In approximately September 2015, Cohen obtained approval to negotiate with [Russian real estate development corporation] I.C. — Philip Ewing ]. Vol. Instead, for each of the relevant actions investigated, the report sets out evidence on both sides of the question and leaves unresolved what the special counsel views as ‘difficult issues’ of law and fact concerning whether the president’s actions and intent could be viewed as obstruction. This use of Mr. Mueller’s words turned the special counsel’s meaning on its head: The brief excerpt came from a list of other possible reasons Mr. Trump might have had to corruptly impede the investigation, and which Mr. Barr did not mention.
First, McGahn’s clear recollection was that the President directed him to tell Rosenstein not only that conflicts existed but also that “Mueller has to go.” McGahn is a credible witness with no motive to lie or exaggerate given the position he held in the White House. Vol. At the same time, if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. § 1503). Later that afternoon, the President cleared the Oval Office to have a one-on-one meeting with Comey. We understood coordination to require an agreement—tacit or express—between the Trump Campaign and the Russian government on election interference. McFarland declined because she did not know whether that was true, and a White House Counsel’s Office attorney thought that the request would look like a quid pro quo for an ambassadorship she had been offered. But the substance of that activity did not amount to a criminal conspiracy, the special counsel's office concluded, and that's why no Americans have been charged with colluding with the Russian interference. Most significantly, the government has not obtained admissible evidence that is likely to establish the scienter requirement beyond a reasonable doubt. Finally, the President had discussed “knocking out Mueller” and raised conflicts of interest in a May 23, 2017 call with McGahn, reflecting that the President connected the conflicts to a plan to remove the Special Counsel. Even assuming that the promised "documents and information that would incriminate Hillary" constitute a "thing of value" under campaign-finance law, the government would encounter other challenges in seeking to obtain and sustain a conviction. The President then told Sessions he should resign as Attorney General. Investigators sought follow-up questions with Trump, which he refused, and although they debated seeking a subpoena to try to compel testimony from him, they ultimately decided not to try to obtain one. Over the ensuing weeks, the GRU traversed the network, identifying different computers connected to the DCCC network. Mr. Manafort had shared internal campaign polling data with the Russian associate before their Aug. 2, 2016, meeting — and for some period afterward, the report said.— Sharon LaFraniere. He writes that while there was ample evidence of contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia as it carried out its social media influence and hacking campaigns, the evidence was not strong enough to support bringing criminal charges.—Nicholas Fandos. Exploring Peloponnese Peninsula Legend and History, Vids: Banking, Credit, Debt, Money Management, Fathers and Heroes, Not Suckers and Losers. amzn_assoc_linkid = "f33c5c53ada19b1eb45cc1461def8685"; Mr. Mueller used those two phrases twice, in slightly different formulations: Vol. — Maggie Haberman. In August 2016, GRU officers targeted employees of REDACTED, a voting technology company that developed software used by numerous U.S. counties to manage voter rolls, and installed malware on the company network. Third, the President’s sense of urgency and repeated requests to McGahn to take immediate action on a weekend–‘You gotta do this. [ Obstruction of justice is a difficult crime to prove under any circumstances, prosecutors say, but these were no ordinary circumstances.
Vol. Rtskhiladze said “tapes” referred to compromising tapes of Trump rumored to be held by persons associated with the Russian real estate conglomerate Crocus Group, which had helped host the 2013 Miss Universe contest in Russia... Rtskhiladze said he was told the tapes were fake, but he did not communicate that to Cohen. But Trump says he does not recall that — one of more than 30 things the special counsel's office said the president did not recall.