arrested will be squeezed to give up the goods on Trump.  Obstruction of justice is looming larger and larger for him.

[riclag]

8 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

From what I've been reading, those arrested will be squeezed to give up the goods on Trump.  Obstruction of justice is looming larger and larger for him.

What are you talking about? When people talk of this ridiculous collusion witch hunt  and try to inject obstruction of justice,its with Comey's firing and that's a President's prerogative   . 

Edited October 30, 2017 by riclag

[craigt3365]

22 minutes ago, riclag said:

What are you talking about? When people talk of this ridiculous collusion witch hunt  and try to inject obstruction of justice,its with Comey's firing and that's a President's prerogative   . 

It's much more than that....

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

There is no denying Russia interfered in the elections.  It's been proven a variety of ways.  What's not been proven is the level of support by people in the US.  And did it have an impact on the elections.  Based on all the BS going on now, it's hard to argue it had an impact.

 

It's not just about emails.....and the US intelligence agencies are not highly politicized.  Far from it.

 

It's a reality that the more powerful countries in the world do, and have done for a long time, interfere in other countries politics. Sometimes it's pre-election sometimes post election when they don't like the result.

 

But your're right - it's hard to argue that anything the Russians did had any real impact.

 

 

[mikebike]

3 hours ago, Dagnabbit said:

Is this a soap opera or something?

 

Why on earth announce something and do nothing? To get an 'attaboy' that you are moving forward?

 

Just make the arrest - the build up is pathetic.

Very sound investigative tactic. If the indicted individual coughs up dirt on some bigger fish the indictment may go away...

[craigt3365]

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

But your're right - it's hard to argue that anything the Russians did had any real impact.

I'm not so sure about that now.  Especially after seeing the Facebook ads, the ads on bus stops, etc.  Done in swing states and oriented towards the swing voters.  With such a narrow margin of victory, it's entirely possible they did impact the election.

 

This is just over the top.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/18/media/black-fist-russia-self-defense-classes/index.html

Quote

In attempt to sow fear, Russian trolls paid for self-defense classes for African Americans

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/03/politics/russian-facebook-ads-michigan-wisconsin/index.html

 

Quote

 

A number of Russian-linked Facebook ads specifically targeted Michigan and Wisconsin, two states crucial to Donald Trump's victory last November, according to four sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

Some of the Russian ads appeared highly sophisticated in their targeting of key demographic groups in areas of the states that turned out to be pivotal, two of the sources said. The ads employed a series of divisive messages aimed at breaking through the clutter of campaign ads online, including promoting anti-Muslim messages, sources said.

 

 

You really should read this:

http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/state/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-election/

 

Quote

 

For Clinton, “email” pops out of the word cloud, the most frequently mentioned word or topic by far. For Trump, there is no dominant word or theme.

 

Breaking it down by week, the dominance of the email scandal throughout the Clinton campaign is jaw-dropping. In the final weeks of the campaign, literally every word that registers with enough people to be visualized is about it: Email, FBI, investigation, foundation, reopening, scandal.

 

 

[lannarebirth]

2 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

I'm not so sure about that now.  Especially after seeing the Facebook ads, the ads on bus stops, etc.  Done in swing states and oriented towards the swing voters.  With such a narrow margin of victory, it's entirely possible they did impact the election.

 

This is just over the top.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/18/media/black-fist-russia-self-defense-classes/index.html

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/03/politics/russian-facebook-ads-michigan-wisconsin/index.html

 

 

You really should read this:

http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/state/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-election/

 

 

Those ads seem pretty OTT alright. So why isn't Facebook under investigation?

 

[Baerboxer]

2 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

I'm not so sure about that now.  Especially after seeing the Facebook ads, the ads on bus stops, etc.  Done in swing states and oriented towards the swing voters.  With such a narrow margin of victory, it's entirely possible they did impact the election.

 

This is just over the top.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/18/media/black-fist-russia-self-defense-classes/index.html

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/03/politics/russian-facebook-ads-michigan-wisconsin/index.html

 

 

You really should read this:

http://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2017/politics/state/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-election/

 

 

 

Who knows. But I tend to take anything from CNN with a "pinch of salt".

[baboon]

44 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Many countries have interfered in other's politics.  But nothing like what Russia's been doing lately.  In MANY countries around the world.

'Hey, look over there!'

[craigt3365]

5 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

Those ads seem pretty OTT alright. So why isn't Facebook under investigation?

 

They are!

 

4 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Who knows. But I tend to take anything from CNN with a "pinch of salt".

Same info is available from a variety of sources.  CNN does a good job of reporting the news.  And it's news feeds are free to read with no limits. Unlike many other media outlets.  But you can find exactly the same stuff in a variety of other places.

[craigt3365]

4 minutes ago, baboon said:

'Hey, look over there!'

They are.  Aggressively.  And for good reasons.   These guys probably know best:

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/16/politics/russia-hacking-allegations-mikheil-saakashvili/index.html

Quote

Ex-Soviet states tell US 'I told you so' over Russia hacking allegations

 

Latvian government agencies come under frequent cyber attacks and other forms of hsybrid warfare that he believes originate from Russia, he said.

 

"For me, it's déjà vu," former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili told CNN.

 

"In 2012, they (Russia) were heavily involved in Georgian elections.

 

[farcanell]

30 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

It's a reality that the more powerful countries in the world do, and have done for a long time, interfere in other countries politics. Sometimes it's pre-election sometimes post election when they don't like the result.

 

But your're right - it's hard to argue that anything the Russians did had any real impact.

 

 

100% correct.... it used to be referred to as “court intrigue”.... the French were particularly good at it.

[baboon]

4 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

They are.  Aggressively.  And for good reasons.   These guys probably know best:

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/16/politics/russia-hacking-allegations-mikheil-saakashvili/index.html

 

Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. As previously said, every country engages in espionage and dirty tricks. It just gets my goat when countries no less guilty than others engage in finger pointing and fake wounded innocence in order to persuade the sheeple that their nation is whiter than white.

[farcanell]

6 hours ago, FreddieRoyle said:

 It is acknowledged to be the largest ever incident of mass hysteria. 

What?... worse even than awesome wells 1930’s broadcast of “war of the worlds”?

 

some would call it gullibility... is this then to be a generalization of the debacle? ( the gullibility of the American people?)

Edited October 30, 2017 by farcanell