U.S. Department of Justice ~48:terifl l Pf'eteetea Uft6el Feel. R. Cr ilfl. P. 6(e) AttsPl'le) ';\'erl( Pleatlet II ~ift) Csfttaift Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election Volume I of II Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III Submitted Pursuant to 28 CF.R. § 600.8(c) Washington, D.C. March 2019 U.S. Department of Justice Att8fltey '.vefll Pre6l:1et II P;fa) C811taiH ~{tttelitli Preteetea Unser Fee . R. Ctita . P. 6~e) A~el He) Werle PI ec:hiet // U.S. Department of Justice Genta:iH ~4fffefial Prsteetea URser Fea. R. C1 int. P. 6(e} ~fft) TABLE OF CONTENTS - VOLUME I INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME I ... ......... ..... ............ ............... ... .. .. " .. .... ................... ......... .... .... .. .. .... ... 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO VOLUME 1... ..... ..................... ......... ................. .............. .... ........ ........ ..... . 4 l. THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S INVESTIGATION .............. .. .............................. .......... .. .............. .... .... . 11 II. RUSSIAN "ACTIVE MEASURES" SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN ............................................... .. .... 14 A. Structure of the Internet Research Agency .... .... ...... .. .............................. ........ .... .. ..... 15 B. Funding and Oversight from Concord and Prigozhin ...... ........................... ..... .... .... ... 16 C. The IRA Targets U.S. Elections ....... ......... .. ...... .. .......... .................... ...... .. ... .......... .. ... 19 1. The IRA Ramps Up U.S . Operations As Early As 2014 .. .. .... ........................ .... .. 19 2. U.S. Operations Through IRA-Controlled Social Media Accounts ..... .. ...... .... .. .. 22 3. U.S. Operations Through Facebook................ .... .................................................. 24 4. U.S . Operations Through Twitter ................... ............ .......................................... 26 a. Individualized Accounts ....... ........................ .. ....... ................ .... ....... ....... .. ....... 26 b. IRA Botnet Activities ........................................... .......... ...... ... ..... .. ... .............. 28 5. U.S. Operations Involving Political Rallies ............... .. .. ........... ... .. ........ ....... ........ 29 6. Targeting and Recruitment of U.S. Persons .... ............. .. .. .. ........ ... ..... .. ......... ........ 31 7. Interactions and Contacts with the Trump Campaign .. ............. ............................ 33 a. Trump Campaign Promotion ofIRA Political Materials ................................. 33 b. Contact with Trump Campaign Officials in Connection to Rallies ................. 35 III. RUSSIAN HACKING AND DUMPING OPERATIONS .. ......... .... ...................................................... 36 A. GRU Hacking Directed at the Clinton Campaign .. .... ............. ..... ............................... 36 I. GRU Units Target the Clinton Campaign ............................ .. ..... ................ .. ........ 36 2. Intrusions into the DCCC and DNC Networks .............. ..... .. .. .. ............................ 38 a. Initial Access ....... .................................... .......... .............. .. .. .. .. .. ............. ..... ..... 38 b. Implantation of Malware on DCCC and DNC Networks .. .. .................. ...... .... 38 c. Theft of Documents from DNC and DCCC Networks .................................... 40 B. Dissemination of the Hacked Materials .. ............ ........ .. .............................................. 41 1. DCLeaks ................................. .... ...... .... ......................... ....... .. .............................. 41 2. Guccifer 2.0 ......... ... .... ..... ",,,,,,,,,,, ... ,.......... ........... ... ....................................... .. .... 42 3. Use of WikiLeaks .. ........................... ..... ............... ........... ..... .. ............. ........... ...... 44 a. WikiLeaks ' s Expressed Opposition Toward the Clinton Campaign .... ........... 44 b. WikiLeaks ' s First Contact with Guccifer 2.0 and DCLeaks ........ .. .... ............ . 45 U.S. Department of Justice l 1rU811te) "Yo/elk Ple8tlet II Jt,4a) CeHtaiR l\'1aterial Pleteetea BRaet Fee. R. Gfift!. P. 6Ee) c. The GRU' s Transfer of Stolen Materials to WikiLeaks .................................. 45 d. ' WikiLeaks Statements Dissembling About the Source of Stolen Materials ........................................................................................................ 48 C. Additional GRU Cyber Operations ............................................................................. 49 I. Summer and Fall 2016 Operations Targeting Democrat-Linked Victims ............ 49 2. Intrusions Targeting the Administration of U.S. Elections ................................... 50 D. Trump Campaign and the Dissemination of Hacked Materials .................................. 51 I. .............................................................................................. 51 a. Background ...................................................................................................... 51 b. Contacts with the Campaign about WikiLeaks ................................................ 52 c. Harm to Ongoing Matter .................... 54 d. WikiLeaks's October 7, 2016 Release of Stolen Podesta Emails .................... 58 e. Donald Trump Jr. Interaction with WikiLeaks ........... ......................... ............ 59 2. Other Potential Campaign Interest in Russian Hacked Materials ......................... 61 a. Henry Oknyansky (a/kJa Henry Greenberg) .................................................... 61 b. Campaign Efforts to Obtain Deleted Clinton Emails ............................ .......... 62 IV. RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT LINKS To AND CONTACTS WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN ................ 66 A. Campaign Period (September 2015 - November 8, 2016) ......................................... 66 1. Trump Tower Moscow Project ............................................................................. 67 a. Trump Tower Moscow Venture with the Crocus Group (2013 -2014) ............ 67 b. Communications with I.C. Expert Investment Company and Giorgi Rtskhiladze (Summer and Fall 20 I 5) ............................................................ 69 c. Letter of Intent and Contacts to Russian Government (October 20 I 5January 2016) ................................................................................................ 70 i. Trump Signs the Letter of Intent on behalf of the Trump Organization .... 70 ii. Post-LO] Contacts with Individuals in Russia ......................................... 72 d. Discussions about Russia Travel by Michael Cohen or Candidate Trump (December 20 15 -June 20] 6) ......................................................................... 76 i. Sater's Overtures to Cohen to Travel to Russia .. ...................................... 76 ii. Candidate Trump's Opportunities to Travel to Russia ............................ 78 2. George Papadopoulos .......................................... .. ................................. .......... .... 80 a. Ori gins of Campai gn Work ............ .. " .. " ............................ " ........................ .... 81 b. Initial Russia-Related Contacts ........................................................................ 82 c. March 31 Foreign Policy Team Meeting .......................... ...... ......................... 85 11 U.S. Department of Justice lHt8lHe) V/erk Pf6Ehtet // ~f8:) Cs"tail'l r.1ateriai Plsteetee Uflaep fee . R. Crith. P. 6(e1 d. George Papadopoulos Learns That Russia Has "Dirt" in the Form of Clinton Emails ................................... ................................ ........... .............. ... 86 e. Russia-Related Communications With The Campaign .. .......... ........ ................ 89 f. Trump Campaign Knowledge of "D irt" ........................................................... 93 g. Additional George Papadopoulos Contact.. ...... .. ............................................. 94 3. Carter Page ............................................................................................ ................ 95 a. Background ................................. ..................................................... ................ 96 b. Origins of and Early Campaign Work ............................................................. 97 c. Calier Page's July 2016 Trip To Moscow ........................................................ 98 d. Later Campaign Work and Removal from the Campaign ............................. 102 4. Dimitri Simes and the Center for the National Interest .... ............. .... ...... ...... .. ... 103 a. CNI and Dimitri Simes Connect with the Trump Campaign ............... .......... 103 b. National Interest Hosts a Foreign Policy Speech at the Mayflower Hotel ........................................................................................................ .. .... .... ... 105 c. Jeff Sessions's Post-Speech Interactions with CNI ....................................... 107 d. Jared Kushner's Continuing Contacts with Simes ................... ...................... 108 5. June 9, 2016 Meeting at Trump Tower ..................................... ,.............. ........ ... 110 a. Setting Up the June 9 Meeting ....................................................................... I 10 i. Outreach to Donald Trump Jr ........................ .... .............. .... .. ................ .. 110 ii. Awareness of the Meeting Within the Campaign ........ .. .......... ............... 114 b. The Events of June 9, 2016 ............................................................................ 116 i. Arrangements for the Meeting ................................................................ I 16 ii. Conduct of the Meeting ..................................................................... .... . I 17 c. Post-June 9 Events ........................................................................ ................. 120 6. Events at the Republican National Convention .................................................. 123 a. Ambassador Kislyak's Encounters with Senator Sessions and J.D. Gordon the Week of the RNC ..................................................................... 123 b. Change to Republican Party Platform ............................................. ............... 124 7. Post-Convention Contacts with Kislyak ............................................................. 127 a. Ambassador Kislyak Invites J.D. Gordon to Breakfast at the Ambassador' s Residence ....... ......... ......................................... .. .................. 127 b. Senator Sessions' s September 2016 Meeting with Ambassador Kislyak ...... 127 8. Paul Manafort ................ ... ... ........................... ..................................................... 129 a. Paul Manafort's Ties to Russia and Ukraine .................................................. 131 III U.S. Department of Justice AMeffle) '.yaple Pre6tlet 1/ ~{ft) CeRtail'l p.iaterial Preteeteti Ul,8er FeEl. R. Cfit-ll. P. 6(e) i. 0 leg Deripaska Consulting Work ......................................................... 131 ii. Political Consulting Work .................... ... .. ............................................ 132 iii. Konstantin Kilimnik .............................................................................. 132 b. Contacts during Paul Manafort' s Time with the Trump Campaign .............. 134 i. Paul Manafort Joins the Campaign ......................................................... 134 ii. Paul Manafort's Campaign-Period Contacts .......................................... 135 iii. Paul Manafort's Two Campaign-Period Meetings with Konstantin Kilimnik in the United States ............. ................................................... 138 c. Post-Resignation Activities ..................... ....................................................... 141 B. Post-Election and Transition-Period Contacts .......................................................... 144 1. Immediate Post-Election Activity ....................................................................... 144 a. Outreach from the Russian Government.. .................. .................................... 145 b. High-Level Encouragement of Contacts through Alternative Channels ....... 146 2. Kirill Dmitriev's Transition-Era Outreach to the Incoming Administration ...... 147 a. Background .................................................................................................... 147 b. Kirill Dmitriev's Post-Election Contacts With the Incoming Administration ............................................................................................. 149 c. Erik Prince and Kirill Dmitriev Meet in the Seychelles ................................ 151 1. George Nader and Erik Prince Arrange Seychelles Meeting with Dmitriev ................................................................................................. 151 11. The Seychelles Meetings ........ ................................................................ 153 iii. Erik Prince's Meeting with Steve Bannon after the Seychelles Trip .... 155 d. Kirill Dmitriev ' s Post-Election Contact with Rick Gerson Regarding U.S.-Russia Relations .................................................................................. 156 3. Ambassador Kislyak' s Meeting with Jared Kushner and Michael FlYllli in Trump Tower Following the Election ................................................................. 159 4. Jared Kushner' s Meeting with Sergey Gorkov ................................................... 161 5. Petr Aven ' s Outreach Efforts to the Transition Team ........................................ 163 6. Carter Page Contact with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich ............. 166 7. Contacts With and Through Michael T. Flynn ................................................... 167 a. United Nations Vote on Israeli Settlements ......... ..... ..................................... 167 b. U.S. Sanctions Against Russia ....................................................................... 168 V. PROSECUTION AND DECLINATION DECISIONS ................................ ... .. ... .. .. .... .............. .......... 174 A. Russian "Active Measures" Social Media Campaign .................... ...... ..................... 174 IV U.S. Department of Justice Attefrtey \\'erlc Pre6ttet II P.1a) C6fttaiH It.4ateriai Pteteetea Urulet Feel. R. CriM. P. 6(ej B. Russ ian Hacking and Dumping Operations .............................................................. 175 I. Section 1030 Computer-Intrusion Conspiracy .................................................... 175 a. Background ............. ................................. ...................................... .............. .. 175 b. Charging Decision As to ....... 176 2. Potential Section 1030 Violation By 179 C. Russian Government Outreach and Contacts .................................. ........................... 180 1. Potential Coordination: Conspiracy and Collusion ....................... .... ............... ... 180 2. Potential Coordination: Foreign Agent Statutes (FARA and 18 U.S.C . § 951).181 a. Governing Law ........................................................ ....... .......... ... .. ................. 181 b. Application ..................................... ..... ..................... ............. ......................... 182 3. Campaign Finance ....................................................................... ....... ............ .. .. 183 a. Overview Of Governing Law ............. .......... .......... ................ .. ...................... 184 b. Application to June 9 Trump Tower Meeting ................................................ 185 i. Thing-of-Value Element ..................................... ................ .. .............. .. .. 186 ii. Willfulness .................................. ........ ...................... .... ..... .................... 187 iii. Difficulties in Valuing Promised Information ................ ...................... 188 c. Application to WikiLeaks ....................... ............................ 188 I. II. Wi llfulness ............................................. ...................................... .......... 190 iii. Constitutional Considerations ...... ......................... ................................. 190 iv. Analysis .. ..................... ... ................. ..... ... ....... 190 4. False Statements and Obstruction of the Investigation ....... ............................... . 191 a. Overview Of Governing Law ......................................................................... 191 b. Application to Certain Individuals ..... ............................................................ 192 i. George Papadopoulos ...... ......... ....... .. ............................ ............ .... .. .... .... 192 II. ........................... .. .. .... .......... ........... 194 Ill. Michael Flynn ...... .............................................................................. ... 194 IV. Michael Cohen .......... .. ......... ................................................................. 195 v. ............................................................ .................. 196 vi. Jeff Sessions ... ....... ................... ........ .. .... ........................................... .... . 197 vii . Others Interviewed During the Investigation .................. ..................... 198 v U.S. Department of Justice AMerfte) V/erk Pf66t1et II ~{a) C6fltain ~4ftteri81 Pfeteetea Ufiaer FeEl. R. Crilfl. P. 6(e) U.S. Department of Justice Att61ne) V/erl( PresHet II £t.1a) C6fttain ~.4atel'i81 Pl8teetea Uftaer Fee. R. Ctifli. P. 6(e1 INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME I This report is submitted to the Attorney General pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 600.8(c), which states that, "[a)t the conclusion of the Special Counsel ' s work, he ... shall provide the Attorney General a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions [the Special Counsel) reached." The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion. Evidence of Russian government operations began to surface in mid-2016. In June, the Democratic National Committee and its cyber response team publicly announced that Russian hackers had compromised its computer network. Releases of hacked materials-hacks that public reporting soon attributed to the Russian government-began that same month. Additional releases followed in July through the organization WikiLeaks, with further releases in October and November. In late July 2016, soon after WikiLeaks' s first release of stolen documents, a foreign government contacted the FBI about a May 2016 encounter with Trump Campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos. Papadopoulos had suggested to a representative of that foreign government that the Trump Campaign had received indications from the Russian government that it could assist the Campaign through the anonymous release of information damaging to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. That information prompted the FBI on July 31 , 2016, to open an investigation into whether individuals associated with the Trump Campaign were coordinating with the Russian government in its interference activities. That fall , two federal agencies jointly announced that the Russian government "directed recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including US political organizations," and, "[t)hese thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process." After the election, in late December 20 16, the United States imposed sanctions on Russia for having interfered in the election. By early 2017, several congressional committees were examining Russia's interference in the election. Within the Executive Branch, these investigatory efforts ultimately led to the May 2017 appointment of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III. The order appointing the Special Counsel authorized him to investigate "the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election," including any links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign. As set forth in detail in this repOlt, the Special Counsel's investigation established that Russia interfereq in the 2016 presidential election principally through two operations. First, a Russian entity carried out a social media campaign that favored presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and disparaged presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Second, a Russian intelligence service conducted computer-intrusion operations against entities, employees, and volunteers working on the Clinton Campaign and then released stolen documents. The investigation also identified numerous links between the Russian government and the Trump Campaign. Although the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit U.S. Department of Justice Atterne) Vt'8Ik PIsettet II ~4&) Gefttaifl P.4ateliai Pfsteetea Unser Fea. R. Ctim. P. 6(e) electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts, the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities. • • • Below we describe the evidentiary considerations underpinning statements about the results of our investigation and the Special Counsel ' s charging decisions, and we then provide an overview of the two volumes of our report. The report describes actions and events that the Special Counsel's Office found to be supported by the evidence collected in our investigation . In some instances, the repOlt points out the absence of evidence or conflicts in the evidence about a particular fact or event. In other instances, when substantial, credible evidence enabled the Office to reach a conclusion with confidence, the report states that the investigation established that certain actions or events occurred. A statement that the investigation did not establish palticular facts does not mean there was no evidence of those facts. In evaluating whether evidence about collective action of multiple individuals constituted a crime, we applied the framework of conspiracy law, not the concept of "collusion." In so doing, the Office recognized that the word "collud[e]" was used in communications with the Acting Attorney General confirming certain aspects of the investigation's scope and that the term has frequently been invoked in public reporting about the investigation. But collusion is not a specific offense or theory of liability found in the United States Code, nor is it a term of art in federal criminal law. For those reasons, the Office ' s focus in analyzing questions of joint criminal liability was on conspiracy as defined in federal law. In connection with that analysis, we addressed the factual question whether members of the Trump Campaign "coordinat[ed]"- a term that appears in the appointment order-with Russian election interference activities. Like collusion, "coordination" does not have a settled definition in federal criminal law. We understood coordination to require an agreement-tacit or express- between the Trump Campaign and the Russian government on election interference. That requires more than the two parties taking actions that were informed by or responsive to the other's actions or interests. We applied the term coordination in that sense when stating in the report that the investigation did not establish that the Trump Campaign coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities. • * * The report on our investigation consists of two volumes: Volume I describes the factual results of the Special Counsel ' s investigation of Russia ' s interference in the 2016 presidential election and its interactions with the Trump Campaign. Section I describes the scope of the investigation. Sections II and III describe the principal ways Russia interfered in the 20 I 6 presidential election. Section IV describes links between the Russian 2 A~6I'fte) U.S. Department of Justice '.VBlk P188t1et II ~f8) CeRtain ~iftteri61 PI8teetee Untier Pea. R. Grim. P. 6(e) government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign. Section V sets forth the Special Counsel ' s charging decisions. Volume II addresses the President's actions towards the FBI's investigation into Russia ' s interference in the 2016 presidential election and related matters, and his actions towards the Special Counsel ' s investigation. Volume II separately states its framework and the considerations that guided that investigation. 3 U.S. Department of Justice AM:811ley "V8rk Pre8ttet II P,4s) C6Htain P.4aterial Pl6teetea Ufleler Fee. R. Crilfl. P. 6te) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO VOLUME I RUSSIAN SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN The Internet Research Agency (IRA) carried out the earliest Russian interference operations identified by the investigation-a social media campaign designed to provoke and amplify political and social discord in the United States. The IRA was based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and received funding from Russian oligarch Yevgeniy Prigozhin and connpa Vladimir The IRA later used social media accounts and interest groups to sow discord in the U.S. political system through what it termed "information warfare." The campaign evolved from a generalized program designed in 2014 and 2015 to undermine the U.S. electoral system, to a targeted operation that by early 2016 favored candidate Trump and disparaged candidate Clinton. The IRA's operation also included the purchase of political advertisements on social media in the names of U.S. persons and entities, as well as the staging of political rallies inside the United States. To organize those rallies, IRA employees posed as U.S . grassroots entities and persons and made contact with Trump supporters and Trump Campaign officials in the United States. The investigation did not identify evidence that any U.S. persons conspired or coordinated with the IRA. Section II of this report details the Office's investigation of the Russian social media campaign. RUSSIAN HACKING OPERATIONS At the same time that the IRA operation began to focus on supporting candidate Trump in early 2016, the Russian government employed a second form of interference: cyber intrusions (hacking) and releases of hacked materials damaging to the Clinton Campaign. The Russian intelligence service known as the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Army (GRU) carried out these operations. In March 2016, the GRU began hacking the email accounts of Clinton Campaign volunteers and employees, including campaign chairman John Podesta. In April 2016, the GRU hacked into the computer networks of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The GRU stole hundreds of thousands of documents from the compromised email accounts and networks. Around the time that the DNC announced in mid-June 2016 the Russian government's role in hacking its network, the GRU began disseminating stolen materials through the fictitious online personas "DCLeaks" and "Guccifer 2.0." The GRU later released additional materials through the organization WikiLeaks. 4 U.S. Department of Justice AttelHe, Vt'6fl( Preal:let II ~f8) Gelltaifl P,4atefiai PI8teetea Uneel Feel. R. Grim. P. GEe) The presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump ("Trump Campaign" or " Campaign") showed interest in WikiLeaks ' s releases of and welcomed their to damage candidate Clinton. Beginning in June 2016, I: forecast to senior Campaign officials that WikiLeaks candidate Clinton. WikiLeaks's first release came in July 2016. Around the same time, candidate Trump announced that he hoped Russia would recover emails described as missing from a private server • ! arm to Ongoing Matter g Podesta's stolen emails on October 7, 2016, less than one hour after a U.S. media outlet released video considered damaging to candidate Trump. Section 11\ of this Report details the Office's investigation into the Russian hacking operations, as well as other efforts by Trump Campaign supporters to obtain Clinton-related emails. RUSSIAN CONTACTS WITH THE CAMPAIGN The social media campaign and the GRU hacking operations coincided with a series of contacts between Trump Campaign officials and individuals with ties to the Russian government. The Office investigated whether those contacts reflected or resulted in the Campaign conspiring or coordinating with Russia in its election-interference activities. Although the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome, and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts, the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities. The Russian contacts consisted of business connections, offers of assistance to the Campaign, invitations for candidate Trump and Putin to meet in person, invitations for Campaign officials and representatives of the Russian government to meet, and policy positions seeking improved U.S.-Russian relations. Section IV of this Report details the contacts between Russia and the Trump Campaign during the campaign and transition periods, the most salient of which are summarized below in chronological order. 2015. Some of the earliest contacts were made in connection with a Trump Organization real-estate project in Russia known as Trump Tower Moscow. Candidate Trump signed a Letter ofIntent for Trump Tower Moscow by November 2015, and in January 2016 Trump Organization executive Michael Cohen em ailed and spoke about the project with the office of Russian government press secretary Dmitry Peskov. The Trump Organization pursued the project through at least June 2016, including by considering travel to Russia by Cohen and candidate Trump. Sprillg 2016. Campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopoulos made early contact with Joseph Mifsud, a London-based professor who had connections to Russia and traveled to Moscow in April 2016. Immediately upon his return to London from that trip, Mifsud told Papadopoulos that the Russian government had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands 5 Att6fHe~ U.S. Department of Justice '-Verk PresHet II ~i8) Centain "'4ateriai P16teetee Ufulel Feel. R. 61 iffi. P. 6(e) of emails. One week later, in the first week of May 2016, Papadopoulos suggested to a representative of a foreign government that the Trump Campaign had received indications from the Russian government that it could assist the Campaign through the anonymous release of information damaging to candidate Clinton. Throughout that period oftime and for several months thereafter, Papadopoulos worked with Mifsud and two Russian nationals to arrange a meeting between the Campaign and the Russian government. No meeting took place. Summer 2016. Russian outreach to the Trump Campaign continued into the summer of 2016, as candidate Trump was becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for President. On June 9, 2016, for example, a Russian lawyer met with senior Trump Campaign officials Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and campaign chairman Paul Manafort to deliver what the email proposing the meeting had described as "official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary." The materials were offered to Trump Jr. as "part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." The written communications setting up the meeting showed that the Campaign anticipated receiving information from Russia that could assist candidate Trump' s electoral prospects, but the Russian lawyer's presentation did not provide such information. Days after the June 9 meeting, on June 14, 2016, a cybersecurity firm and the DNC announced that Russian government hackers had infiltrated the DNC and obtained access to opposition research on candidate Trump, among other documents. In July 2016, Campaign foreign policy advisor Carter Page traveled in his personal capacity to Moscow and gave the keynote address at the New Economic School. Page had lived and worked in Russia between 2003 and 2007. After returning to the United States, Page became acquainted with at least two Russian intelligence officers, one of whom was later charged in 2015 with conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of Russia. Page' s July 2016 trip to Moscow and his advocacy for pro-Russian foreign policy drew media attention. The Campaign then distanced itself from Page and, by late September 2016, removed him from the Campaign. July 2016 was also the month WikiLeaks first released emails stolen by the GRU from the DNC. On July 22, 2016, WikiLeaks posted thousands of internal DNC documents revealing information about the Clinton Campaign. Within days, there was public reporting that U.S. intelligence agencies had "high confidence" that the Russian government was behind the theft of emails and documents from the DNC. And within a week of the release, a foreign government informed the FBI about its May 2016 interaction with Papadopoulos and his statement that the Russian government could assist the Trump Campaign. On July 31 , 2016, based on the foreign government reporting, the FBI opened an investigation into potential coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign. Separately, on August 2, 2016, Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort met in New York City with his long-time business associate Konstantin Kilimnik, who the FBI assesses to have ties to Russian intelligence. Kilimnik requested the meeting to deliver in person a peace plan for Ukraine that Manafort acknowledged to the Special Counsel's Office was a "backdoor" way for Russia to control part of eastern Ukraine; both men believed the plan would' require candidate Trump ' s assent to succeed (were he to be elected President). They also discussed the status of the 6 U.S. Department of Justice At:terfle) \Ver)( Pf86tlet // ~1:8) Cefttail'\ P.4ateriai PreteeteEl U1"1861 Fea. R. Ctiltl. P. 6(61 Trump Campaign and Manafort's strategy for winning Democratic votes in Midwestern states. Months before that meeting, Manafort had caused internal polling data to be shared with Kilimnik, and the sharing continued for some period of time after their August meeting. Fall 2016. On October 7, 2016, the media released video of candidate Trump speaking in graphic terms about women years earlier, which was considered damaging to his candidacy. Less than an hour later, WikiLeaks made its second release: thousands of John Podesta's emails that had been stolen by the GRU in late March 2016. The FBI and other U.S. government institutions were at the time continuing their investigation of suspected Russian government efforts to interfere in the presidential election. That same day, October 7, the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued ajoint public statement "that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations." Those "thefts" and the "disclosures" of the hacked materials through online platforms such as WikiLeaks, the statement continued, "are intended to interfere with the US election process." Post-2016 Election. Immediately after the November 8 election, Russian government officials and prominent Russian businessmen began trying to make inroads into the new administration. The most senior levels of the Russian government encouraged these efforts. The Russian Embassy made contact hours after the election to congratulate the President-Elect and to arrange a call with President Putin. Several Russian businessmen picked up the effort from there. Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive officer of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, was among the Russians who tried to make contact with the incoming administration. In early December, a business associate steered Dmitriev to Erik Prince, a supporter of the Trump Campaign and an associate of senior Trump advisor Steve Bannon. Dmitriev and Prince later met face-to-face in January 2017 in the Seychelles and discussed U.S.-Russia relations. During the same period, another business associate introduced Dmitriev to a friend of Jared Kushner who had not served on the Campaign or the Transition Team. Dmitriev and Kushner's friend collaborated on a ShOlt written reconciliation plan for the United States and Russia, which Dmitriev implied had been cleared through Put in. The friend gave that proposal to Kushner before the inauguration, and Kushner later gave copies to Bannon and incoming Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. On December 29, 2016, then-President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia for having interfered in the election. Incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn called Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and asked Russia not to escalate the situation in response to the sanctions. The following day, Putin announced that Russia would not take retaliatory measures in response to the sanctions at that time. Hours later, President-Elect Trump tweeted, "Great move on delay (by V. Putin)." The next day, on December 3 I, 20 I 6, Kislyak called Flynn and told him the request had been received at the highest levels and Russia had chosen not to retaliate as a result of Flynn' s request. *** On January 6, 2017, members of the intelligence community briefed President-Elect Trump on a joint assessment-drafted and coordinated among the Central Intelligence Agency, FBI, and 7 U.S. Department of Justice AU611'le) '+Veli{ Pre8ttet II ~f8:) C6tltaiR ~4atel'i8:1 Pleteetea BHeler Feel. R. 81 it"'. P. 6(ej National Security Agency-that concluded with high confidence that Russia had intervened in the election through a variety of means to assist Trump' s candidacy and harm Clinton ' s. A declassified version of the assessment was publicly released that same day. Between mid-January 2017 and early February 2017, three congressional committees- the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), and the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC)- announced that they would conduct inquiries, or had already been conducting inquiries, into Russian interference in the election. Then-FBI Director James Corney later confirmed to Congress the existence of the FBI's investigation into Russian interference that had begun before the election. On March 20, 2017, in open-session testimony before HPSCI, Corney stated: I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI , as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia' s efforts . . . . As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed. The investigation continued under then-Director Corney for the next seven weeks until May 9, 2017, when President Trump fired Corney as FBI Director- an action which is analyzed in Volume II of the report. On May 17, 2017, Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed the Special Counsel and authorized him to conduct the investigation that Corney had confirmed in his congressional testimony, as well as matters arising directly from the investigation, and any other matters within the scope of28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a), which generally covers efforts to interfere with or obstruct the investigation. President Trump reacted negatively to the Special Counsel ' s appointment. He told advisors that it was the end of his presidency, sought to have Attorney General Jefferson (Jeff) Sessions unrecuse from the Russia investigation and to have the Special Counsel removed, and engaged in efforts to curtail the Special Counsel's investigation and prevent the disclosure of evidence to it, including through public and private contacts with potential witnesses. Those and related actions are described and analyzed in Volume II of the report. *** THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S CHARGING DECISIONS In reaching the charging decisions described in Volume I of the report, the Office determined whether the conduct it found amounted to a violation of federal criminal law chargeable under the Principles of Federal Prosecution. See Justice Manual § 9-27.000 et seq. (20 I 8). The standard set forth in the Justice Manual is whether the conduct constitutes a crime; if so, whether admissible evidence would probably be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction; 8 lrUet He) U.S. Department of Justice VtTfHlc P18atlet II ~4ay Cel.taifl f't4atepial Preteetea Vltaet Feel. R. 01 iif'). P. 6(ej and whether prosecution would serve a substantial federal interest that could not be adequately served by prosecution elsewhere or through non-criminal alternatives. See Justice Manual § 927.220. Section V of the report provides detailed explanations of the Office's charging decisions, which contain three main components. First, the Office determined that Russia's two principal interference operations in the 2016 U.S. presidential election-the social media campaign and the hacking-and-dumping operationsviolated U.S. criminal law. Many of the individuals and entities involved in the social media campaign have been charged with participating in a conspiracy to defraud the United States by undermining through deceptive acts the work offederal agencies charged with regulating foreign influence in U.S. elections, as well as related counts of identity theft. See United States v. Internet Research Agency, et al., No . 18-cr-32 (D.D.C.). Separately, Russian intelligence officers who carried out the hacking into Democratic Party computers and the personal email accounts of individuals affiliated with the Clinton Campaign conspired to violate, among other federal laws, the federal computer-intrusion statute, and have been soc..£~~4: Second, while the investigation identified numerous links between individuals with ties to the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign, the evidence was not sufficient to support criminal charges. Among other things, the evidence was not sufficient to charge any Campaign official as an unregistered agent of the Russian government or other Russian principal. And our evidence about the June 9, 2016 meeting and WikiLeaks ' s releases of hacked materials was not sufficient to charge a criminal campaign-finance violation . Further, the evidence was not sufficient to charge that any member of the Trump Campaign conspired with representatives of the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election. Third, the investigation established that several individuals affiliated with the Trump Campaign lied to the Office, and to Congress, about their interactions with Russian-affiliated individuals and related matters. Those lies materially impaired the investigation of Russian election interference. The Office charged some of those lies as violations of the federa l falsestatements statute. Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying about his interactions with Russian Ambassador Kislyak during the transition period. George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor during the campaign period, pleaded guilty to lying to investigators about, inter alia, the nature and timing of his interactions with Joseph Mifsud, the professor who told Papadopoulos that the Russians had dirt on candidate Clinton in the form of . thousands of emails. Former Trump Organization attorney Michael • • ! •! • • • Harm to Ongoing Matter ... . ... .• I • • 9 • • • • .. • U.S. Department of Justice Afterne) Vl epi( Ppsattet // P;~ft) CSlttaiH P;eJatelial Pfeteetea UHaer Feel. R. Crita. P. 6(e) Manafort lied to the Office and the grand jury concerning his interactions and communications with Konstantin Kilimnik about Trump Campaign polling data and a peace plan for Ukraine . ••• The Office investigated several other events that have been publicly reported to involve potential Russia-related contacts. For example, the investigation established that interactions between Russian Ambassador Kislyak and Trump Campaign officials both at the candidate's April 2016 foreign policy speech in Washington, D.C. , and during the week of the Republican National Convention were brief, public, and non-substantive. And the investigation did not establish that one Campaign official's efforts to dilute a portion of the Republican Party platform on providing assistance to Ukraine were undertaken at the behest of candidate Trump or Russia. The investigation also did not establish that a meeting between Kislyak and Sessions in September 2016 at Sessions's Senate office included any more than a passing mention of the presidential campaign. The investigation did not always yield admissible information or testimony, or a complete picture of the activities undertaken by subjects of the investigation. Some individuals invoked their Fifth Amendment right against compelled self-incrimination and were not, in the Office ' s judgment, appropriate candidates for grants of immunity. The Office limited its pursuit of other witnesses and information-such as information known to attorneys or individuals claiming to be members of the media-in light of internal Department of Justice policies. See, e.g. , Justice Manual §§ 9-13.400, 13.410. Some of the information obtained via court process, moreover, was presumptively covered by legal privilege and was screened from investigators by a filter (or "taint") team. Even when individuals testified or agreed to be interviewed, they sometimes provided information that was false or incomplete, leading to some of the false-statements charges described above. And the Office faced practical limits on its ability to access relevant evidence as well-numerous witnesses and subj ects lived abroad, and documents were held outside the United States. Further, the Office learned that some of the individuals we interviewed or whose conduct we investigated-including some associated with the Trump Campaign-----4s) Cefttaift ~4atefial Pf6teetea UH6eI Feel. R. Gpil", P. 6(ej I. THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S INVESTIGATION On May 17, 2017, Deputy Attorney Genera l Rod J. Rosenstein- then serving as Acting Attorney General for the Russia investigation following the recusal of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions on March 2, 20l6- appointed the Special Counsel "to investigate Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election and related matters." Office of the Deputy Att' y Gen., Order No. 3915-2017, Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Interference with the 2016 Presidential Election and Related Matters, May 17,2017) ("Appointment Order"). Relying on "the authority vested" in the Acting Attorney General, "including 28 U.S.C. §§ 509, 510, and 515," the Acting Attorney General ordered the appointment of a Special Counsel "in order to discharge [the Acting Attorney General ' s] responsibility to provide supervision and management of the Department of Justice, and to ensure a full and thorough investigation of the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election." Appointment Order (introduction). "The Special Counsel," the Order stated, " is authorized to conduct the investigation confirmed by then-FBI Director James B. Comey in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017," including: (i) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and (iii) any other matters within the scope of28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a). Appointment Order 'If (b). Section 600.4 affords the Special Counsel "the authority to investigate and prosecute federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel ' s investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses." 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a). The authority to investigate "any matters that arose . .. directly from the investigation," Appointment Order 'If (b )(ii), covers similar crimes that may have occurred during the course of the FBI's confirmed investigation before the Special Counsel's appointment. "If the Special Counsel believes it is necessary and appropriate," the Order further provided, "the Special Counsel is authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation ofthese matters." Id. 'If (c). Finally, the Acting Attorney General made applicable "Sections 600.4 through 600.10 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations. " Id. 'If (d). The Acting Attorney General further clarified the scope of the Special Counsel's investigatory authority in two subsequent memoranda. A memorandum dated August 2, 2017, explained that the Appointment Order had been "worded categorically in order to permit its public release without confirming specific investigations involving specific individuals." It then confirmed that the Special Counsel had been authorized since his appointment to investigate allegations that three Trump campaign officials--Carter Page, Paul Manafort, and George Papadopoulos-"committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials with respect to the Russian government' s efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election." The memorandum also confirmed the Special Counsel ' s authority to investigate certain other matters, including two additional sets of allegations involving Manafort (crimes arising from payments he received from the Ukrainian government and crimes arising from his receipt of loans 11 AUelHe) U.S. Department of Justice Vlerl{ Preatlet II 1\48:) CefltaiR ~i4Melial Pleteetee UH8er Fee. R. Cfiffi. P. 6(e) from a bank whose CEO was then seeking a position in the Trump Administration); allegations that Papadopoulos committed a crime or crimes by acting as an unregistered agent of the Israeli government; and four sets of allegations involving Michael Flynn, the former National Security Advisor to President Trump. On October 20, 2017, the Acting Attorney General confirmed in a memorandum the Special Counsel's investigative authority as to several individuals and entities. First, "as part of a full and thorough investigation of the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election," the Special Counsel was authorized to investigate "the pertinent activities of Michael Cohen, Richard Gates, Roger Stone, and "Confirmation of the to such individuals," stressed, "does not suggest that the Special Counsel has made a determination that any of them has committed a crime." Second, with respect to Michael Cohen, the memorandum recognized the Special Counsel ' s authority to investigate "leads relate[d] to Cohen's establishment and use of Essential Consultants LLC to, inter alia, receive funds from Russian-backed entities." Third, the memorandum memorialized the Special Counsel's authority to investigate individuals and entities who were possibly engaged in "jointly undertaken activity" with existing subjects of the investigation, including Paul Manafort. Finally, the memorandum described an FBI investigation opened before the Special Counsel's appointment into "allegations that [then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions] made false statements to the United States Senate[,J" and confirmed the Special Counsel's authority to investigate that matter. I" The Special Counsel structured the investigation in view of his power and authority "to exercise all investigative and prosecutorial functions of any United States Attorney." 28 C.F.R, § 600.6. Like a U.S. Attorney' s Office, the Special Counsel's Office considered a range of classified and unclassified information available to the FBI in the course of the Office ' s Russia investigation, and the Office structured that work around evidence for possible use in prosecutions of federal crimes (assuming that one or more crimes were identified that warranted prosecution). There was substantial evidence immediately available to the Special Counsel at the inception of the investigation in May 2017 because the FBI had, by that time, already investigated Russian election interference for nearly 10 months. The Special Counsel's Office exercised its judgment regarding what to investigate and did not, for instance, investigate every public report of a contact between the Trump Campaign and Russian-affiliated individuals and entities. The Office has concluded its investigation into links and coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign. Certain proceedings associated with the Office's work remain ongoing. After consultation with the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the Office has transferred responsibility for those remaining issues to other components of the Department of Justice and FBI. Appendix D lists those transfers. Two district courts confirmed the breadth of the Special Counsel ' s authority to investigate Russia election interference and links and/or coordination with the Trump Campaign. See United States v. Manafart, 312 F. Supp. 3d 60, 79-83 (D.D.C. 2018); United States v. Manafart, 321 F. Supp. 3d 640, 650-655 (E.D. Va. 2018). In the course of conducting that investigation, the Office periodically identified evidence of potential criminal activity that was outside the scope of the Special Counsel's authority established by the Acting Attorney General. After consultation with 12 A~et'He) U.S. Department of Justice V/erlt PresHet II P,iB:) Centsill ~{8tefi61 Pf8teetee UHaer Fea. R. Ct iffl. P. 6(e) the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the Office referred that evidence to appropriate law enforcement authorities, principally other components of the Department of Justice and to the FBI. Appendix D summarizes those referrals. *** To carry out the investigation and prosecution of the matters assigned to him, the Special Counsel assembled a team that at its high point included 19 attorneys-five of whom joined the Office from private practice and 14 on detail or assigned from other Department of Justice components. These attorneys were assisted by a filter team of Department lawyers and FBI personnel who screened materials obtained via court process for privileged information before turning those materials over to investigators; a support staff of three paralegals on detail from the Department's Antitrust Division; and an administrative staff of nine responsible for budget, finance , purchasing, human resources, records, facilities, security, information technology, and administrative support. The Special Counsel attorneys and support staff were co-located with and worked alongside approximately 40 FBI agents, intelligence analysts, forensic accountants, a paralegal, and professional staff assigned by the FBI to assist the Special Counsel's investigation. Those "assigned" FBI employees remained under FBI supervision at all times; the matters on which they assisted were supervised by the Special Counsel.l During its investigation the Office issued more than 2,800 subpoenas under the auspices of a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia; executed nearly 500 search-and-seizure warrants; obtained more than 230 orders for communications records under 18 U.S.C . § 2703(d); obtained almost 50 orders authorizing use of pen registers; made 13 requests to foreign governments pursuant to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties; and interviewed approximately 500 witnesses, including almost 80 before a grand jury. *** From its inception, the Office recognized that its investigation could identify foreign intelligence and counterintelligence information relevant to the FBI's broader national security mission. FBI personnel who assisted the Office established procedures to identify and convey such information to the FBI. The FBI's Counterintelligence Division met with the Office regularly for that purpose for most of the Office ' s tenure. For more than the past year, the FBI also embedded personnel at the Office who did not work on the Special Counsel's investigation, but whose purpose was to review the results of the investigation and to send-in writing-summaries of foreign intelligence and counterintelligence information to FBIHQ and FBI Field Offices. Those communications and other correspondence between the Office and the FBI contain information derived from the investigation, not all of which is contained in this Volume. This Volume is a summary. It contains, in the Office' sjudgment, that information necessary to account for the Special Counsel's prosecution and declination decisions and to describe the investigation ' s main factual results. I FBI personnel assigned to the Special Counsel 's Office were required to adhere to all applicable federal law and all Department and FBI regulations, guidelines, and policies. An FBI anorney worked on FBI-related matters for the Office, such as FBI compliance with all FBI policies and procedures, including the FBI 's Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide (DlOG). That FBI attorney worked under FBI legal supervision, not the Special Counsel' s supervision . 13 U.S. Department of Justice Att6t'l'ley ')lefl, Pfeatlet II ~{a) Centftin P,latetiai Pl'eteetea Untler Fee. R. Crifh. P. 6(e) II. RUSSIAN "ACTIVE MEASURES" SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN The first form of Russian election influence came principally from the Internet Research Agency, LLC (IRA), a Russian organization funded by Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin and companies he controlled, including Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Concord Catering (collectively "Concord,,).2 The IRA conducted social media operations targeted at large U.S. audiences with the goal of sowing discord in the U.S. political system. 3 These operations constituted "active measures" (aKTHBHble MepOnpHllTHl!), a term that typically refers to operations conducted by Russian security services aimed at influencing the course of international affairs.4 The IRA and its employees began operations targeting the United States as early as 2014. Using fictitious U.S. personas, IRA employees operated social media accounts and group pages designed to attract U.S. audiences. These groups and accounts, which addressed divisive U.S. political and social issues, falsely claimed to be controlled by U.S. activists. Over time, these social media accounts became a means to reach large U.S. audiences. IRA employees travelled to the United States in mid-2014 on an intelligence-gathering mission to obtain information and photographs for use in their social media posts. IRA employees posted derogatory information about a number of candidates in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. By early to mid-2016, IRA operations included supporting the Trump Campaign and disparaging candidate Hillary Clinton. The IRA made various expenditures to carry out those activities, including buying political advertisements on social media in the names of U.S. persons and entities. Some IRA employees, posing as U.S. persons and without revealing their Russian association, communicated electronically with individuals associated with the Trump Campaign and with other political activists to seek to coordinate political activities, including the staging of political rallies. s The investigation did not identify evidence that any U.S. persons knowingly or intentionally coordinated with the IRA's interference operation. By the end of the 2016 U.S. election, the IRA had the ability to reach millions of U.S. persons through their social media accounts. Multiple IRA-controlled Facebook groups and 2 The Office is aware of reports that other Russian entities engaged in similar active measures operations targeting the United States. Some evidence collected by the Office corroborates those reports, and the Office has shared that evidence with other offices in the Department of Justice and FBI. Harm to Ongoing Matter see also SM-2230634, serial 44 (analysis). The FBI case number cited here, and other FBI case numbers identified in the report, should be treated as law enforcement sensitive given the context. The report contains additional law enforcement sensitive information. 4 As discussed in Part V below, the active measures investigation has resulted in criminal charges against 13 individual Russian nationals and three Russian entities, principally for conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C . § 371. See Volume I, Section V.A, infra; Indictment, United States v. Internet Research Agency, et al., 1:18-cr-32 (O.D.C. Feb. 16,2018), Doc. I ("Internet Research Agency Indictment"). 14 U.S . Department of Justice Attsrt'ley "VspiE Pre8t1et II Ptift) CSHtaiH £\itttelial Preteetee Uli6ef Fee. R. GriM. P. 6Ee) Instagram accounts had hundreds of thousands of U.S. participants. IRA-controlled Twitter accounts separately had tens of thousands of followers, including multiple U.S. political figures who retweeted IRA-created content. In November 2017, a Facebook representative testified that Facebook had identified 470 IRA-controlled Facebook accounts that collectively made 80,000 posts between January 2015 and August 2017. Facebook estimated the IRA reached as many as 126 million persons through its Facebook accounts 6 In January 2018, Twitter announced that it had identified 3,814 IRA-controlled Twitter accounts and notified approximately 1.4 million people Twitter believed may have been in contact with an iRA-controlled account 7 A. Str ucture of the Internet Research Agency 6 Social Media Itifluence in the 2016 Us. Election, Hearing Before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I I 5th Congo 13 (11/1/17) (testimony of Colin Stretch, General Counsel of Facebook) ("We estimate that roughly 29 million people were served content in their News Feeds directly from the IRA's 80,000 posts over the two years. Posts from these Pages were also shared, liked, and followed by people on Facebook, and, as a result, three times more people may have been exposed to a story that originated from the Russian operation. Our best estimate is that approximately 126 million people may have been served content from a Page associated with the IRA at some point during the two-year period."). The Facebook representative also testified that Facebook had identified 170 Instagram accounts that posted approximately 120,000 pieces of content during that time. Facebook did not offer an estimate of the audience reached via Instagram. - 7 Twitter, Update on Twitter's Review ofthe 2016 US Election (Jan. 31, 2018). 8 See SM-2230634, serial 92. 9 Harm to Ongoing Matter 10 Harm to Ongoing Matter II See SM-2230634, serial 86 Harm to Ongoing Matter 15 Att61uey \\lark PI6titlet II U.S. Department of Justice C6HtaiH P-iatel iet Pisteetea UI,eel Feel . R. Glim. P. 6(e) ~4a) Two individuals headed the IRA's Mikhail Burchik. B. Funding and Oversight from Concord and Prigozhin Until at least February 2018, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin and two Concord companies funded the IRA. Prigozhin is a wealthy Russian businessman who served as the head of Concord. -. 13 14 IS Harm to Ongoing Matter See, e.g., SM-2230634, serials 9, 113 & 180 Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 131&204. 17 Harm to Ongoing Matter 18 Harm to Ongoing Matter 16 U .S. Department of Justice AU811'le, Welle PI 86ttet II P,4ay Centaift ~4atefial PFt-,teeteti Unser Fee. R. 0 1im. P. 6(ej Harm to Ongoing Matter IIIHarm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 19 U.S. Treasury Department, "TreasulY Sanctions Individuals and Entities in Connection with Russia's Occupation of Crimea and the Conflict in Ukraine" (Dec. 20, 2016). Harm to Ongoing Matter 22 See, e.g., Neil MacFarquhar, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian Oligarch Indicted by U.S., Is Known as "Putin 's Cook", New York Times (Feb. 16, 2018). 24 Harm to Ongoing Matter 2S see also SM- 2230634, 17 U .S. Department of Justice l'\~81ne) 01' Vlerk PfesHet II ~{8:) C6t.taiR ~4Meriftl P1"8teetea Uitae! Feel. R. C1 iffl. P. 6(e) 26 Harm to Ongoing Matter 27 Harm to Ongoing Matter 28 The term "troll" refers to internet users-in this context, paid operatives-who post inflammatory otherwise disruptive content on social media or other websites. 18 A~81He) u.s, Department of Justice Vletk PresHet // ~,48:) Gefltaill ])'4steli81 Pl8teetea Ul'laef Fea. R. Grim. P. 6(e) aC(:OCIOK groups, recruited U.S. persons to hold signs (including one in front of the White House) that read "Happy 31 C. The IRA Targets U.S. Elections I. The IRA Ramps Up U.S. Operations As Early As 2014 The IRA' s U.S. operations sought to influence public opinion through online media and forums. By the spring of 2014, the IRA began to consolidate u.S. operations within a known "Translator" Investigative Technique serials 131 & 204. 29 30 See SM-2230634, See SM-2230634, serial 156. 31 Internet Research Agency Indictment 1479936895656747 (United Muslims of America) & 19 ~~ ~s:sag(:s, 10 U.S. Department of Justice lrU81fle, JN6fk Pre6liet II ~4a, Cel\faill F\4sterial Pleteetee UHEler Fee. R. Grim . P. 6(ej graphics and IT. 34 See SM-2230634, serial 204 Harm to Ongoing Matter 20 U.S. Department of Justice AttsIlte) JoVsrlc PlS8tlet II ~qR) Celitliiti ~itttelitli Pfeteetea Unser FeB. R. Crift!. P. G(e) IRA employees also traveled to the United States on intelligence-gathering missions. In June 2014, four IRA employees applied to the U.S. Department of State to enter the United States, while lying about the purpose oftheir trip and claiming to be four friends who had met at a party.38 Ultimately, two IRA employees-Anna Bogacheva and Aleksandra Krylova-received visas and entered the United States on June 4, 2014. 35 Harm to Ongoing Matter 37 Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 21 Att6flle~ U.S. Department of Justice \\'sfi( PI 86tlet II ~48) CSfltaift ~4fttet'iftl Pfsteetea Urulel Feel. R. GriM. P. 6(e) 2. U.S. Operations Through IRA-Controlled Social Media Accounts Dozens of IRA employees were responsible for operating accounts and personas on different U.S. social media platforms. The IRA referred to employees assigned to operate the social media accounts as "specialists.,,42 Starting as early as 2014, the IRA' s U.S. operations included social media specialists focusing on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter 43 The IRA later added specialists who operated on Tumblr and Instagram accounts. 44 Initially, the IRA created social media accounts that pretended to be the personal accounts of U.S. persons. 45 By early 2015, the IRA began to create larger social media groups or public social media pages that claimed (falsely) to be affiliated with U.S. political and grassroots organizations. In certain cases, the IRA created accounts that mimicked real U.S. organizations. For example, one IRA-controlled Twitter account, @TEN_GOP, purported to be connected to the Tennessee Republican Party.46 More commonly, the IRA created accounts in the names of fictitious U.S. organizations and grassroots groups and used these accounts to pose as antiimmigration groups, Tea Party activists, Black Lives Matter protestors, and other U.s. social and political activists. Harm to Ongoing Matter ., See, e.g., Facebook ID 100011390466802 (Alex Anderson); Facebook ID 100009626 173204 (Andrea Hansen); Facebook ID 1000097286 18427 (Gary Williams); Facebook ID 100013640043337 (Lakisha Richardson). 46 The account claimed to be the "Unofficial Twitter of Tennessee Republicans" and made posts that appeared to be endorsements of the state political party. See, e.g., @TEN_GOP, 4/3/16 Tweet ("Tennessee GOP backs @realDonaldTrump period #makeAmericagreatagain #tngop #tennessee #gop"). 22 U.S. Department of Justice Attelne) '.V6fl( Pl88tlet II ~48) CantHiH Pt4ftteriai Preteetea UIl8er FeEl. R. Cpi.H. P. 6(e) In_ The focus on the U.S. presidential campaign continued throughout 2016. 2016 internal reviewing the IRA-controlled Facebook group "Secured Borders," the 47 Harm to Ongoing Matter 48 See, e.g., SM-2230634 serial 131 49 The IRA posted content about the Clinton candidacy before Clinton officially announced her of presidential campaign. IRA-controlled social media accounts criticized Clinton's record as so Harm to Ongoing Matter 23 U.S. Department of Justice Atterne) Vlerl{ Ple6tlet II P,4ay CeHtaift ~4atefial Preteeteei Uflael FeEl. R. Grim . P. 6(e) author criticized the " lower number of posts dedicated to criticizing Hillary Clinton" and reminded the Facebook specialist " it is imperative to intensifY criticizing Hillary Clinton."S I IRA employe~ _election. 3. U.S. Operations Through Facebook Harm to Ongoing Matter during the 2016 campaign covered a range of political issues and included purported conservative 52 Harm to Ongoing Matter " Harm to Ongoing Matter 54 Harm to Ongoing Matter 24 U.S. Department of Justice At4:sfHe) \Velle PresHet II ~4a) Centain ~1Mel ittl PI eteeteEl UHaer Fea. R. 6t ilft. P. 6(e, groups (with names such as "Being Patriotic," " Stop All Immigrants," " Secured Borders," and "Tea Party News"), purported Black social justice groups ("Black Matters," "Blacktivist," and "Don' t Shoot Us"), LGBTQ groups ("LGBT United"), and religious groups (" United Muslims of America"). Throughout 2016, IRA accounts published an increasing number of materials supporting the Trump Campaign and opposing the Clinton Campaign. For example, on May 31, 2016, the operational account "Matt Skiber" began to privately message dozens of pro-Trump Facebook groups asking them to help plan a "pro-Trump rally near Trump Tower."55 To reach larger U.S. audiences, the IRA purchased advertisements from Facebook that promoted the IRA groups on the newsfeeds of U.S. audience members. According to Facebook, the IRA purchased over 3,500 advertisements, and the expenditures totaled approximately $100,000. 56 During the U.S. presidential campaign, many IRA-purchased advertisements explicitly supported or opposed a presidential candidate or promoted U.S . rallies organized by the IRA (discussed below). As early as March 2016, the IRA purchased advertisements that overtly opposed the Clinton Campaign. For example, on March 18, 2016, the IRA purchased an advertisement depicting candidate Clinton and a caption that read in part, "If one day God lets this liar enter the White House as a president - that day would be a real national tragedy.,,57 Similarly, on April 6, 2016, the IRA purchased advertisements for its account " Black Matters" calling for a "flashmob" of U.S. persons to "take a photo with #HillaryClintonForPrison2016 or #nohillary2016. "58 IRA-purchased advertisements featuring Clinton were, with very few exceptions, negative .59 IRA-purchased advertisements referencing candidate Trump largely supported his campaign. The first known IRA advertisement explicitly endorsing the Trump Campaign was purchased on April 19, 2016. The IRA bought an advertisement for its Instagram account "Tea Party News" asking U.S. persons to help them " make a patriotic team of young Trump supporters" by uploading photos with the hashtag "#KIDS4TRUMP.,,6o In subsequent months, the IRA purchased dozens of advertisements supporting the Trump Campaign, predominantly through the Facebook groups "Being Patriotic," "Stop All Invaders," and "Secured Borders." " 5/31116 Facebook Message, ID 100009922908461 (Matt Skiber) to ID _ Fac:eb()ok~ssa,~e, ID 100009922908461 (~ 56 Social Media Influence in the 201 6 u.s. Election, Hearing Bef ore the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 115th Congo 13 (1111117 ) (testimony of Colin Stretch, General Counsel ofFacebook). 57 3/!8/16 Facebook Advertisement ID 6045505152575. 58 4/6/!6 Facebook Advertisement ID 6043740225319. 59 See SM-2230634, serial 213 (documenting politically-oriented advertisements from the larger set provided by Facebook). 60 4119/16 Facebook Advertisement ID 6045151094235. 25 AM8fl,e) \\'et'k Pre8t1et /1 U.S. Department of Justice Cetltaifl P.iaterial Pleteetee DRaer Feel. R. Criffi. P. 6(e) ~ifty Collectively, the IRA's social media accounts reached tens of millions of U.S. persons. Individual IRA social media accounts attracted hundreds of thousands of followers. For example, at the time they were deactivated by Facebook in mid-2017, the IRA's "United Muslims of America" Facebook group had over 300,000 followers, the "Don' t Shoot Us" Facebook group had over 250,000 followers, the "Being Patriotic" Facebook group had over 200,000 followers, and the "Secured Borders" Facebook group had over 130,000 followers. 61 According to Facebook, in total the IRA-controlled accounts made over 80,000 posts before their deactivation in August 20 17, and these posts reached at least 29 million U.S persons and "may have reached an estimated 126 million people.,,62 4. U.S. Operations Through Twitter The IRA' s Twitter operations involved two str;~te,~~ certain Twitter accounts to create individual U.S. E!:!~!!!!!~ a netwol:k that enabled the IRA to amplify on Twitter. a. Individualized Accounts Harm to Ongoing Matter . Harm to Ongoing Matter 61 See Facebook ID 1479936895656747 (United Muslims of America); Facebook ID 1157233400960126 (Don't Shoot); Facebook ID 1601685693432389 Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 62 Social Media Influence in the 2016 u.s. Election, Hearing Before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, II 5th Congo 13 (1111117) (testimony of Colin Stretch, General Counsel ofFacebook). 63 Harm to Ongoing Matter 64 Harm to Ongoing Matter 65 Harm to Ongoing Matter 26 U.S. Department of Justice AM81 ne) \Verk Prestlet II ~48) C8fltaill ~4B;terifll Preteetea Ululet Fea. R. Criffl. P. ete) 66 Harm to Ongoing Matter The IRA operated individualized Twitter accounts similar to the operation of its Facebook accounts, by continuously posting original content to the accounts while also communicating with U.S. Twitter users directly (through public tweeting or Twitter's private messaging). The IRA used many of these accounts to attempt to influence U.S. audiences on the election. Individualized accounts used to influence the U.S . presidential election included @TEN_GOP (described above); @jenn_abrams (claiming to be a Virginian Trump supporter with 70,000 followers); @Pamela_Moorel3 (claiming to be a Texan Trump supporter with 70,000 followers) ; and @America:"lst_ (an anti-immigration persona with 24,000 followers)67 In May 2016, the IRA created the Twitter account @marchJor_trump, which promoted IRA-organized rallies in support of the Trump Campaign (described below)68 Using these accounts and others, the IRA provoked reactions from users and the media. Multiple IRA-posted tweets gained popularity 7 0 U.S . media outlets also quoted tweets from IRA-controlled accounts and attributed them to the reactions of real U.S. persons. 71 Similarly, numerous high- 66 Harm to Ongoing Matter Other individualized accounts included @MissouriNewsUS (an account with 3,800 followers that posted pro-Sanders and anti-Clinton material). 67 68 See @marchJor_trump, 5/30/16 Tweet (first post from account). 70 For example, one IRA account tweeted, "To those people, who hate the Confederate flag. Did you know that the flag and the war wasn't about slavery, it was all about money." The tweet received over 40,000 responses. @Jenn_Abrams 4124117 (2:37 p.m .) Tweet. 71 Josephine Lukito & Chris Wells, Most Major Outlets Have Used Russian Tweets as Sources f or Partisan Opinion: Study, Columbia Journalism Review (Mar. 8,2018); see also Twitter Steps Up to Explain #NewYorkValues to Ted Cruz, Washington Post (Jan. 15,2016) (citing IRA tweet); People Are Slamming the CIA for Claiming Russia Tried to Help Donald Trump, U.S. News & World Report (Dec. 12, 2016). 27 U.S . Department of Justice ~4atel iai Plsteetea UBser FeEl. R. Grim. P. 6(e) Auerlle) V{erk Prsatlet II ~48y C6ntaiH profile U.S. persons, including former Ambassador Michael McFaul,72 Roger Stone,?3 Sean Hannity,?4 and Michael Flynn Jr. ,?5 retweeted or responded to tweets posted to these IRAcontrolled accounts. Multiple individuals affiliated with the Trump Campaign also promoted IRA tweets (discussed below) . b. IRA Bolnel Aclivities In January 2018, Twitter publicly identified 3,814 Twitter accounts associated with the IRA.79 According to Twitter, in the ten weeks before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, these accounts posted approximately 175,993 tweets, "approximately 8.4% of which were election- . 72 @McFauI4/30/l6 Tweet (responding to tweet by @Jenn_Abrams). 13 @RogerJStoneJr 5/30/16 Tweet (retweeting @Pamela_Moore13); @RogerJStoneJr 4126/16 Tweet (same). 74 @seanhannity 6/21117 Tweet (retweeting @Pamela_Moore13). 75 @mflynnJR6122/17 Tweet ("RT @Jenn_Abrams: This is what happens when you add the voice over of an old documentary about mental illness onto video of SJWs ... "). 76 A botnet refers to a network of private computers or accounts controlled as a group to send specific automated messages. On the Twitter network, bornets can be used to promote and republish ("retweet") specific tweets or hashtags in order for them to gain larger audiences. 77 Harm to Ongoing Matter 78 Harm to Ongoing Matter 79 Eli Rosenberg, Twitter to Tell 677, 000 Users they Were Had by the Russians. Some Signs Show the Problem Continues, Washington Post (Jan. 19, 2019). 28 Aa611~e, U.S. Department of Justice ~{Melittl Plsteetea Unser Fee. R. Ctilft. P. 6(e) VlSflt PfS8Met // P.ia) C611taif1 related.,,80 Twitter also announced that it had notified approximately 1.4 million people who Twitter believed may have been in contact with an IRA-controlled account. 81 5. U.S . Operations Involving Political Rallies The IRA organized and promoted political rallies inside the United States while posing as U.S . grassroots activists. First, the IRA used one of its preexisting social media personas (Facebook groups and Twitter accounts, for example) to announce and promote the event. The IRA then sent a large number of direct messages to followers of its social media account asking them to attend the event. From those who responded with interest in attending, the IRA then sought a U.S. person to serve as the event's coordinator. In most cases, the IRA account operator would tell the U.S. person that they personally could not attend the event due to some preexisting conflict or because they were somewhere else in the United States. 82 The IRA then further promoted the event by contacting U.S. media about the event and directing them to speak with the coordinator. 83 After the event, the IRA posted videos and photographs of the event to the IRA 's soc ial media accounts.84 The Office identified dozens of U.S. rallies organized by the IRA. The earliest evidence of a rally was a "confederate rally" in November 2015. 85 The IRA continued to organize rallies even after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The attendance at rallies varied . Some rallies appear to have drawn few (if any) partici)Jants while others drew hundreds The reach and success of these Harm to Ongoing Matter 80 Twitter, "Update on Twitter's Review of the 2016 US Election" (updated Jan. 31,2018). Twitter also reported identifYing 50,258 automated accounts connected to the Russian government, which tweeted more than a million times in the ten weeks before the election. -. 81 Twitter, "Update on Twitter's Review of the 2016 US Election" (updated Jan . 31, 2018). 82 8/20/16 Facebook Message, ID 100009922908461 (Matt Skiber) to ID 83 See, e.g. , 7/21116~gmail.com to ; 7/21116 Email, joshmilton024@gmail.com to _ _ _ 84 @marchJor_trump6/25/16Tweet(postingphotosfromrally outside Trump Tower). 85 Instagram ID 22280 12168 (Stand For Freedom) 11 /3115 Post ("Good evening buds! Weill am planning to organize a confederate rally [.. .J in Houston on the 14 of November and [want more people to attend. "). 29 AM6fl~e, u.s. Department of Justice 'Nelle PlSettet II ~48) Cefltaift ~iMerial Pr-eteeteEi UHEler FeB. R. Clifl'l. P. 6(e) 30 AM811,e) 'Velle Pr86Het II U.S. Department of Justice CeJl.taifl ~4fttel ial Pleteetea UHBel Fee. R. CI itt). P. 6(e) P,ift) From June 2016 until the end of the presidential campaign, almost all of the U.S. rallies organized by the IRA focused on the U.S. election, often promoting the Trump Campaign and opposing the Clinton Campaign. Pro-Trump rallies included three in New York; a series of pro-Trump rallies in Florida in August 2016; and a series of pro-Trump rallies in October 2016 in Pennsylvania. The Florida rallies drew the attention of the Trump Campaign, which posted about the Miami rally on candidate Trump's Facebook account (as discussed below).86 Mariy of the same IRA employees who oversaw the IRA's social media accounts also conducted the for =----'"'the United IRA Poster for Pennsylvania Rallies organized by the IRA 6. Targeting and Recruitment of U.S. Persons As early as 20 I 4, the IRA instructed its employees to target U.S. persons who could be recruitment focused on U. used to advance its operational goals. the content the of_ IRA employees frequently used Investigative Technique Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to contact and recruit U.S. persons who followed the group. The IRA recruited U.S. . the IRA targeted the family and a number of black social justice activists 86 The pro-Trump rallies were organized through multiple Facebook, Twitter, and email accounts. See, e.g., Facebook ID 100009922908461 (Matt Skiber); Facebook ID 1601685693432389 (Being Patriotic); Twitter Account @marchJor_trump; beingpatriotic@gmail.com. (Rallies were organized in New York on June 25, 2016; Florida on August 20, 2016; and Pennsylvania on October 2, 2016.) 87 Harm to Ongoing Matter 88 Harm to Ongoing Matter 31 u.s. Department of Justice AM:sffle) '.Vsfl( PfesHet II P,{8:)' C8fltaiH ~{ttteli8:1 Prsteetea UHaer Pea. R. Crifti. P. 6fe) while posing as a grassroots group called "Black Matters US.,,89 In February 2017, the persona "Black Fist" (purporting to want to teach African-Americans to protect themselves when contacted by law enforcement) hired a self-defense instructor in New York to offer classes sponsored by Black Fist. The IRA also recruited moderators of conservative social media groups to promote IRA-generated content,90 as well as recruited individuals to perform political acts (such as walking around New York City dressed up as Santa Claus with a Trump mask).91 the IRA's online audience became larger, the IRA tracked COlnrrlUnicated and had successfully pictun:s with certain jJV"U~'H rrles:sag;es) 89 u.s. 3/11/16 Facebook Advertisement lD 6045078289928, 5/6/16 Facebook Advertisement lD 10/26/16 Facebook Advertisement lD 6055238604687; 10/27/16 Facebook Message, lD ID 100011698576461 (Taylor Brooks). UU.HU., .. ., .. JC'"O, Facebook Message, ID 100009922908461 (Matt Ski bel') to lD 91 12/8/16 Email.robot@craigslist.orgtobeingpatriotic@gmail.com (confirming Craigslist advertisement). 92 8/18-19/16 Twitter OMs, @marchJor_trump 11/11-27/16 Facebook 100011698576461 (Taylor Brooks) & !arranQirlQto pay for plane tickets and for a Facebook Message, ID 100009922908461 (Matt Skiber) & (discussing payment for rally supplies); 8/18/16 Twitter OM, (di:scussi·l1gpayment for construction materials). 32 A~etl'te) ,-"spit PrsaHet II U.S. Department of Justice CeRtain r,4aterial Preteeteei Ufl8et Fee. R. Crilfl. P. G(e) ~(8) 7. Interactions and Contacts with the Trump Campaign The investigation identified two different forms of connections between the IRA and members of the Trump Campaign. (The investigation identified no similar connections between the IRA and the Clinton Campaign.) First, on multiple occasions, members and surrogates of the Trump Campaign promoted-typically by linking, retweeting, or similar methods of repostingpm-Trump or anti-Clinton content published by the IRA through IRA-controlled social media accounts. Additionally, in a few instances,lRA employees represented themselves as U.S . persons to communicate with members of the Trump Campaign in an effort to seek assistance and coordination on IRA-organized political rallies inside the United States. a. Trump Campaign Promotion of IRA Political Materials Among the U.S. "leaders of public opinion" targeted by the IRA were various members and surrogates of the Trump Campaign. In total, Trump Campaign affiliates pmmoted dozens of tweets, posts, and other political content created by the IRA. Posts from the IRA-controlled Twitter account @TEN_GOP were cited or retweeted by multiple Trump Campaign officials and surrogates, including Donald 1. Trump Jr. ,96 Eric 96 See, e.g., @DonaldJTrumpJr 1O/26/!6 Tweet ("RT @TEN_GOP: BREAKING Thousands of names changed on voter rolls in Indiana. Police investigating #VoterFraud. #DrainTheSwamp."); @DonaldJTrumpJr 11/2/!6 Tweet ("RT @TEN_GOP: BREAKING: #VoterFraud by counting tens of thousands of ineligible mail in Hillary votes being reported in Broward County, Florida."); @DonaldJTrumpJr I 1/8/!6 Tweet ("RT @TEN_GOP: This vet passed away last month before he could vote for Trump. Here he is in his #MAGA hat. #voted #ElectionDay."). Trump Jr. retweeted additional @TEN_GOPcontentsubsequenttotheelection. 33 U.S. Department of Justice AU6IHe) '."allt Pfeal:let 1/ ~{B:) C6tltain ~4Mefifll P18teetea URelel Feel. R. Crilfl. P. 6(e) Trump,97 Kellyanne Conway,98 Brad Parscale,99 and Michael T. Flynn.IOO These posts included allegations of voter fraud, lol as well as allegations that Secretary Clinton had mishandled classified information. 102 A November 7, 2016 post from the IRA-controlled Twitter account @Pamela_Moore13 was retweeted by Donald J. Trump Jr. 103 On September 19, 2017, President Trump's personal account @realDonaldTrump responded to a tweet from the IRA-controlled account @ IO_gop (the backup account of @ TEN_GOP, which had already been deactivated by Twitter). The tweet read: " We love you, Mr. President! ,,104 IRA employees monitored the reaction of the Trump Campaign and, later, Trump Administration officials to their tweets. For example, on August 23, 2016, the IRAcontrolled persona "Matt Skiber" Facebook account sent a message to a U.S. Tea Party activist, writing that " Mr. Trump posted about our event in Miami! This is great!,,105 The IRA employee included a screenshot of candidate Trump's Facebook account, which included a post about the August 20, 2016 political rallies organized by the IRA. Screenshat a/Trump Faeebook Account (from Matt Skibe/) 97 @EricTrump 10/20/ 16 Tweet ("RT @TEN_GOP: BREAKING Hillary shuts down press conference when asked about DNC Operatives corruption & #VoterFraud #debatenight #TrumpB''). 98 @KellyannePolls 11/6/16 Tweet ("RT @TEN_GOP: Mother of jailed sailor: ' Hold Hillary to same standards as my son on Classified info' #hillarysemail #WeinerGate."). 99 @parscale 10115/16 Tweet ("Thousands of deplorables chanting to the media: 'Tell The Truth!' RT if yo u are also done w/ biased Media! #FridayFeeling"). 100 @GenFlynn 11/7/16 (retweeting @TEN_GOP post that included in part "@reaIDonaldTrump & @mike_pence will be our next POTUS & VPOTUS."). 101 @TEN_GOP 10111116 Tweet ("North Carolina finds 2,214 voters over the age of IIO!!"). 102 @TEN_GOP 11 /6/1 6 Tweet ("Mother of jailed sailor: ' Hold HiII81Y to same standards as my son on classified info #hillaryemail #WeinerGate."'). 103 @DonaldJTrumpJr 11 /7116 Tweet (HRT @Pamela_MooreI3: Detroit residents speak out against the failed policies of Obama, Hillary & democrats .... "). 104 @realDonaldTrump 9/1 9/17 (7:33 p.m .) Tweet ("THANK YOU for your support Miami! My team just shared photos from your TRUMP SIGN WA VING DAY, yesterday! I love you - and there is no question - TOGETHER, WE WILL MAKE AMERJCA GREAT AGAIN! "). Facebook Message, ID 100009922908461 (Matt Skiber) to ID 34 U.S. Department of Justice IHt:efl'1e, '.Velle PISettet II ~{ft) CentaiH ~4tttefi8:1 Preteetea Uttaer feEl. R. 61 iffl. P. 6(e) Harm to Ongoing Matter I, h. Contact with Trump Campaign Officials in Conllection to Rallies Starting in June 2016, the IRA contacted different U.S. persons affiliated with the Trump Campaign in an effort to coordinate pro-Trump IRA-organized rallies inside the United States. In all cases, the IRA contacted the Campaign while claiming to be U.S. political activists working on behalf of a conservative grassroots organization. The IRA' s contacts included requests for signs and other materials to use at rallies, 107 as well as requests to promote the rallies and help coordinate logistics. l OB While certain campaign volunteers agreed to provide the requested support (for example, agreeing to set aside a number of signs), the investigation has not identified evidence that any Trump Campaign official understood the requests were coming from foreign nationals . ••• In sum, the investigation established that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election through the "active measures" social media campaign carried out by the IRA, an organization funded by Prigozhin and companies that he controlled. As explained further in Volume I, Section V.A, infra, the Office concluded (and a grand jury has alleged) that Prigozhin, his companies, and IRA employees violated U.S. law through these operations, principally by undermining through deceptive acts the work of federal agencies charged with regulating foreign influence in U.S. elections. 107 See, e.g., 8116/ 16 Email.joshmilton024@gmail.comto.@donaldtrump.com (asking for rum !Pence signs for Florida rally); 8118116 Email, joshmilton024@gmail.comto @donaldtrump.com (~ for Trump/Pence signs for Florida rally); 8/12/16 Email, Joshmilton024@gmail.com to _ @donaldtrump.com (asking for "contact phone numbers for Trump Campaign affiliates" in various Florida cities and signs). il 108 8115116 Email, locations to the 6 Email, joshmilton024@gmail.com (volunteering to send an email blast to tolllo~'ers. ). 35 to to U.S. Department of Justice AUSIHe) Vlsyi( PfSal:let II P,1s) CSI.tain ~4Mefiftl Plsteetea VASey Fea. R. Clifft. P. 6(e) Ill. RUSSIAN HACKING AND DUMPING OPERATIONS Beginning in March 2016, units of the Russian Federation's Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (GRll) hacked the computers and email accounts of organizations, e·m ployees, and volunteers supporting the Clinton Campaign, including the email account of campaign chairman John Podesta. Starting in April 20 16, the GRU hacked into the computer networks of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The GRU targeted hundreds of email accounts used by Clinton Campaign employees, advisors, and volunteers. In total, the GRU stole hundreds of thousands of documents from the compromised email accounts and networks. 109 The GRU later released stolen Clinton Campaign and DNC documents through online personas, "DCLeaks" and "Guccifer 2.0," and later through the organization WikiLeaks. The release of the documents was designed and timed to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election and undermine the Clinton Campaign. ve:m!;alIIOn was unable to resolve WikiLeaks's release of the stolen Podesta emails on October 7, years earlier was published of Trump using graphic language A. GRU Hacking Directed at the Clinton Campaign I. GRU Units Target the Clinton Campaign Two military units of the GRU carried out the computer intrusions into the Clinton Campaign, DNC, and DCCC: Military Units 26165 and 74455. 11 0 Military Unit 26165 is a GRU cyber unit dedicated to targeting military, political, governmental, and non-governmental organizations outside of Russia, including in the United States. I I I The unit was sub-divided into departments with different specialties. One department, for example, developed specialized malicious large-scale spearphishing a bitcoin mining operation to campaigns. 112 109 As discussed in Section V below, our Office charged 12 ORU officers for crimes arising from the hacking of these computers, principally with conspiring to commit computer intrusions, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1030 and 371. See Volume I, Section V.B, infra; Indictment, United Stales v. Netyksho, No. I: 18-cr-2IS (D.D.C. July 13,2018), Doc. I ("Netyksho Indictment"). 110 Netyksho Indictment 1) 1. III Separate from this Office 's indictment of ORU officers, in October 20 18 a grand jury sitting in the Western District ofPelUlsylvania returned an indictment charging certain members of Unit 26165 with hacking the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and other international sport associations. United States v. Aleksei Sergeyevich Morenefs, No. 18-263 (W.O. Pa.). 112 A spearphishing email is designed to appear as though it originates from a trusted source, and solicits information to enable the sender to gain access to an account or network, or causes the recipient to 36 }MsfPte) 'Verk PISettet II U.S. Department of Justice Ceflta:ifl ~4Meri8;1 Pfeteetea BABel Feel. R. Criffi. P. B(e) ~48;) secure bitcoins used to purchase computer infrastructure used in hacking operations. 113 Military Unit 74455 is a related GRU unit with multiple departments that engaged in cyber operations. Unit 74455 assisted in the release of documents stolen by Unit 26165, the promotion of those releases, and the publication of anti-Clinton content on social media accounts operated by the GRU. Officers from Unit 74455 separately hacked computers belonging to state boards of elections, secretaries of state, and U.S. companies that supplied software and other technology related to the administration of U.S. elections 1 14 Beginning in mid-March 2016, Unit 26165 had primary responsibility for hacking the DCCC and DNC, as well as email accounts of individuals affiliated with the Clinton Campaign:115 Investigative Technique any or access neltw,)rk:s. illdi or W Corsi 10/31 / 18302, at 4. Malloch denied ever communicating with Assange Assange because he believed he had no I.KILea,,,, 55 U.S. Department of Justice Afterfle) '-"spit PfSal:let II ft.4fl)' CSRtftill ~iMeritll Preteetee UI'laer FeEl. R. Cyiffl. P. G(e) Malloch stated to investigators that beg:ll!!:~l..! multiple FaceTime discussions about WikiLeaks : had made a connection to Assange and that the ha(;ked elTiallS prior to Election Day and would be helpful to the Trump Campaign. In one conversation in or around August or September 2016, Corsi told Malloch that the release of the Podesta emails was coming, after which "we" were going to be in the driver's seat. 221 Harm to Ongoing Matter _Harm to Ongoing Matter _Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter . Harm to Ongoing Matter 223 Harm to Ongoing Matter 224 Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 226 Harm to Ongoing Matter 227 Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 56 U.S. Department of Justice AM:61He) \Vewi( Preat:let 1/ ~4ft) C entsill ~4Mefi61 P16teetea 230 Harm to Ongoing Matter 231 Harm to Ongoing Matter 232 ,HOM 234 Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 236 Harm to Ongoing Matter 57 Uriael Fea. R. Grim . P. 6(e) At-t8Ine) U.S. Department of Justice Werl{ PfesHet /1 ~18:) C61.tain r.4ateriai Preteetea LJAser Feel. R. Clil.:. P. 6(e~ d. WikiLeaks's October 7, 2016 Release of Stolen Podesta Emails days after the Assange press cOllfel~en,ce ii.l the Washington Post published an Access calodidate Trump some years earlier and that was expected to adversely affect the Campaign. Less than an hour after the video ' s publication, WikiLeaks released the first set of emails stolen by the GRU from the account of Clinton Campaign chairman John Podesta. no means m"mlber's of the news site WND-who were participating on a conference call with him that day-to reach Assange immediately?44 Corsi claimed that the pressure was 239 Candidate Trump can be heard off camera making graphic statements about women. In a later November 2018 interview, Corsi stated Harm to Ongoing Matter he believed Malloch was on the call but then focused on were on which Malloch was not. (Separate travel records show that at the time of the call, Malloch was aboard a transatlantic flight). Corsi at one point stated that after WikiLeaks's release of stolen emails on October 7, 2016, he concluded Malloch had gotten in contact with Assange. Corsi 1111118302, at 6. 244 58 U.S. Department of Justice itM6111e) '-VBIIe PIsettet 1/ flttS) Centaill ft.4ateriai Pr8teetea Ufl8et FeEl. R. GriAI. P. 6(e) enormous and recalled telling the conference call the Access Hollywood tape was coming. 245 Corsi stated that he was convinced that his efforts had caused WikiLeaks to release the emails when they did. 246 In a later November 2018 interview, Corsi stated that he thought that he had told people on a WND conference call about the forthcoming tape and had sent out a tweet asking whether anyone could contact Assange, but then said that maybe he had done nothing. 247 The Office investigated Corsi's allegations about the events of October 7 2016 but found ! Harm to Ongoing Matter .' Harm to Ongoing Matter I themselves do not indicate that the conversation was with any of the reporters who broke the Access the ~~~"" not any palticlpant, or anyone to Corsi that day, who says that they received non-public information about the tape from Corsi or acknowledged having contacted a member ofWikiLeaks on October 7, 2016 after a conversation with Corsi. e. Donald Trump Jr. Interaction with WikiLeaks Donald Trump Jr. had direct electronic communications with WikiLeaks during the campaign period. On September 20, 2016, an individual named Jason Fishbein sent WikiLeaks the password for an un launched website focused on Trump's "unprecedented and dangerous" ties 245 During the same interview, Corsi also suggested that he may have sent out public tweets because he knew Assange was reading his tweets. Our Office was unable to find evidence of any such tweets. 24' Corsi 9121/18 302, at 6-7. 247 Corsi 11/1/18 302, at 6. Harm to Ongoing Matter 59 U.S. Department of Justice "'Merne) v,rerlc PresHet II ~fa) C61~taiH P.iatel iai Prsteetea UMBer Fea. R. 81 in •. P. 6Ee) to Russia, PutinTrump.org.252 WikiLeaks publicly tweeted: "' Let's bomb Iraq ' Progress for America PAC to launch "PutinTrump.org' at 9:30am. Oops pw is 'putintrump' putintrump.org." Several hours later, WikiLeaks sent a Twitter direct message to Donald Trump Jr. , " A PAC run anti-Trump site putintrump.org is about to launch. The PAC is a recycled pro-Iraq war PAC. We have guessed the password. It is ' putintrump. ' See 'About' for who is behind it. Any comments?,,253. Several hours later, Trump Jr. emailed a variety of senior campaign staff: Guys I got a weird Twitter DM from wikileaks. See below. I tried the password and it works and the about section they reference contains the next pic in terms of who is behind it. Not sure if this is anything but it seems like it's really wikileaks asking me as I follow them and it is a DM. Do you know the people mentioned and what the conspiracy they are looking for could be? These are just screen shots but it's a fully built out page claiming to be a PAC let me know your thoughts and if we want to look into it. 254 Trump Jr. attached a screenshot ofthe "About" page for the un launched site PutinTrump.org. The next day (after the website had launched publicly), Trump Jr. sent a direct message to Wiki Leaks: " Off the record, I don't know who that is but I' ll ask around. Thanks."255 On October 3, 2016, WikiLeaks sent another direct message to Trump Jr., asking "you guys" to help disseminate a link alleging candidate Clinton had advocated using a drone to target Julian Assange. Trump Jr. responded that he already "had done so," and asked, "what's behind this Wednesday leak I keep reading aboutT256 WikiLeaks did not respond. On October 12, 20 16, WikiLeaks wrote again that it was " great to see you and your dad talking about our publications. Strongly suggest your dad tweets this link if he mentions us wlsearch.tk.,,257 WikiLeaks wrote that the link would help Trump in "digg ing through" leaked emails and stated, "we just released Podesta emails Part 4.,,258 Two days later, Trump Jr. publicly tweeted the wlsearch.tk link.259 ' '" 9/20/16 Twitter to @WikiLeaks; see JF00587 (9/21/16 Messages, _ @jabber.cryptoparty.is @jabber.cryptoparty.is); Fishbein 9/5/18 302, at 4. When interviewed by our Office, what he claimed to be logs from a chatroom in which the participants discussed U.S. politics; one of the other participants had posted the website and password that Fishbein sent to WikiLeaks. 2S3 9/20/16 Twitter DM, @WikiLeaks to @DonaldJTrumpJr. 254 TRUMPORG 28 000629-3 3 (9/21 /16 Email , Trump Jr. to Conway et al. (subject " Wikileaks")). '" 9/21 / 16 Twitter DM, @DonaldJTrumpJr to @WikiLeaks. 256 10/3 /16 Twitter DMs, @DonaldJTrumpJr & @WikiLeaks. m At the time, the link took users to a WikiLeaks archive of stolen Clinton Campaign documents. 258 10/12/16 Twitter DM, @WikiLeaks to @Dona1dJTrumpJr. 259 @DonaldJTrumpJr 10/ 14/16 (6:34 a.m.) Tweet. 60 U.S. Department of Justice At-t8pRe) '.yeplE Pf8BMet II ~{flj CSflta:ifl ~f&terial Preteetea UH8eI Fee. R. Crilft. P. 6(e) 2. Other Potential Campaign Interest in Russian Hacked Materials Throughout 2016, the Trump Campaign expressed interest in Hillary Clinton ' s private email server and whether approximately 30,000 emails from that server had in fact been permanently destroyed, as reported by the media. Several individuals associated with the Campaign were contacted in 2016 about various efforts to obtain the missing Clinton emails and other stolen material in support of the Trump Campaign. Some of these contacts were met with skepticism, and nothing came of them; others were pursued to some degree. The investigation did not find evidence that the Trump Campaign recovered any stich Clinton emails, or that these contacts were part of a coordinated effort between Russia and the Trump Campaign. a. Henry Oknyansky (a/kla Henry Greenberg) In the spring of20 16, Trump Campaign advisor Michael Caputo learned through a Floridabased Russian business partner that another Florida-based Russian, Henry Oknyansky (who also went by the name Henry Greenberg), claimed to have information pertaining to Hillary Clinton. Caputo notified Roger Stone and brokered communication between Stone and Oknyansky. Oknyansky and Stone set up a May 2016 in-person meeting. 26o Oknyansky was accompanied to the meeting by Alexei Rasin, a Ukrainian associate involved in Florida real estate. At the meeting, Rasin offered to sell Stone derogatory information on Clinton that Rasin claimed to have obtained while working for Clinton. Rasin claimed to possess financial statements demonstrating Clinton ' s involvement in money laundering with Rasin's companies. According to Oknyansky, Stone asked if the amounts in question totaled millions of dollars but was told it was closer to hundreds of thousands. Stone refused the offer, stating that Trump would not pay for opposition research. 261 Oknyansky claimed to the Office that Rasin's motivation was financial. According to Oknyansky, Rasin had tried unsuccessfully to shop the Clinton information around to other interested parties, and Oknyansky would receive a cut if the information was sold 2 62 Rasin is noted in public source documents as the director and/or registered agent for a number of Florida companies, none of which appears to be connected to Clinton. The Office found no other evidence that Rasin worked for Clinton or any Clinton-related entities. In their statements to investigators, Oknyansky and Caputo had contradictory recollections about the meeting. Oknyansky claimed that Caputo accompanied Stone to the meeting and provided an introduction, whereas Caputo did not tell us that he had attended and claimed that he was never told what information Oknyansky offered. Caputo also stated that he was unaware Oknyansky sought to be paid for the information until Stone informed him after the fact. 263 260 Caputo 5/2118302, at 4; Oknyansky 7/13/18 302, at 1. 261 Oknyansky 7113/18 302, at 1-2. 262 Oknyansky 7/13118 302, at 2. 263 Caputo 5/2118302, at 4; Oknyansky 7/13118 302, at 1. 61 U.S. Depallment of Justice AftetHe) '."erit PresHet II ~itt) Celltaift ~iatelial Pteteetea URaer Pea. R. Clift!. P. 6Ee) The Office did not locate Rasin in the United States, although the Office confirmed Rasin had been issued a Florida driver's license. The Office otherwise was unable to determine the content and origin of the information he purportedly offered to Stone. Finally, the investigation did not identify evidence of a connection between the outreach or the meeting and Russian interference efforts. b. Campaign Efforts to Obtain Deleted Clinton Emails After candidate Trump stated on July 27, 2016, that he hoped Russia would "find the 30,000 emails that are missing," Trump asked individuals affiliated with his Campaign to find the deleted Clinton emails .264 Michael Flynn- who would later serve as National Security Advisor in the Trump Administration- recalled that Trump made this request repeatedly, and Flynn subsequently contacted multiple people in an effort to obtain the emails 265 Barbara Ledeen and Peter Smith were among the people contacted by Flynn. Ledeen, a long-time Senate staffer who had previously sought the Clinton emails, provided updates to Flynn about her efforts throughout the summer of 20 16.266 Smith, an investment advisor who was active in Republican politics, also attempted to locate and obtain the deleted Clinton emails 267 Ledeen began her efforts to obtain the Clinton emails before Flynn's request, as early as December 2015. 268 On December 3, 2015 , she emailed Smith a proposal to obtain the emails, stating, "Here is the proposal I briefly mentioned to you. The person I described to you would be happy to talk with you either in person or over the phone. The person can get the emails which I. Were classified and 2. Were purloined by our enemies. That would demonstrate what needs to be demonstrated.,,269 Attached to the email was a 25-page proposal stating that the "Clinton email server was, in all likelihood, breached long ago," and that the Chinese, Russian, and Iranian intelligence services could "re-assemble the server's email contenl.,,270 The proposal called for a three-phase approach. The first two phases consisted of open-source analysis. The third phase consisted of checking with certain intelligence sources "that have access through liaison work with various foreign services" to determine if any of those services had gotten to the server. The proposal noted, "Even if a single email was recovered and the providence [sic1of that email was a foreign service, it would be catastrophic to the Clinton campaign[.]" Smith forwarded the email to two colleagues and 264 Flynn 4/25/1 8 302, at 5-6; Flynn 5/ 1118 302, at 1-3 . 26' Flynn 511118 302, at 1-3, 266 Flynn 4/25118 302, at 7; Flynn 5/4118 302, at 1-2; Flynn 11/29117 302, at 7-8 . 267 Flynn 11129/ 17 302, at 7. 268 Szobocsan 3129/17 302, at 1. 269 12/3/15 Email, Ledeen to Smith. 270 12/3/15 Email , Ledeen to Smith (attachment). 62 AM:6lfley VI-efk Preelttet II U.S. Department of Justice P,1ft) Celltftin ~18tefitll PI8teetea UflEler FeEl . R. Gfim. P. ete) wrote, "we can discuss to whom it should be referred.'>27 1 On December 16,2015, Smith informed Ledeen that he declined to participate in her "initiative." According to one of Smith ' s business associates, Smith believed Ledeen's initiative was not viable at that time.272 Just weeks after Trump ' s July 2016 request to find the Clinton emails. however. Smith tried to locate and obtain the emails himself. He created a company, raised tens of thousands of dollars, and recruited security experts and business associates. Smith made claims to others involved in the effort (and those from whom he sought funding) that he was in contact with hackers with "ties and affiliations to Russia" who had access to the emails, and that his efforts were coordinated with the Trump Campaign.273 On August 28, 2016, Smith sent an email from an encrypted account with the subject "Sec. Clinton's unsecured private email server" to an undisclosed list of recipients, including Campaign co-chairman Sam Clovis. The email stated that Smith was "[j]ust finishing two days of sensitive meetings here in DC with involved groups to poke and probe on the above . It is clear that the Clinton' s home-based, unprotected server was hacked with ease by both State-related players, and private mercenaries. Parties with varying interests, are circling to release ahead ofthe election.,,274 On September 2, 2016, Smith directed a business associate to establish KLS Research LLC in furtherance of his search for the deleted Clinton emails.275 One of the purposes ofKLS Research was to manage the funds Smith raised in support of his initiative. 276 KLS Research received over $30,000 during the presidential campaign, although Smith represented that he raised even more money.277 Smith recruited multiple people for his initiative, including security experts to search for and authenticate the emails.278 In early September 2016, as part of his recruitment and fundraising effort, Smith circulated a document stating that his initiative was " in coordination" with the Trump Campaign, "to the extent permitted as an independent expenditure organization.,,279 The document listed multiple individuals affiliated with the Trump Campaign, including Flynn, Clovis, Bannon, 271 12/3115 Email. Smith to Szobocsan & Safron. 272 Szobocsan 3/29118 302, at 1. 27J 8/31116 Email.Smith to Smith. 274 8128/ 16 Email. Smith to Smith. '" Incorporation papers of KLS Research LLC, 7/26117 Szobocsan 3/29118 302, at 2. 276 Szobocsan 3/29118 302, at 3. InSititultion Record of Peter 10111116 Email.Smith 278 10131117 _ Tait 8/22117 302, at 3; York 7112/17302, at 1-2; York 11122/17302, at 1. 279 York 7113117 302 (attaclunent KLS Research, LLC, "Clinton Email Reconnaissance Initiative," Sept. 9, 2016). 63 U.S. Department of Justice AftefAey ""elk PIsettet II P.1ay Cefltaift ~4atet'illl Pf8teetes Unclet FeEl. R. Griff!. P. GEe) and Kellyanne Conway,zso The investigation established that Smith communicated with at least Flynn and Clovis about his search for the deleted Clinton emails,2sl but the Office did not identify evidence that any of the listed individuals initiated or directed Smith's efforts. In September 2016, Smith and Ledeen got back in touch with each other about their respective efforts. Ledeen wrote to Smith, "wondering if you had some more detailed reports or memos or other data you could share because we have come a long way in our effolts since we last visited .. . . We would need as much technical discussion as possible so we could marry it against the new data we have found and then could share it back to you 'your eyes only.",282 Ledeen claimed to have obtained a trove of emails (from what she described as the "dark web") that purported to be the deleted Clinton emails. Ledeen wanted to authenticate the emails and solicited contributions to fund that effort. Erik Prince provided funding to hire a tech advisor to ascertain the authenticity of the emails. According to Prince, the tech advisor determined that the emails were not authentic. 283 A backup of Smith's computer contained two files that had been downloaded from WikiLeaks and that were originally attached to emails received by John Podesta. The files on Smith's computer had creation dates of October 2,2016, which was prior to the date oftheir release by WikiLeaks. Forensic examination, however, established that the creation date did not reflect when the files were downloaded to Smith's computer. (It appears the creation date was when WikiLeaks staged the document for release, as discussed in Volume I , Section IIl.B.3.c, supra. 284 ) The investigation did not otherwise identify evidence that Smith obtained the files before their release by WikiLeaks. Smith continued to send emails to an undi sclosed recipient list about Clinton's deleted emailsuntil shortly before the election. For example, on October 28, 2016, Smith wrote that there was a "tug-of-war going on within WikiLeaks over its planned releases in the next few days," and that WikiLeaks " has maintained that it will save its best revelations for last, under the theory this allows little time for response prior to the U.S. election November 8.'>285 An attachment to the 280 The same recruitment document listed Jerome Corsi under "Independent Groups/Organizationsllndividuals," and described him as an "established author and writer from the right on President Obama and Sec. Clinton." 28\ Flynn 11129/17302, at 7-8; 10/15/ 16 Email, Smith to Flynn et a1.; 8/28/16 Email, Smith to Smith (bcc: Clovis et a1.). 282 9/16/16 Email, Ledeen to Smith. 283 Prince 4/4/18 302, at 4-5. 284 The forensic analysis of Smith's computer devices found that Smith used an older Apple operating system that would have preserved that October 2, 2016 creation date when it was downloaded (no matter what day it was in fact downloaded by Smith). See Volume I, Section 1II.B.3.c, supra. The Office tested this theory in March 2019 by downloading the two files found on Smith's computer from WikiLeaks' s site using the same Apple operating system on Smith's computer; both fil es were successfully downloaded and retained the October 2, 2016 creation date. See SM-2284941 , serial 62. 285 10/28/16 Email, Smith to Smith. 64 U.S. Department of Justice AHerne) W6yl( Pf6Eit:let II ~4ay CeHtsifl ~cffttel iel Pl8teetea UI\ael FeEl. R. Grim. P. 6(e} email claimed that WikiLeaks would release "All 33k deleted Emails" by "November 1st." No emails obtained from Clinton's server were subsequently released. Smith drafted multiple emails stating or intimating that he was in contact with Russian hackers. For example, in one such email, Smith claimed that, in August 2016, KLS Research had organized meetings with parties who had access to the deleted Clinton emails, including parties with "ties and affiliations to Russia."286 The investigation did not identify evidence that any such meetings occurred. Associates and security experts who worked with Smith on the initiative did not believe that Smith was in contact with Russian hackers and were aware of no such connection.287 The investigation did not establish that Smith was in contact with Russian hackers or that Smith, Ledeen, or other individuals in touch with the Trump Campaign ultimately obtained the deleted Clinton emails. *** In sum, the investigation established that the ORU hacked into email accounts of persons affiliated with the Clinton Campaign, as well as the computers of the DNC and DCCC. The ORU then exfiltrated data related to the 2016 election from these accounts and computers, and disseminated that data through fictitious online personas (OCLeaks and Ouccifer 2.0) and later through WikiLeaks . The investigation also that the . 286 8/31 / 16 Email, Smith to Smith. 287 Safron 3/20/ 18 302, at 3; Szobocsan 3/29/ 18 302, at 6. 65 U.S. Department of Justice At-t6'l'te) '''''erIt P166Het II P.4s) Centain P,4Melial PI6teetea UHsef FeB. R. Otin •. P. 6(e) IV. RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT LINKS To AND CONTACTS WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN The Office identified multiple contacts-" Iinks," in the words ofthe Appointment Orderbetween Trump Campaign officials and individuals with ties to the Russian government. The Office investigated whether those contacts constituted a third avenue of attempted Russian interference with or influence on the 2016 presidential election. In particular, the investigation examined whether these contacts involved or resulted in coordination or a conspiracy with the Trump Campaign and Russia, including with respect to Russia providing assistance to the Campaign in exchange for any sort of favorable treatment in the future. Based on the available information, the investigation did not establish such coordination. This Section describes the principal links between the Trump Campaign and individuals with ties to the Russian government, including some contacts with Campaign officials or associates that have been publicly reported to involve Russian contacts. Each subsection begins with an overview of the Russian contact at issue and then describes in detail the relevant facts, which are generally presented in chronological order, beginning with the early months of the Campaign and extending through the post-election, transition period. A. Campaign Period (September 2015 - November 8, 2016) Russian-government-connected individuals and media entities began showing interest in Trump's campaign in the months after he announced his candidacy in June 2015. 288 Because Trump's status as a public figure at the time was attributable in large part to his prior business and entertainment dealings, this Office investigated whether a business contact with Russia-linked individuals and entities during the campaign period-the Trump Tower Moscow project, see Volume I, Section IVA.! , infra-led to or involved coordination of election assistance. Outreach from individuals with ties to Russia continued in the spring and summer of20 16, when Trump was moving toward- and eventually becoming- the Republican nominee for President. As set forth below, the Office also evaluated a series of links during this period: outreach to two of Trump's then-recently named foreign policy advisors, including a representation that Russia had "dirt" on Clinton in the form of thousands of emails (Volume I, Sections IV.A.2 & IV .A.3); dealings with a D.C.-based think tank that specializes in Russia and has connections with its government (Volume I, Section IV.A.4); a meeting at Trump Tower between the Campaign and a Russian lawyer promising dirt on candidate Clinton that was "part of Russia and its government's suppOt1 for [Trump]" (Volume I, Section IV.A.S); events at the Republican National Convention (Volume I, Section IV.A.6); post-Convention contacts between Trump Campaign officials and Russia ' s ambassador to the United States (Volume I, Section IV.A.7); and contacts through campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who had previously worked for a Russian oligarch and a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine (Volume I, Section IV.A.8). For example, on August 18, 2015, on behalf of the editor-in-chief of the internet newspaper Vzglyad, Georgi Asatryan emailed campaign press secretary Hope Hicks asking for a phone or in-person candidate interview. 8/18/15 Email, Asatryan to Hicks. One day earlier, the publication'S founder (and former Russian parliamentarian) Konstantin Rykov had registered two Russian websites-Trump2016.ru and DonaldTrump2016.ru. No interview took place. 288 66 U.S. Department of Justice AMeffle) 'NSflt PrS81:1et II ~48) Centain j),4llteriai Plsteetee Ululel Feel. R. 81 ilfl. P. 6(e) l. Trump Tower Moscow Project The Trump Organization has pursued and completed projects outside the United States as part of its real estate portfolio. Some projects have involved the acquisition and ownership (through subsidiary corporate structures) of property. In other cases, the Trump Organization has executed licensing deals with real estate developers and management companies, often local to the country where the project was located. 289 Between at least 2013 and 2016, the Trump Organization explored a similar licensing deal in Russia involving the construction of a Trump-branded property in Moscow. The project, commonly referred to as a "Trump Towel' Moscow" 01' "Trump Moscow" project, anticipated a combination of commercial, hotel, and residential properties all within the same building. Between 2013 and June 2016, several employees of the Trump Organization, including thenpresident of the organization Donald J. Trump, pursued a Moscow deal with several Russian counterparties. From the fall of 2015 until the middle of 20 16, Michael Cohen spearheaded the Trump Organization ' s pursuit of a Trump Tower Moscow project, including by reporting on the project' s status to candidate Trump and other executives in the Trump Organization. 29o a. Trump Tower Moscow Venture with the Crocus Group (2013-2014) The Trump Organization and the Crocus Group, a Russian real estate conglomerate owned and controlled by Aras Agalarov, began discussing a Russia-based real estate project shortly after the conclusion of the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. 291 Donald J. Trump Jr. served as the primary negotiator on behalf of the Trump Organization; Emin Agalarov (son of Aras Agalarov) and Irakli "Ike" Kaveladze represented the Crocus Group during negotiations,292 with the occasional assistance of Robert Goldstone. 291 In December 2013, Kaveladze and Trump Jr. negotiated and signed preliminary terms of 289 See, e.g., Interview of Donald J Trump, Jr, Senate Judiciary Committee, 115th Congo lSI-52 (Sept. 7, 20 17) (discussing licensing deals of specific projects). 290 As noted in Volume I, Section III.D.I , supra, in November 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress concerning, among other things, the duration of the Trump Tower Moscow project. See Information '1I7(a), United States V. Michael Cohen, 1: 18-cr-850 (S .D.N .Y. Nov. 29, 2018), Doc. 2 ("Cohen Information"). 291 See Interview of Donald J Trump, Jr, Senate Judiciary Committee, 11 5th Congo 13 (Sept. 7, 2017) ("Following the pageantthe Trump Organization and Mr. Agalarov's company, Crocus Group, began preliminari ly discussion [sic] potential real estate projects in Moscow."). As has been widely reported, the Miss Universe pageant-which Trump co-owned at the time-was held at the Agalarov-owned Crocus City Hall in Moscow in November 2013. Both groups were involved in organizing the pageant, and Aras Agalarov's son Emin was a musical performer at the event, which Trump attended. 2'2 Kaveladze 11116117 302, at 2, 4-6; KA V_00385 (12/6/13 Email, Trump 1r. to Kal,eladze 67 U.S. Department of Justice 1'\t-tal He) \V81k PresHet II ~4ay CeRtain ~,4ftterifll Preteetea Untiel Fea. R. 61 iffi. P. 6(e) an agreement for the Trump Tower Moscow project. 294 On December 23, 2013 , after discussions with Donald 1. Trump, the Trump Organization agreed to accept an arrangement whereby the organization received a flat 3.5% commission on all sales, with no licensing fees or incentives.295 The parties negotiated a letter of intent during January and February 2014. 296 From January 2014 through November 2014, the Trump Organization and Crocus Group discussed development plans for the Moscow project. Some time before January 24, 2014, the Crocus Group sent the Trump Organization a proposal for a 800-unit, I 94-meter building to be . constructed at an Agalarov-owned site in Moscow called "Crocus City," which had also been the site of the Miss Universe pageant. 297 In February 2014, Ivanka Trump met with Emin Agalarov and toured the Crocus City site during a visit to Moscow?98 From March 2014 through July 2014, the groups discussed "design standards" and other architectural elements?99 For example, in July 2014, members of the Trump Organization sent Crocus Group counterparties questions about the "demographics of these prospective buyers" in the Crocus City area, the development of neighboring parcels in Crocus City, and concepts for redesigning portions of the building. 30o In August 2014, the Trump Organization requested specifications for a competing Marriott-branded tower being built in Crocus City.301 Beginning in September 2014, the Trump Organization stopped responding in a timely fashion to correspondence and proposals from the Crocus Group.302 Communications between the two groups continued through November 2014 with decreasing frequency ; what appears to be the last communication is dated November 24, 2014. 303 The project appears not to have developed past the planning stage, and no construction occurred. 29. 295 OSC-KA V_00452 (12/23/ 13 Email, Trwnp Jr. to Kaveladze & E. Agalarov). 2% See, e.g., OSC-KAV_o1158 (Letter agreement signed by Trump J1'. & E. Agalarov); OSCKAV_0 1147 (1 /20/14 Email, Kaveladze to Trump Jr. et al.). 297 See, e.g., OSC-KA V_00972 (10/ 14/ 14 Email, McGee to Khoo et al.) (email from Crocus Group contractor about specifications); OSC-KA V_00540 (1/24114 Email, McGee to Trump Jr. et al.). 298 See OSC-KA V 00631 (2/5114 Goldstone Facebook post, 2/4/14 (8:01 a.m.) l J1'. & Kaveladze); 299 See, e.g., OSC-KA V_00791 (6/3/14 Email , Kaveladze to Trump Jr. et al. ; OSC-KAV_00799 (6/10/ 14 Email, Trump Jr. to Kaveladze et al.); OSC-KA V_00817 (6/16/14 Email, Trump JI'. to Kaveladze et al.). 300 OSC-KAV 00870 (7/17/14 Email, Khoo to McGee et al.). 301 OSC-KAV_00855 (8/4114 Email, Khoo to McGee et al.). 302 OSC-KA V_ 00903 (9/29/ 14 Email, Tropea to McGee & Kaveladze (noting last response was on August 26, 2014»; OSC-KAV_00906 (9/29/14 Email, Kaveladze to Tropea & McGee (suggesting silence "proves my fear that those guys are 'bailing out of the project"»; OSC-KA V_00972 (10/14114 Email, McGee to Khoo et al.) (email from Crocus Group contractor about development specifications». 303 OSC-KA V 01140 (11/24/ 14 Email, Khoo to McGee et al.). 68 U.S. Department of Justice AM:effte) \"sFlt PfEJ8tlet II 1\48) Centsin ~4atefial PreteeteEl UI'laer Fea. R. 01 im. P. 6(e) b. Communications with LC Expert Investment Company and Giorgi Rtskhiladze (Summer and Fall 2015) In the late summer of2015 , the Trump Organization received a new inquiry about pursuing a Trump Tower project in Moscow. In approximately September 2015, Felix Sater, a New Yorkbased real estate advisor, contacted Michael Cohen, then-executive vice president of the Trump Organization and special counsel to Donald J. Trump.304 Sater had previously worked with the Trump Organization and advised it on a number of domestic and international projects. Sater had explored the possibility of a Trump Tower project in Moscow while working with the Trump Organization and therefore knew of the organization ' s general interest in completing a deal there.305 Sater had also served as an informal agent of the Trump Organization in Moscow previously and had accompanied Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. to Moscow in the mid2000S3 06 Sater contacted Cohen on behalf of I.C. Expert Investment Company (I.C. Expert), a Russian real-estate development corporation controlled by Andrei Vladimirovich Rozov .J07 Sater had known Rozov since approximately 2007 and, in 2014, had served as an agent on behalf of Rozov during Rozov's purchase of a building in New York City.30S Sater later contacted Rozov and proposed that I.C. Expert pursue a Trump Tower Moscow project in which I. C. Expert would license the name and brand from the Trump Organization but construct the building on its own. Sater worked on the deal with Rozov and another employee of I.C. Expert 309 Cohen was the only Trump Organization representative to negotiate directly with I.C. Expert or its agents. In approximately September 2015 , Cohen obtained approval to negotiate with I.C. Expert from candidate Trump, who was then president of the Trump Organization. Cohen provided updates directly to Trump about the project throughout 2015 and into 2016, assuring him the project was continuing.31D Cohen also discussed the Trump Moscow project with Ivanka Trump as to design elements (such as possible architects to use for the projectJ ll ) and Donald J. Trump Jr. (about his experience in Moscow and possible involvement in the project312) during the fall of2015 . . nrc.vi,jen information to our Office in two 2017 interviews conducted under a proffer 30' 306 Sater 9119117 302, at 1-2, 5. 307 Sater 911911 7 302, at 3. 308 Rozov 1/25/18 302, at I. 309 Rozov 1/25/18302, at I; see also 1112/ 15 Email, Cohen to Rozov et al. (sending letter of intent). 310 Cohen 9/ \2/ 18302, at 1-2, 4-6. 31 1 Cohen 9112/ \8 302, at 5. 312 Cohen 9/ 12/ \8 302, at 4-5 . 69 u.s. Department of Justice Att6fHe) J,\'8Ik PresHet II ~,4a) Centaifl !),4ateriai Plsteetea Unset Feel. R. Grim. P. 6(e) Also during the fall of20 15, Cohen communicated about the Trump Moscow proposal with Giorgi Rtskhiladze, a business executive who previously had been involved in a development deal with the Trump Organization in Batumi, Georgia. J1J Cohen stated that he spoke to Rtskhiladze in part because Rtskhiladze had pursued business ventures in Moscow, including a licensing deal with the Agalarov-owned Crocus Group.l 14 On September 22,2015, Cohen forwarded a preliminary design study for the Trump Moscow project to Rtskhiladze, adding "1 look forward to your reply about this spectacular project in Moscow." Rtskhiladze forwarded Cohen ' s email to an associate and wrote, "[iJf we could organize the meeting in New York at the highest level of the Russian Government and Mr. Trump this project would definitely receive the worldwide attention."l 15 On September 24, 2015 , Rtskhiladze sent Cohen an attachment that he described as a proposed " [IJetter to the Mayor of Moscow from Trump org," explaining that "[ w Je need to send this letter to the Mayor of Moscow (second guy in Russia) he is aware of the potential project and will pledge his support."l 16 In a second email to Cohen sent the same day, Rtskhiladze provided a translation of the letter, which described the Trump Moscow project as a " symbol of stronger economic, business and cultural relationships between New York and Moscow and therefore United States and the Russian Federation."l l? On September 27, 2015, Rtskhiladze sent another email to Cohen, proposing that the Trump Organization partner on the Trump Moscow project with "Global Development Group LLC," which he described as being controlled by Michail Po sikh in, a Russian architect, and Simon Nizharadze. 318 Cohen told the Office that he ultimately declined the proposal and instead continued to work with I.C. Expert, the company represented by Felix Sater. J19 c. Letter of Intent and Contacts to Russian Government (October 20I5-January 2016) i. Trump Signs the Letter of Intent on behalf of the Trump Organization Between approximately October 13, 2015 and November 2, 2015 , the Trump Organization (through its subsidiary Trump Acquisition, LLC) and I.e. Expert completed a letter of intent (Lor) for a Trump Moscow property. The LOI, signed by Trump for the Trump Organization and Rozov on behalf of I.C. Expert, was " intended to facilitate further discussions" in order to " attempt to 313 Rtskhiladze was a U.S.-based executive of the Georgian company Silk Road Group. In approximately 2011, Silk Road Group and the Trump Organization entered into a licensing agreement to build a property in Batumi, Georgia. Rtskhiladze was also involved in discussions for a in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Office twice interviewed Rtskhiladze, _ 314 Cohen 9/ 12118 302, at \2; see also Rtskhiladze 511 0/\8 302, at I. 31S 9/22/ \5 Email, Rtskhiladze to Nizharadze. 316 9/24115 Email, Rtskhiladze to Cohen. 31' 9124115 Email, Rtskhiladze to Cohen. 318 9127115 Email, Rtskhiladze to Cohen. 3 19 Cohen 9112/18 302, at 12. 70 U.S. Department of Justice AtteR Re) V/eri( Pf68tlet II Pt4tl) C8fltaiH h4ateliai Preteetea UHaet Feel. R. CritH. P. 6fe) enter into a mutually acceptable agreement" related to the Trump-branded project in Moscow. no The LO] contemplated a development with residential, hotel, commercial, and office components, and called for " [aJpproximately 250 first class, luxury residential condominiums," as well as "[0 Jne first class, luxury hotel consisting of approximately 15 floors and containing not fewer than 150 hotel rooms.,,321 For the residential and commercial portions of the project, the Trump Organization would receive between 1% and 5% of all condominium sales,322 plus 3% of all rental and other revenue.323 For the project's hotel portion, the Trump Organization would receive a base fee of 3% of gross operating revenues for the first five years and 4% thereafter, plus a separate incentive fee of 20% of operating profit. 324 Under the LOJ, the Trump Organization also would receive a $4 million "up-front fee" prior to groundbreaking.32S Under these terms, the Trump Organization stood to earn substantial sums over the lifetime of the project, without assuming significant liabilities or financing commitments. 326 On November 3,2015, the day after the Trump Organization transmitted the LOJ, Sater emailed Cohen suggesting that the Trump Moscow project could be used to increase candidate Trump's chances at being elected, writing: Buddy our boy can become President of the USA and we can engineer it. I will get all of Putins team to buy in on this, ] will manage this process .... Michael, Putin gets on stage with Donald for a ribbon cutting for Trump Moscow, and Donald owns the republican nomination. And possibly beats Hillary and our boy is in . ... We will manage this process better than anyone. You and I will get Donald and Vladimir on a stage together very shortly. That the game changer. 327 Later that day, Sater followed up: Donald doesn't stare down, he negotiates and understands the economic issues and Putin only want to deal with a pragmatic leader, and a successful business man is a good candidate for someone who knows how to negotiate. "Business, politics, whatever it all is the same for someone who knows how to deal" 320 1112115 Email, Cohen to Rozov et al. (attachment)(hereinafter "La I"); see also IOIl31l5 Email, Sater to Cohen & Davis (attaching proposed letter of intent). 321 LO! , p. 2. 312 The LOI called for the Trump Organization to receive 5% of all gross sales up to $100 million; 4% of all gross sales from $100 million to $250 million; 3% of all gross sales from $250 million to $500 million; 2% of all gross sales from $500 million to $ 1 billion; and I % of all gross sales over $ 1 billion. LOl, Schedule 2. 323 LOI, Schedule 2. 324 LOI, Schedule I. 325 LOl, Schedule 2. 326 Cohen 9/12/ 18 302, at 3. 327 11 /3/ 15 Email, Sater to Cohen (12:14 p.m.). 71 U.S. Department of Justice Afferl'te) Vlerlt P18Btlet II ~48:) C61.tsiH ~4Mel ittl PI8teetea lJHSet fea. R. 61 ifl'l. P. 6(e) I think I can get Putin to say that at the Trump Moscow press conference. If he says it we own this election. Americas most difficult adversary agreeing that Donald is a good guy to negotiate .... We can own this election. Michael my next steps are very sensitive with Putins very very close people, we can pull this off. Michael lets go. 2 boys from Brooklyn getting a USA president elected. This is good really good.32B According to Cohen, he did not consider the political import of the Trump Moscow project to the 2016 U.S. presidential election at the time. Cohen also did not recall candidate Trump or anyone affiliated with the Trump Campaign discussing the political implications of the Trump Moscow project with him. However, Cohen recalled conversations with Trump in which the candidate suggested that his campaign would be a significant "infomercial" for Trump-branded properties. 329 ii. Post-LOI Contacts with Individuals in Russia Given the size of the Trump Moscow project, Sater and Cohen believed the project required approval (whether express or implicit) from the Russian national government, including from the Presidential Administration of Russia.33o Sater stated that he therefore began to contact the Presidential Administration through another Russian business contact 331 In early negotiations with the Trump Organization, Sater had alluded to the need for government approval and his attempts to set up meetings with Russian officia ls. On October 12, 2015, for example, Sater wrote with Putin to Cohen that "all we need is Putin on board and we are and top deputy is tentatively set for the 14th [of October]. this meeting was being coordinated by associates in Russia and that he had no the Russian government. 333 Approximately a month later, after the LOI had been signed, Lana Erchova emailed Ivanka Trump on behalf of Erchova's then-husband Dmitry Klokov, to offer Klokov ' s assistance to the Trump Campaign. 334 Klokov was at that time Director of External Communications for PISC Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System, a large Russian electricity transmission 328 1ll3/lS Email, Sater to Cohen (12:40 p.m.). 329 Cohen 9/l2/l8 302, at 3-4; Cohen 817118 302, at IS . Sater 12/lS/17 302, at 2. 331 Sater 12/lS117 302, at 3-4. 332 10112/ IS Email, Sater to Cohen (8:07 a.m .). 334 Ivanka Trump received an email from a woman who identified herself as "Lana E. Alexander," which said in part, "If you ask anyone who knows Russian to google my husband Dmitry Klokov, you' ll see who he is close to and that he has done Putin's political campaigns." Il11611S Email, Erchova to l. Trump. 72 U.S. Department of Justice AM:erHe, Vlerlt Ppeatlet II ~{B:) Cantsil' ~4fttelial Pf6teetea Ufldef Fea. R. GliB .. P. 6(e) company, and had been previously employed as an aide and press secretary to Russia's energy minister. Ivanka Trump forwarded the email to Cohen. 335 He told the Office that, after receiving this inquiry, he had conducted an internet search for Klokov's name and concluded (incorrectly) that Klokov was a former Olympic weightlifter. 336 Between November 18 and 19, 201 5; Klokov and Cohen had at least one telephone call and exchanged several emails. Describing himself in emails to Cohen as a "trusted person" who could offer the Campaign "political synergy" and "synergy on a government level," Klokov recommended that Cohen travel to Russia to speak with him and an unidentified intermediary. Klokov said that those conversations could facilitate a later meeting in Russia between the candidate and an individual Klokov described as "our person of interest.,,337 In an email to the Office, Erchova later identified the "person of interest" as Russian President Vladimir Putin. JJS In the telephone call and follow-on emails with Klokov, Cohen discussed his desire to use a near-term trip to Russia to do site surveys and talk over the Trump Moscow project with local developers. Cohen registered his willingness also to meet with Klokov and the unidentified intermediary, but was emphatic that all meetings in Russia involving him or candidate Trumpincluding a possible meeting between candidate Trump and Putin-would need to be "in conjunction with the development and an official visit" with the Trump Organization receiving a formal invitation to visit. J39 (Klokov had written previously that "the visit [by candidate Trump to Russia1has to be informal. ")340 Klokov had also previously recommended to Cohen that he separate their negotiations over a possible meeting between Trump and "the person of interest" from any existing business track. 341 Re-emphasizing that his outreach was not done on behalf of any business, Klokov added in second email to Cohen that, if publicized well, such a meeting could have "phenomenal" impact " in a business dimension" and that the "person of interest['s]" "most important support" could have significant ramifications for the " level of projects and their capacity." Klokov concluded by telling '" 11116115 Email, l. Trump to Cohen. 336 Cohen 8/7/ 18 302, at 17. During his interviews with the Office, Cohen still appeared to believe that the Klokov he spoke with was that Olympian. The investigation, however, established that the email address used to communicate with Cohen belongs to a different Dmitly Klokov, as described above. 337 11118115 Email, Klokov to Cohen (6:51 a.m.). 338 In July 2018, the Office received an unsolicited email purporting to be from Erchova, in which she wrote that "[aIt the end of20 15 and beginning of 20 16 I was asked by my ex-husband to contact Ivanka Trump ... and offer cooperation to Trump's team on behalf of the Russian officials." 7/27118 Email, Erchova to Special Counsel's Office. The email claimed that the officials wanted to offer candidate Trump "land in Crimea among other things and unofficial meeting with Putin." Id. In order to vet the email's claims, the Office responded requesting more details. The Office did not receive any reply. 339 11118/ 15 Email, Cohen to Klokov (7:15 a.m.). 340 11118115 Email, Klokov to Cohen (6:51 a.m.). 341 11118/ 15 Email, Klokov to Cohen (6:5 1 a.m.) ("I would suggest separating your negotiations and our proposal to meet. I assure you, after the meeting level of projects and their capacity can be completely different, having the most important support."). 73 AtterRe~ U.S. Department of Justice Vt'et}( Pfeatlet II ~ift') CentB:itl Pt{tttel iai Preteetea Uflaer FeEl. R. GriAl. P. 6(e) Cohen that there was "no bigger warranty in any project than [the] consent of the person of interest.,,342 Cohen rejected the proposal, saying that "[c]urrently our LOI developer is in talks with VP's Chief of Staff and arranging a formal invite for the two to meet."343 This email appears to be their final exchange, and the investigation did not identify evidence that Cohen brought Klokov ' s initial offer of assistance to the Campaign's attention or that anyone associated with the Trump Organization or the Campaign dealt with Klokov at a later date. Cohen explained that he did not pursue the proposed meeting because he was already working on the Moscow Project with Sater, who Cohen understood to have his own connections to the Russian government 344 By late December 2015, however, Cohen was complaining that Sater had not been able to use those connections to set up the promised meeting with Russian government officials. Cohen told Sater that he was "setting up the meeting myself.,,345 On January I 1, 2016, Cohen emailed the office of Dmitry Peskov, the Russian government's press secretary, indicating that he desired contact with Sergei Ivanov, Putin's chief of staff. Cohen erroneously used the email address "Pr~eskova@prpress.gof.ru" instead of "Pr~eskova@prpress.gov . ru," so the email apparently did not go through. 346 On January 14, 2016, Cohen emailed a different address (info@prpress .gov.ru) with the following message: Dear Mr. Peskov, Over the past few months, I have been working with a company based in Russia regarding the development of a Trump Tower-Moscow project in Moscow City. Without getting into lengthy specifics, the communication between our two sides has stalled. As this project is too important, I am hereby requesting your assistance. [ respectfully request someone, preferably you; contact me so that I might discuss the specifics as well as arranging meetings with the appropriate individuals. I thank you in advance for your assistance and look forward to hearing from you soon 347 Two days later, Cohen sent an email toPr~eskova@prpress.gov.ru. repeating his request to speak with Sergei Ivanov. 348 Cohen testified to Congress, and initially told the Office, that he did not recall receiving a response to this email inquiry and that he decided to terminate any fUlther work on the Trump Moscow project as of January 2016. Cohen later admitted that these statements were false. In 342 11/19/15 Email, Klokov to Cohen (7:40 a.m.). 343 11119/15 Email, Cohen to Klokov (12:56 p.m.). 344 Cohen 9/18/18 302, at 12. 345 FS00004 (12/30/15 Text Message, Cohen to Sater (6: 17 p.m.)). 346 1/11/16 Email.Cohentopr-peskova@prpress.gof.ru (9: 12 a.m.). 347 1/14/16 Email.Cohentoinfo@prpress.gov.ru (9:21 a.m.). 348 1116116 Email.Cohentopr-peskova@prpress.gov.ru (10:28 a.m.). 74 u.s. Department of Justice AM:8tHe) \Velk Pre8t1et II ~it\) Centain l\4atetial Pf8teetea UH8er FeEl. R. GliAl. P. 6(e) fact, Cohen had received (and recalled receiving) a response to his inquiry, and he continued to work on and update candidate Trump on the project through as late as June 2016. 349 On January 20, 2016, Cohen received an email from Elena Poliakova, Peskov's personal assistant. Writing from her personal email account, Poliakova stated that she had been trying to reach Cohen and asked that he call her on the personal number that she provided. 35o Shortly after receiving Poliakova's email, Cohen called and spoke to her for 20 minutes 3 51 Cohen described to Poliakova his position at the Trump Organization and outlined the proposed Trump Moscow project, including information about the Russian counterparty with which the Trump Organization had partnered. Cohen requested assistance in moving the project forward, both in securing land to build the project and with financing. According to Cohen, Poliakova asked detailed questions and took notes, stating that she would need to follow up with others in Russia.352 Cohen could not recall any direct follow-up from Poliakova or from any other representative of the Russian government, nor did the Office identify any evidence of direct follow-up. However, the day after Cohen's call with Poliakova, Sater texted Cohen, asking him to " [cJall me when you have a few minutes to chat ... It's about Putin they called today.,,353 Sater then sent a draft invitation for Cohen to visit Moscow to discuss the Trump Moscow project,J54 along with a note to "[tJell me ifthe letter is good as amended by me or make whatever changes you want and send it back to me. "m After a further round of edits, on January 25, 2016, Sater sent Cohen an invitation- signed by Andrey Ryabinskiy of the company MHJ-to travel to "Moscow for a working visit" about the "prospects of development and the construction business in Russia," "the various land plots available suited for construction of this enormous Tower," and "the 0ppOliunity to co-ordinate a follow up visit to Moscow by Mr. Donald Trump."J56 According 349 Cohen Information ~~ 4, 7. Cohen' s interactions with President Trump and the President's lawyers when preparing his congressional testimony are discussed further in Volume II. See Vol. II, Section !I.K.3, infra. 350 1120/ 16 Email, Poliakova to Cohen (5:57 a.m.) ("Mr. Cohen[,] I can 't get through to both your phones. Pis, call me."). 35 1 Telephone records show a 20-minute call on January 2016 between Cohen and the number Poliakova provided in her email. Call Records of Michael After the call, Cohen saved Poliakova's contact information in his Trump IrganTzallIOn Outllook contact list. 1/20/16 Cohen Microsoft Outlook Entry (6:22 a.m.). 352 Cohen 9/12/18 302, at 2-3. 3S3 FS00011 (1121/16 Text Messages, Sater to Cohen). 354 The invitation purported to be from Genbank, a Russian bank that was, according to Sater, working at the behest of a larger bank, VTB, and would consider providing financing. FS00008 (12 /31/15 Text Messages, Sater & Cohen). Additional information about Genbank can be found infra. 3SS FSOOOll (1 /21/16 Text Message, Sater to Cohen (7:44 p.m.» ; 1/21/16 Email, Sater to Cohen (6:49 p.m.). 356 1125116 Email, Sater to Cohen (12:01 p.m.) (attachment). 75 Atterfle~ U.S. Department of Justice '.Vsflc Pf88t1et II ~ftl) Cef1tain ~{atelifll Preteetea Ult8er Fea. R. Grim. P. BEe) to Cohen, he elected not to travel at the time because of concerns about the lack of concrete proposals about land plots that could be considered as options for the project. 357 d. Discussions about Russia Travel by Michael Cohen or Candidate Trump (December 2015-June 2016) i. Sater's Overtures to Cohen to Travel to Russia The late January communication was neither the first nor the last time that Cohen contemplated visiting Russia in pursuit of the Trump Moscow project. Beginning in late 2015, Sater repeatedly tried to arrange for Cohen and candidate Trump, as representatives of the Trump Organization, to travel to Russia to meet with Russian government officials and possible financing partners. In December 2015, Sater sent Cohen a number of emails about logistics for traveling to Russia for meetings. 358 On December 19, 2015, Sater wrote: Please call me I have Evgeney [Dvoskin] on the other line.[359] He needs a copy of your and Donald's passports they need a scan of every page of the passports. Invitations & Visas will be issued this week by VTB Bank to discuss financing for Trump Tower Moscow. Politically neither Putins office nor Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot issue invite, so they are inviting commercially/ business. VTB is Russia's 2 biggest bank and VTB Bank CEO Andrey Kostin, will be at all meetings with Putin so that it is a business meeting not political. We will be invited to Russian consulate this week to receive invite & have visa issued. 360 In response, Cohen texted Sater an image of his own passport.36I Cohen told the Office that at one point he requested a copy of candidate Trump's passport from Rhona Graff, Trump's executive assistant at the Trump Organization, and that Graff later brought Trump's passport to Cohen's 357 Cohen 9/12/18 302, at 6-7. 358 See, e.g., 12/1/15 Email, Sater to Cohen (12:41 p.m.) ("Please scan and send me a copy of your passport for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs."). Toll records show that Sater was speaking to Evgeny Dvoskin. Call Records of Felix Sater Dvoskin is an executive of Genbank, a large bank with lending focused that Sater provided this financing letter to Cohen, Genbank was subject to U.S. government sanctions, see Russia/Ukraine-related Sanctions and Identifications , Office of Foreign Assets Control (Dec. 22, 2015), available at https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFACEnforcement/Pages/20 151222.aspx. Dvoskin, who had been deported from the United States in 2000 for criminal activity, was under indictment in the United States for stock fraud under the aliases Eugene Slusker and Gene Shustar. See United States v. Rizzo, et al. , 2:03-cr-63 (ED.N.Y. Feb. 6, 2003). 359 360 12/19/15 Email, Sater to Cohen (10:50 a.m.); FS00002 (12/19/15 Text Messages, Sater to Cohen, (10:53 a.m.). 361 FS00004 (12/19/15 Text Message, Cohen to Sater); ERT_0198-256 (12/19/15 Text Messages, Cohen & Sater). 76 u.s. Department of Justice AM:6Ifte, Vleri{ Preettet II P-f8:) Centaifl P,fateriai Pleteetea Uneet Fea. R. Clilfl. P. 6(e1 office J62 The investigation did not, however, establish that the passport was forwarded to Sater. 363 Into the spring of 2016, Sater and Cohen continued to discuss a trip to Moscow in connection with the Trump Moscow project. On April 20, 2016, Sater wrote Cohen, " [t)he People . wanted to know when you are coming?,,364 On May 4, 2016, Sater followed up: I had a chat with Moscow. ASSUMING the trip does happen the question is before or after the convention. I said I believe, but don't know for sure, that's it's probably after the convention. Obviously the pre-meeting trip (you only) can happen anytime you want but the 2 big guys where [sic) the question. I said I would confirm and revert. ... Let me know about If I was right by saying I believe after Cleveland and also when you want to speak to them and possibly fly over J 65 Cohen responded, " My trip before Cleveland. Trump once he becomes the nominee after the convention. ,,366 The day after this exchange, Sater tied Cohen' s travel to Russia to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum ("Forum"), an annual event attended by prominent Russian politicians and businessmen. Sater told the Office that he was informed by a business associate that Peskov wanted to invite Cohen to the Forum .367 On May 5, 2016, Sater wrote to Cohen: Peskov would like to invite you as his guest to the St. Petersburg Forum which is Russ ia's Davos it's June 16-19. He wants to meet there with you and possibly introduce you to either Putin or Medvedev, as they are not sure if 1 or both will be there. This is perfect. The entire business class of Russia will be there as well. He said anything you want to discuss including dates and subjects are on the table to discuss[. f68 The following day, Sater asked Cohen to confirm those dates would work for him to travel; Cohen wrote back, "[w)orks for me.,,369 362 Cohen 9/12/18302, at 5. 363 On December 21 , 2015, Sater sent Cohen a text message that read, "They need a copy of DJT passport," to which Cohen responded, "After [ return from Moscow with you with a date for him." FS00004 (12/21/15 Text Messages, Cohen & Sater). 364 FSOOOl4 (4/20/16 Text Message, Sater to Cohen (9:06 p.rn.». 365 FSOOOl5 (5/4/ 16 Text Message, Sater to Cohen (7:38 p.m.». 366 FS00015 (5/4/16 Text Message, Cohen to Sater (8:03 p.m.». 367 Sater 12/15/17302, at 4. 368 FS00016 (5/5/16 Text Messages, Sater to Cohen (6:26 & 6:27 a.m.» . 369 FS00016 (5/6/16 Text Messages, Cohen & Sater). 77 U.S. Department of Justice AU61f'1e} Well{ PresHet // 1\18)' C61lteifJ ~f8telial Pfeteetea UnEier feEl. R. Clilt!. P. 6(ej On June 9, 2016, Sater sent Cohen a notice that he (Sater) was completing the badges for the Forum, adding, " Putin is there on the 17th very strong chance you will meet him as well.'>370 On June 13, 2016, Sater forwarded Cohen an invitation to the Forum signed by the Director ofthe Roscongress Foundation, the Russian entity organizing the Forum.371 Sater also sent Cohen a Russ ian visa application and asked him to send two passport photos. 172 According to Cohen, the invitation gave no indication that Peskov had been involved in inviting him. Cohen was concerned that Russian officials were not actually involved or were not interested in meeting with him (as Sater had alleged), and so he decided not to go to the Forum. J73 On June 14,2016, Cohen met Sater in the lobby of the Trump Tower in New York and informed him that he would not be traveling at that time. 374 ii. Candidate Trump 's Opportunities to Travel to Russia The investigation identified evidence that, during the period the Trump Moscow project was under consideration, the possibility of candidate Trump visiting Russia arose in two contexts. First, in interviews with the Office, Cohen stated that he discussed the subject of traveling to Russia with Trump twice: once in late 2015; and again in spring 2016. 375 According to Cohen, Trump indicated a willingness to travel if it would assist the project significantly. On one occasion, Trump told Cohen to speak with then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski to coordinate the candidate's schedule. Cohen recalled that he spoke with Lewandowski, who suggested that they speak again when Cohen had actual dates to evaluate. Cohen indicated, however, that he knew that travel prior to the Republican National Convention would be impossible given the candidate's preexisting commitments to the Campaign. J76 Second, like Cohen, Trump received and turned down an invitation to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. In late December 2015, Mira Duma-a contact ofivanka Trump's from the fashion industry-first passed along invitations for Ivanka Trump and candidate Trump from Sergei Prikhodko, a Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation. 377 On January 14, 2016, Rhona Graff sent an email to Duma stating that Trump was "honored to be asked to participate in the highly prestigious" Forum event, but that he would " have to decline" the invitation given his "very grueling and full travel schedule" as a presidential candidate. 378 Graff 370 FS00018 (6/9/16 Text Messages, Sater & Cohen). 371 6/13/16 Email, Sater to Cohen (2:10 p.m.). 372 FSOOO 18 (6/13/16 Text Message, Sater to Cohen (2:20 p.m.»; 6/13/16 Email, Sater to Cohen. 373 Cohen 9/12/18 302, at 6-8. 374 FSOOOl9 (6/14/16 Text Messages, Cohen & Sater (12:06 and 2:50 p.m.». 375 Cohen 9112/ 18 302, at 2. 376 Cohen 9/12118 302, at 7. 377 12/21/15 Email, Mira to Ivanka Trump (6:57 a.m.) (attachments); TRUMPORG_ 16_000057 (117116 Email, I. Trump to Graff(9:18 a.m.». 378 1114/16 Email, Graff to Mira. 78 U.S. Department of Justice At-t8Ifle) "Yolell< PfesHet II ~48:) CSlltaifi ~4Mefi81 Plsteetee Unset Fee. R. Cril'fl. P. 6(e~ asked Duma whether she recommended that Graff "send a formal note to the Deputy Prime Minister" declining his invitation; Duma replied that a formal note would be "great.,,379 It does not appear that Graff prepared that note immediately. According to written answers from President Trump,380 Graff received an email from Deputy Prime Minister Prikhodko on March 17,2016, again inviting Trump to participate in the 2016 Forum in St. Petersburg. 381 Two weeks later, on March 31, 2016, Graff prepared for Trump ' s signature a two-paragraph letter declining the invitation.382 The letter stated that Trump's "schedule has become extremely demanding" because of the presidential campaign, that he "already hard] several commitments in the United States" for the time of the Forum, but that he otherwise "would have gladly given every consideration to attending such an important event."383 Graff forwarded the letter to another executive assistant at the Trump Organization with instructions to print the document on letterhead for Trump to sign. 384 At approximately the same time that the letter was being prepared, Robert Foresman- a New York-based investment banker- began reaching out to Graff to secure an in-person meeting with candidate Trump. According to Foresman, he had been asked by Anton Kobyakov, a Russian presidential aide involved with the Roscongress Foundation, to see if Trump could speak at the Forum. 385 Foresman first emailed Graff on March 31, 2016, following a phone introduction brokered through Trump business associate Mark Burnett (who produced the television show The Apprentice). In his email, Foresman referenced his long-standing personal and professional expertise in Russia and Ukraine, his work setting up an early "private channel" between Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President George W. Bush, and an "approach" he had received from "senior Kremlin officials" about the candidate. Foresman asked Graff for a meeting with the candidate, Corey Lewandowski, or "another relevant person" to discuss this and other "concrete things" Foresman felt uncomfortable discussing over "un secure email.,,386 On April 4, 2016, Graff forwarded Foresman 's meeting request to Jessica Macchia, another executive assistant to Trump. 387 1115/16 Email, Mira to Graff. 379 380 As explained in Volume II and Appendix C, on September 17, 2018, the Office sent written questions to the President's counsel. On November 20, 2018, the President provided written answers to those questions through counsel. 38 1 Written Responses of Donald 1. Trump (Nov. 20, 2018), at 17 (Response to Question IV, Part (e)) ("[D]ocuments show that Ms. Graff prepared for my signature a brief response declining the invitation."). 382 Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20, 2018), at 17 (Response to Question IV, Part (e)); see also TRUMPORG_16_000134 (unsigned letter dated March 31, 2016). TRUMPORG_I 6_0001 34 (unsigned letter). 383 384 TRUMPORG 16 000133 (3/31 / 16 Email, Graff to Macchia). 38S Foresman 10/ 17/ 18302, at 3-4. 386 See TRUMPORG_16_00136 (3/31/16 Email, Foresman to Graff); see also Foresman 10/17/18 302, at 3-4. 387 See TRUMPORG_16_00136 (4/4/16 Email, Graff to Macchia). 79 U.S. Department of Justice AU8IHe) Vleli( Pfeatlet II ~48) Cel.tain ~48tefit\1 Pl8teetea Ul'lael Fea. R. 01 it'll. P. 6(e) With no response forthcoming, Foresman twice sent reminders to Graff- first on April 26 and again on April 30, 2016. 388 Graff sent an apology to Foresman and forwarded his April 26 email (as well as his initial March 2016 email) to Lewandowski 389 On May 2, 2016, Graff forwarded Foresman's April 30 email-which suggested an alternative meeting with Donald Trump Jr. or Eric Trump so that Foresman could convey to them information that "should be conveyed to [the candidate] personally or [to] someone [the candidate] absolutely trusts"-to policy advisor Stephen Miller.)90 No communications or other evidence obtained by the Office indicate that the Trump Campaign learned that Foresman was reaching out to invite the candidate to the Forum or that the Campaign otherwise followed up with Foresman until after the election, when he interacted with the Transition Team as he pursued a possible position in the incoming Administration. 391 When interviewed by the Office, Foresman denied that the specific "approach" from "senior Kremlin officials" noted in his March 31 , 2016 email was anything other than Kobyakov's invitation to Roscongress. According to Foresman, the "concrete things" he referenced in the same email were a combination of the invitation itself, Foresman's personal perspectives on the invitation and Russia policy in general, and details of a Ukraine plan supported by a U.S. think tank (EastWest Institute). Foresman told the Office that Kobyakov had extended similar invitations through him to another Republican presidential candidate and one other politician. Foresman also said that Kobyakov had asked Foresman to invite Trump to speak after that other presidential candidate withdrew from the race and the other politician's participation did not work out.J92 Finally, Foresman claimed to have no plans to establish a back channel involving Trump, stating the reference to his involvement in the Bush-Putin back channel was meant to burnish his credentials to the Campaign. Foresman commented that he had not recognized any of the experts announced as Trump ' s foreign policy team in March 2016, and wanted to secure an in-person meeting with the candidate to share his professional background and policy views, including that Trump should decline Kobyakov ' s invitation to speak at the Forum.39J 2. George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a foreign policy advisor to the Trump Campaign from March 388 See TRUMPORG_16_00137 (4/26/16 Email, Foresman to Graff); TRUMPORG_16_00141 (4/30/16 Email, Foresman to Graff). 389 See TRUMPORG_16_00139 (4/27/16 Email, Graff to Foresman); TRUMPORG_16_00137 (4/27/16 Email, Graff to Lewandowski). 390 TRUMPORG_16_00142 (5/2/16 Email, Graff to S. Miller); see also TRUMPORG_16_00143 (5/2 /16 Email , Graff to S. Miller) (forwarding March 2016 email from Foresman). 391 Foresman's contacts during the transition period are discussed further in Volume I, Section IV.B.3 , infra. 392 Foresman 10117118 302, at 4. 393 Foresman 10/17/ 18302, at 8-9. 80 U.S. Department of Justice AtterAey ')lerk PI8ettet II ~{ft) CeHta:in ~4Ettefial Pfeteetee Ult8er Fee. R. Crilfl. P. 6(e) 2016 to early October 2016. 394 In late April 2016, Papadopoulos was told by London-based professor Joseph Mifsud, immediately after Mifsud's return from a trip to Moscow, that the Russian government had obtained "dirt" on candidate Clinton in the form of thousands of emails. One week later, on May 6, 2016, Papadopoulos suggested to a representative of a foreign government that the Trump Campaign had received indications from the Russian government that it could assist the Campaign through the anonymous release of information that would be damaging to candidate Clinton. Papadopoulos shared information about Russian "dirt" with people outside of the Campaign, and the Office investigated whether he also provided it to a Campaign official. Papadopoulos and the Campaign officials with whom he interacted told the Office that they did not recall that Papadopoulos passed them the information. Throughout the relevant period of time and for several months thereafter, Papadopoulos worked with Mifsud and two Russian nationals to arrange a meeting between the Campaign and the Russian government. That meeting never came to pass. a. Origins of Campaign Work In March 2016, Papadopoulos became a foreign policy advisor to the Trump Campaign. 395 As early as the summer of2015, he had sought a role as a policy advisor to the Campaign but, in a September 30, 2015 email, he was told that the Campaign was not hiring policy advisors. 396 In late 2015, Papadopoulos obtained a paid position on the campaign of Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson. 397 Although Carson remained in the presidential race until early March 2016, Papadopoulos had stopped actively working for his campaign by early February 2016. 398 At that time, Papadopoulos reached out to a contact at the London Centre of International Law Practice (LCILP), which billed itself as a "unique institution . . . comprising high-level professional international law practitioners, dedicated to the advancement of global legal knowledge and the practice of international law.,,399 Papadopoulos said that he had finished his role with the Carson 394 Papadopoulos met with our Office for debriefings on several occasions in the summer and fan of 20 17, after he was arrested and charged in a sealed criminal complaint with making false statements in a January 2017 FBI interview about, inter alia, the timing, extent, and nature of his interactions and communications with Joseph Mifsud and two Russian nationals: Olga Polonskaya and Ivan Timofeev. Papadopoulos later pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement, to an information charging him with making false statements to the FBI, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a). 395 A Transcript of Donald Trump's Meeting with the Washington Post Editorial Board, Washington Post (Mar. 21, 2016). 396 7/15115 Linkedln Message, Papadopoulos to Lewandowski (6:57 a.m.); 9/30115 Email, Glassner to Papadopoulos (7:42:21 a.m.). 397 Papadopoulos 8/10117 302, at 2. 398 Papadopoulos 8/10/17 302, at 2; 2/4116 Email, Papadopoulos to Idris. 399 London Centre of International Law Practice, at https://www.icilp.org/ (via web.archive.org). 81 U.S. Department of Justice Attet He) Vt'6¥i( Pf6Eli:let / / P,4a) C8HtaiH p''Iatet iai Pf8teetea ORser Feel. R. Cl int. P. 6fe) campaign and asked if LCILP was hiring.4oo In early February, Papadopoulos agreed to join LCILP and arrived in London to begin work.401 As he was taking his position atLCILP, Papadopoulos contacted Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski via LinkedIn and emailed campaign official Michael Glassner about his interest in joining the Trump Campaign 402 On March 2, 2016, Papadopoulos sent Glassner another message reiterating his interest. 403 Glassner passed along word of Papadopoulos's interest to another campaign official, Joy Lutes, who notified Papadopoulos by email that she had been told by Glassner to introduce Papadopoulos to Sam Clovis, the Trump Campaign's national cochair and chief policy advisor. 404 At the time of Papadopoulos's March 2 email, the media was criticizing the Trump Campaign for lack of experienced foreign policy or national security advisors within its ranks.405 To address that issue, senior Campaign officials asked Clovis to put a foreign policy team together on short notice. 406 After receiving Papadopoulos's name from Lutes, Clovis performed a Google search on Papadopoulos, learned that he had worked at the Hudson Institute, and believed that he had credibility on energy issues. 407 On March 3, 2016, Clovis arranged to speak with Papadopoulos by phone to discuss Papadopoulos joining the Campaign as a foreign policy advisor, and on March 6, 2016, the two spoke. 408 Papadopoulos recalled that Russia was mentioned as a topic, and he understood from the conversation that Russia would be an important aspect of the Campaign's foreign policy.409 At the end of the conversation, Clovis offered Papadopoulos a role as a foreign policy advisor to the Campaign, and Papadopoulos accepted the offer. 41O h. Initial Russia-Related Contacts Approximately a week after signing on as a foreign policy advisor, Papadopoulos traveled 400 2/4/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Idris. 40i 2/5/16 Email, Idris to Papadopoulos (6:11:25 p.m.); 2/6/16 Email, Idris to Papadopoulos (5:34:15 p.m.). 402 2/4/16 LinkedIn Message, Papadopoulos to Lewandowski (1 :28 p.m.); 2/4/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Glassner (2:10:36 p.m.). 403 3/2/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Glassner (II: 17:23 a.m .). 404 3/2/16 Email, Lutes to Papadopoulos (10:08:15 p.m.). 40S Clovis 10/3/17 302 (I of2), at 4. 406 Clovis 10/3/17 302 (l of2), at 4. 3/3/16 Email, Lutes to Clovis & Papadopoulos (6:05:47 408 3/6/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Clovis (4:24:21 p.m.). 409 Statement of Offense 114, United States v. George Papadopoulos, 1: 17-cr-182 (D.D.C. Oct. 5, 2017), Doc. 19 ("Papadopoulos Statement of Offense"). 410 Papadopoulos 8/10117 302, at 2. 82 U.S. Department of Justice Attetney 'Verll Pr86ttet II ~4ft) CSfltain ~48tefi81 Pisteetea Uliaet Feel. R. Crin •. P. 6(e) to Rome, Italy, as part of his duties with LCILP. 41 1 The purpose of the trip was to meet officials affiliated with Link Campus University, a for-profit institution headed by a former Italian government official. 412 During the visit, Papadopoulos was introduced to Joseph Mifsud. Mifsud is a Maltese national who worked as a professor at the London Academy of Diplomacy in London, England. 413 Although Mifsud worked out of London and was also affiliated with LCILP, the encounter in Rome was the first time that Papadopoulos met him 414 Mifsud maintained various Russian contacts while living in London, as described further below. Among his contacts was 41S a one-time employee of the IRA, the entity that carried out (see Volume I Section II, supra). In January and February the Russian 2016, Mifsud and discussed possibly meeting in Russia. The investigation did in the spring of2016, ~ was also in contact that was linked to an employee of the Russian Ministry of Defense, account contacts with a group of Russian militarycontrolled Facebook accounts that included accounts used to promote the DCLeaks releases in the course of the GRU ' s hack-and-release operations (see Volume I, Section III.B.I, supra). According to Papadopoulos, Mifsud at first seemed uninterested in Papadopoulos when they met in Rome.416 After Papadopoulos informed Mifsud about his role in the Trump Campaign, however, Mifsud appeared to take greater interest in Papadopoulos. 417 The two discussed Mifsud's European and Russian contacts and had a general discussion about Russia; Mifsud also offered to introduce Papadopoulos to European leaders and others with contacts to the Russian government. 418 Papadopoulos told the Office that Mifsud's claim of substantial connections with Russian government officials interested Papadopoulos, who thought that such connections could increase his importance as a policy advisor to the Trump Campaign 419 411 Papadopoulos 8/1 0/ 17 302, at 2-3; Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ 5. 412 Papadopoulos 8/10/ 17 302, at 2-3; Stephanie Kirchgaessner et aI., Joseph Mifsud: more questions than answers about mystery professor linked to Russia, The Guardian (Oct. 31, 2017) ("Link Campus University ... is headed by a former Italian interior minister named Vincenzo Scotti."). 413 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ 5. 414 Papadopoulos 8/1 0117 302, at 3. 416 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ 5. 417 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ 5. 418 Papadopoulos 8/ 10/ 17 302, at 3; Papadopoulos 8/11/17 302, at 2. 41 9 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ 5. 83 U.S. Department of Justice i,M6t'Hey Weri{ Pffl8tJet II h4tt) CeRtai" ~4tltel ial Pt'6teetea UH6er Feel. R. Crit". P. 6€e) On March 17, 2016, Papadopoulos returned to London.420 Four days later, candidate Trump publicly named him as a member ofthe foreign policy and national security advisory team chaired by Senator Jeff Sessions, describing Papadopoulos as "an oil and energy consultant" and an "[e]xcellent guy.''''21 On March 24, 2016, Papadopoulos met with Mifsud in London.422 Mifsud was accompanied by a Russian female named Olga Polonskaya. Mifsud introduced Polonskaya as a former student of his who had connections to Vladimir Putin.423 Papadopoulos understood at the time that Polonskaya may have been Putin' s niece but later learned that this was nottrue 424 During the meeting, Polonskaya offered to help Papadopoulos establish contacts in Russia and stated that the Russian ambassador in London was a friend ofhers. 425 Based on this interaction, Papadopoulos expected Mifsud and Polonskaya to introduce him to the Russian ambassador in London, but that did not OCCUr. 426 Following his meeting with Mifsud, Papadopoulos sent an email to members of the Trump Campaign's foreign policy advisory team. The subject line of the message was "Meeting with Russian leadership--including Putin.,,427 The message stated in pertinent part: I just finished a very productive lunch with a good friend of mine, Joseph Mifsud, the director of the London Academy of Diplomacy--who introduced me to both Putin 's niece and the Russian Ambassador in London--who also acts as the Deputy Foreign Minister. 428 The topic of the lunch was to arrange a meeting between us and the Russian leadership to discuss U.S.-Russia ties under President Trump. They are keen to host us in a "neutral" city, or directly in Moscow. They said the leadership, including Putin, is ready to meet with us and Mr. Trump should there be interest. Waiting for everyone' s thoughts on moving forward with this very important issue.429 420 Papadopoulos 8110/17 302, at 2. 421 Phillip Rucker & Robert Costa, Trump Questions Need/or NATO, Outlines Noninterventionist Foreign Policy, Washington Post (Mar. 21, 2016). 422 Papadopoulos 8/10117 302, at 3; 3124/16 Text Messages, Mifsud & Papadopoulos. 423 Papadopoulos 8/ 10/17 302, at 3. 424 Papadopoulos 8/10117 302, at 3; Papadopoulos 211 0117 302, at 2-3; Papadopoulos Internet Search History (3/24/16) (revealing late-morning and early-afternoon searches on March 24, 2016 for IIputin's niece," "olga putin," and "russian president niece olga," among other terms). '" Papadopoulos 8/ 10/ 17 302, at 3. 426 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense 'If 8 n.!. 427 3124/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Page et al. (8:48:21 a.m.). 428 Papadopoulos's statements to the Campaign were false. As noted above, the woman he met was not Putin's niece, he had not met the Russian Ambassador in London, and the Ambassador did not also serve as Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister. 429 3/24/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Page et al. (8:48:21 a.m.). 84 U.S. Department of Justice AM-arne) 'Nelle Pfe8Het II ~{B:) C61.tB:in ~.4Merial Pl8teetea UHSet FeEl. R. Cliffi. P. 6(e) Papadopoulos's message came at a time when Clovis perceived a shift in the Campaign 's approach the NATO framework and toward Russia-from one of engaging with Russia C lovis 's response to Papadopoulos, however, did not reflect that shift. Replying to Papadopoulos and the other members of the foreign policy advisory team copied on the initial email, Clovis wrote: This is most informative. Let me work it through the campaign. No commitments until we see how this plays out. My thought is that we probably should not go forward with any meetings with the Russians until we have had occasion to sit with our NATO allies, especially France, Germany and Great Britain. We need to reassure our allies that we are not going to advance anything with Russia until we have everyone on the same page. More thoughts later today. Great work 431 c. March 31 Foreign Policy Team Meeting The Campaign held a meeting of the foreign policy advisory team with Senator Sessions and candidate Trump approximately one week later, on March 31, 2016, in Washington, D .C. 4l2 The meeting-which was intended to generate press coverage for the Campaign433- took place at the Trump International Hotel. 434 Papadopoulos flew to Washington for the event. At the meeting, Senator Sess ions sat at one end of an oval table, while Trump sat at the other. As reflected in the photograph below (which was posted to Trump 's Instagram account), Papadopoulos sat between the two, two seats to Sessions's left: 431 3/24/16 Email, Clovis to Papadopoulos et al. (8:55:04 a.m.). 432 Papadopoulos 8/10/1 7 302, at 4; Papadopoulos 8/11/17 302, at 3. 43J Sessions 1/17118302, at 16-17. 434 Papadopoulos 811 0117 302, at 4. 85 Prtteflte) VtTerk U.S. Department of Justice Pf8at1et II ~.qB;) CeRtain Pt{aterial P18teetea UHaef fea . R. Grim. P. 6(e) March 31, 2016 Meeting a/Foreign Policy Team, with Papadopoulos (Fourth/rom Right a/Candidate Trump) During the meeting, each of the newly announced foreign policy advisors introduced themselves and briefly described their areas of experience or expe11ise. 435 Papadopoulos spoke about his previous work in the energy sector and then brought up a potential meeting with Russian officials. 436 Specifically, Papadopoulos told the group that he had learned through his contacts in London that Putin wanted to meet with candidate Trump and that these connections could help arrange that meeting. 4 ]7 Trump and Sessions both reacted to Papadopoulos's statement. Papadopoulos and Campaign advisor J.D. Gordon- who told investigators in an interview that he had a "crystal clear" recollection of the meeting-have stated that Trump was interested in and receptive to the idea of a meeting with Putin. 4J8 Papadopoulos understood Sessions to be similarly supportive of his efforts to arrange a meeting. 4 ]9 Gordon and two other attendees, however, recall that Sessions generally opposed the proposal, though they differ in their accounts of the concerns he voiced or the strength of the opposition he expressed. 440 d. George Papadopoulos Learns That Russia Has "Dirt" in the Form of Clinton Emails Whatever Sessions'.s precise words at the March 31 meeting, Papadopoulos did not understand Sessions or anyone else in the Trump Campaign to have directed that he refrain from 435 Papadopoulos 8/10/17 302, at 4. 436 Papadopoulos 8/1 0/17 302, at 4. 437 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ 9; see Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 14; Carafano 9/12/17 302, at 2; Hoskins 9/14/17 302, at I . 438 Papadopoulos 8/1 0/17 302, at 4-5; Gordon 917117 302, at 4-5. 439 Papadopoulos 8/10/17 302, at 5; Papadopoulos 8/11/17 302, at 3. 440 Sessions 1117/18302, at 17; Gordon 9/7/17 302, at 5; Hoskins 9/14/17 302, at 1; Carafano 9/12/17302, at 2. 86 U.S. Department of Justice Att61ney '''spit Pf68l1et // ~f8) Centftin ~48telial Pr8teetea URaer Feel. R . eli.fl. P. 6(e) making further efforts to arrange a meeting between the Campaign and the Russian government. To the contrary, Papadopoulos told the Office that he understood the Campaign to be supportive of his efforts to arrange such a meeting. 441 Accordingly, when he returned to London, Papadopoulos resumed those efforts. 442 Throughout April 2016, Papadopoulos continued to correspond with, meet with, and seek Russia contacts through Mifsud and, at times, Polonskaya. 443 For example, within a week of her initial March 24 meeting with him, Polonskaya attempted to send Papadopoulos a text messagewhich email exchanges show to have been drafted or edited by Mifsud-addressing Papadopoulos ' s "wish to engage with the Russian Federation.,,444 When Papadopoulos learned from Mifsud that Polonskaya had tried to message him, he sent her an email seeking another meeting 445 Polonskaya responded the next day that she was "back in St. Petersburg" but "would be very pleased to support [papadopoulos ' s] initiatives between our two countries" and "to meet [him] again."446 Papadopoulos stated in reply that he thought " a good step" would be to introduce him to "the Russian Ambassador in London," and that he would like to talk to the ambassador, "or anyone else you recommend, about a potential foreign policy trip to Russia."447 Mifsud, who had been copied on the email exchanges, replied on the morning of April II , 2016. He wrote, "This is already been agreed. I am flying to Moscow on the 18th for a Valdai meeting, plus other meetings at the Duma. We will talk tomorrow.,,448 The two bodies referenced by Mifsud are part of or associated with the Russian government: the Duma is a Russian legislative assembly,449 while "Valdai" refers to the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based group that " is close to Russ ia's foreign-policy establishment."45o Papadopoulos thanked Mifsud and said that he would see him "tomorrow.,,451 For her part, Polonskaya responded that she had "already alerted my personal links to our conversation and your request," that " we are all very excited the possibility of a good relationship with Mr. Trump," and that " [t]he Russian Federation would love to welcome him once his candidature would be officially announced.,,452 44 1 Papadopoulos S/ I0/17 302, at 4-5; Papadopoulos SI11117 302, at 3; Papadopoulos 9/20117 302, 442 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense 1 10. 44J Papadopoulos Statement of Offense 11 10-15. at 2. 444 3/29116 Emails, Mifsud to Polonskaya (3:39 a.m. and 5:36 a.m.). 445 4/10/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Polonskaya (2:45:59 p.m.). 446 447 4111116 Email, Polonskaya to Papadopoulos (3:11 :24 a.m.). 4/ 11/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Polonskaya (9:21:56 a.m.). 448 4111/16 Email, Mifsud to Papadopoulos (II :43:53). 449 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense 1 lO(c}. Anton Troianovski, Pulin Ally Warns of Arms Race as Russia Considers Response to U.S. Nuclear Stance, Washington Post (Feb. 10, 20IS). 45 0 451 4111116 Email, Papadopoulos to Mifsud (11 :51 :53 a.m.). 452 4/ 12/16 Email, Polonskaya to Papadopoulos (4 :47:06 a.m .). 87 U.S. Department of Justice AK811.e} Vierl, Ple6l1et II j),4a:y CSHtaift P,4Meriai Preteetee BReier Feel. R. Criffl. P. 6(e) Papadopoulos's and Mifsud' s mentions of seeing each other "tomorrow" referenced a meeting that the two had scheduled for the next morning, April 12, 20 16, at the Andaz Hotel in London. Papadopoulos acknowledged the meeting during interviews with the Office,453 and records from Papadopoulos' s UK ce llphone and his internet-search history all indicate that the meeting took place. 454 Following the meeting, Mifsud traveled as planned to Moscow. 455 On April 18,2016, while in Russia, Mifsud introduced Papado poulos over email to Ivan Timofeev, a member ofthe Russian International Affairs Council (R1AC).456 Mifsud had described Timofeev as having connections with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affa irs (MFA),457 the executive entity in Russia responsible for Russian foreign relations 4 58 Over the next several weeks, Papadopoulos and Timofeev had multiple conversations over Skype and email about setting "the groundwork" for a " potential" meeting between the Campaign and Russ ian government officials. 459 Papadopoulos told the Office that, on one Skype call, he be lieved that his conversation with Timofeev was being monitored or supervised by an unknown third party, because Timofeev spoke in an official manner and Papadopoulos heard odd noises on the line. 46o Timofeev also told Papadopoulos in an April 25,2016 email that he had just spoken "to Igor IvanovL] the President ofRiAC and former Foreign Minister of Russia," and conveyed Ivanov's advice about how best to arrange a "Moscow visit.,,461 After a stop in Rome, Mifsud returned to England on April 25, 2016. 462 The next day, Papadopoulos met Mifsud for breakfast at the Andaz Hotel (the same location as their last '" Papadopoulos 9119117 302, at 7. 454 4/ 12116 Email , Mifsud to Papadopoulos (5 :44:39 a.m.) (forwarding Libya-related document); 4112/ 16 Email, Mifsud to Papadopoulos & Obaid (10 :28 :20 a. m.); Papadopoulos Internet Search History (Apr. 11 , 20 16 10:56:49 p.m.) (search for "andaz hotel liverpool street"); 4/ 12116 Text Messages, Mifsud & Papadopoulos. '" See, e.g., 4118/ 16 Email, Mifsud to Papadopoulos (8:04:54 a.m .). 456 Papadopoulos 8110117 302, at 5. 457 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ 11. 458 During the campaign period, Papadopoulos connected over Linkedln with several MF Aaffiliated individuals in addition to Timofeev. On April 25, 20 16, he connected with Dmitry Andreyko, publicly identified as a First Secretary at the Russian Embassy in Ireland . In July 2016, he connected with Yuriy Melnik, the spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Washington and with Alexey Krasilnikov, publicly identified as a counselor with the MFA. And on September 16,20 16, he con~ also identified as an MFA official. See Papadopoulos LinkedIn Connecti ons ~ .,. Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~ II . 460 Papadopoulos 811 0117 302, at 5; Papadopoulos 9119/17 302, at 10. 460 4/25/ 16 Email, Timofeev to Papadopoulos (8: 16:35 a.m.). 462 4/22116 Email, Mifsud to Papadopoulos (12:41:01 a.m.). 88 U.S . Department of Justice Attelfle) 'Nelle Pf88t1et // P.{a) CeRtain P,{atelial Pl6teetee UneJer Fee. R. Grim. P. 6(e) meeting).463 During that meeting, Mifsud told Papadopoulos that he had met with high-level Russian government officials during his recent trip to Moscow. Mifsud also said that, on the trip, he learned that the Russians had obtained "dirt" on candidate Hillary Clinton. As Papadopoulos later stated to the FBI, Mifsud said that the "dirt" was in the form of "em ails of Clinton," and that they "have thousands of emails.,,464 On May 6, 2016, 10 days after that meeting with Mifsud, Papadopoulos suggested to a representative of a foreign government that the Trump Campaign had received indications from the Russian government that it could assist the Campaign through the anonymous release of information that would be damaging to Hillary Clinton. 465 e. Russia-Related Communications With The Campaign While he was discussing with his foreign contacts a potential meeting of campaign officials with Russian government officials , Papadopoulos kept campaign officials apprised of his efforts. On April 25, 2016, the day before Mifsud told Papadopoulos about the emails, Papadopoulos wrote to senior policy advisor Stephen Miller that "[t]he Russian government has an open invitation by Putin for Mr. Trump to meet him when he is ready," and that "[t]he advantage of being in London is that these governments tend to speak a bit more openly in 'neutral' cities.,,466 On April 27, 2016, after his meeting with Mifsud, Papadopoulos wrote a second message to Miller stating that "some interesting messages [were] coming in from Moscow about a trip when the time is right.,,467 The same day, Papadopoulos sent a similar email to campaign manager Corey Lewandowski , telling Lewandowski that Papadopoulos had "been receiving a lot of calls over the last month about Putin wanting to host [Trump] and the team when the time is right.,,468 Papadopoulos's Russia-related communications with Campaign officials continued throughout the spring and summer of 20 16. On May 4, 2016, he forwarded to Lewandowski an email from Timofeev raising the possibility of a meeting in Moscow, asking Lewandowski whether that was "something we want to move forward with."469 The next day, Papadopoulos forwarded the same Timofeev email to Sam Clovis, adding to the top of the email "Russia update.,,47o He included the same email in a May 21, 2016 message to senior Campaign official Paul Manafort, under the subject line "Request from Russia to meet Mr. Trump," stating that "Russia has been eager to meet Mr. Trump for quite sometime and have been reaching out to me 463 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense 1/14; 4/25/16 Text Messages, Mifsud & Papadopoulos. 464 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense 1/14. 465 This information is contained in the FBI case-opening document and related materials. 'I'fte iflMflHBtiel\ is lEt .. sRfefeenleRt sensiti. e (LEg} RHe ItHist ~e treatea aeeeraiflgly ifl tift) entsFRsI aissemill8tieli. The foreign government conveyed this information to the U.S. government on July 26, 2016, a few days after WikiLeaks's release of Clinton-related emails. The FBI opened its investigation of potential coordination between Russia and the Trump Campaign a few days later based on the information. 466 4125/16 Email, Papadopoulos to S. Miller (8: 12:44 p.m.). 4674/27/16 Email, Papadopoulos to S. Miller (6:55:58 p.m.). 468 4/27/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Lewandowski (7: 15: 14 p.m.). 469 5/4/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Lewandowski (8:14:49 a.m.). 470 5/5/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Clovis (7:15:21 p.m.). 89 Attollle) '.Verk PI 66t1et II U.S. Department of Justice CeRtain P,4ateriai PI eteeteti Ullee! Fea. R. Cr iln. P. 6(e) ~48:) to discusS."471 Manafort forwarded the message to another Campaign official, without including . Papadopoulos, and stated: "Let[']s discuss. We need someone to communicate that [Trump] is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the Campaign so as not to send any signal.,,472 On June I, 2016, Papadopoulos replied to an earlier email chain with Lewandowski about a Russia visit, asking if Lewandowski "want[ ed] to have a call about this topic" and whether "we were fo llowing up with it."473 After Lewandowski told Papadopoulos to "connect with" Clovis because he was "running point," Papadopoulos emailed Clovis that "the Russian MFA" was asking him " if Mr. Trump is interested in visiting Russia at some point.,,474 Papadopoulos wrote in an email that he " [w]anted to pass this info along to you for you to decide what's best to do with it and what message I should send (or to ignore).,,475 After several email and Skype exchanges with Timofeev,476 Papadopoulos sent one more email to Lewandowski on June 19,2016, Lewandowski's last day as campaign manager.477 The email stated that " [t]he Russian ministry of foreign affairs" had contacted him and asked whether, if Mr. Trump could not travel to Russia, a campaign representative such as Papadopoulos could attend meetings.478 Papadopoulos told Lewandowski that he was "willing to make the trip off the record if it's in the interest of Mr. Trump and the campaign to meet specific people.'>479 Following Lewandowski 's departure from the Campaign, Papadopoulos communicated with Clovis and Walid Phares, another member of the foreign policy advisory team, about an offthe-record meeting between the Campaign and Russian government officials or with Papadopoulos 's other Russia connections, Mifsud and Timofeev. 48o Papadopoulos also interacted 471 5121116 Email, Papadopoulos to Manafort (2:30: 14 p.m.). 472 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense '\119 n.2. 473 611116 Email, Papadopoulos to Lewandowski (3:08:18 p,m.). 474 6/1116 Email, Lewandowski to Papadopoulos (3:20:03 p.m.); 6/1116 Email, Papadopoulos to Clovis (3:29: 14 p.m.). 47S 611 / 16 Email, Papadopoulos to Clovis (3:29:14 p.m.). Papadopoulos's email coincided in time with another message to Clovis suggesting a Trump-Putin meeting. First, on May 15,2016, David Kleina distant relative of then-Trump Organization lawyer Jason Greenblatt--emailed Clovis about a potential Campaign meeting with Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia. The email stated that Klein had contacted Lazar in February about a possible Trump-Putin meeting and that Lazar was "a very close confidante of Putin." DJTFPOOOl1547 (5115116 Email, Klein to Clovis (5:45 :24 p.m.» . The investigation did not find evidence that Clovis responded to Klein's email or that any further contacts of significance came out of Klein's subsequent meeting with Greenblatt and Rabbi Lazar at Trump Tower. Klein 8/30118 302, at 2. 476 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense '\I21(a). 477 478 6/19116 Email, Papadopoulos to Lewandowski (I: II: II p.m.), 479 6/ 19/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Lewandowski (l: II: II p.m.). 480 Papadopoulos Statement of Offense '\121; 7/ 14116 Email, Papadopoulos to Timofeev (II :57:24 p.m.); 7115116 Email , Papadopoulos to Mifsud; 7127116 Email, Papadopoulos to Mifsud (2:14:18 p.m.). 90 AUeIHe~ U.S. Department of Justice Vl6li( Pf86tlet II ~ffl) Cefltail't ~4aterittl Preteetea Uflaer Feci. R. CI it". P. 6(e) directly with Clovis and Phares in connection with the summit of the Transatlantic Parliamentary Group on Counterterrorism (TAG), a group for which Phares was co-secretary general. 481 On July 16, 2016, Papadopoulos attended the TAG summit in Washington, D.C., where he sat next to Clovis (as reflected in the photograph below).482 George Papadopoulos (far right) and Sam Clovis (second/rom right) Although Clovis claimed to have no recollection of attending the TAG summit,483 Papadopoulos remembered discussing Russia and a foreign policy trip with Clovis and Phares during the event.484 Papadopoulos's recollection is consistent with emails sent before and after the TAG summit. The pre-summit messages included a July II , 2016 email in which Phares suggested meeting Papadopoulos the day after the summit to chat,485 and a July 12 message in the same chain in which Phares advised Papadopoulos that other summit attendees "are very nervous about Russia. So be aware.,,486 Ten days after the summit, Papadopoulos sent an email to Mifsud listing Phares and Clovis as other "participants" in a potential meeting at the London Academy of Diplomacy.487 Finally, Papadopoulos ' s recollection IS also consistent with handwritten notes from a ' 81 Papadopoulos 9119/17 302, at 16-17; 9th TAG Summit in Washington DC, Transatlantic Parliament Group on Counter Terrorism. 482 9th TAG Summit in Washington DC, Transatlantic Parliament Group on Counter Terrorism. 484 Papadopoulos 9119117 302, at 16-17. 485 7111116 Email, Phares to Papadopoulos. 48' 7112/16 Email, Phares to Papadopoulos (14:52:29). 487 7127/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Mifsud (14:14:18). 91 U.S. Department of Justice A1.-t6Pfte) Vh,rk Pf8e1ttet /1 Pt4s) CeRtain ~48teri81 Pr8teetea VASey FeEl. R. Cfin •. P. 6te) journal that he kept at the time. 488 Those notes, which are reprinted in part below, appear to refer to potential September 2016 meetings in London with representatives of the "office of Putin," and suggest that Phares, Clovis, and Papadopoulos ("Walid/Sam me") would attend without the official backing of the Campaign ("no official letter/no message from Trump,,) .489 September: Have an exploratory meeting or lose. In September - if allowed they will blast Mr. Trump. Ie We want the meeting in London/England Walid/Sam me No official letterlno message from Trump \ 7e('V",t,.v ~ j ~- !kefJ,,..w- - r{ r- IA-! .t<"7 . . "1 6£.<;/- I"r. .j.j"", .... -#f(~h 1""1· • \.v lv4 I"" k ~J"..../ ~ 0t-J lX d.ffi(.~ 1 l'lYJ.-v / W,f.)/ Sot.....y- jLve () \ /Ov ~4""v ~..,.... 1""1" \ They are talking to us. -It is a lot of risk. -Office of Putin. -Explore: we are a campaign. off Israel! EGYPT Willingness to meet the FM sp with Walid/Sam -FM coming -Useful to have a session with him. Later communications indicate that Clovis determined that he (Clovis) could not travel. On August 15,2016, Papadopoulos emailed Clovis that he had received requests from multiple foreign governments, " even Russia[]," for "closed door workshops/consultations abroad," and asked whether there was still interest for Clovis, Phares, and Papadopoulos "to go on that trip.,,490 Clovis copied Phares on his response, which said that he could not "travel before the election" but that he "would encourage [Papadopoulos] and Walid to make the trips, if it is feasible.,,491 488 Papadopoulos 9/20/ 17 302, at 3. 489 Papadopoulos declined to assist in deciphering his notes, telling investigators that he could not read his own handwriting from the journal. Papadopoulos 9/19/17 302, at 21. The notes, however, appear to read as listed in the column to the left of the image above. 490 8/ 15/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Clovis (11:59:07 a.m.). 49 1 8/ \5/ 16 Email, Clovis to Papadopoulos (12:01 :45 p.m .). 92 A~entey U.S. Department of Justice '.V6fi{ P186t:let II P.1s) Cefltain P.4ateriaI Prsteetea URael Feel. R. Criffl. P. 6te) Papadopoulos was dismissed from the Trump Campaign ·in early October 2016, after an interview he gave to the Russian news agency Intelfax generated adverse publicity.492 f. Trump Campaign Knowledge of "Dirt" Papadopoulos admitted telling at least one individual outside of the Campaignspecifically, the then-Greek foreign minister-about Russia's obtaining Clinton-related emails. 493 In addition, a different foreign government informed the FBI that, 10 days after meeting with Mifsud in late April 2016, Papadopoulos suggested that the Trump Campaign had received indications from the Russian government that it could assist the Campaign through the anonymous release of information that would be damaging to Hillary Clinton. 494 (This conversation occurred after the GRU spearphished Clinton Campaign chairman John Podesta and stole his emails, and the ORU hacked into the DCCC and DNC, see Volume I, Sections IILA & III .B, supra.) Such disclosures raised questions about whether Papadopoulos informed any Trump Campaign official about the emails. When interviewed, Papadopoulos and the Campaign officials who interacted with him told the Office that they could not recall Papadopoulos's sharing the information that Russia had obtained "dirt" on candidate Clinton in the form of emails or that Russia could assist the Campaign through the anonymous release of information about Clinton. Papadopoulos stated that he could not clearly recall having told anyone on the Campaign and wavered about whether he accurately remembered an incident in which Clovis had been upset after hearing Papadopoulos tell Clovis that Papadopoulos thought "they have her emails.,,495 The Campaign officials who interacted or corresponded with Papadopoulos have similarly stated, with varying degrees of certainty, that he did not tell them. Senior policy advisor Stephen Miller, for example, did not remember hearing anything from Papadopoulos or Clovis about Russia having em ails of or dirt on candidate Clinton 496 Clovis stated that he did not recall anyone, including Papadopoulos, having given him non-public information that a H' Clinton 497 492 George Papadopoulos: Sanctions Have Done Little More Than to Turn Russia Towards China, Interfax (Sept. 30, 2016). 493 Papadopoulos 9/1 9/1 7302, at 14-15; Def. Sent. Mem., United States v. George Papadopoulos, 1:17-cr- 182 (D.D.C. Aug. 31, 2018), Doc. 45. 494 See footnote 465 of Volume I, Section IV.A.2 .d, supra. 495 Papadopoulos 8/10/17 302, at 5; Papadopoulos 8/1 1/17 302, at 5; Papadopoulos 9/20/17 302, at 2. 496 S. Miller 12/14/1 7302, at 10. 93 U.S. Department of Justice AM:8IHe} \V811{ PI86ttet ii p,tS) C6fttftifl ~4fttelj81 Pl8teetea UI\e)et feel. R. Crim. P. 6(e) information with the Campaign. g. Additional George Papadopoulos Contact The Office investigated another Russia-related contact with Papadopoulos. The Office was not fully able to explore the contact because the individual at issue-Sergei Millian-remained out of the country since the inception of our investigation and declined to meet with members of the Office despite our repeated efforts to obtain an interview. Papadopoulos first connected with Millian via LinkedIn on July 15, 2016, sholtly after Papadopoulos had attended the TAG Summit with Clovis. sOO Millian, an American citizen who is a native of Belarus, introduced himself "as president of [the1New York-based Russian American Chamber of Commerce," and claimed that through that position he had " insider knowledge and direct access to the top hierarchy in Russian politics."so l Papadopoulos asked Timofeev whether he had heard ofMillian. s02 Although Timofeev said no,503 Papadopoulos met Millian in New York City504 The meetings took place on July 30 and August 1, 2016. 50S Afterwards, Millian invited Papadopoulos to attend-and potentially speak at-two international energy conferences, including one that was to be held in Moscow in September 2016. SO<5 Papadopoulos ultimately did not attend either conference. On July 31 , 2016, following his first in-person meeting with Millian, Papadopoulos emailed Trump Campaign official Bo Denysyk to say that he had been contacted " by some leaders of Russian-American voters here in the US about their interest in voting for Mr. Trump," and to ask whether he should "put you in touch with their group (US-Russia chamber of commel'ce)."S07 Denysyk thanked Papadopoulos "for taking the initiative," but asked him to "hold off with 499 '00 7/15/16 Linked!n Message, Millian to Papadopoulos. ' 01 7/ 15/16 Linked!n Message, Millian to Papadopoulos. '" 7/22/16 Facebook Message, Papadopoulos to Timofeev (7:40:23 p.m.); 7/26/16 Facebook Message, Papadopoulos to Timofeev (3:08:57 p.m.) . ' 03 7/23/16 Facebook Message, Timofeev to Papadopoulos (4 :31 :37 a.m.); 7/26/16 Facebook Message, Timofeev to Papadopoulos (3 :37: 16 p.m.). '04 7/ 16/ 16 Text Messages, Papadopoulos & Millian (7:55:43 p.m.). '0' 7/30/16 Text Messages, Papadopoulos & Millian (5:38 & 6:05 p.m.); 7/31116 Text Messages, Millian & Papadopoulos (3:48 & 4:18 p.m.); 8/1116 Text Message, Millian to Papadopoulos (8:19 p.m.). '06 8/2/16 Text Messages, Millian & Papadopoulos (3:04 & 3:05 p.m.); 8/3/16 Facebook Messages, Papadopoulos & Millian (4 :07:37 a.m. & 1: II :58 p.m.). ' 07 7/31 / 16 Email, Papadopoulos to Denysyk (12 :29:59 p.m.). 94 U.S. Department of Justice AtteH Bey '.\'sfl£ PI 88tlet // ~48) C8fltain ~4aterial Prateetea Ullael Fea. R. CritH. P. 6(e) outreach to Russian-Americans" because "too many articles" had already portrayed the Campaign, then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and candidate Trump as " being pro_Russian."sD8 On August 23,2016, Millian sent a Facebook message to Papadopoulos promising that he would "share with you a disruptive technology that might be instrumental in your political work for the campaign."sD9 Papadopoulos claimed to have no recollection of this matter. SID On November 9, 2016, shortly after the election, Papadopoulos arranged to meet Millian in Chicago to discuss business opportunities, including potential work with Russian " billionaires who are not under sanctions."Sl1 The meeting took place on November 14, 2016, at the Trump Hotel and Tower in Chicago. 512 According to Papadopoulos, the two men discussed partnering on business deals, but Papadopoulos perceived that Millian's attitude toward him changed when Papadopoulos stated that he was only pursuing private-sector opportunities and was not interested in ajob in the Administration. 513 The two remained in contact, however, and had extended online discussions about possible business opportunities in Russia 514 The two also arranged to meet at a Washington, D.C. bar when both attended Trump 's inauguration in late January 2017. 515 3. Carter Page Carter Page worked for the Trump Campaign from January 2016 to September 20 l6 . He was formally and publicly announced as a foreign policy advisor by the candidate in March 2016. S16 Page had lived and worked in Russia, and he had been approached by Russian intelligence officers several years before he volunteered for the Trump Campaign. During his time with the Campaign, Page advocated pro-Russia foreign policy positions and traveled to Moscow in his personal capacity. Russian intelligence officials had formed relationships with Page in 2008 and 2013 and Russian officials may have focused on Page in 2016 because of his affiliation with the Campaign. However, the investigation did not establish that Page coordinated with the Russian government in its efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election. 508 7/31/16 Email, Denysyk to Papadopoulos (21 :54:52). 509 8/23116 Facebook Message, Millian to Papadopoulos (2:55:36 a.m.). 510 Papadopoulos 9/20117 302, at 2. 511 11/10/ 16 Facebook Message, Millian to Papadopoulos (9:35:05 p.m.). '" 11 / 14/ 16 Facebook Message, Millian to Papadopoulos (1 :32: II a.m.). 513 Papadopoulos 9/19117 302, at 19. 514 E.g., 11/29116 Facebook Messages, Papadopoulos & Millian (5:09 - 5:11 p.m.); 1217116 Facebook Message, Millian to Papadopoulos (5:10 :54 p.m.). 515 1/20/ 17 Facebook Messages, Papadopoulos & Millian (4:37-4:39 a.m.). Page was interviewed Counsel's appointment. 516 the FBI 95 U.S. Department of Justice ."rtt8tne) Vlelk PI 88tlet II £t.48:)' Centail'! ~4atet'ial Preteetea Untiet Feel. R. Grim. P. 6(e) a. Background Before he began working for the Campaign in January 20 16, Page had substantial prior experience studying Russian policy issues and living and working in Moscow. From 2004 to 2007, Page was the deputy branch manager of Merrill Lynch' s Moscow office.517 There, he worked on transactions involving the Russian energy company Gazprom and came to know Gazprom ' s deputy chief financial officer, Sergey Yatsenko .518 In 2008, Page founded Global Energy Capital LLC (GEC), an in~ ad'visSO Page 3116/ 17 302, at 2-3 ; Page 3110/ 17302, at 3. 5" S. Weber 712811 7 302, at 3. 551 Y. Weber 611117 302, at 4-5; S. Weber 7/28/ 17302, at 3. m See Y. Weber 611117 302, at 4; S. Weber 7/28117 302, at 3. m De. Klimentov 6/9117 302, at 2. m S. Weber 7/28117 302, at 3. 556 See 5116116 Email, Page to Phares et al. (referring ta submissian of a "campaign advisar request farm "). ; 5/ 16116 Email, Page ta Phares et al. 5S8 6/ 19/16 Email, Page to Gordon et al. 559 6/19/ 16 Email, Lewandawski to Page et al. 560 Dmitri Klimentov is a New York-based public relations consultant. 561 7/511 6 Email, Klimentov ta Zakharova (translated). 562 7/5116 Email, Klimentov ta Zakharava (translated). 99 U.S. Department of Justice Attsfne) Vleli( Pre81:1et II P,48:) Centail'l ~4Mefi81 PI8teeteei UI\8el Fea.R. CI iffi. P. eEe) continued: "Page is Trump's adviser on foreign policy. He is a known businessman; he used to work in Russia . . . . [fyou have any questions, I will be happy to help contact him. ,,563 Dmitri Klimentov then contacted Russian Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov about Page's visit to see if Peskov wanted to introduce Page to any Russian government officials. 564 The following day, Peskov responded to what appears to have been the same Denis Klimentov-Zakharova email thread. Peskov wrote, "I have read about [Page]. Specialists say that he is far from being the main one. So I better not initiate a meeting in the Kremlin.,,565 On July 7, 2016, Page delivered the first of his two speeches in Moscow atNES. 566 In the speech, Page criticized the U.S. government's foreign policy toward Russia, stating that "Washington and other Western capitals have impeded potential progress through their often hypocritical focus on ideas such as democratization, inequality, corruption and regime change.,,567 On July 8, 2016, Page delivered a speech during the NES commencement. 568 After Page delivered his commencement address, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and NBS board member Arkady Dvorkovich spoke at the ceremony and stated that the sanctions the United States had imposed on Russia had hurt the NBS. 569 Page and Dvorkovich shook hands at the commencement ceremony, and Weber recalled that Dvorkovich made statements to about in the future. 57o Page said that, during his time in Moscow, he met with friends and associates he knew from when he lived in Russia, including Andrey Baranov, a former Gazprom employee who had become the head of investor relations at Rosneft, a Russian energy company572 Page stated that he and Baranov talked about " immaterial non-public" information. S73 Page believed he and Baranov discussed Rosneft president Igor Sechin, and he thought Baranov might have mentioned 563 7/5/16 Email, Klimentov to Zakharova (translated). 564 Om . Klimentov 11127118302, at 1-2. 'os 7/6116 Email, Peskov to Klimentov (translated). 566 Page 3110117 302, at 3. 567 See Carter W. Page, The Lecture of Trump's Advisor Carter Page in Moscow, YouTube Channel Katehon Think Tank, Posted July 7, 2016, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch? time_continue=28&v=ICYF29saA9w. Page also provided the FBI with a copy of his speech and slides from the speech. See Carter Page, "The Evolution of the World Economy: Trends and Potential," Speech at National Economic Speech (July 7, 2016). S68 Page 311 0/17 302, at 3. 569 Page 3116/ 17302, at 3. 570 S. Weber 7/28/17 302, at 4. S7I sn Page 311 0117 302, at 3; Page 3/30/17 302, at 3; Page 3/3 1117 302, at 2. m Page 3/30117 302, at 3. 100 U.S. Department of Justice Att6ffle) V/Sfi( PreEiHet II ~48:) Cantai}} P,{atel ittl Ppsteetea Untiel Fea. R. Grift]. P. 6(e) the possibility of a sale of a stake in Rosneft in passing. 574 Page recalled mentioning his involvement in the Trump Campaign with Baranov, although he did not remember details of the conversation. 575 Page also met with individuals from Tatneft, a Russian energy company, to discuss possible business deals, including having Page work as a consultant. 576 On July 8, 2016, while he was in Moscow, Page emailed several Campaign officials and stated he would send "a readout soon regarding some incredible insights and outreach I've received from a few Russian legislators and senior members of the Presidential Administration here.,,577 On July 9, 2016, Page emailed Clovis, writing in pertinent part: Russian Deputy Prime minister and NES board member Arkady Dvorkovich also spoke before the event. In a private conversation, Dvorkovich expressed strong support for Mr. Trump and a desire to work together toward devising better solutions in response to the vast range of current international problems. Based on feedback from a diverse array of other sources close to the Presidential Administration, it was readily apparent that this sentiment is widely held at all levels of government. 578 was or lC'11lI1UllY may met or communicated with in Moscow; thus, Page's activities in Russia-as described in his emails with the Campaign-were not fully explained. 576 '77 ' 78 Page 3/ 10/ 17302, at 3; Page 3/30/17 302, at 7; Page 3/31/17 302, at 2. 7/8/16 Email, Page to Dahl & Gordon. 7/9/16 Email, Page to Clovis. 101 U.S. Department of Justice Atteffle,' \\'slk PIsettet II ~48y Cefltftil'l ~{aterial Pfeteeteci UHaer Feel. R. GriM. P. 6(ej d. Later Campaign Work and Removal from the Campaign In July 2016, after returning from Russia, Page traveled to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.583 While there, Page met Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak; that interaction is described in Volume I, Section IV.A.6.a, irifra 584 Page later emailed Campaign officials with feedback he said he received from ambassadors he had met at the worried' Convention, and he wrote that Ambassador world views. 585 Following the Convention, Page' s trip to Moscow and his advocacy for pro-Russia foreign policy drew the media' s attention and began to generate substantial press coverage. The Campaign responded by distancing itself from Page, describing him as an " informal foreign policy advisor" who did "not speak for Mr. Trump or the campaign."587 On September 23, 2016, Yahoo! News reported that U.S . intelligence officials were investigating whether Page had opened private communications with senior Russian officials to discuss U.S . sanctions policy under a possible Trump Administration. 588 A Campaign spokesman told Yahoo! News that Page had " no role" in the Campaign and that the Campaign was "not aware of any of his activities, past or present.,,589 On September 24, 2016, Page was formally removed from the Campaign. 59o Although Page had been removed from the Campaign, after the election he sought a position in the Trump Administration. 591 On November 14, 2016, he submitted an app lication to the Transition Team that inflated his credentials and experiences, stating that in his capacity as a Trump Campaign foreign policy advisor he had met with "top world leaders" and "effectively 583 Page 3/ 10/ 17 302, at 4; Page 3/16/17 302, at 3. 5.. Page 3/10/17 302, at 4; Page 3/16/ 17 302, at 3. . 7/23/16 Email, Page to Clovis; 7/25/16 Email, Page to (Jo"'ocm 58' See, e.g., Steven Mufson & Tom Hamburger, Trump Advisor's Public Comments, Ties to Moscow Stir Unease in Both Parties, Washington Post (Aug. 5, 2016). 58' Michael Isikoff, Us. Intel Officials Probe Ties Between Trump Adviser and Kremlin, Yahoo! News (Sept. 23,2016). Michael Isikoff, Us. Intel Officials Probe Ties Between Trump Adviser and Kremlin, Yahoo! News (Sept. 23, 2016); see also 9/25/16 Email, Hicks to Conway & Bannon (instructing that inquiries about Page should be answered with "[h]e was announced as an informal adviser in March. Since then he has had no role or official contact with the campaign. We have no knowledge of activities past or present and he now officially has been removed from all lists etc."). 589 590 Page 3116117 302, at 2; see, e.g., 9/23/16 Email, 1. Miller to Bannon & S. Miller (discussing plans to remove Page from the campaign). "Transition Online Form," 11114/ 16 _ 102 U.S. Department of Justice lGrtteflle) \\'81"1£ Pr86ttet II Ptftt) CeAtail1 ~fB;tel"ial Preteetea Ulh~er Fea. R. Cliffl. P. BEe) responded to diplomatic outreach efforts from senior government officials in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, [and] the Americas.,,592 Page received no response from the Transition Team. When Page took a personal trip to Moscow in December 2016, he met again with at least one Russian government official. That interaction and a discussion of the December trip are set forth in Volume I, Section IV.B .6, il'!fra. 4. Dimitri Simes and the Center for the National Interest Members of the Trump Campaign interacted on several occasions with the Center for the National Interest (CNI), principally through its President and Chief Executive Officer, Dimitri Simes. CNI is a think tank with expertise in and connections to the Russian government. Simes was born in the former Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States in the 1970s. In April 2016, candidate Trump delivered his first speech on foreign policy and national security at an event hosted by the National Interest, a publication affiliated with CNI. Then-Senator Jeff Sessions and Russian Ambassador Kislyak both attended the event and, as a result, it gained some attention in relation to Sessions' s confirmation hearings to become Attorney General. Sessions had various other contacts with CNI during the campaign period on foreign-policy matters, including Russia. Jared Kushner also interacted with Simes about Russian issues during the campaign. The investigation did not identify evidence that the Campaign passed or received any messages to or from the Russian government through CN! or Simes. a. CNI and Dimitri Simes Connect with the Trump Campaign eNI is a Washington-based non-profit organization that grew out of a center founded by former President Richard Nixon. 593 CNI describes itself "as a voice for strategic realism in U.S. foreign policy," and publishes a bi-monthly foreign policy magazine, the National Interest. 594 CNI is overseen by a board of directors and an advisory council that is largely honorary and whose members at the relevant time included Sessions, who served as an advisor to candidate Trump on national security and foreign policy issues. 595 Dimitri Simes is president and CEO of CNI and the publisher and CEO of the National Interest 596 Simes was born in the former Soviet Union, emigrated to the United States in the early I 970s, and joined CNl's predecessor after working at the Carnegie Endowment for International 593 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 1-2. 594 About the Center, CNI, available at https ://cftni.orglaboutl. 595 Advisory Counsel, CNI, available at https://web.archive.orglweb/201610300253311 http://cftnLorg/about/advisory-council/; Simes 3/8/18 302, at 3-4; Saunders 2/15/18 302, at 4; Sessions 1117/18302, at 16. 5% Simes 3/8/18 302, at 2. 103 U.S. Department of Justice AtterRey ""erlc Pf68ttet II ~4a) CentaiR ~48:telial Pt'eteetea HIlBer Fea. R. C,iffi. P. 6(e) Peace. 597 Simes personally has many contacts with current and former Russian government officials,598 as does CN! collectively. As CN] stated when seeking a grant from the Carnegie Corporation in 2015 , CN! has "unparalleled access to Russian officials and politicians among Washington think tanks,"599 in part because CN! has arranged for U.S. delegations to visit Russia and for Russ ian delegations to visit the United States as part of so-called "Track II" diplomatic .efforts.600 On March 14, 2016, CN! board member Richard Plepler organized a luncheon for CN] and its honorary chairman, Henry Kissinger, at the Time Warner Building in New York.601 The idea behind the event was to generate interest in CN!'s work and recruit new board members for CN! 602 Along with Simes, attendees at the event included Jared Kushner, son-in-law of candidate Trump.603 Kushner told the Office that the event came at a time when the Trump Campaign was having trouble securing support from experienced foreign policy professionals and that, as a result, he decided to seek Simes ' s assistance during the March 14 event. 604 Simes and Kushner spoke again on a March 24, 2016 telephone call,605 three days after Trump had publicly named the team of foreign policy advisors that had been put together on short notice.606 On March 31 , 20] 6, Simes and Kushner had an in-person, one-on-one meeting in Kushner's New York office.607 During that meeting, Simes told Kushner that the best way to handle foreign-policy issues for the Trump Campaign would be to organize an advisory group of experts to meet with candidate Trump and develop a foreign policy approach that was consistent with Trump ' s voice. 608 Simes believed that Kushner was receptive to that suggestion 609 Simes also had contact with other individuals associated with the Trump Campaign regarding the Campaign ' s foreign policy positions. For example, on June 17, 2016, Simes sent J.D. Gordon an emai l with a " memo to Senator Sess ions that we discussed at our recent meeting" " 7 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 1-2; Simes 3/27/18 302, at 19. 5" Simes 3127/18 302, at 10-15. "9 COOOl1656 (Rethinking U. S.-Russia Relations, CN! (Apr. 18,2015». 600 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 5; Saunders 2/15/18302, at 29-30; Zakheim 1/25/18302, at 3. 60\ Simes 3/8/18 302, at 6; C00006784 (3 / 11 / 16 Email, Gilbride to Saunders (3:43 :12 p.m.); cf Zakheim 1125/ 18302, at I (Kissinger was CN!'s "Honorary Chairman of the Board"); Boyd 1124/18302, at 2; P. Sanders 2/15/18 302, at 5. 6" Simes 3/8/18 302, at 5-6; Simes 3/27/18 302, at 2. 603 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 6; Kushner 4/11/18 302 at 2. 604 Kushner 4/11118 302, at 2. 6" Simes 3/8/ 18 302, at 6-7 . 606 see Volume!, Section IV.A.2, supra. 607 Simes 3/8/ 18 302, at 7-9. ' 08 Simes 3/8/ 18 302, at 7-8. 609 Simes 3/8/ 18 302, at 8; see also Boyd 1124/18 302, at 2. 104 U.S. Department of Justice AH:erftey \V6fl( Pf6atlet II ~48)! CentaiH ftt4aterisi Preteetea UHtfer Fea. R. Grift •. P. 6(e) and asked Gordon to both read it and share it with Sessions. The memorandum proposed building a "small and carefully selected group of experts" to assist Sessions with the Campaign, operating under the assumption "that Hillary Clinton is very vulnerable on national security and foreign policy issues." The memorandum outlined key issues for the Campaign, including a " new beginning with Russia. ,,610 h. National Interest Hosts a Foreign Policy Speech at the Mayflower Hotel During both their March 24 phone call and their March 31 in-person meeting, Simes and Kushner discussed the possibility of CNI hosting a foreign policy speech by candidate Trump 6 11 Following those conversations, Simes agreed that he and others associated with CNI would provide behind-the-scenes input on the substance of the foreign-policy speech and that CNI officials would coordinate the logistics of the speech with Sessions and his staff, including Sessions's chief of staff, Rick Dearborn. 612 In mid-April 2016, Kushner put Simes in contact with senior policy advisor Stephen Miller and forwarded to Simes an outline of the foreign-policy speech that Miller had prepared.6IJ Simes sent back to the Campaign bullet points with ideas for the speech that he had drafted with CNI Executive Director Paul Saunders and board member Richard Burt 614 Simes received subsequent draft outlines from Miller, and he and Saunders spoke to Miller by phone about substantive changes to the speech.615 It is not clear, however, whether CNI officials received an actual draft of the speech for comment; while Saunders recalled having received an actual draft, Simes did not, and the emails that CNI produced to this Office do not contain such a draft 616 After board members expressed concern to Simes that CNl's hosting the speech could be perceived as an endorsement of a particular candidate, CNI decided to have its publication, the National Interest, serve as the host and to have the event at the National Press Club. 617 Kushner later requested that the event be moved to the Mayflower Hotel, which was another venue that Simes had mentioned during initial discussions with the Campaign, in order to address concerns about security and capacity.618 610 C00008187 (6117116 Email, Simes to Gordon (3:35:45 p.m .)). 611 Simes 3/8118 302, at 7. 612 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 8-11 ; C00008923 (4/6/16 Email, Simes to Burt (2:22:28 p.m.)); Burt 2/9/18 302, at 7. 61 3 C00008551 (4/17/ 16 Email, Kushner to Simes (2:44:25 p.m.)); C00006759 (4/14116 Email Kushner to Simes & S. Miller (12:30 p.m.)). 614 Burt 2/9/ 18302, at 7; Saunders 2/15/18 302, at 7-8. 61S Simes 3/8/18 302, at 13; Saunders 2/15/18 302, at 7-8 . 616 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 13; Saunders 2/15/18 302, at 7-8. 617 Saunders 2/15118 302, at 8; Simes 3/8118 302, at 12; C00003834-43 (4/22116 Email, Simes to Boyd et a1. (8:47 a.m.)). 618 Simes 3/8/ 18 302, at 12, 18; Saunders 2115118 302, at II. 105 U.S. Department of Justice At:f6Irte) 'Nelle Pr68t1et II P.4tl) Centttifl £-Wisterial Pl8teetee UI'lElel ~eti. R. Grim. P. 6(e~ On April 25. 2016, Saunders booked event rooms at the Mayflower to host both the speech and a VIP reception that was to be held beforehand. 619 Saunders understood that the receptionat which invitees would have the chance to meet candidate Trump-would be a small event 620 Saunders decided who would attend by looking atthe list of CNl's invitees to the speech itself and then choosing a subset for the reception 621 CNl's invitees to the reception included Sessions and Kislyak.622 The week before the speech Simes had informed Kislyak that he would be invited to the speech, and that he would have the opportunity to meet Trump.623 When the pre-speech reception began on April 27, a receiving line was quickly organized so that attendees could meet Trump.624 Sessions first stood next to Trump to introduce him to the members of Congress who were in attendance.625 After those members had been introduced, Simes stood next to Trump and introduced him to the CNI invitees in attendance, including Kislyak 626 Simes perceived the introduction to be positive and friendly, but thought it clear that Kislyak and Trump had just met for the first time.627 Kislyak also met Kushner during the prespeech reception. The two shook hands and chatted for a minute or two, during which Kushner recalled Kislyak saying, "we like what your candidate is saying ... it's refreshing.,,628 Several public reports state that, in addition to speaking to Kushner at the pre-speech reception, Kislyak also met or conversed with Sess ions at that time.629 Sessions stated to investigators, however, that he did not remember any such conversation.63o Nor did anyone else affiliated with CN! or the National Interest specifically recall a conversation or meeting between Sessions and Kislyak at the pre-speech reception 631 It appears that, if a conversation occurred at the pre-speech reception, it was a brief one conducted in public view, similar to the exchange between Kushner and Kislyak. 619 Saunders 2115118 302, at 11-12; C0000665 I-57 (Mayflower Group Sales Agreement). 620 Saunders 2115/18 302, at 12-13. 621 Saunders 2/15/18 302, at 12. 621 C00002575 (Attendee List); C00008536 (4/25/16 Email, Simes to Kushner (4:53:45 p.m.)). 623 Simes 3/8118 302, at 19-20. 624 Simes 3/8118 302, at 21. 62' Simes 3/8/18 302, at 21. 626 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 21. 627 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 21. 628 Kushner 4111118 302, at 4. 629 See, e.g., Ken Oilanian, Did Trump, Kushner, Sessions Have an Undisclosed Meeting With Russian?, NBC News (June 1,2016); Julia Ioffe, Why Did JejJSessions Really Meet With Sergey Kislyak, The Atlantic (June 13,2017). 630 Sessions 1117118302, at 22. 631 Simes 3/8118 302, at 21; Saunders 2115118 302, at 14, 21; Boyd 1124118302, at 3-4; Heilbrunn 2/ 1118302, at 6; Statement Regarding President Trump's April 27, 2016 Foreign Policy Speech at the Center for the National Interest, CNI (Mar. 8,20 17). 106 U.S. Department of Justice 1~tt61 He) 'Nerle PlS8t1et II ,.(6) CeHtaiH P,4stel ittl Pisteetea Ut'laer FeEl. R. Cyilfl. P. 6(e) The Office found no evidence that Kislyak conversed with either Trump or Sessions after the speech, or would have had the opportunity to do so. Simes, for example, did not recall seeing Kislyak at the post-speech luncheon,632 and the only witness who accounted for Sessions ' s whereabouts stated that Sessions may have spoken to the press after the event but then departed for Capitol Hill. 633 Saunders recalled, based in part on a food-related request he received from a Campaign staff member, that Trump left the hotel a few minutes after the speech to go to the airport. 634 c. Jeff Sessions's Post-Speech Interactions with eNI In the wake of Sessions ' s confirmation hearings as Attorney General , questions arose about whether Sessions ' s campaign-period interactions with CNl apart from the Mayflower speech included any additional meetings with Ambassador Kislyak or involved Russian-related matters. With respect to Kislyak contacts, on May 23, 2016, Sessions attended CNl's Distinguished Service Award dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C. 6J5 Sessions attended a pre-dinner reception and was seated at one of two head tables for the event. 636 A seating chart prepared by Saunders indicates that Sessions was scheduled to be seated next to Kislyak, who appears to have responded to the invitation by indicating he would attend the event 637 Sessions, however, did not remember seeing, speaking with, or sitting next to Kislyak at the dinner.638 Although CNI board member Charles Boyd said he may have seen Kislyak at the dinner,639 Simes, Saunders, and Jacob Heilbrunn--editor of the National Interest-all had no recollection of seeing Kislyak at the May 23 event. 640 Kislyak also does not appear in any of the photos from the event that the Office obtained. In the summer of 2016, CNl organized at least two dinners in Washington, D.C. for Sessions to meet with experienced foreign policy professionals 641 The dinners included CNIaffiliated individuals, such as Richard Burt and Zalmay Khalilzad, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq and the person who had introduced Trump before the April 27, 2016 foreign- 632 Simes 3/8118 302, at 22; Heilbrunn 21111 8 302, at 7. m Luff 1/30118 302, at 4. 634 Saunders 2/15/18 302, at 15. 63' Sessions 1117118 302, at 22; Saunders 2115/ 18 302, at 17. 636 Saunders 2/15/18 302, at 17; C00004779-80 (5/23/16 Email, Cantelmo to Saunders & Hagberg (9:30: 12 a.m.); C00004362 (5123116 Email, Bauman to Cantelmo et al. (2:02:32 a.m.). 637 C00004362 (5/23116 Email Bauman to Cantelmo et al. (2:02 :32 a.m.). 638 Sessions 1/17118302, at 22. 639 Boyd 1/24118302, at 4. 640 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 23 ; Saunders 2/15 /18 302, at 18; Heilbrunn 2/1/18 302, at 7. 64 1 Simes 3/8/18 302, at31 ; Saunders 2115118 302, at 19; Burt 2/9/18 302, at 9-10; Khalilzad 1/9/18 302, at 5. 107 U.S. Department of Justice A"'61 ney '.\'6fk Pfeatlet II P,4a) Centaill ~48tel ial PI8teetea Unser Fee. R. Grim. P. ete) policy speechM2 Khalilzad also met with Sessions one-on-one separately from the ,dinners 643 At the dinners and in the meetings, the participants addressed U.S. relations with Russia, including how U.S. relations with NATO and European countries affected U.S. policy toward Russia 644 But the discussions were not exclusively focused on Russia 645 Khalilzad, for example, recalled discussing " nation-building" and violent extremism with Sessions. 646 In addition, Sessions asked Saunders (ofCN!) to draft two memoranda not specific to Russia: one on Hillary Clinton' s foreign policy shortcomings and another on Egypt. 647 d. Jared Kushner's·Continuing Contacts with Simes Between the April 2016 speech at the Mayflower Hotel and the presidential election, Jared Kushner had periodic contacts with Simes 648 Those contacts consisted of both in-person meetings and phone conversations, which concerned how to address issues relating to Russia in the Campaign and how to move forward with the advisory group offoreign policy experts that Simes had proposed 649 Simes recalled that he, not Kushner, initiated all conversations about Russia, and that Kushner never asked him to set up back-channel conversations with Russians. 65o According to Simes, after the Mayflower speech in late April, Simes raised the issue of Russian contacts with Kushner, advised that it was bad optics for the Campaign to develop hidden Russian contacts, and told Kushner both that the Campaign should not highlight Russia as an issue and should handle any contacts with Russians with care. 651 Kushner generally provided a similar account of his interactions with Simes.652 Among the Kushner-Simes meetings was one held on August 17, 2016, at Simes's request, in Kushner's New York office. The meeting was to address foreign policy advice that CNI was providing and how to respond to the Clinton Campaign ' s Russia-related attacks on candidate 642 BUlt 2/9118 302, at 9-10; Khalilzad 1/9118 302, at 1-2,5. 643 Khalilzad 119118302, at 5-6. 644 Simes 3/8118 302, at 31; Burt 2/9/18 302, at 9-10; Khalilzad 1/9118302, at 5. 6" Saunders 2115118 302, at 20. 646 Khalilzad 119118302, at 6. 647 Saunders 2115118 302, at 19-20. 648 Simes 3/8118 302, at 27. 649 Simes 3/8118 302, at 27. 650 Simes 3/8118 302, at 27. Simes 3/8118 302, at 27. During this period of time, the Campaign received a request for a highlevel Campaign official to meet with an officer at a Russian state-owned bank "to discuss an offer [that officer] claims to be carrying from President Putin to meet with" candidate Trump. NOSC00005653 (5/17116 Email, Dearborn to Kushner (8: 12 a.m.)). Copying Manafort and Gates, Kushner responded, "Pass on this. A lot of people come claiming to carry messages. Very few are able to verify. For now I think we decline such meetings. Most likely these people go back home and claim they have special access to gain importance for themselves. Be careful." NOSC00005653 (5117116 Email, Kushner to Dearborn). 651 652 Kushner 4111118 302, at 11-13. 108 AM:efHe, Vl6fi( Pf6E1t1et /1 U.S. Department of Justice C8HtaiR ~4Meri61 Pleteeteti Utuier Feel. R. ClifH. P. 6(ej ~{tt} Trump.653 In advance of the meeting, Simes sent Kushner a "Russia Policy Memo" laying out "what Mr. Trump may want to say about Russia.,,654 In a cover email transmitting that memo and a phone call to set up the meeting, Simes mentioned "a well-documented story of highly questionable connections between Bill Clinton" and the Russian government, "parts of [which)" (according to Simes) had even been "discussed with the CIA and the FBI in the late 1990s and shared with the [Independent Counsel] at the end of the Clinton presidency.,,655 Kushner forwarded the email to senior Trump Campaign officials Stephen Miller, Paul Manafort, and Rick Gates, with the note "suggestion only.,,656 Manafort subsequently forwarded the email to his assistant and scheduled a meeting with Simes.657 (Manafort was on the verge of leaving the Campaign by the time of the scheduled meeting with Simes, and Simes ended up meeting only with Kushner) . During the August 17 meeting, Simes 0l'()mise,j.658 nu'u ", official Fritz Ermarth, who claimed to have learned it from U.S. intelligence sources, not from Russ ians. 66o Simes perceived that Kushner did not find the information to be of interest or use to the Campaign because it was, in Simes's words, "old news.,,661 When interviewed by the Office, Kushner stated that he believed that there was little chance of something new being revealed about the Clintons given their long career as public figures, and that he never received from Simes information that could be " operationalized" for the Trump Campaign. 662 Despite Kushner's Simes 3/8/18 302, at 29-30; Simes 3127/18 302, at 6; Kushner 4/ 11/18 302, at 12; C00007269 (8/10/16 Meeting Invitation, Vargas to Simes et a1.); DJTFP00023484 (8/11/16 Email, Hagan to ManafOIt (5:57: 15 p.m.)). 653 654 C00007981-84 (8/9/16 Email, Simes to Kushner (6:09:21 p.m.)). The memorandum recommended "downp1aying Russia as a U.S. foreign policy priority at this time" and suggested that "some tend to exaggerate Putin's flaws. " The memorandum also recommended approaching general Russianrelated questions in the framework of "how to work with Russia to advance important U.s. national interests" and that a Trump Administration "not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy." The memorandum did not discuss sanctions but did address how to handle Ukraine-related questions, including questions about Russia's invasion and annexation of Crimea. 6" C00007981 (8/9/16 Email, Simes to Kushner (6:09:21 p.m.)). 65. DJTFP00023459 (8/1 0/16 Email, Kushner to S. Miller et a1. (11 :30: 13 a.m.)). 657 DJTFP00023484 (8/ 11116 Email, Hagan to Manafort (5:57:15 p.m.)). 658 Simes 3/8/ 18 302, at 29-30; Simes 3127/18 302, at 6; Kushner 4/11/18302, at 12. 659 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 30; Simes 3/27/18 302, at 6. 660 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 30. 661 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 30; Simes 3/27/18 302, at 6. 662 Kushner 4/11/18 302, at 12. 109 U.S. Department of Justice AttsfHe,' \\'srk PrS8tlet II P.itl) CSf1tftifl p'4Merial Pfsteetee BRBer Fee. R. Criffi. P. 6(e) reaction, Simes believed that he provided the same information at a small group meeting offoreign policy experts that CNI organized for Sessions 663 5. June 9, 2016 Meeting at Trump Tower On June 9, 2016, senior representatives of the Trump Campaign met in Trump Tower with a Russian attorney expecting to receive derogatory information about Hillary Clinton from the Russian government. The meeting was proposed to Donald Trump Jr. in an email from Robert Goldstone, at the request of his then-client Emin Agalarov, the son of Russian real-estate developer Aras Agalarov. Goldstone relayed to Trump Jr. that the "Crown prosecutor of Russia ... offered to provide the Trump Campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia" as "part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." Trump Jr. immediately responded that "if it's what you say I love it," and arranged the meeting through a series of emails and telephone calls. Trump Jr. invited campaign chairman Paul Manafort and senior advisor Jared Kushner to attend the meeting, and both attended. Members of the Campaign discussed the meeting before it occurred, and Michael Cohen recalled that Trump Jr. may have told candidate Trump about an upcoming meeting to receive adverse information about Clinton, without linking the meeting to Russia. According to written answers submitted by President Trump, he has no recollection of learning of the meeting at the time, and the Office found no documentary evidence showing that he was made aware of the meeting--or its Russian connection-before it occurred. The Russian attorney who spoke at the meeting, Natalia Veselnitskaya, had previously worked for the Russian government and maintained a relationship with that government throughout this period oftime. She claimed that funds derived from illegal activities in Russia were provided to Hillary Clinton and other Democrats. Trump Jr. requested evidence to support those claims, but Veselnitskaya did not provide such information. She and her associates then turned to a critique of the origins of the Magnitsky Act, a 2012 statute that imposed financial and travel sanctions on Russian officials and that resulted in a retaliatory ban on adoptions of Russian children. Trump Jr. suggested that the issue could be revisited when and if candidate Trump was elected. After the election, Veselnitskaya made additional efforts to follow up on the meeting, but the Trump Transition Team did not engage. a, Setting Up the June 9 Meeting i. Outreach to Donald Trump Jr. Aras Agalarov is a Russian real-estate developer with ties to Putin and other members of the Russian government, including Russia's Prosecutor General, Yuri Chaika. 664 Aras Agalarov is the president of the Crocus Group, a Russian enterprise that holds substantial Russian government construction contracts and that-as discussed above, Volume I, Section IV.A.I, supra 663 Simes 3/8/18 302, at 30. 664 Goldstone 2/8/18 302, at 4. 110 U.S. Department of Justice Aftefne) ',Velie Prestlet II ~4B:) CellttliH ~faterial Preteetea Uriser Feel. R. Clilfl. P. 6Ee) -worked with Trump in connection with the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow and a potential Trump Moscow real-estate project. 665 The relationship continued over time, as the parties . pursued the Trump Moscow project in 2013-2014 and exchanged gifts and letters in 2016 666 For example, in April 2016, Trump responded to a letter from Aras Agalarov with a handwritten note. 667 Aras Agalarov expressed interest in Trump's campaign, passed on "congratulations" for winning in the primary and-according to one email drafted by Goldstone-an "offer" of his "support and that of many of his important Russian friends and colleagues[,] especially with reference to U.S./Russian relations."668 On June 3, 2016, Emin Agalarov called Goldstone, Emin's then-publicist. 669 Goldstone is a music and events promoter who represented Emin Agalarov from approximately late 2012 until late 2016. 670 While representing Emin Agalarov, Goldstone facilitated the ongoing contact between the Trumps and the . sent to Putin to attend the 2013 Miss Universe Pal(ealnt Kaveladze Goldstone 2/8118 302, at 1 0 ; _ 4/25/16 Email, Graff to Goldstone. 667 RG000033-34 (4/25/16 Email, Graff to Goldstone (attachment». Re"oni, of Robert Goldstone Goldstone 2/8118 302, at 6. 670 Goldstone 2/8118 302, at 1-2; Beniaminov 116118 302, at 3. '71 Goldstone 2/8118 302, at 1-5; DJTJR00008 (2/29119 E m a i l . G o l d s t o n e t o T r u m p J . a t 7 3 0 2 . a t 2; TRUMPORG_18_001325 (6/21113 Email, Goldstone to Graff); TRUMPORG_18_001013 (6/24113 Email, Goldstone to Graff); TRUMPORG_18_0010 14 (6/24113 Email, Graff to Shugart); TRUMpORG_18_001018 (6/26113 Email, Graffto Goldstone); TRUMPORG_18_001022 (6/27113 Email, Graff to L. Kelly); TRUMPORG_18_001333 (9112/13 Email, Goldstone to Graff, Shugart); MU000004289 (7/27113 Email, Goldstone to Graff, Shugart). '72 see Goldstone 2/,8118 302, at 6-7. 673 674 III U.S. Department of Justice Att61ney \VefiE Pfscltlet // ~48y CeRtain t,4fltelisi Pfsteetea Uneiet Fea. R. Crift •. P. 6(e) The mentioned by Emin Agalarov was Natalia Veselnitskaya. 2001, Veselnitskaya worked as a prosecutor for the Central Administrative District of the Russian Prosecutor's Office,677 and she continued to perform government-related work and maintain ties to the Russian government following her departure.678 She lobbied and testified about the Magnitsky Act, which imposed financial sanctions and travel restrictions on Russian officials and which was named for a Russian tax specialist who exposed a fraud and later died in a Russian prison. 679 Putin called the statute "a purely political, unfriendly act," and Russia responded by barring a list of current and former U.S. officials from entering Russ ia and by halting the adoption of Russ ian children by U.S. citizens 680 Veselnitskaya performed legal work for Denis Katsyv,681 the son of Russian businessman Peter Katsyv, and for his company Prevezon Holdings Ltd., which was a defendant in a civil-forfeiture action alleging the laundering of proceeds from the fraud exposed by Magnitsky.682 She also 675 676 In December 2018, a grand jury in the Southern District of New York returned an indictment charging Veselnitskaya with obstructing the Prevezon litigation discussed in the text above. See Indictment, Uniled Siaies v. Natalia Vladimirovna Veselnilskaya, No. 18-cr-904 (S.D.N.Y .). The indictment alleges, among other things, that Veselnitskaya lied to the district court about her relationship to the Russian Prosecutor General's Office and her involvement in responding to a U.S. document request sent to the Russian government. 7 Statement to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, at 2 ; _ 678 Testimony of Natalia Veselnitskaya Before the Senate Committee on Judiciary (Nov. 20, 2017) at 33; Keir Simmons & Rachel Elbaum, Russian Lawyer Veselnitskaya Says She Didn 'l Give Trump Jr. Info on Clinlon, NBC News (July II , 2017); Maria Tsvetkova & Jack Stubbs, Moscow Lawyer Who Met Trump Jr. Had Russian Spy Agency As Client, Reuters (July 21, 2017); Andrew E. Kramer & Sharon LaFraniere, Lawyer Who Was Said to Have Dirt on Clinton Had Closer Ties to Kremlin than She Let On, New York Times (Apr. 27, 2018). 679 See Pub. L. No. 112-208 §§ 402, 404(a)(I), 126 Stat. 1502, 1502-1506. Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian tax specialist who worked for William Browder, a former investment fund manager in Russia. Browder hired Magnitsky to investigate tax fraud by Russian officials, and Magnitsky was charged with helping Browder embezzle money. After Magnitsky died in a Russian prison, Browder lobbied Congress to pass the Magnitsky Act. See, e.g., Andrew E. Kramer, Turning Tables in Magnitsky Case, Russia Accuses Nemesis ofMurder, New York Times (Oct. 22, 2017); Testimony of Natalia Veselnitskaya Before the Senate Committee on Judiciary (Nov. 20, 2017), Exhibits at 1-4; Rosie Gray, Bill Browder's Testimony to Ihe Senate Judiciary Commitlee, The Atlantic (July 25, 2017). 680 Ellen Barry, Russia Bars 18 Americans After Sanctions by US, New York Times (Apr. 13,2013); Tom Porter, Supporters of the Magnitsky Act Claim They've Been Targets of Russian Assassination and Kidnapping Bids, Newsweek (July 16,2017). 681 Testimony of Natalia Veselnitskaya Before the Senate Committee on Judiciary (Nov. 20, 2017), at 21. 682 See Veselnitskaya Decl., United Slates v. Prevezon Holdings, Lid., No. 13-cv-6326 (S.D.N.Y.); see Prevezon Holdings, Second Amended Complaint; Prevezon Holdings, Mem. and Order; Prevezon Holdings, Deposition of Oleg Lurie. 112 U.S. Department of Justice Att611.ey \Verl( Pra6tlet /1 P,4s) Centaifl ~4ateriftl Pfeteetea Unelel Feel . R. Grim. P. 6Ee) appears to have been involved in an April 2016 approach to a U.S. congressional delegation in Moscow offering "confidential information" from "the Prosecutor General of Russia" about " interactions between certain political forces in our two countries.,,683 I Shortly after his June 3 call with Emin Agalarov, Goldstone emailed Trump Jr684 The email stated: Good morning . Emln jusl called ·and asked me to conlact you willl something very Interesting. The Crown proseculor of Russia mel with his falher Aras Ihis morning and in Iheir meeting offered 10 provide the Trump campaign wilh some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would 00 very uselul to your lalher. This is obviously very high level and sensilive information but is part of Russia and Its government's support for Mr. Trump - helped along by Aras and Emin. What do you think is Ihe best way to handle this inlormation and would you be able to speak to Emin about it directly? I can also send Ihis Inlo 10 your father via Rhona, but ills ultra sensitive so wanted 10 send 10 you IIrst. Best Rob Goldslono Within minutes of this email, Trump Jr. responded, emailing back: "Thanks Rob J appreciate that. I am on the road at the moment but perhaps I just speak to Emin first. Seems we have some time and if it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer. Could we do a call first thing next week when 1 am backT685 Goldstone conveyed Trump Jr.'s interest to Emin Agalarov, emailing that Trump Jr. "wants to speak personally on the issue.,,686 On June 6, 2016, Emin Agalarov asked Goldstone ifthere was " [aJny news," and Goldstone explained that Trump Jr. was likely still traveling for the " final elections . . . where [TJrump will be ' crowned' the official nominee."687 On the same day, Goldstone again emailed Trump Jr. and asked when Trump Jr. was "free to talk with Emin about this Hillary info .,,688 Trump Jr. asked if 683 See Gribbin 8/31 / 17 302, at 1-2 & IA (undated one-page document given to congressional delegation) . The Russian Prosecutor General is an official with broad national responsibilities in the Russian legal system. See Federal Law on the Prosecutor 's Office of the Russian Federation (1992, amended 2004). 684 RG000061 (6/3/16 Email, Goldstone to Trump Jr.); DJTJR00446 (6/3 /16 Email, Goldstone to Donald Trump Jr.); @DonaldJTrumpJr07/11/17 (II :00) Tweet. 685 DJTJR00446 (6/3/16 Email, Trump Jr. to Goldstone); @DonaldJTrumpJr 07/11 / 17 (II :00) Tweet; RG000061 (6/3/16 Email, Trump Jr. to Goldstone). RCroOOO(52 (6/3/16 Email, Goldstone & Trump Jr.). 687 RG000063 (6/6/16 Email, A. Agalarov to Goldstone); RG000064 (6/6/16 Email, Goldstone to A. Agalarov). 688 RG000065 (6/6/ 16 Email, Goldstone to Trump Jr.); DJTJR00446 (6/6/16 Email, Goldstone to Trump Jr.). 113 U.S. Department of Justice Preteetea UHaet FeEl. R. GriM. P. 6(ej A~effle) \\'eri( PreaMet II ~f6) Centain ~4lltefifll they could "speak now," and Goldstone arranged a call between Trump Jr. and Emin Agalarov 689 On June 6 and June 7, Trump Jr. and Emin Agalarov had multiple brief calls 690 Also on June 6, 2016, Aras Agalarov called Ike Kaveladze and asked him to attend a meeting in New York with the Trump Organization. 691 Kaveladze is a Georgia-born, naturalized U.S. citizen who worked in the United States for the Crocus Group and reported to Aras Agalarov 692 Kaveladze told the Office that, in a second phone call on June 6, 2016, Aras Agalarov asked Kaveladze ifhe knew anything about the Magnitsky Act, and Aras sent him a short synopsis for the meeting and Veselnitskaya' s business card. According to Kaveladze, Aras Agalarov said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Magnitsky Act, and he asked Kaveladze to translate .69J ii. Awareness of the Meeting Within the Campaign On June 7, Goldstone emailed Trump Jr. and said that " Emin asked that I schedule a meeting with you and [t]he Russian government attorney who is flying over from Moscow. ,,694 Trump Jr. replied that Manafort (identified as the "campaign boss"), Jared Kushner, and Trump Jr. would likely attend. 695 Go~d to learn that Trump Jr., Manafort, and Kushner would attend. 696 Kaveladze _ _ "puzzled" by the list of attendees and that he checked with one of Emin Agalarov ' s assistants, Roman Beniaminov, who said that the purpose of the meeting was for Veselnitskaya to convey "negative information on Hillary Clinton.,,697 Beniaminov, however, stated that he did not recall having known or said that 698 Early on June 8,2016 Kushner emailed his assistant, asking her to discuss a 3:00 p.m. DJTJl:t01)4415 and Trump Jr.); 689 ~~~ and Trump Jr.); RG000065-67 (616116 Email, Goldstone 690 DJTJR00499 of Donald Trump Jr Call Records 692 Beniaminov 116118 302, at 2-3; 693 Kaveladze 11116117 302, at 6. 694 DJT1R00467 (6/7/16 Email, Goldstone to Tweet; RG000068 (6/7/16 Email, Goldstone to Trump 11'.); 69' DJTffi00469 (6/7/16 Email, Trump lr. to Goldstone); @DonaldJTrumplr 07/ 11 / 17 (11:00) Tweet; lr. to Goldstone); OSC-KA V_00048 (6/7/16 Email, Goldstone to Kaveladze); KAV_vvv~v 698 Beniaminov 1/6118302, at 3. 114 AftefHey '.Velk Pr88t1et II U.S. Department of Justice C8lItaiI'l P,{&teIiai Pleteetea Uluief FeEl. R. edt'll. P. 6Ee) ~4fl) meeting the following day with Trump Jr.699 Later that day, Trump Jr. forwarded the entirety of his email correspondence regarding the meeting with Goldstone to Manafort and Kushner, under the subject line "FW: Russia - Clinton - private and confidential," adding a note that the "[m leeting got moved to 4 tomorrow at my offices.,,700 Kushner then sent his assistant a second email, informing her that the "[mleeting with don jr is 4pm now.,,701 Manafort responded, " See you then. P. ,,702 Rick Gates, who was the deputy campaign chairman, stated during interviews with the Office that in the days before June 9, 2016 Trump Jr. announced at a regular morning meeting of senior campaign staff and Trump family members that he had a lead on negative information about the Clinton Foundation 703 Gates believed that Trump Jr. said the information was coming from a group in Kyrgyzstan and that he was introduced to the group by a friend .704 Gates recalled that the meeting was attended by Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Paul Manafort, Hope Hicks, and, joining late, 1vanka Trump and Jared Kushner. According to Gates, Manafort warned the group that the meeting likely would not yield vital information and they should be careful .1° 5 Hicks denied any knowledge of the June 9 meeting before 2017,1°6 and Kushner did not recall if the planned June 9 meeting came up at all earlier that week.707 Michael Cohen recalled being in Donald J. Trump ' s office on June 6 or 7 when Trump Jr. told his father that a meeting to obtain adverse information about Clinton was going forward. 708 Cohen did not recall Trump Jr. stating that the meeting was connected to Russia. 709 From the tenor of the conversation, Cohen believed that Trump Jr. had previously discussed the meeting with his father, although Cohen was not involved in any such conversation. 7lO In an interview with the Senate Judiciary Committee, however, Trump Jr. stated that he did not inform his father about the 699 NOSC0000007-08 (6/8/\8 Email, Kushner to Vargas). 700 NOSC00000039-42 (6/8/16 Email, Trump Jr. to Kushner & Manafort); DJTJR00485 (6/8116 Email, Trump Jr. to Kushner & Manafort). 701NOSC0000004 (6/8116 Email, Kushner to Vargas). 702 6/8116 Email, Manafort to Trump Jr. 703 Gates 1130118 302, at 7; Gates 3/ \/18 302, at 3-4. Although the March \ 302 refers to "June 19," that is likely a typographical error; external emails indicate that a meeting with those participants occurred on June 6. See NOSC00023603 (6/6/16 Email, Gates to Trump J1'. et a1.). 704 Gates 1/30/18 302, at 7. Aras Agalarov is originally from Azerbaijan, and public reporting indicates that his company, the Crocus Group, has done substantial work in Kyrgyzstan. See Neil MacFarquhar, A Russian Developer Helps Out the Kremlin on Occasion. Was He a Conduit to Trump? , New York Times (July 16,2017). 70' Gates 3/ 1/18 302, at 3-4. 706 Hicks 1217117 302, at 6. 707 Kushner 4111118 302, at 8. 708 Cohen 8/7/18 302, at 4-6. 709 Cohen 817118 302, at 4-5. 710 Cohen 9112/ 18 302, at 15-16 . 115 U.S . Department of Justice AttSlR6) 'VelIe PlS6t1et II ~4a) C6fltaifl ~48tefial PFsteetee URael Feel. R. Grit". P. 6(ej emails or the upcoming meeting. 7!! Similarly, neither Manafort nor Kushner recalled anyone informing candidate Trump of the meeting, including Trump Jr.712 President Trump has stated to this Office, in written answers to questions, that he has " no recollection of learning at the time" that his son, Manafort, or "Kushner was considering participating in a meeting in June 2016 concerning potentially negative information about Hillary Clinton.,,7!3 h, The Events of June 9,2016 i. Arrangements for the Meeting Veselnitskaya was in New York on June 9, 2016, for appellate proceedings in the Prevezon civil forfeiture r' . 7!4 That Veselnitskaya called Rinat Akhmetshin, a Soviet-born U.S . lobbyist, when she learned that he was in New York, invited him to lunch. that he had worked on issues relating to the Magnitsky Act and had worked on the Prevezon litigation. 7!6 Kaveladze and Anatoli Samochornov, a 711 Interview of Donald J Trump, Jr., Senate JudiCiary Committee, 115th Congo 28-29, 84, 94-95 (Sept. 7, 2017). The Senate Judiciary Committee interview was not under oath, but Trump Jr. was advised that it is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 to make materially false statements in a congressional investigation. Id. at 10-\1. 712 Manafort 9/11/18 302, at 3-4; Kushner 4111118302, at 10. 713 Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20, 2018), at 8 (Response to Question 1, Parts (a)(c)). We considered whether one sequence of events suggested that candidate Trump had contemporaneous knowledge of the June 9 meeting. On June 7, 2016 Trump announced his intention to give "a major speech" "probably Monday of next week"-which would have been June \3-about "all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons." See, e.g., Phillip Bump, What we know about the Trump Tower meeting, Washington Post (Aug. 7, 2018). Following the June 9 meeting, Trump changed the subject of his planned speech to national security. But the Office did not find evidence that the original idea for the speech was connected to the anticipated June 9 meeting or that the change oftopic was attributable to the failure ofthat meeting to produce concrete evidence about Clinton. Other events, such as the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, could well have caused the change. The President' s written answers to our questions state that the speech's focus was altered "[iln light of" the Pulse nightclub shooting. See Written Responses, supra. As for the original topic ofthe June 13 speech, Trump has said that "he expected to give a speech referencing the publicly available, negative information about the Clintons," and that the draft of the speech prepared by Campaign staff "was based on publicly available material, including, in particular, information from the book Clinton Cash by Peter Schweizer." Written Responses, supra. In a later June 22 speech, Trump did speak extensively about allegations that Clinton was corrupt, drawing from the Clinton Cash book. See Full Transcript: Donald Trump NYC Speech on Stakes of the Election, politico.com (June 22, 2016). 714 Testimony of Natalia Veselnitskaya Before the Senate Committee on Judiciary (Nov. 20, 2017) for Trump Tower Meeting? at 41,42; Alison Frankel, How Did Russian Lawyer Veselnitskaya Get into Reuters, (Nov. 6, 2017); Michael Kranish et a\., Russian Lawyer who Met with Trump Jr. Has Long History Fighting Sanctions, Washington Post (July 1\ , 2017); see OSC-KA VOO1l3 (6/8/16 Email, Goldstone to Kaveladze); RG000073 (6/8/16 Email.GoldstonetoTrumpJr.);LiebermanI2l13/17302.at 5; see also Prevezon Holdings Order (Oct. 17,20 16). us. 116 AM:8Itle) U.S. Department of Justice J,Veile Pf88tlet II P.itt) C811tB:iH Pt{ttterittl P18teete6 UH8et Fea. R. Cfiffi. P. 6(e) Russian-born translator who had assisted also attended the lunch. 7l7 Veselnitskaya showed Akhmetshin a document alleging financial misconduct by Bill Browder and . and those individuals the Ziff brothers (Americans with business in itical donations to the DNC.719 The group then went to Trump Tower for the meeting. 72l ii. Conduct of the Meeting Trump Jr., Manafort, and Kushner participated on the Trump side, while Kaveladze, Samochomov, Akhmetshin, and Goldstone attended with Veselnitskaya.722 The Office spoke to every participant except V and the not say subject of the meeting ns Participants agreed that Veselnitskaya stated that the Ziffbrothers had broken Russian laws and had donated their profits to the DNC or the Clinton Campaign.726 She asserted that the Ziff brothers had engaged in tax evasion and money laundering 717 Kaveladze 1111 611 7 3 Samochornov 711 311 7 302, at 2, mee:nng Wfillilg up Samochomov 7112117 302, at 4. In her later Senate statement press, produced what she claimed were the talking points that she brought to the June 9 meeting. 721 E.g. , Samochomov 7/ 12117 302, at 4. 722 E.g., Samochornov 711211 7 302, at 4. 723 E.g. , Samochornov 7112/ 17 302, at 4; Goldstone 2/8118302, at 9. 117 U.S. Department of Justice AftefFle) Vlerk Pteatlet II ~4a, Cet'ltaifl P,ia-teriai Pfeteetea Unaef FeEl. R. Criffi. P. G(e) '''''-!5'U payments could be tied specifically to the Clinton Campaign, but Veselnitskaya indicated that she could not trace the money once it entered the United States. 729 Kaveladze similarly recalled that Trump Jr. asked what they have on Clinton, and Kushner became aggravated and asked "[w]hat are we doing here?,,7JO Akhmetshin then spoke about U.S. sanctions imposed under the Magnitsky Act and Russia's response prohibiting U.S. adoption of Russian children?JI Several participants recalled that Trump Jr. commented that Trump is a private citizen, and there was nothing they could do at that time. 732 Trump Jr. also said that they could revisit the issue if and when they were in government. 7J3 Notes that Manafort took on his phone reflect the general flow of the conversation, although not all of its details. 734 At some point in the meeting, Kushner sent an iMessage to Manafort stating "waste of time," followed immediately by two separate emails to assistants at Kushner Companies with requests that 732 E.g., Akhmetshin 11114117 302, at 12-13; 733 Akhmetshin 11114117 302, at 12-13; 7113117302, at 3. Trump Jr. confirmed this in a stal:emlent 2016 meeting broke. Interview of Donald J Trump, Jr., Senate Judiciary Committee Washington DC, 115th Congo 57 (Sept. 7, 2017). 734 Manaforfs notes state: Bill browder Offshore - Cyprus 133m shares Companies Not invest - loan Value in Cyprus as inter lllici Active sponsors of RNC Browder hired Joanna Glover Tied into Cheney Russian adoption by American families PJM-SJC-00000001-02 (Notes Produced to Senate Judiciary Committee). 118 u.s. Senaie U.S. Department of Justice Al't81 fie) 'Hsrtt Praelttet II ~18) C81.tsiH ~1atel isl Plsteetea UHEler Fee. R. Crim. P. 6(e} they call him to give him an excuse to leave. 735 Samochornov recalled that Kushner departed the meeting before it concluded; Veselnitskaya recalled the same when interviewed by the press in July 2017 736 Veselnitskaya ' s press interviews and written statements to Congress differ materially from other accounts. In a July 2017 press interview, Veselnitskaya claimed that she has no connection to the Russian government and had not referred to any derogatory information concerning the Clinton Campaign when she met with Trump Campaign officials. 7l7 Veselnitskaya's November 2017 written submission to the Senate Judiciary Committee stated that the purpose of the June 9 meeting was not to connect with "the Trump Campaign" but rather to have " a private meeting with Donald Trump Jr.-a friend of my good acquaintance's son on the matter of assisting me or my colleagues in informing the Congress members as to the criminal nature of manipulation and interference with the legislative activities of the US Congress.,,7J8 In other words, Veselnitskaya claimed her focus was on Congress and not the Campaign. No witness, however, recalled any reference to Congress during the meeting. Veselnitskaya also maintained that she "attended the meeting as a lawyer of Denis Katsyv," the pr.eviously mentioned owner ofPrevezon Holdings, but she did not "introduce [her]self in this capacity.,,739 In a July 2017 television interview, Trump Jr. stated that while he had no way to gauge the reliability, credibility, or accuracy of what Goldstone had stated was the purpose of the meeting, if "someone has information on our opponent ... maybe this is something. I should hear them out.,,740 Trump Jr. fiuther stated in September 2017 congressional testimony that he thought he should " listen to what Rob and his colleagues had to say."741 Depending on what, if any, information was provided, Trump Jr. stated he could then "consult with counsel to make an informed decision as to whether to give it any further consideration.,,742 735 NOSC00003992 (6/9/16 Text Message, Kushner to Manafort); Kushner 4111118 302, at 9; Vargas 4/4/ 18 302, at 7; NOSC00000044 (6/9/16 Email, Kushner to Vargas); NOSC00000045 (6/9/16 Email, Kushner to Cain). 736 Samochornov 7112117 302, at 4; 302, at 9-10; see also Interview of Donald (Sept. 7, 2017). 737 Kushner 4/ 11/18 15th Congo 48-49 Russian Lawyer Veselnitskaya Says She Didn't Give Trump Jr. info on Clinton, NBC News (July 11,2017). 738 Testimony ofNatalia Veselnitskoya before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 115 th Congo 10.(Nov 20, 2017). 739 Testimony ofNatalia Veselnitskaya before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, I 15 th Congo 21 (Nov. 20, 2017). 740 Sean Hannity, Transcript-Donald Trump Jr, Fox News (July II, 2017). 74 1 Interview of Donald J Trump, Jr, Senate Judiciary Committee, 115th Congo 16 (Sept. 7, 2017). 742 interview of Donald J Trump, Jr, Senate Judiciary Commillee, 115th Congo 16-17 (Sept. 7, 2017). 119 U.S. Department of Justice At-t8ffley ').'81k PI 88t1et II Pifs} CSHtail\ ~4tttefitll PI8teetea Unser Fee. R. Grim. P. 6Ee) After the June 9 meetillg "'JH"IUU~U, In Aras Agalarov called him 747 With Veselnitskaya next to him, Kaveladze reported that the meeting had gone well, but he later told Aras Agalarov that the meeting about the Magnitsky Act had been a waste of time because it was not with lawyers and they were "preaching to the wrong crowd.,,748 c. Post-June 9 Events Veselnitskaya and Aras Agalarov made at least two unsuccessful attempts after the election to meet with Trump representatives to convey similar information about Browder and the Magnitsky ACt. 749 On November 23 , 2016, Kaveladze emailed Goldstone about setting up another meeting "with T people" and sent a document bearing allegations similar to those conveyed on June 9. 750 Kaveladze followed up with Goldstone, stating that "Mr. A," which Goldstone understood to mean Aras Agalarov, called to ask about the meeting. 751 Goldstone emailed the document to Rhona Graff, saying that "Aras Agalarov has asked me to pass on this document in the hope it can be passed on to the appropriate team. If needed, a lawyer representing the case is Goldstone 2/8/18302, message the DNC hacking announcement to the June 9 OSC-KA V_00029 (6/14/ 16 Email, Goldstone to E. Agalarov did not identify evidence connecting the events of June 9 to the GRU's hack-and-duInp operation. OSC·KA V_00029·30 (6/14/16 Email, Goldstone to E. Agalarov). 746 747 Kaveladze 11/16/17 302, at 8; Call Records of Ike Kaveladze 748 Kaveladze 11116/17 302, at 8; Call Records of Ike KaveIadze On June 14,2016 Kaveladze's teenage daughter em ailed asking how the Kaveladze responded, "meeting was boring. The Russians KA V_00257 (6/14/16 Email.J.KaveladzetoA.Ka·vel.~dz. e ; 749 Goldstone 2/8/18 302, at II ; (11 /26-29/ 16 Text Messages, Goldstone & Kaveladze); 120 U.S. Department of Justice .6c:ttefl.ey \)lerlt PresHet II ~4fl) CeAtStfl ~,i8tel isl Pl8teetea Uncle I yea. R. Grim. P. 6(e) in New York currently and happy to meet with any member of his transition team.,,752 According to Goldstone, around January 2017, Kaveladze contacted him again to set up another meeting, but Goldstone did not make the request,753 The investigation did not identify evidence of the transition team following up. Participants in the June 9, 2016 meeting began receiVIng inquiries from attorneys representing the Trump Organization starting in approximately June 2017. 754 On approximately June 2, 2017, Goldstone spoke with Alan Garten, general counsel of the Trump Organization, about his participation in the June 9 meeting. 755 The same day, Goldstone emailed Veselnitskaya ' s name to Garten, identifying her as the "woman who was the attorney who spoke at the meeting from MoSCOW."756 Later in June 2017, Goldstone participated in a lengthier call with Garten and Alan Futerfas, outside counsel for the Trump Organization (and, subsequently, personal counsel for Trump Jr.).757 On June 27, 2017, Goldstone emailed Emin Agalarov with the subject "Trump attorneys" and stated that he was "interviewed by attorneys" about the June 9 meeting who were "concerned because it links Don Jr. to officials from Russia-which he has always denied meeting."758 Goldstone stressed that he "did say at the time this was an awful idea and a terrible meeting.,,759 Emin Agalarov sent a screenshot of the message to Kaveladze.760 The June 9 meeting became public in July 2017. In a July 9, 2017 text message to Emin Agalarov, Goldstone wrote "I made sure I kept you and your father out of [t]his story,,,76! and "[i]f contacted I can do a dance and keep you out of it,"762 Goldstone added, "FBI now investigating," and "I hope this favor was worth for your dad-it could blow up.,,763 On July 12, 2017 Emin Agalarov complained to Kaveladze that his father, Aras, "never listens" to him and that their '" Goldstone 2/8118 302, at II ; Email, Goldstone to Graff). 756 DJTJROOl18 (11 /28/ 16 RG000256 (6/2117 Email, Goldstone to Garten). 717 '" RG000092 (6/27117 Email, Goldstone to E. Agalarov). 760 OSC-KA V_01190 (6/27/17 Text Message, E. Agalarov to Kaveladze). (7/9/ 17 Text Messages, E. Agalarov & Goldstone); 121 AM6ffte~ U.S. Department of Justice Vleri( PfeaHet II 1't4a) CentaiR ~4atefitll P18teetea Ult8er Feel. R. Cliltl. P. 6(e) relationship with "mr T has been thrown down the drain.,,764 The next month, Goldstone commented to Emin Agalarov about the volume of publicity the June 9 meeting had generated, stating that his "reputation [was] basically destroyed by this dumb meeting which your father insisted on even though Ike and Me told him would be bad news and not to dO.,,765 Goldstone added, "1 am not able to respond out of courtesy to you and your father. So am painted as some mysterious link to Putin.,,766 After public reporting on the June 9 meeting began, representatives from the Trump Organization again reached out to participants. On July 10,2017, Futerfas sent Goldstone an email with a proposed statement for Goldstone to issue, which read: As the person who arranged the meeting, I can definitively state that the statements 1 have read by Donald Trump Jr. are 100% accurate. The meeting was a complete waste of time and Don was never told Ms. Veselnitskaya's name prior to the meeting. Ms. Veselnitskaya mostly talked about the Magnitsky Act and Russian adoption laws and the meeting lasted 20 to 30 minutes at most. There was never any follow up and nothing ever came of the meeting. 767 statement drafted by Trump Organization representatives was He proposed a different statement, asserting that he had been M()scow - Emin Agalarov - to facilitate a meeting between a Russian attorney (Natalia Veselnitzkaya [sic]) and Donald Trump Jr. The lawyer had apparently stated that she had some information regarding funding to the DNe from Russia, which she believed Mr. Trump Jr. might find interesting.,,769 Goldstone never released either statement. 770 On the Russian end, there were also communications about what participants should say about the June 9 meeting. Specifically, the organization that hired Samochornov-an antiMagnitsky Act group controlled by Veselnitskaya and the owner of Prevezon-of'fered to pay $90,000 of Samochornov ' s legal fees.771 At Veselnitskaya' s request, the organization sent Samochornov a transcript of a Veselnitskaya press interview, and Samochornov understood that the organization would pay his legal fees only if 'he made statements cons istent with Veselnitskaya's.772 Samochornov declined, telling the Office that he did not want to perjure 197 (7111-12117 Text Messages, Kave1adze & E. 765 Investigative Technique 766 Investigative Technique 761 711 0117 Email, Goldstone to Futerfas & Garten. 769 711 0117 Email, Goldstone to Futerfas & Garten. 122 1\tt6lney VI-srlt Pf6Bttet II U.S. Department of Justice Preteetea UAfler FeEl. R. CritH. P. 6Ee) ~4tl) C8fltaifl ~48teri81 himself. 773 The individual who conveyed Veselnitskaya's request to Samochornov stated that he did not expressly condition payment on following Veselnitskaya 's answers but, in hindsight, recognized that by sending the transcript, Samochornov could have interpreted the offer of assistance to be conditioned on his not contradicting Veselnitskaya's account. 774 Volume II , Section II.G, infra, discusses interactions between President Trump, Trump Jr. , and others in June and July 2017 regarding the June 9 meeting. 6. Events at the Republican National Convention Trump Campaign officials met with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the week of the Republican National Convention. The evidence indicates that those interactions were brief and non-substantive. During platform committee meetings immediately before the Convention, J.D. Gordon, a senior Campaign advisor on policy and national security, diluted a proposed amendment to the Republican Party platform expressing support for providing "lethal" assistance to Ukraine in response to Russian aggression. Gordon requested that platform committee personnel rev ise the proposed amendment to state that only "appropriate" assistance be provided to Ukraine. The original sponsor ofthe " lethal" assistance amendment stated that Gordon told her (the sponsor) that he was on the phone with candidate Trump in connection with his request to dilute the language. Gordon denied making that statement to the sponsor, although he acknowledged it was possible he mentioned having previously spoken to the candidate about the subject matter. The investigation did not establish that Gordon spoke to or was directed by the candidate to make that proposal. Gordon said that he sought the change because he believed the proposed language was inconsistent with Trump's position on Ukraine. a. Ambassador Kislyak's Encounters with Senator Sessions and J.D. Gordon the Week of the RNe In July 2016, Senator Sessions and Gordon spoke at the Global Partners in Diplomacy event, a conference co-sponsored by the State Department and the Heritage Foundation held in Cleveland, Ohio the same week as the Republican National Convention (RNC or "Convention,,).775 Approximately 80 foreign ambassadors to the United States, including Kislyak, were invited to the conference. 776 On July 20,2016, Gordon and Sessions delivered their speeches at the conference. 777 In his speech, Gordon stated in pettinent part that the United States should have better relations with 173 Samochornov 7/ 13/17 302, at 1. 774 175 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 9; Sessions 1/ 17/18 302, at 22; Allan Smith, We Now Know More About why JejJSessions and a Russian Ambassador Crossed Paths at the Republican Convention, Business Insider (Mar. 2, 2017). 776 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 9; Laura DeMarco, Global Cleveland and Sen. Bob Corker Welcome International Republican National Convention Guests, Cleveland Plain Dealer (July 20, 2016). 777 Gordon 8129117 302, at 9; Sessions 1117/ 18 302, at 22. 123 lrft81f1e~ U.S. Department of Justice },Vellc Pre81:1et II ~{a) C81.taifl l\4ateriai P18teetee UI'16er Feel. R. Crith. P. 6(ej Russia 778 During Sessions ' s speech, he took questions from the audience, one of which may have been asked by Kislyak. 779 . When the speeches concluded, several ambassadors lined up to greet the speakers. 780 Gordon shook hands with Kislyak and reiterated that he had meant what he said in the speech about improving U.S.-Russia relations. 781 Sessions separately spoke with between six and 12 ambassadors, including Kislyak.782 Although Sessions stated during interviews with the Office that he had no specific recollection of what he discussed with Kislyak, he believed that the two spoke for only a few minutes and that they would have exchanged pleasantries and said some things about U.S.-Russia relations. 783 Later that evening, Gordon attended a reception as part of the conference. 784 Gordon ran into Kislyak as the two prepared plates of food, and they decided to sit at the same table to eat. 785 They were joined at that table by the ambassadors from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and by Trump Campaign advisor Carter Page. 786 As they ate, Gordon and Kislyak talked for what Gordon estimated to have been three to five minutes, during which Gordon again mentioned that he meant what he said in his speech about improving U.S.-Russia reiationsJ87 b. Change to Republican Party Platform In preparation for the 2016 Convention, foreign policy advisors to the Trump Campaign, working with the Republican National Committee, reviewed the 2012 Convention' s foreign policy platform to identify divergence between the earlier platform and candidate Trump's positions. 788 The Campaign team discussed toning down language from the 2012 platform that identified Russia as the country' s number one threat, given the candidate's belief that there needed to be better U.S. relations with Russia. 789 The RNC Platform Committee sent the 2016 draft platform to the National Security and Defense Platform Subcommittee on July 10, 2016, the evening before its 778 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 9. 779 Sessions 1/ 17/18 302, at 22; Luff 1130/ 18 302, at 3. 780 Gordon 8/29/ 17 302, at 9; Luff 1/30/18 302, at 3. 78 1 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 9. 782 Sessions 1/17/18302, at 22; Luff 1/30/18 302, at 3; see also Volume I, Section IV.A.4.b, supra (explaining that Sessions and Kis1yak may have met three months before this encounter during a reception held on April 26, 2016, at the Mayflower Hotel). 783 Sessions 1/17/18 302, at 22. 784 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 9-10. '" Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 9-10. 786 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 10; see also Volume I, Section IV.A.3.d, supra (explaining that Page acknowledged meeting Kislyak at this event). 787 Gordon 8/29/1 7 302, at 10. 788 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 10. 789 Gordon 8/29/17 302, at 10. 124 U.S. Department of Justice A"'etney 'Hartt P186t1et II p'4a) CeRtain Pw4aterial Pf6teetea URae. Fed. R. Cl iffi. P. 6(e) first meeting to propose amendments. 79o Although only delegates could participate in formal discussions and vote on the platform, the Trump Campaign could request changes, and members of the Trump Campaign attended committee meetings. 791 John Mashburn, the Campaign's policy director, helped oversee the Campaign's involvement in the platform committee meetings .792 He told the Office that he directed Campaign staff at the Convention, including J.D. Gordon, to take a hands-ofT approach and only to challenge platform planks if they directly contradicted Trump's wishes. 793 On July I I, 2016, delegate Diana Denman submitted a proposed platform amendment that included provision of armed support for Ukraine. 794 The amendment described Russia 's "ongoing military aggression" in Ukraine and announced "support" for " maintaining (and, if warranted, increasing) sanctions against Russia until Ukraine ' s sovereignty and territorial integrity are fully restored" and for "providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine's armed forces and greater coordination with NATO on defense planning.,,795 Gordon reviewed the proposed platform changes, including Denman 's796 Gordon stated that he flagged this amendment because of Trump 's stated position on Ukraine, which Gordon personally heard the candidate say atthe March 3 I foreign policy meeting-namely, that the Europeans should take primary responsibility for any assistance to Ukraine, that there should be improved U.S.-Russia relations, and that he did not want to start World War III over that region. 797 Gordon told the Office that Trump's statements on the campaign trail following the March meeting underscored those positions to the point where Gordon felt obliged to object to the proposed platform change and seek its dilution. 798 On July I I, 2016, at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Platform Subcommittee, Denman offered her amendment. 799 Gordon and another Campaign staffer, Matt Miller, approached a committee co-chair and asked him to table the amendment to permit further discussion. 8oo Gordon's concern with the amendment was the language about providing " lethal 79<) Gordon 8/29117 302, at 10; Hoff 5/26117 302, at 1-2. 791 Hoff 5/26117302, at 1; Gordon 9/7/17 302, at 10. 792 Mashburn 6/25118 302, at 4; Manafort 9120118 302, at 7-8. 793 Mashburn 6/25118 302, at 4; Gordon 8129117 302, at 10. 79' DENMAN 000001-02, DENMAN 000012, DENMAN 000021 -22; Denman 12/4/ 17 302, at 1; Denman 617117 302, at 2. 79S DENMAN 000001-02, DENMAN 000012, DENMAN 000021-22. 796 Gordon 8/29117 302, at 10-11. 797 Gordon 8/29117 302, at 11; Gordon 9/7/17 302, at 11; Gordon 2/ 14119 302, at 1-2, 5-6. 798 Gordon 2114119 302, at 5-6. 799 Denman 6/7/17 302, at 2; see DENMAN 000014. soo Denman 6/7/17 302, at 2; Denman 12/4117 302, at 2; Gordon 9/7/17 302, at 11-12; see Hoff 5/26/17 302, at 2. 125 U.S. Department of Justice AU6[fle, \Veflt Pl86tlet II })'4sy CeHtsifl ~48te( isl PI8teeteei Ufl6et Feel . R. Criffl. P. 6(e~ defensive weapons to Ukraine."SOI Miller did not have any independent basis to believe that this language contradicted Trump's views and relied on Gordon's recollection of the candidate's views. so2 According to Denman, she spoke with Gordon and Matt Miller, and they told her that they had to clear the language and that Gordon was "talking to New York."so3 Denman told others that she was asked by the two Trump Campaign staffers to strike "lethal defense weapons" from the proposal but that she refused 804 Derunan recalled Gordon saying that he was on the phone with candidate Trump, but she was skeptical whether that was true. S05 Gordon denied having told Denman that he was on the phone with Trump, although he acknowledged it was possible that he mentioned having previously spoken to the candidate about the subject matter. S06 Gordon's phone records reveal a call to Sessions 's office in Washington that afternoon, but do not include calls directly to a number associated with Trump.so7 And according to the President's written answers to the Office's questions, he does not recall being involved in the change in language of the platform amendment. 808 Gordon stated that he tried to reach Rick Dearborn, a senior foreign policy advisor, and Mashburn, the Campaign policy director. Gordon stated that he connected with both of them (he could not recall ifby phone or in person) and apprised them of the language he took issue with in the proposed amendment. Gordon recalled no objection by either Dearborn or Mashburn and that all three Campaign advisors supported the alternative formulation ("appropriate assistance,,).so9 Dearborn recalled Gordon warning them about the amendment, but not weighing in because Gordon was more familiar with the Campaign's foreign policy stance. 8JO Mashburn stated that Gordon reached him, and he told Gordon that Trump had not taken a stance on the issue and that the Campaign should not intervene. 8l l When the amendment came up again in the committee ' s proceedings, the subcommittee changed the amendment by striking the "lethal defense weapons" language and replacing it with 801 Denman 6/7/ 17 302, at 3. 802 M. Miller 10125117 302 at 3. 803 Denman 12/4117 302, at 2; Denman 6/7/17 302, at 2. 804 Hoff 5126117 302, at 2. 80s Denman 6/7/17 302, at 2-3, 3-4; Denman 12/4/17302, at 2. 806 Gordon 2114119 302, at 7. 807 Call Records of J.D. Gordon I his calls with Sessions were unrelated to 808 . Gordon stated to the Office that 9302, at 7. Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20, 2018), at 17 (Response to Question IV, Part (I)). 809 Gordon 2114119 302, at 6-7; Gordon 9/7/17 302, at 11-12; see Gordon 8/29117 302, at II. 810 Dearborn 11 /28/ 17302, at 7-8. 811 Mashburn 6/25118 302, at 4. 126 U.S. Department of Justice A~efHe~ '."Brlt Pf6BMet /1 ~48) Centain P,iftteliai Pleteetea UHaer Fea. R. CliiA. P. 6(e) "appropriate assistance."812 Gordon stated that he and the subcommittee co-chair ultimately agreed to replace the language about armed assistance with "appropriate assistance."sI3 The subcommittee accordingly approved Denman 's amendment but with the term "appropriate assistance."sI4 Gordon stated that, to his recollection, this was the only change sought by the Campaign. SIS Sam Clovis, the Campaign's national co-chair and chief policy advisor, stated he was surprised by the change and did not believe it was in line with Trump's stance. Sl 6 Mashburn stated that when he saw the word "appropriate assistance," he believed that Gordon had violated Mashburn ' s directive not to intervene. 817 7. Post-Convention Contacts with Kislyak Ambassador Kislyak continued his efforts to interact with Campaign officials with responsibility for the foreign-policy pOltfolio-among them Sessions and Gordon-in the weeks after the Convention. The Office did not identify evidence in those interactions of coordination between the Campaign and the Russian government. a. Ambassador Kislyak Invites J.D. Gordon to Breakfast at the Ambassador's Residence On August 3, 2016, an official from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the United States wrote to Gordon "[0 Jn behalf of' Ambassador Kislyak inviting Gordon "to have breakfast/tea with the Ambassador at his residence" in Washington, D.C. the following week.818 Gordon responded five days later to decline the invitation. He wrote, "[tJhese days are not optimal for us, as we are busily knocking down a constant stream offalse media stories while also preparing for the first debate with HRC. Hope to take a raincheck for another time when things quiet down a bit. Please pass along my regards to the Ambassador."sI9 The investigation did not identify evidence that Gordon made any other arrangements to meet (or met) with Kislyak after this email. b. Senator Sessions's September 2016 Meeting with Ambassador Kis/yak Also in August 2016, a representative of the Russian Embassy contacted Sessions' s Senate office about setting up a meeting with Kislyak 820 At the time, Sessions was a member of the 812 Hoff 5/26117302, at 2-3; see Denman 12/4117302, at 2-3; Gordon 8/29117 302, at 11. 813 Gordon 8/29117 302, at 11 ; Gordon 9/7/17 302, at 12. 8 14 Hoff 5126117302, at 2-3. 81.5 Gordon 2114119 302, at 6. 81 6 Clovis 10/3/ 17 302, at 10-11. 8 17 Mashburn 6125/18 302, at 4. 818 DJTFP00004828 (8/3116 Email, Pchelyakov [embassy@russianembassy.org] to Gordon). 8 19 DJTFP00004953 (8/8116 Email, Gordon to embassy@russianembassy.org). 820 Luff 1130/18 302, at 5. 127 U.S. Department of Justice AM:8"'le~ Vlerl( PresHet II ~ia) C61.taill £\{Mel iai PI eteetea UtH~eI Fea. R. Crilfl. P. 6(e) Senate Foreign Relations Committee and would meet with foreign officials in that capacity.821 But Sessions ' s staff reported, and Sessions himself acknowledged, that meeting requests from ambassadors increased substantially in 2016, as Sessions assumed a prominent role in the Trump Campaign and his name was mentioned for potential cabinet-level positions in a future Trump Administration. 822 On September 8, 2016, Sessions met with Kislyak in his Senate office. 823 Sessions said that he believed he was doing the Campa ign a service by meeting with foreign ambassadors, including Kislyak 824 He was accompanied in the meeting by at least two of his Senate staff: Sandra Luff, his legislative director; and Pete Landrum, who handled military affairs. 825 The meeting lasted less than 30 minutes 826 Sessions voiced concerns about Russia's sale of a missiledefense system to Iran, Russian planes buzzing U.S. military assets in the Middle East, and Russian aggression in emerging democracies such as Ukraine and Moldova 827 Kislyak offered explanations on these issues and complained about NATO land forces in former Soviet-bloc countries that border Russia.828 Landrum recalled that Kislyak referred to the presidential campaign as "an interesting campaign,"829 and Sessions also recalled Kislyak saying that the Russian government was receptive to the overtures Trump had laid out during his campaign. 830 None of the attendees, though, remembered any discussion of Russian election interference or any request that Sessions convey information from the Russian government to the Trump Campaign. 831 During the meeting, Kislyak invited Sessions to further discuss U.S.-Russia relations with him over a meal at the ambassador's residence.832 Sessions was non-committal when Kislyak extended the invitation. After the meeting ended, Luff advised Sessions against accepting the oneon-one meeting with Kislyak, whom she assessed to be an "old school KGB guy.,,83J Neither Luff nor Landrum recalled that Sessions followed up on the invitation or made any further effort to dine 82 1 Sessions 1117118302, at 23-24; Luff 1/30118 302, at 5. 822 Sessions 111 7/18302, at 23-24; Luff 1130/ 18 302, at 5; Landrum 2/27118 302, at 3-5. 823 Sessions 1117118 302, at 23. 824 Sessions 1117/18302, at 23 . 825 Sessions 1117118302, at 23; Luff 1/30118302, at 5-6; Landrum 2/27118 302, at 4-5 (stating he could not remember if election was discussed). 826 Luff 1/30/18302, at 6; Landrum 2/27118 302, at 5. 827 Luff 1130118 302, at 6; Landrum 2/27118 302, at 4-5. 828 Luff 1130118 302, at 6; Landrum 2/27/18 302 at 4-5. 829 Landrum 2/27118 302, at 5. 830 Sessions 1117118 302, at 23 . Sessions also noted that ambassadors came to him for information about Trump and hoped he would pass along information to Trump. Sessions 1117118302, at 23-24. 831 Sessions 1117118 302, at 23 ; Luff 1/30118 302, at 6; Landrum 2/27/ 18 302, at 5. 832 Luff 1130/18302, at 5; Landrum 2/27/ 18 302, at 4. 833 Luff 1130118 302, at 5. 128 U.S. Department of Justice AM:elne) \Vef!t Preal:let II ~(8) Cellts:iH ~,4Mefi8:1 Pfeteetea Blttlel Fea. R. Etil'i. P. 6(e1 or meet with Kislyak before the November 2016 election. 834 Sessions and Landrum recalled that, after the election, some efforts were made to arrange a meeting between Sessions and Kislyak.835 According to Sessions, the request came through CN! and would have involved a meeting between Sessions and Kislyak, two other ambassadors, and the Governor of Alabama 836 Sessions, however, was in New York on the day of the anticipated meeting and was unable to attend. 837 The investigation did not identify evidence that the two men met at any point after their September 8 meeting. 8. Paul ManafOt1 Paul Manafort served on the Trump Campaign, including a period as campaign chairman, from March to August 2016. 838 Manafort had connections to Russia through his prior work for Russ ian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and later through his work for a pro-Russian regime in Ukraine. Manafort stayed in touch with these contacts during the campaign period through Konstantin Kilimnik, a longtime Manafort employee who previously ran Manafort's office in Kiev and who the FBI assesses to have ties to Russian intelligence. Manafort instructed Rick Gates, his deputy on the Campaign and a longtime employee,839 to provide Kilimnik with updates on the Trump Campaign-including internal polling data, although Manafort claims not to recall that specific instruction. Manafort expected Kilimnik to share that information with others in Ukraine and with Deripaska. Gates periodically sent such polling data to Kilirnnik during the campaign. 834 Luff 1/3 0/ 18302, at 6; Landrum 2/27/18302, at 4-5 . '" Sessions 1/17118302, at 23. 836 Sessions 1117/18302, at 23. 831 Sessions 1/17/ 18302, at 23. 838 On August 21, 2018, Manafort was convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia on eight tax, Foreign Bank Account Registration (FBAR), and bank fraud charges. On September 14,2018, Manafor! pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to (I) conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States (money laundering, tax fraud, FBAR, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and FARA false statements), and (2) conspiracy to obstruct justice (witness tampering). Manafort also admitted criminal conduct with which he had been charged in the Eastern District of Virginia, but as to which the jury hung. The conduct at issue in both cases involved Manafor!'s work in Ukraine and the money he earned for that work, as well as crimes after the Ukraine work ended. On March 7, 2019, Manafort was sentenced to 47 months of imprisonment in the Virginia prosecution. On March 13, the district court in D.C. sentenced Manafort to a total term of 73 months: 60 months on the Count 1 conspiracy (with 30 of those months to run concurrent to the Virginia sentence), and 13 months on the Count 1 conspiracy, to be served consecutive to the other two sentences. The two sentences resulted in a total term of 90 months. 839 As noted in Volume I, Section Ill.D.I .b, supra, Gates pleaded guilty to two criminal charges in the District of Columbia, including making a false statement to the FBI, pursuant to a plea agreement. He has provided information and in-court testimony that the Office has deemed to be reliable. See also Transcript at 16, United States v. Paul J Mana/ort, Jr., 1:17-cr-201 (D.D.C. Feb. 13,20 19), Doc. 514 ("Mana/ort 2113119 Transcript") (court's explanation of reasons to credit Gates's statements in one instance). 129 U.S. Department of Justice Aa:erHe} VlefI( Pf8al:tet // P,{ft) C61.taifll\4Meliai Pleteetea UASey Pea. R. Ctim. P. 6(e~ Manafort also twice met Kilimnik in the United States during the campaign period and conveyed campaign information. The second meeting took place on August 2, 2016, in New York City. Kilimnik requested the meeting to deliver in person a message from former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was then living in Russia. The message was about a peace plan for Ukraine that Manafort has since acknowledged was a "backdoor" means for Russia to control eastern Ukraine. Several months later, after the presidential election, Kilimnik wrote an email to Manafort expressing the view-which Manafort later said he shared-that the plan's success would require U.S. support to succeed: "all that is required to start the process is a very minor ' wink' (or slight push) from [Donald Trump].,,84o The email also stated that if Manafort were designated as the U.S. representative and started the process, Yanukovych would ensure his reception in Russia "at the very top level." Manafort communicated with Kilimnik about peace plans for Ukraine on at least four occasions after their first discussion of the topic on August 2: December 2016 (the Kilimnik email described above); January 2017; February 2017; and again in the spring of 2018. The Office reviewed numerous ManafOlt email and text communications, and asked President Trump about the plan in written questions. 841 The investigation did not uncover evidence of Manafort's passing along information about Ukrainian peace plans to the candidate or anyone else in the Campaign or the Administration. The Office was not, however, able to gain access to all of Manafort's electronic communications (in some instances, messages were sent using encryption applications). And while Manafort denied that he spoke to members of the Trump Campaign or the new Administration about the peace plan, he lied to the Office and the grand jury about the peace plan and his meetings with Kilimnik, and his unreliability on this subject was among the reasons that the district judge found that he breached his cooperation agreement. 842 The Office could not reliably determine M!lOaf.2!~ OUl'om,e with Kilirnnik during the campaign period. a downside to sharing campaign information, and data 841 According to the President's written answers, he does not remember Manafort communicating to him any particular positions that Ukraine or Russia would want the United States to support. Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20, 2018), at 16-17 (Response to Question IV, Part (d». Manafort made several false statements during debriefings. Based on that conduct, the Office determined that Manafort had breached his plea agreement and could not be a cooperating witness. The judge presiding in Manafort's D.C. criminal case found by a preponderance of the evidence that Manafort intentionally made multiple false statements to the FBI, the Office, and the grand jury concerning his interactions and communications with Kilimnik (and concerning two other issues). Although the report refers at times to Manafort's statements, it does so only when those statements are sufficiently corroborated to be trustworthy, to identify issues on which Manafort's untruthful responses may themselves be of evidentiary value, or to provide Manafort's explanations for certain events, even when we were unable to determine whether that explanation was credible. 842 130 U.S. Department of Justice Aft6t'fte) \V€Jplt Pf86t1et II ~4:8) CeAtaifl ~f8terial PreteeteEl Ult6el Feel. R. C, iFf). P. 6(ej be "good for business" and potentially a way to be made whole for work he previously completed in the Ukraine. As to Deripaska, Manafort claimed that by sharing campaign information with him, Deripaska might see value in their relationship and resolve a "disagreement"-a reference to one or more outstanding lawsuits. Because of questions about Manafort's credibility and our limited ability to gather evidence on what happened to the polling data after it was sent to Kilimnik, the Office could not assess what Kilimnik (or others he may have given it to) did with it. The Office did not identify evidence of a connection between Manafort's sharing polling data and Russia's interference in the election, which had already been reported by U.S. media outlets at the time of the August 2 meeting. The investigation did not establish that Manafort otherwise coordinated with the Russian government on its election-interference efforts. a. Paul Mana/art's Ties to Russia and Ukraine Manafort's Russian contacts during the campaign and transition periods stem from his consulting work for Deripaska from approximately 2005 to 2009 and his separate political consulting work in Ukraine from 2005 to 2015, including through his company DMP International LLC (DMI). Kilimnik worked for Manafort in Kiev during this entire period and continued to communicate with Manafort through at least June 2018. Kilimnik, who speaks and writes Ukrainian and Russian, facilitated many of Manafort' s communications with Deripaska and Ukrainian oligarchs. i. Oleg Deripaska Consulting Work In approximately 2005, Manafort began working for Deripaska, a Russian oligarch who has a global empire involving aluminum and power companies and who is closely aligned with Vladimir Putin 843 A memorandum describing work that Manafort performed for Deripaska in 2005 regarding the post-Soviet republics referenced the need to brief the Kremlin and the benefits that the work cou ld confer on "the Putin Government.,,844 Gates described the work Manafort did for Deripaska as " political risk insurance," and explained that Deripaska used Manafort to install friendly political officials in countries where Deripaska had business interests 84S Manafort's company earned tens of millions of dollars from its work for Deripaska and was loaned millions of dollars by Deripaska as wel1. 846 In 2007, Deripaska invested through another entity in Pericles Emerging Market Paliners L.P. ("Pericles"), an investment fund created by Manafort and former Manafort business partner Richard Davis. The Pericles fund was established to pursue investments in Eastern Europe. 847 Deripaska was the sole investor. 848 Gates stated in interviews with the Office that the venture led 843 Pinchuk et ai., Russian Tycoon Deripaska in Putin Delegation to China, Reuters (June 8, 2018). 84. 6/23/05 Memo, Manafort & Davis to Deripaska & Rothchild. 84' Gates 212118 302, at 7. Manafort 9/20118302, at 2-5; Manafort Income by Year, 2005 - 20 15; Manafort Loans from Wire Transfers, 2005 - 2015. 846 847 Gates 3112118 302, at 5. 848 Manafort 12116115 Dep ., at 157:8-11. 131 U.S. Department of Justice Att611le) 'Nelk PresHet 111\48) C6fttail~ ~,4fttefi81 Pleteeteei Unaer Fee. R. Ctim. P. 6te) to a deterioration of the relationship between Manafort and Deripaska.849 In particular, when the fund failed, litigation between Manafort and Deripaska ensued. Gates stated that, by 2009, Manafort's business relationship with Deripaska had "dried up. ,,850 According to Gates, various interactions with Deripaska and his intermediaries over the past few years have involved trying to reso lve the legal dispute. 8sl As described below, in 2016, Manafort, Gates, Kilimnik, and others engaged in efforts to revive the Deripaska relationship and resolve the litigation. ii. Political Consulting Work Through Deripaska, Manafort was introduced to Rinat Akhmetov, a Ukrainian oligarch who hired Manafort as a political consultant. 852 In 2005, Akhmetov hired Manafort to engage in political work supporting the Party of Regions,853 a political party in Ukraine that was generally understood to align with Russia. Manafort assisted the Party of Regions in regaining power, and its candidate, Viktor Yanukovych, won the presidency in 2010. Manafort became a close and trusted political advisor to Yanukovych during his time as President of Ukraine. Yanukovych served in that role until 2014, when he fled to Russia amidst popular protests. 854 iii. Konstantin Kilimnik Kilimnik is a Russian national who has lived in both Russia and Ukraine and was a longtime Manafort employee 855 Kilimnik had direct and close access to Yanukovych and his senior entourage, and he facilitated communications between Manafort and his clients, including Yanukovych and multiple Ukrainian 0ligarchs 856 Kilimnik also maintained a relationship with Deripaska' s deputy, Viktor Boyarkin,857 a Russian national who previously served in the defense attache office of the Russian Embassy to the United States 858 849 Gates 2/2118 302, at 9. '50 Gates 2/2118 302, at 6. 85 1 Gates 2/2118 302, at 9-10. 852 Manafort 7/30/14 302, at 1; Manafort 9/20118 302, at 2. 853 Manafort 9/11118302, at 5-6. ss, Gates 3/16/18 302, at 1; Davis 2/8/ 18 302, at 9; Devine 7/6118 302, at 2-3. '55 Patten 5/22118 302, at 5; Gates 1/29/ 18302, at 18-19; 10/28/97 Kilimnik Visa Record, U.S. Department of State. • 56 Gates 1129118 302, at 18-1 9; Patten 5122/ 18 302, at 8; Gates 1131118 302, at 4-5; Oates 1130118 302, at 2; Gates 212118 302, at 11 . m Gates 1129118302, at 18; Patten 5/22/ 18 302, at 8. ss, Boyarkin Visa Record, U.S. Department of State. 132 U.S. Department of Justice Afterfle) '.\'erl( Pre6Het II ~48) Cetttain P.4aterial Pf6teetea Ult8er Feel. R. 01 inl. P. 6(e) Manafort told the Office that he did not believe Kilimnik was working as a Russian "spy.,,859 The FBI , however, assesses that Kilimnik has ties to Russian intelligence. 86o Several pieces of the Office ' s evidence---including witness interviews and emails obtained through courtauthorized search warrants-support that assessment: • Kilimnik was born on April 27, 1970, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, then of the Soviet Union, and attended the Military Institute of the Ministry of Defense from 1987 until 1992 861 Sam Patten, a business partner to Kilimnik,862 stated that Kilimnik told him that he was a translator in the Russian army for seven years and that he later worked in the Russian armament industry selling arms and military equipment. 863 • U.S. government visa records reveal that Kilimnik obtained a visa to travel to the United States with a Russian diplomatic passport in 1997. 864 • Kilimnik worked for the International Republican Institute' s (lRl) Moscow office, where he did translation work and general office management from 1998 to 2005. 865 While another official recalled the incident differently,866 one former associate of Kilimnik' s at JRI told the FBI that Kilimnik was fired from his post because his links to Russian intelligence were too strong. The same individual stated that it was well known at IRI that Kilimnik had links to the Russian government. 867 • Jonathan Hawker, a British national who was a public relations consultant at FTI Consulting, worked with DMI on a public relations campaign for Yanukovych. After Hawker's work for DMI ended , Kilimnik contacted Hawker about working for a Russian 859 ManafOlt 9111118 302, at 5. 860 The Office has noted Kilimnik' s assessed ties to Russian intelligence in public court filings. E.g. , Gov' t Opp. to Mot. to Modify, United States v. Paul J Mana/ort, Jr., l:17-cr-201 (D.D.C. Dec. 4, 2017), Doc. 73, at 2 ("Mana/ort (D.D.C.) Gov' t Opp. to Mot. to Modify"). 861 12117116 Kilimnik Visa Record, U.S. Department of State. 862 In August 2018, Patten pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and admitted in his Statement of Offense that he also misled and withheld documents from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the course of its investigation of Russian election interference. Plea Agreement, United States v. W. Samuel Patten, I: 18-cr-260 (D.D.C. Aug. 31 , 2018), Doc. 6; Statement of Offense, United States v. W. Samuel Patten, I: 18-cr-260 (D.D.C. Aug. 31 , 2018), Doc. 7. 863 Patten 5/22118 302, at 5-6. 864 10/28/97 Kilimnik Visa Record, U.S. Department of State. 865 Nix 3/30118 302, at 1-2. 866 Nix 3/30118 302, at 2. 867 Lenzi 1/30/18 302, at 2. 133 Aftefl'le~! U.S. Department of Justice ~4ateriftl Pfeteetea Uft8er Fea. R. Grift •. P. 6(e1 ';'!splt Preeit:let II P.itt) Cel.taiH government entity on a public-relations project that would promote, in Western and Ukrainian media, Russia's position on its 2014 invasion ofCrimea. 868 • Gates suspected that Kilimnik was a "spy," a view that he shared with Manafort, Hawker, and Alexander van der Zwaan,869 an attorney who had worked with OM! on a report for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 870 Investigative Technique b. Contacts during Paul Mana/ort's Time with the Trump Campaign i. Paul Manafort Joins the Campaign Manafort served on the Trump Campaign from late March to August 19, 2016 . On March 29,2016, the Campaign announced that Manafort would serve as the Campaign ' s "Convention Manager.,,871 On May 19, 2016, Manafort was promoted to campaign chairman and chief strategist, and Gates, who had been assisting Manafort on the Campaign, was appointed deputy campaign chairman. 8n Thomas Barrack and Roger Stone both recommended Manafort to candidate Trump.873 In early 2016, at Manafort's request, Barrack suggested to Trump that Manafortjoin the Campaign to manage the Republican Convention 874 Stone had worked with Manafort from approximately 1980 until the mid-1990s through various consulting and lobbying firms. Manafort met Trump in 1982 when Trump hired the Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly lobbying firm .875 Over the years, Manafort saw Trump at political and social events in New York City and at Stone's wedding, and Trump requested VIP status at the 1988 and 1996 Republican conventions worked by Manafort. 876 868 Hawker 119118 302, at 13; 3118/14 Email, Hawker & Tulukbaev. 869 van der Zwaan pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to making false statements to the Special Counsel's Office. Plea Agreement, United States v. Alex van der Zwaan, 1:18-cr-31 (D.D.C. Feb. 20, 2018), Doc. 8. 870 Hawker 6/9/18 302, at 4; van der Zwaan 1113/17302 , at 22. Manafort said in an interview that Gates had joked with Kilimnik about Kilimnik's going to meet with his KGB handler. Manafort 10/16/18 302, at 7. 871 Press Release - Donald 1. Trump Announces Campaign Convention Manager Paul 1. Mana/art, The American Presidency Project - U.C. Santa Barbara (Mar. 29, 2016). 812 Gates 1129/18302, at 8; Meghan Keneally, Timeline a/Mana/art's role in the Trump Campaign, ABC News (Oct. 20, 2017). 873 Gates 1129/18302, at 7-8; Manaf0l1 9/11/18302, at 1-2; Barrack 12/12/17 302, at 3. 874 Barrack 12/12/17302, at 3; Gates 1129118302, at 7-8. 875 Manafort 10/16118 302, at 6. 876 Manafort 10116118 302, at 6. 134 U.S. Department of Justice MatHe) V-T8fl( PreaHet 1/ I\ia-y CeITtain l\ifJ:1:erial PreteeteellJ-ftaer Fee. R. Grim. P. 6(e) According to Gates, in March 2016, Manafort traveled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to meet with Trump. Trump hired him at that time. 877 Manafort agreed to work on the Campaign without pay. Manafort had no meaningful income at this point in time, but resuscitating his domestic political campaign career could be financially beneficial in the future. Gates reported that Manafort intended, if Trump won the Presidency, to remain outside the Administration and monetize his relationship with the Administration. 878 ii. Paul Mana/art's Campaign-Period Contacts Immediately upon joining the Campaign, Manafort directed Gates to prepare for his review separate memoranda addressed to Deripaska, Akhmetov, Serhiy Lyovochkin, and Boris Kolesnikov,879 the last three being Ukrainian oligarchs who were senior Opposition Bloc officials. 88o The memoranda described Manafort's appointment to the Trump Campaign and indicated his willingness to consult on Ukrainian politics in the future. On March 30, 2016, Gates emailed the memoranda and a press release announcing Manafort's appointment to Kilimnik for translation and dissemination.881 Manafort later followed up with Kilimnik to ensure his messages had been delivered, emailing on April 11, 2016 to ask whether Kilimnik had shown "our friends" the media coverage of his new role. 882 Kilimnik replied, "Absolutely. Every article." Manafort further asked: "How do we use to get whole. Has Ovd [Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska] operation seen?" Kilimnik wrote back the same day, "Yes, I have been sending everything to Victor [Boyarkin, Deripaska's deputy], who has been forwarding the coverage directly to OVD.,,883 Gates reported that Manafort said that being hired on the Campaign would be "good for business" and increase the likelihood that Manafort would be paid the approximately $2 million he was owed for previous political consulting work in Ukraine. 884 Gates also explained to the Office that Manafort thought his role on the Campaign could help "confirm" that Deripaska had dropped the Pericles lawsuit, and that Gates believed Manafort sent polling data to Deripaska (as 877 Gates 2/2/18 302, at 10. 878 Gates 1130/18 302, at 4. 879 Gates 2/2/18 302, at II. 880 See Sharon LaFraniere, Manafort's Trial Isn't About Russia, but It Will Be in the Air, New York Times (July 30, 2018); Tierney Sneed, Prosecutors Believe Manafort Made $60 Million Consulting in Ukraine, Talking Points Memo (July 30, 2018); Mykola Vorobiov, How Pro-Russian Forces Will Take Revenge on Ukraine, Atlantic Council (Sept. 23, 2018); Sergii Leshchenko, Ukraine's Oligarchs Are Still Calling the Shots, Foreign Policy (Aug. 14, 2014); Interfax-Ukraine, Kolesnikov: Inevitability of Punishment Neededfor Real Fight Against Smuggling in Ukraine, Kyiv Post (June 23, 2018); Igor Kossov, Kyiv Hotel Industry Makes Room for New Entrants, Kyiv Post (Mar. 7, 2019); Markian Kuzmowycz, How the Kremlin Can Win Ukraine's Elections, Atlantic Council (Nov. 19, 2018). The Opposition Bloc is a Ukraine political party that largely reconstituted the Party of Regions. 881 3/30/16 Email, Gates to Kilimnik. 882 4/11/16 Email, Manafort & Kilimnik. 883 4/11/16 Email, Manafort & Kilimnik. 884 Gates 2/2/18 302, at 10. 135 u.s. Department of Justice Att611,ey \Veflt PF88Het / / ~4a) Centain ~(8tel isl Preteeted UncielFea. R. Cr ifll. P. 6(e) discussed further below) so that Deripaska would not move forward with his lawsuit against Manafort. 885 Gates further stated that Deripaska wanted a visa to the United States, that Deripaska could believe that having Manafort in a position inside the Campaign or Administration might be helpful to Deripaska, and that Manafort's relationship with Trump could help Deripaska in other ways as well 886 Gates stated, however, that Manafort never told him anything specific about what, if anything, Manafort might be offering Deripaska. 887 Gates also reported that Manafort instructed him in April 2016 or early May 2016 to send Kilimnik Campaign internal polling data and other updates so that Kilimnik, in turn, could share it with Ukrainian 888 Gates understood that the information would also be shared with .889 Gates repOited to the Office that he but Gates thought it was a way to showcase Manafort's work, and Manafort wanted to open doors to jobs after the Trump Campaign ended. 89o Gates said that Manafort's instruction included sending internal polling data prepared for the Trump Campaign by pollster Tony Fabrizio. 891 Fabrizio had worked with Manafort for years and was brought into the Campaign by Manafort. Gates stated that, in accordance with Manafort's instruction, he periodically sent Kilimnik polling data via WhatsApp; Gates then deleted the communications on a daily basis 8n Gates further told the Office that, after Manafort left the Campaign in mid-August, Gates sent Kilimnik polling data less frequently and that the data he sent was more publicly available information and less internal data. 893 emai to press contacts and mid-August of 2016. Those emails referenced "internal polling," described the status of the Trump Campaign and 885 Gates 2/2118 302, at 11 ; Gates 9/27118 302 (serial 740), at 2. 886 Gates 2/2118 302, at 12. 887 Gates 2/2118 302, at 12. 888 Gates 1/31/18302, at 17; Gates 9/27/18 302 (serial 740), at 2. In a later interview with the Office, Gates stated that Manafoti directed him to send polling data to Kilimnik after a May 7, 2016 meeting between Manafort and Kilimnik in New York, discussed in Volume I, Section IV.A.8.b.iii, infra. Gates 1117118 302, at 3. 889 Gates 9/27/ 18 302, Part 11 , at 2; 8" ·Gates 2112118 302, at 10; Gates 1131118302, at 17. 89 1 Gates 9/27/18 302 (serial 740), at 2; Gates 217118 302, at 15. 892 Gates 1131118302, at 17. 893 Gates 2112/18302, at 11-12. According to Gates, his access to internal polling data was more limited because Fabrizio was himself distanced from the Campaign at that point. 894 136 U.S. Department of Justice AM:errie,' \V8fk Pleettet II ~{tt) CentaiR ~4Metittl Pfeteetea Unelet Fetf. R. Grim. P. 6(e) The Office also obtained contemporaneous emails that shed light on the purpose of the communications with Deripaska and that are consistent with Gates's account. For example, in response to a July 7, 2016, email from a Ukrainian reporter about Manafort's failed Deripaskabacked investment, Manafort asked Kilimnik whether there had been any movement on "this issue with our friend. "897 Gates stated that "our friend" likely referred to Deripaska,898 and Manafort told the Office that the " issue" (and "our biggest interest," as stated below) was a solution to the Deripaska-Pericles issue.899 Kilimnik replied: I am carefully optimistic on the question of our biggest interest. Our friend [Boyarkin] said there is lately significantly more attention to the campaign in his boss' [Deripaska's] mind, and he will be most likely looking for ways to reach out to you pretty soon, understanding all the time sensitivity. I am more than sure that it will be resolved and we will get back to the original relationship with V.'s boss [Deripaska] .9oo Eight minutes later, Manafort replied that Kilimnik should tell Boyarkin' s " boss," a reference to Deripaska, "that if he needs private briefings we can accommodate.,,90 1 Manafort has alleged to the Office that he was willing to brief Deripaska only on public campaign matters and gave an example: why Trump selected Mike Pence as the Vice-Presidential running mate.902 Manafort said he never gave Deripaska a briefmg. 90J Manafort noted that if Trump won, Deripaska would want to use Manafort to advance whatever interests Deripaska had in the United States and elsewhere. 904 89' 8/ 18/ 16 Email, Kilimnik to Dirkse; 8/ 18116 Email, Kilimnik to Schultz; 8/18/16 Email, Kilimnik to Marson; 7/27/16 Email , Kilimnik to Ash; 8/18/ 16 Email, Kilimnik to Ash; 8/18/16 Email, Kilimnik to Jackson; 8/18/16 Email, Kilimnik to Mendoza-Wilson; 8/19/16 Email, Kilimnik to Patten. 896 897 717116 Email, Manafort to Kilimnik. 898 Gates 2/211 8 302, at 13 . 899 Manafort 9111118 302, at 6. 900 7/8/16 Email , Kilimnik to Manafort. 901 7/8/16 Email, Kilimnik to Manafort; Gates 2/2/18 302, at 13 . 902 Manafort 9111118 302, at 6. 903 Manafort 9111118302, at 6. 904 Manafort 9/ 11118 302, at 6. 137 U.S. Department of Justice AM61liey V.'sflt Prs6t:Jet II ~48) CSHtfltfl ~ffltel iai Pl8teete6 UI'l6el FeEl. R. CI tm. P. 6~e) iii. Paul Manafort's Two Campaign-Period Meetings with Konstantin Kilimnik in the United States Manafort twice met with Kilimnik in person during the campaign period-once in May and again in August 2016 . The first meeting took place on May 7, 2016, in New York City 9 05 [n the days leading to the meeting, Kilimnik had been working to gather information about the political situation in Ukraine. That included information gleaned from a trip that former Party of Regions official Yuriy Boyko had recently taken to Moscow-a trip that likely included meetings between Boyko and high-ranking Russian officials 906 Kilimnik then traveled to Washington, D.C. on or about May 5, 2016; while in Washington, Kilimnik had pre-arranged meetings with State Department employees. 907 Late on the evening of May 6, Gates arranged for Kilimnik to take a 3:00 a.m. train to meet Manafort in New York for breakfast on May 7. 908 According to Manafort, during the meeting, he and Kilimnik talked about events in Ukraine, and Manafort briefed Kilimnik on the Trump Campaign, expecting Kilimnik to pass the information back to individuals in Ukraine and elsewhere. 909 Manafort stated that Opposition Bloc members recognized Manafort's position on the Campaign was an opportunity, but Kilimnik did not ask for anything.910 Kilimnik spoke about a plan of Boyko to boost election participation in the eastern zone of Ukraine, which was the base for the Opposition Bloc. 9 !! Kilimnik returned to Washington, D.C. right after the meeting with Manafort. Manafort met with Kilimnik a second time at the Grand Havana Club in New York City on the evening of August 2, 2016. The events leading to the meeting are as follows. On July 28, 2016, Kilimnik flew from Kiev to Moscow.912 The next day, Kilimnik wrote to Manafort requesting that they meet, using coded language about a conversation he had that day.9IJ In an email with a subject line "B lack Caviar," Kilimnik wrote: I met today with the guy who gave you your biggest black caviar jar several years ago. We spent about 5 hours talking about his story, and I have several important messages from him to you. He asked me to go and brief you on our conversation. I said I have to run it by you first, but in principle 1 am prepared to do it. ... It has to do about the future of his 90s Investigative Technique 906 4/26/16 Email, Kilimnik to Purcell, at 2; Gates 2/2/18302, at 12; Patten 5/22/18302, at 6-7; Gates 11 /7/ 18302, at 3. 907 5/7/16 Email, Kilimnik to Charap & Kimmage; 5/7/16 Email, Kasanoflo Ki1imnik. 908 5/6/16 Email, Manaforl to Gates; 5/6/16 Email, Gates to Kilimnik. '" Manafort 10/ 11 /18 302, al l. 9[0 Manafort 10/11/18 302, at 1. "I Manafort 10/11 /18 302, at 1. 912 7/25/16 Email. Kilimniktokatrin@yana.kiev.ua (2: 17:34 a.m.). 913 7129/16 Email, Kilimnik to Manafort (10:51 a.m.). 138 U.S. Department of Justice AMsIHe, 'Velie P188t1et II ~4fl) CeHtaift ~48:terifll P18teetea VAser Fea. It Griffl. P. 6Ee) country, and is quite interesting 9 14 Manafort identified "the guy who gave you your biggest black caviar jar" as Yanukovych. He explained that, in 2010, he and Yanukovych had lunch to celebrate the recent presidential election. Yanukovych gave Manafort a large jar of black caviar that was worth approximately $30,000 to $40,000 915 Manafort's identification ofYanukovych as "the guy who gave you your biggest black caviar jar" is consistent with Kilimnik being in Moscow-where Yanukovych resided-when Kilimnik wrote "I met today with~a December 2016 email in which Kilimnik referred to Yanukovych as "BG,"~916 Manafort replied to Kilimnik's July 29 email, "Tuesday [August 2] is best ... Tues or weds in NYC.,,917 Three days later, on July 31, 2016, Kilimnik flew back to Kiev from Moscow, and on that same day, wrote to Manafort that he needed "about 2 hours" for their meeting "because it is a long caviar story to tel 1.,,918 Kilimnik wrote that he would arrive at JFK on August 2 at 7:30 p.m., and he and Manafort agreed to a late dinner that night. 919 Documentary evidence- including flight, phone, and hotel records, and the timing of text messages exchanged 92°-confirms the dinner took place as planned on August 2.921 As to the contents of the meeting itself, the accounts of Manafort and Gates-who arrived late to the dinner---differ in certain respects. But their versions of events, when assessed alongside available documentary evidence and what Kilimnik told business associate Sam Patten, indicate that at least three principal topics were discussed. First, Manafort and Kilimnik discussed a plan to resolve the ongoing political problems in Ukraine by creating an autonomous republic in its more industrialized eastern region of Donbas,922 914 7/29/ 16 Email.Kilimnik to Manafort ( 10:51 a.m.). 91' Manafort 9112118302, at 3. Investigative Technique 917 7129116 Email, Manafort to Kilimnik. 918 7/31116 Email, Manafort to Kilimnik. 919 7/31116 Email, Manafort to Kilimnik. 920 Kilimnik 8/2116 CBP . ; Call Records of Rick Gates Receipt. . Call Records of Konstantin Kilimloik 812-3116, 921 Deripaska's private plane also fl ew to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on the evening of August According to Customs and Border Protection records" the only passengers on the plane were Deripaska's wife, daughter, mother, and father-in-law, and separate records obtained by our Office confirm that Kilimnik flew on a commercial flight to New York. 2, 2016. 922 The Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics, which are located in the Donbas region of Ukraine, declared themselves independent in response to the popular unrest in 20 14 that removed President Yanukovych from power. Pro-Russian Ukrainian militia forces, with backing from the Russian military, have occupied the region since 2014. Under the Yanukovych-backed plan, Russia would assist in withdrawing the military, and Donbas would become an autonomous region within Ukraine with its own 139 U.S. Department of Justice Aft61He, Vlefl{ PleeHet /1 l\iay Cel.tain ~4atefi8:1 Pfsteetee Ufl6et FeEl. R. Ctin .. P. 6(e) and having Yanukovych, the Ukrainian President ousted in 2014, elected to head that republic.923 That plan, Manafort later acknowledged, constituted a " backdoor" means for Russia to control eastern Ukraine.924 Manafort initially said that, ifhe had not cut offthe discussion, Kilimnik would have asked Manafort in the August 2 meeting to convince Trump to come out in favor of the peace plan, and Yanukovych would have expected Manafort to use his connections in Europe and Ukraine to support the plan. 925 Manafort also initially told the Office that he had said to Kilimnik . that the plan was crazy, that the discussion ended, and that he did not recall Kilimnik 926 Manafort request needed him. When confronted with an email written by Kilimnik on or about December 8, 2016, however, Manafort acknowledged Kilimnik raised the peace plan Kilimnik also again in that email. 928 Manafort ultimately ~ary 2017 meetings with _ _ 929 Second, Manafort briefed Kilimnik on the state of the Trump Campaign and Manafort's plan to win the election. 93o That briefing encompassed the Campaign's messaging and its internal polling data. According to Gates, it also included discussion of "battleground" states, which Manafort identified as Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.931 did not of the refer to states in his tell prime minister. The plan emphasized that Yanukovych would be an ideal candidate to bring peace to the region as prime minister of the republic, and facilitate the reintegration of the re~aine with the support of the U.S. and Russian presidents. As noted above, according to _ the written to work, both U.S. and Russian support were necessary. 2/21/18 Email, Manafort, Ward, & Fabrizio, at 3-5. 925 Manafort 9111118 302, at 4. 926 Manafort 9112118 302, at 4. 927 Manafort 911\/18 302, at 5; Manaf0I19/121l8 302, at 4. 928 Manafort 9/12/\8 302, at 4; Investigative Technique 929 evidence cOIrlirms from Manafort); 2/21 /18 Email, Manafort to Ward & Fabrizio. 930 Manafort 9111/18 302, at 5. 931 Gates 1130118 302, at 3, 5. 932 140 (forw;~rding email U.S. Department of Justice Att611.e) '.\'8fk Pre6t:1et II ~4ft) C6fltsifl Ptfaterial Pp6teetefi URaer Feel. R. GriM. P. 6(e} Third, according to Gates and what Kilimnik told Patten, Manafort and Kilimnik discussed two sets of financial disputes related to Manafort's previous work in the region. Those consisted of the unresolved Deripaska lawsuit and the funds that the Opposition Bloc owed to Manafort for his political consulting work and how Manafort might be able to obtain payment. 933 After the meeting, Gates and Manafort both' stated that they left separately from Kilimnik because they knew the media was tracking Manafort and wanted to avoid media reporting on his connections to Kilimnik. 934 c. Post-Resignation Activities Manafort resigned from the Trump Campaign in mid-August 20 \6, approximately two weeks after his second meeting with Kilimnik, amidst negative media reporting about his political consulting work for the pro-Russian Party of Regions in Ukraine. Despite his resignation, Manafort continued to offer advice to various Campaign officials through the November election. Manafort told Gates that he still spoke with Kushner, Bannon, and candidate Trump,935 and some of those post-resignation contacts are documented in emails. For example, on October 21 , 2016, Manafort sent Kushner an email and attached a strategy memorandum proposing that the Campaign make the case against Clinton "as the failed and corrupt champion of the establishment" and that "Wikileaks provides the Trump campaign the ability to make the case in a very credible way - by using the words of Clinton, its campaign officials and DNC members.,,936 Later, in a November 5, 2016 email to Kushner entitled "Securing the Victory," Manafort stated that he was "really feeling good about our prospects on Tuesday and focusing on preserving the victory," and that he was concerned the Clinton Campaign would respond to a loss by " mov[ing] immediately to discredit the [Trump] victory and claim voter fraud and cyber-fraud, including the claim that the Russians have hacked into the voting machines and tampered with the results.,,937 Trump was elected President on November 8, 2016. Manafort told the Office that, in the wake of Trump ' s victory, he was not interested in an Administration job. Manafort instead preferred to stay on the "outside," and monetize his campaign position to generate business given his familiarity and relationship with Trump and the incoming Administration. 938 Manafort appeared to follow that plan, as he traveled to the Middle East, Cuba, South Korea, Japan, and China and was paid to explain what a Trump presidency would entail. 939 Manafort's activities in early 2017 included meetings relating to Ukraine and Russia. The 933 Gates 1/30118302 , at 2-4; Patten 5/22/ 18 302, at 7. 934 Gates 1130118 302, at 5; Manafort 9/ 11118 302, at 5. '" Gates 2112118 302, at 12. 936 NOSC00021517-20 (10/21116 Email, ManafOlt to Kushner). 937 NOSC00021573-75 (1115116 Email, Manafort to Kushner). 938 Manafort 9112118 302, at 1,4-5; Gates 1130118 302, at 4. 939 Manafort 9112118 302, at 1. 141 U.S. Department of Justice I'ttt6fHe) Werle PrS8tlet II I\4ay CeHtaiH P,{ateliai Preteetea UASe! fea. R. Grim. P. 6Ee) first meeting, which took place in Madrid, Spain in January 2017, was with Georgiy Oganov. Oganov, who had previously worked at the Russian Embassy in the United States, was a senior executive at a Deripaska company and was believed to report directly to Deripaska 940 Manafort initially denied attending the meeting. When he later acknowledged it, he claimed that the meeting had been arranged by his lawyers and concerned only the Pericles lawsuit. 941 Other evidence, however, provides reason to doubt Manafort's statement that the sole topic of the meeting was the Pericles lawsuit. In particular, text messages to Manafort from a number associated with Kilimnik suggest that Kilimnik and Boyarkin-not Manafort's counsel-had arranged the meeting between Manafort and Oganov. 942 Kilimnik's message states that the meeting was supposed to be "not about money or Pericles" but instead "about recreating [the] old friendship"-ostensibly between Manafort and Deripaska-"and talking about global politics.,,943 Manafort also replied by text that he "need[s] this finished before Jan. 20,,,944 which appears to be a reference to resolving Pericles before the inauguration. On January 15,2017, three days after his return from Madrid, Manafort emailed K.T. McFarland, who was at that time designated to be Deputy National Security Advisor and was formally appointed to that position on January 20, 2017. 945 Manafort' s January 15 email to McFarland stated: "I have some important information 1 want to share that I picked up on my travels over the last month.,,946 Manafort told the Office that the email referred to an issue regarding Cuba, not Russia or Ukraine, and ManafOlt had traveled to Cuba in the past month. 947 Either way, McFarland- who was advised by Flynn not to respond to the Manafort inquiryappears not to have responded to Manafort. 948 Manafort told the Office that around the time of the Presidential Inauguration in January, he met with Kilimnik and Ukrainian oligarch Serhiy Lyovochkin at the Westin Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia. 949 During this meeting, Kilimnik again discussed the Yanukovych peace plan that he had broached at the August 2 meeting and in a detailed December 8, 2016 message found in Kilimnik' s DMP email account 950 In that December 8 email, which Manafort 940 Kalashnikova 5117/ 18 302, at 4; Gary Lee, Soviet Embassy's Identity Crisis, Washington Post (Dec. 20, 1991); Georgy S. Oganov Executive Profile & Biography, Bloomberg (Mar. 12,20 19). 94 1 Manafort 9111118302, at 7. 942 Text Message, Manafort & Kilimnik. 943 Text Message, Manafort & Kilimnik; Manafort 9112118 302, at 5. 944 Text Message, Manafort & Kilimnik. 945 1115117 Email, Manafort, McFarland, & Flynn. 946 1/ 15/17 Email, Manafort, McFarland, & Flynn. 947 Manafort 9111118 302, at 7. 948 1/15/17 Email, Manafort, McFarland, & Flynn; McFarland 12/22/ 17302, at 18-19. Manafort 9/ 11118 302, at 7; Manafort 9/21 / 18 . 19 and 22,2017; 2016-17 Text Messages, 302, at 3; Kilimnik & Patten, at 1-2. 950 Investigative Technique 142 u.s. Department of Justice AtfSFHey 'J/efl( PfSatlet II ~ftt) Cefltaill p.iatel"iai Preteetea Unset Fee. R. CI iltl. P. 6(e} acknowledged having read,95 I Kilimnik wrote, " [a]1I that is required to start the process is a very minor ' wink' (or slight push) from DT" -an apparent reference to President-elect Trump-"and a decision to authorize you to be a 'special representative' and manage this process." Kilimnik assured Manafort, with that authority, he " could start the process and within 10 days visit Russia [Yanukovych] guarantees your reception at the very top level," and that "DT could have peace in Ukraine basically within a few months after inauguration.,,952 On February 26, 2017, Manafort met Kilimnik in Madrid, where Kilimnik had flown from Moscow. 956 In his first two interviews with the Office, Manafort denied meeting with Kilimnik on his Madrid trip and then-after being confronted with documentary evidence that Kilimnik was in Madrid at the same time as him-recognized that he met him in Madrid. Manafort said that Kilimnik had updated him on a criminal investigation into so-called " black ledger" payments to Manafort that was . conducted Ukraine's National . 957 Manafort remained in contact with Kilimnik throughout 2017 and into the spring 0[2018 . • '1 Manafort 9/11118 302, at Investigative Technique .% 2/21 / 17 Email, Zatynaiko to Kilimnik . ." Manafort 9/ 13118 302, at I. ." In resolving whether Manafort breached his ea district court found that Manafort lied about, among other things, his contacts with Kilimnik regarding the peace plan, including the meeting in Madrid. Mana/ort 2/ 13/ 19 Transcript, at 29-31,40. 143 U.S. Department of Justice Attelhe) \\'efIE Pf86t1et II ~ia) CentaiH ~{ttt:el ial Pleteetee UHeJet Feci. R. Grift I. P. 6Ee) Those contacts included matters pertaining to the criminal charges brought by the Office,959 and the Ukraine peace plan. In early 2018, Manafort retained his longtime polling firm to craft a draft poll in Ukraine, sent the pollsters a three-page primer on the plan sent by Kilimnik, and worked with Kilimnik to formulate the polling questions 96o The primer sent to the pollsters specifically called for the United States and President Trump to support the Autonomous Republic of Donbas with Yanukovych as Prime Minister,961 and a series of questions in the draft poll asked for opinions on Yanukovych's role in resolving the conflict in Donbas. 962 (The poll was not solely about Donbas; it also sought participants' views on leaders apart from Yanukovych as they pertained to the 2019 Ukraine presidential election.) The Office has not uncovered evidence that Manafort brought the Ukraine peace plan to the attention of the Trump Campaign or the Trump Administration. Kilimnik continued his efforts to promote the peace plan to the Executive Branch (e.g., U.S. Department of State) into the summer of2018. 963 B. Post-Election and Transition-Period Contacts Trump was elected President on November 8, 2016. Beginning immediately after the election, individuals connected to the Russian government started contacting officials on the Trump Campaign and Transition Team through multiple channels-sometimes through Russian Ambassador Kislyak and at other times through individuals who sought reliable contacts through U.S. persons not formally tied to the Campaign or Transition Team. The most senior levels of the Russian government encouraged these efforts. The investigation did not establish that these efforts reflected or constituted coordination between the Trump Campaign and Russia in its electioninterference activities. I. Immediate Post-Election Activity As soon as news broke that Trump had been elected President, Russ ian government officials and prominent Russian businessmen began trying to make inroads into the new Administration. They appeared not to have preexisting contacts and struggled to connect with senior officials around the President-Elect. As explained below, those efforts entailed both official contact through the Russian Embassy in the United States and outreaches-sanctioned at high levels of the Russ ian government-through business rather than political contacts. 95. Mana/ort (D.O. C.) Gov't Opp. to Mot. to Modify, at 2; Superseding Indictment 111148-5 1, United States v. PaulJ Mana/ort, Jr., 1:17-cr-201 (D.D.C. June 8, 2018), Doc. 318. 960 2112118 Email, Fabrizio to Manafort & Ward; 2/16118 Email , Fabrizio to Manafort; 2119/18 Email, Fabri zio to Ward; 2/21118 Email, Manafort to Ward & Fabrizio. 961 2121 / 18 Email, Manafort to Ward & Fabrizio (7: 16:49 a.m.) (attachment). 962 3/9118 Email, Ward to Manafort & Fabrizio (attachment). 144 U.S. Department of Justice ittt6lne) '-Vetil Ple6t1et // ~48) C8Htain P,4ateriai PreteeteEi Bli8e! Fee. R. Clilrl. P. 6(e) a. Outreach from the Russian Government At approximately 3 a.m. on election night, Trump Campaign press secretary Hope Hicks received a telephone call on her personal cell phone from a person who sounded foreign but was calling from a number with a DC area code. 964 Although Hicks had a hard time understanding the person, she could make out the words " Putin call.,,965 Hicks told the caller to send her an email. 966 The following morning, on November 9, 2016, Sergey Kuznetsov, an official at the Russian Embassy to the United States, emailed Hicks from his Gmail address with the subject line, "Message from Putin."967 Attached to the email was a message from Putin, in both English and Russian, which Kuznetsov asked Hicks to convey to the President-Elect. 968 In the message, Putin offered his congratulations to Trump for his electoral victory, stating he " Iook[ed) forward to working with [Trump) on leading Russian-American relations out ofcrisis."969 Hicks forwarded the email to Kushner, asking, "Can you look into this? Don't want to get duped but don't want to blow off Putin! ,,97o Kushner stated in Congressional testimony that he believed that it would be possible to verify the authenticity of the forwarded email through the Russian Ambassador, whom Kushner had previously met in April 2016. 971 Unable to recall the Russian Ambassador' s name, Kushner emailed Dimitri Simes of CNI, whom he had consulted previously about Russia, see Volume I, Section IV.AA, supra, and asked, "What is the name of Russian ambassador?,,972 Kushner forwarded Simes ' s response-which identified Kislyak by name- to Hicks. 973 After checking with Kushner to see what he had learned, Hicks conveyed Putin's letter to transition officials 974 Five days later, on November 14,2016, Trump and Putin spoke by phone in the presence of Transition Team members, including incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. 975 964 Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 3. 965 Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 3. 966 Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 3. %7 NOSC0004438I (11 /9/16 Email, Kumetsov to Hicks (5:27 a.m.». 968 NOSC00044381-82 (11/9/16 Email, Kuznetsov to Hicks (5:27 a.m.». 969 NOSC00044382 (11/9/16 Letter from Putin to President-Elect Trump (Nov. 9, 2016) (translation». 970 NOSC0004438I (11 /9/16 Email, Hicks to Kushner (10:26 a.m.». 971 Statement of Jared C. Kushner to Congressional Committees, at 4 (luI. 24, 2017). 972 NOSC00000058 (11/9/16 Email, Kushner to Simes (10:28 a.m.»; Statement of Jared Kushner to Congress ional Committees, at 4 (lUI. 24, 2017). 973 NOSC00000058 (1119116 Email, Kushner to Hicks (II :05:44 a.m.». 974 Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 3-4 . 975 Flynn 11/16/17 302, at 8-10; see Doug G. Ware, Trump, Russia's Putin Talk about Syria, Icy Relations in Phone Call, UP! (Nov. 14, 2016). 145 U.S. Department of Justice At-telHe, V. 811c Pleatlet II T ~4tl} C8ntaiH ~4Melittl Pleteetee UI'laer Fea. R. Grim. P. 6(e~ h. High-Level Encouragement of Contacts through Alternative Channels As Russ ian officials in the United States reached out to the President-Elect and his team, a number of Russian individuals working in the private sector began their own efforts to make contact. Petr Aven, a Russian national who heads Alfa-Bank, Russia's largest commercial bank, described to the Office interactions with Putin during this time period that might account for the Durry of Russian activi ty 976 . Aven told the Office that he is one of approximately 50 wealthy Russian businessmen who regularly meet with Putin in the Kremlin; these 50 men are often referred to as "o ligarchs. "m Aven told the Office that he met on a quarterly basis with Putin, including in the fourth quarter (Q4) of2016, shortly after the U.S. presidential election. 978 Aven said that he took these meetings seriously and understood that any suggestions or critiques that Putin made during these meetings were implicit directives, and that there would be consequences for Aven if he did not follow through.979 As was typical, the 2016 Q4 meeting with Putin was preceded by a preparatory meeting with Putin' s chief of staff, Anton Vain0 980 According to Aven, at his Q4 2016 one-an-one meeting with Putin,98 1 Putin raised the prospect that the United States would impose additional sanctions on Russian interests, including sanctions against Aven andlor Alfa-Bank.982 Putin suggested that Aven needed to take steps to protect himself and Alfa-Bank. 983 Aven also testified that Putin spoke of the difficulty faced by the Russian government in getting in touch with the incoming Trump Administration. 984 According to Aven, Putin indicated that he did not know with whom formally to speak and generally did not know the people around the President-Elect. 985 to the Office in an interview and through an attorney proffer, _ 977 Aven 8/2/18 302, at 7. 979 Aven 8/2/1S 302, at 2-3. and interview with the Office, Aven (e.g., Official I, Official 2). Aven separately confirmed through an attorney proffer that Official 1 was Putin and Official 2 was Putin's chief of staff, Vaino. See Affidavit of Ryan Junek (Aug. 2, 20 IS) (hard copy on file). 981 At the time of his Q4 2016 meeting with Putin, Aven was generally aware of the press coverage about Russian interference in the U.S. election. According to Aven, he did not discuss that topic with Putin at any point, and Putin did not mention the rationale behind the threat of new sanctions. Aven 8/2/18 302, at 5-7. 146 U.S. Department of Justice A1:t6t He, '.V8flt Presl:let / / ~{a, C8HtsiH P,4ateriai P18teetee UnEler feel. R. Cr itn. P. 6(e) Aven told Putin he would take steps to protect himself and the Alfa-Bank shareholders sanctions, and one of those steps would be to try to reach out to the incoming Administration to establish a line of communication 986 Aven described Putin responding with skepticism about Aven ' s prospect for success 987 According to Aven, although Putin did not expressly direct him to reach out to the Trump Transition Team, Aven understood that Putin expected him to try to respond to the concerns he had raised. 988 Aven' s efforts are described in Volume I, Section IV.B.s , infra. 2. Kirill Dmitriev 's Transition-Era Outreach to the Incoming Administration Aven ' s description of his interactions with Putin is consistent with the behavior of Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian national who heads Russia's sovereign wealth fund and is closely connected to Putin. Dmitriev undertook efforts to meet members of the incoming Trump Administration in the months after the election. Dmitriev asked a close business associate who worked for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) royal court, George Nader, to introduce him to Trump transition officials, and Nader eventually arranged a meeting in the Seychelles between Dmitriev and Erik Prince, a Trump Campaign supporter and an associate of Steve Bannon.989 In addition, the UAE national security advisor introduced Dmitriev to a hedge fund manager and friend of Jared Kushner, Rick Gerson, in late November 2016. In December 2016 and January 2017, Dmitriev and Gerson worked on a proposal for reconciliation between the United States and Russia, which Dmitriev implied he cleared through Putin. Gerson provided that proposal to Kushner before the inauguration, and Kushner later gave copies to Bannon and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. a. Background Dmitriev is a Russian national who was appointed CEO of Russ ia' s sovereign wealth fund , the Russian Direct Investment Fund (ROlF), when it was founded in 2011 990 Dmitriev reported directly to Putin and frequently referred to Putin as his "boss. ,,991 ROlF has co-invested in various projects with UAE sovereign wealth funds. 992 Dmitriev regularly interacted with Nader, a senior advisor to UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed 989 Nader provided lform"ti~'!'. conducted under a proffer agr'eelnelot int,ervie",ed Prince under a proffer agreement. i' r were The Kirill Dmitriev Biography, Russian Direct Investment Fund, available at https://rdif.ru/Eng-person_dmitriev_kirill/. See also Overview, Russian Direct Investment Fund, available at https://rdif.ru/Eng_About/. 990 991 Gerson 6/15/18 302, at I. See also. e.g. , 12/14/16 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson; 1/9/17 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson. 992 147 U.S . Department of Justice AUerl~e~ Welle PresHet II ~(8:) CeJ.tsifl ~4Mefial Pl8teeteei Uflael FeEl. R. Grim. P. 6(ej (Crown Prince Mohammed), in connection with RDIF' s dealings with the UAE.993 Putin wanted Dmitriev to be in charge of both the financial and the political relationship between Russia and the Gu lf states, in part because Dmitriev had been educated in the West and spoke English fiuently.994 Nader considered Dmitriev to be Putin ' s interlocutor in the Gulf region, and wou ld relay Dmitriev ' s views directly to Crown Prince Mohammed. 995 Nader developed contacts with both U.S. presidential campaigns during the 2016 election, and kept Dmitriev abreast of his efforts to do SO.996 According to Nader, Dmitriev said that his to and asked Nader to and the government of Russia's preference was for candidate 997 Erik Prince is a businessman who had relationships with various individuals associated with the Trump Campaign, including Steve Bannon, Donald Trump Jr. , and Roger Stone. 1005 Prince did not have a formal role in the Campaign, although he offered to host a fundraiser for at 1-2; Nader 1/23118302, at 2-3; 5/3116 Email, Nader to Phares; _ 994 Nader 1122118302, at 1-2. 995 Nader 1/22/18 302, at 3. 996 Nader 1122118 302, at 3; 998 999 Nader 1/22118 302, at 3. 1005 Prince 4/4/18 302, at 1-5; Bannon 2/14/ 18 302, at 21. 148 U.S. Department of Justice A1:t81I\e) V/slk PI 88t1et II P-48:) C6HtftiH P.4aterial Preteetee UREler FeEl. R. Grim. P. 6(e) Trump and sent unsolicited policy papers on issues such as foreign policy, trade, and Russian election interference to Bannon. lOO6 After the election, Prince frequently visited transition offices at Trump Tower, primarily to meet with Bannon but on occas ion to meet Michael Flynn and others. 1007 Prince and Bannon would discuss, inter alia, foreign policy issues and Prince's recommendations regarding who should be appointed to fill key natio~sitions.l oo8 Although~ affiliated with the transition, Nader _ _ received a s s u r a n c e s . . . - that the incoming Administration considered Prince a trusted associate. 10 b. Kirill Dmitriev's Post-Election Contacts With the Incoming Administration after midnight on election night, Dmitriev messaged Investigative Technique . 16 Championship. Dmitry Peskov, the 1010 At approximately 2:40 a.m. on November 9, 201 Clinton had called President-Elect to concede. 1006 Prince 4/4/18302 , at 1,3-4; Prince 5/3/18 302, at 2; Bannon 2/14/18302, at 19-20; 10/18/16 Email. Prince to Bannon. 1007 Flynn 11 /20/17302, at 6; Flynn 1/11/18302, at 5; Flynn 1124/18 302, at 5-6; Flynn 5/ 1/18 302, at 11 ; Prince 4/4/18302, at 5, 8; Bannon 2/14118 302, at 20-21; 11/12/ 16 Emai1. Prince to Corallo. 1008 Prince 4/4118 302, at 5; Bannon 2/14/18302, at 21. Nader 1/22/18 302, at 5-6; _ 1011 Investigative Technique 10 12 Investigative Technique Investigative Technique 10 14 Investigative Technique lO IS Investigative Technique 149 u.s. Department of Justice Att8(Re, \VelIe Pisettet // P,1ft) CentaiH h1atelial PI8teeteti Unser Feel. R. Crim. P. 6(ej Later that morning, Dmitriev contacted Nader, who was in New York, to request a meeting with the "key people" in the incoming Administration as soon as possible in light of the " [glreat results." ,016 He asked Nader to convey to the incoming Administration that "we want to start rebuilding the relationship in whatever is a comfortable pace for them. We understand all of the sensitivities and are not in a rush.,,101 7 Dmitriev and Nader had previously discussed Nader introducing him to the contacts Nader had made within the Trump Campaign. 1018 Dmitrievalso told Nader that he would ask Putin for permission to travel to the United States, where he would be able to speak to media outlets about the positive impact of Trump's election and the need for reconciliation between the United States and Russia. 1019 Later that day, Dmitriev flew to New York, where Peskov was separately traveling to attend the chess tournament. 1020 Dmitriev invited Nader to the opening of the tournament and noted that, if there was "a chance to see anyone key from Trump camp," he "would love to start building for the future.,,1021 Dmitriev also asked Nader to invite Kushner to the event so that he (Dmitriev) could meet him. 1022 Nader did not pass along Dmitriev 's invitation to anyone connected with the incoming Administration. 1023 Although one World Chess Federation official recalled hearing from an attendee that President-Elect Trump had stopped by the tournament, the investigation did not establish that Trump or any Campaign or Transition Team official attended the event. 1024 And the President' s written answers denied that he had. 1025 Nader stated that Dmitriev continued to press him to set up a meeting with transition officials, and was particularly focused on Kushner and Trump Jr. 1026 Dmitriev 1016 11/9116 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (9:34 a.m.); Nader 1/22118 302, at 4. 1017 11/9116 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (11 :58 p.m.). 1018 Nader 1/2211 8 302, at 3. 101. 1119116 Text ~~~ Nader (10: 10 a.m.); 10:06 a.m.); 1119116 Text Message, Dmitriev to 1020 11/9116 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (10:08 a.m.); 1119116 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (3:40 p.m.); Nader 1/22118 302, at 5. 1021 11 /9116 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (7: 10 p.m.). 1022 11110/16 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (5:20 a.m.). 1023 Nader 1/22118302, at 5-6. 1024 Marinello 5/31118 302, at 2-3; Nader 1/22/ 18 302, at 5-6. to" Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20,2018), at 17-18 (Response to Question V, Part (a). - 1026 Nader 1/2211 8302, at 6; 1027 Nader 112211 8 302, at 6; 150 U.S. Department of Justice /rU61ne) V/Sfi( Pf'88Het II h4a)' CSHtaH=t PtfMel iai Preteetee UREter Feel. R. Cfiffi. P. 6(e) ""IU~r. D1mitrie:v was very Admilnisltration and told Nader that he would try other routes to do so besides Nader himself. I Nader did not ultimately introduce Dmitriev to anyone associated with the incoming Administration during Dmitriev' s post-election trip to New York.1031 In early December 2016, Dmitriev again broached the topic of meeting incoming Administration officials with Nader in January or February.l032 Dmitriev sent Nader a list of publicly available quotes of Dmitriev speaking positively about Donald Trump "in case they [were] helpful.,,1033 c. Erik Prince and Kirill Dmitriev Meet in the Seychelles i. George Nader and Erik Prince Arrange Seychelles Meeting with Dmitriev Nader traveled to New York in early January 2017 and had lunchtime and dinner meetings with Erik Prince 'on January 3, 2017. 1034 Nader and Prince discussed Dmitriev. l035 Nader informed Prince that looking to build a link with the incoming Trump Administration . 1036 he told Prince that Dmitriev had been Nader to mutual concern. 1038 that he needed to L1~' .• ". 1039 After his dinner with Prince, Nader sent Prince a link to a Wikipedia entry about Dmitriev, and sent Dmitriev a message stating that he had just met "with some key people within the family and inner circle"-a reference to Prince-and that he had spoken at length and positively about 10JO Nader 1122/18 302, at 6. 10Jl Nader 1/22/18 302, at 5-7. IOJ2 12/8/16 Text Messages, Dmitriev to Nader (12: 10:31 a.m.); Nader 1/22/18 302, at 11. 1033 12/8/16 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader ( 12: 10:31 a.m.); 12/8/16 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (12:10:57 a.m.). 1034 Prince 4/4/18 302, at 8. 151 U.S. Department of Justice Attalne) J)/erl( Pteattet II ~48y Cel\f6:ifl ~4atefifll PI'6teetea Blleet Fea. R. 01 iii;. P. 6Ee) Dmitriev. 1040 Nader told Dmitriev that the people he met had asked for Dmitriev ' s bio, and Dmitriev replied that he would update and send il. '04 ' Nader later received from Dmitriev two files concerning Dmitriev: one was a two-page biography, and the other was a list of Dmitriev's positive quotes about Donald Trump. 1042 The next morning, Nader forwarded the message and attachments Dmitriev had sent him to Prince. 104l Nader wrote to Prince that these documents were the versions " to be used with some additional details for them" (with "them" referring to members of the incoming Administration).1044 Prince opened the attachments at Trump Tower within an hour of receiving them."4l Prince stated that, while he was at Trump Tower that day, he spoke with Kellyanne Conway, Wilbur Ross, Steve Mnuchin, and others while waiting to see Bannon."46 Cell-site location data for Prince 's mobile phone indicates that Prince remained at Trump Tower for approximately three hours. 1047 Prince said that he could not recall whether those three ~~'!! and Dmitriev with him.l048 Prince booked a ticket to the Seychelles on January 7, 2017 10lO The following day, Nader wrote to Dmitriev that he had a "pleasant surprise" for him, namely that he had arranged for Dmitriev to meet "a Special Guest" from "the New Team," referring to Prince. lOll Nader asked Dmitriev if he could come to the Seychelles for the meeting on January 12,2017, and Dmitriev agreed. lOl2 The following day,~ urance from Nader that the Seychelles meeting wou ld be worthwhile. lOll _ _ Dmitriev was not enthusiastic about the idea of meeting w ith Prince, and that Nader assured him that Prince wielded influence with the incoming 1040 1/4/17 Text Message, 5:26 a. m.); Nader 1122118 302, at 8-9; to Dmitriev (5:24 a.m.- 1041 1/4117 Text Messages, Nader & Dmitriev (7:24:27 a.m.). 1042 114117 Text Messages, Dmitriev to Nader (7:25-7:29 a.m.) 1043 1/4/ 17 Text Messages, Nader to Prince. 1044 1/4117 Text Messages, Nader to 1045 Prince 5/3118 302, at 1-3. 1046 Prince 5/3/1 8302, at 2-3. 1047 Cell-site location data for Prince' s mobile phone Investigative Technique 1048 Prince 5/3/18 302, at 3. IOSO 1/5117 Email, Kasbo to Prince. 1051 1/8/ 17 Text Messages, Nader to Dmitriev (6:05 - 6: 10 p.m.). 10" 1/8117 Text Messages, Nader & Dmitriev (6: 10 - 7:27 p.m.). IOS3 1/9117 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader. 152 AUeIHe, ''''erle Pl8atlet // U.S. Department of Justice Cel'\faift P,istel ial Pfeteetea Unser Fea. R. 61 im. P. 6Ee) ~4a) Administration. 1054 Nader wrote to Dmitriev, "This guy [Prince) is designated by Steve [Bannon) to meet you! I know him and he is very very well connected and trusted by the New Team. His sister is now a Minister of Education."1055 According to Nader, Prince had led him to believe that Bannon was aware of Prince's upcoming meeting with Dmitriev, and Prince acknowledged that it was fair for Nader to think that Prince would pass information on to the Transition Team. 1056 Bannon, however, told the Office that Prince did not tell him in advance about his meeting with Dmitriev. 1057 ii. The Seychelles Meetings Dmitriev arrived with his wife in the Seychelles on January 11,2017, and checked into the Four Seasons Resort where Crown Prince Mohammed and Nader were staying. 1058 Prince arrived that same day.1059 Prince and Dmitriev met for the first time that afternoon in Nader's villa, with Nader present. 1060 The initial meeting lasted approximately 30-45 minutes. 106 1 he was looking forward to a 063 1 According to Prince, he told Dmitriev that new era of cooperation and conflict resolution. Bannon was effective ifnot conventional, and that Prince provided policy papers to Bannon. 1064 1054 Nader to Dmitriev (2:12:56 p.m .); Nader 1119/ 18 302, at 13 ; _ 10" Nader 1/19/18 302, at 13 5/3/18 302, at 3. 1057 Bannon 2/14/18 302, at 25-26. 1/10/17 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Nader (2:05:54 - 3:30:25 p.m.); 1/11117 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Nader (2:16: 16 - 5:17:59 p.m .). 1058 105' 1/7/17 Email, Kasbo to Prince. Messages, Nader & Dmitriev (5:18:24 - 5:37:14 p.m.); 1062 1063 1064 Prince 5/3/18 302, at 4. 1065 153 U.S. Department of Justice )rtte! Hey \"eFIE: Pl8fhfet / / P.4ft) Cantai" ~48teri81 PreteeteEi Uflaer FeEl. R. CrifH. P. 6(e) Afterwards, Prince returned to his room, where he learned that a Russian aircraft carrier had sailed to Libya, which led him to call Nader and ask him to set up another meeting with Dmitriev. 1073 According to Nader, Prince called and said he had checked with his associates back home and needed to convey to Dmitriev that Libya was "off the table. " lo74 Nader wrote to Dmitriev that Prince had "received an urgent message that he needs to convey to you immediately," and arranged for himself, Dmitriev, and Prince to meet at a restaurant on the Four Seasons property.I075 At the second meeting, Prince told Dmitriev that the United States could not Russian involvement in because it would make the situation there much worse. I076 1069 Prince 5/3/18 302, at 4-5 . 1073 Prince 4/4/ 18302, at 10; Prince 5/3/18 302, at 1111117 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Nader (9:13:54 - was maKlrlg for the transition but based on his experience as a former naval officer. 154 U.S. Department of Justice Aft81fl6) \VertE Pf86ttet II P,4a, C61ttaiH P.iaterial Pt6teetee Under Fee. R. Clil1'l. P. 6(e) 1077 After the brief second meeting concluded, Nader and Dmitriev discussed what had transpired .107B Dmitriev told Nader that he was disappointed in his meetings with Prince for two reasons: first, he believed the Russians needed to be communicating with someone who had more authority within the incoming Administration than Prince had. 1079 Second, he had hoped to have roadmap for both countries to a discussion of greater substance, such as follow. lOBO Dmitriev told Nader that Prince's comments_ Hours after the second meeting, Prince sent two text messages to Bannon from the Seychelles. IOB2 As described further below, investigators were unable to obtain the content of these or other messages between Prince and Bannon, and the investigation also did not identify evidence of any further communication between Prince and Dmitriev after their meetings in the Seychelles. iii. Erik Prince's Meeting with Steve Bannon after the Seychelles Trip After the Seychelles meetings, Prince told Nader that he would inform Bannon about his discussion with Dmitriev and would convey that someone within the Russian power structure was interested in seeking better relations with the incoming Administration. IOB3 On January 12,2017, Prince contacted Bannon 's personal assistant to set up a meeting for the following week. I OB4 Several days later, Prince messaged her again asking about Bannon's schedule. lOBS Prince said that he met Bannon at Bannon' s home after returning to the United States in mid-January and briefed him about several topics, including his meeting with Dmitriev. IOB6 Prince told the Office that he explained to Bannon that Dmitriev was the head of a Russian sovereign wealth fund and was interested in improving relations between the United States and Russia. I OS7 Prince had on his cellphone a screenshot of Dmitriev's Wikipedia page dated January 16, 2017, - 1079 Nader 1122/18302, at 9, 15; IOSO Nader 1122/18 302, at 15. 108 1 1083 Prince 4/4/18 302, at 10; Prince 5/3118 302, at 4; 1084 1112/17 Text Messages, Prince to Preate. 1085 1/15117 Text Message, Prince to Preate. 1086 Prince 4/4/18 302, at 11; Prince 5/3/18 302, at 5. \087 Prince 4/4/18 302, at 11; Prince 5/3/ 18 302, at 5. 155 U.S. Department of Justice Att6tfley VI-ark Pf6Ehiet II ~4fl) Cel.tail'l P.4aterial Preteetea UnBel Fea. R. Ct ilt). P. 6Ee) and Prince told the Office that he likely showed that image to Bannon.1088 Prince also believed he provided Bannon with Dmitriev 's contact information. l089 According to Prince, Bannon instructed Prince not to follow up with Dmitriev, and Prince had the impression that the issue was not a priority for Bannon 1090 Prince related that Bannon did not appear angry, just relatively uninterested. 1091 Bannon, by contrast, told the Office that he never discussed with Prince anything regarding Dmitriev, RDIF, or any meetings with Russian individuals or people associated with Putin . I092 Bannon also stated that had Prince mentioned such a meeting, Bannon would have remembered it, and Bannon would have objected to such a meeting having taken place. 1093 The conflicting accounts provided by Bannon and Prince could not be independently clarified by reviewing their communications, because neither one was able to produce any of the messages they exchanged in the time period surrounding the Seychelles meeting. Prince's phone contained no text messages prior to March 2017, though provider records indicate that he and Bannon exchanged dozens of messages. 1094 Prince denied deleting any messages but claimed he did not know why there were no messages on hi s device before March 2017. 1095 Bannon's devices similarly contained no messages in the relevant time period, and Bannon also stated he did not know why messages did not appear on his device. 1096 Bannon told the Office that, during both the months before and after the Seychelles meeting, he regularly used his personal Blackberry and personal email for work-related communications (including those with Prince), and he took no steps to preserve these work communications. 1097 d. Kirill Dmitriev's Post-Election Contact with Rick Gerson Regarding U.S.Russia Relations Dmitriev's contacts during the transition period were not limited to those facilitated by Nader. In approximately late November 20 I 6, the UAE national security advisor introduced Dmitriev to Rick Gerson, a friend of Jared Kushner who runs a hedge fund in New York. 1098 Gerson stated he had no formal role in the transition and had no involvement in the Trump 1088 Prince 5/3/18 302, at 5; 1116117 Image on Prince Phone (on file with the Office). 1089 Prince 5/3118 302, at 5. 1090 Prince 5/3118 302, at 5. 1091 Prince 5/3118 302, at 5. 1092 Bannon 10/26/ 18 302, at 10-11. 1093 Bannon 10/26118 302, at 10-11. 1094 Call Records of Erik 1095 Prince 4/4/ 18 302, at 6. 10% Bannon 10/26118 302, at 11 ; Bannon 2/ 14118 302, at 36. 1097Bannon 10/26118 302, at 11. 1098 Gerson 6/5118 302, at 1,3; 11126/ 16 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson; 1125/ 17 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader. 156 Attellte,. Vl etlc Preatlet II U.S. Department of Justice C8fltaill ~4B:tefifll Preteetea UHaer FeEl. R. Criffi. P. B(e) ~4a, Campaign other than occasional casual discussions about the Campaign with Kushner. 1099 After the election, Gerson assisted the transition by arranging meetings for transition officials with former UK prime minister Tony Blair and a UAE delegation led by Crown Prince Mohammed. I 100 When Dmitriev and Gerson met, they principally discussed potential joint ventures between Gerson's hedge fund and RDIF.l lol Dmitriev was interested in improved economic cooperation between the United States and Russia and asked Gerson who he should meet with in the incoming Administration who would be helpful towards this goal. I 102 Gerson replied that he would try to figure out the best way to arrange appropriate introductions, but noted that confidentiality would be required because of the sensitivity of holding such meetings before the new Administration took power, and before Cabinet nominees had been confirmed by the Senate. 1103 Gerson said he would ask Kushner and Michael Flynn who the "key person or people" were on the topics of reconciliation with Russia,joint security concerns, and economic matters. 1104 Dmitriev told Gerson that he had been tasked by Putin to develop and execute a reconciliation plan between the United States and Russia. He noted in a text message to Gerson that if Russia was "approached with respect and willingness to understand our position, we can have Major Breakthroughs quickly.,,1 105 Gerson and Dmitriev exchanged ideas in December 2016 about what such a reconciliation plan would include. 1106 Gerson told the Office that the Transition Team had not asked him to engage in these discussions with Dmitriev, and that he did so on his own initiative and as a private citizen 1 107 On January 9, 2017, the same day he asked Nader whether meeting Prince would be worthwhile, Dmitriev sent his biography to Gerson and asked him if he could "share it with Jared (or somebody else very senior in the team) - so that they know that we are focused from our side on improving the relationship and my boss asked me to playa key role in that." llos Dmitrievalso asked Gerson if he knew Prince, and if Prince was somebody important or worth spending time 1099 Gerson 6/5/18 302, at 1. 1100 Gerson 6/5/18302, at 1-2; Kushner 4/11/18302, at 21. 1101 Gerson 6/5/18 302, at 3-4; see, e.g. , 12/2116 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Gerson; 12/14/16 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Gerson; 1/3117 Text Message, Gerson to Dmitriev; 12/2/16 Email, Tolokonnikov to Gerson. 1102 Gerson 6/5118 302, at 3; 12/14116 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson. 1103 12114/16 Text Message, Gerson to Dmitriev. 1104 12114116 Text Message, Gerson to Dmitriev. 1105 12114116 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Gerson; Gerson 6115118 302, at 1. 1106 12114116 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Gerson. 1107 Gerson 6115118 302, at 1. 1108 1/9/17 Text Messages, Dmitriev to Gerson; 1/9/ 17 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader. 157 U.S. Department of Justice Mtefhe} ',listie Pre8Het /1 l>.ift) Cehttlin ~{tttetittl Pleteetea UHaer Feci. R. Grim:. P. 6(e) with.II09 After his trip to the Seychelles, Dmitriev told Gerson that Bannon had asked Prince to meet with Dmitriev and that the two had had a positive meeting. I110 On January 16,2017, Dmitriev consolidated the ideas for U.S.-Russia reconciliation that he and Gerson had been discussing into a two-page document that listed five main points: (I) jointly fighting terrorism; (2) jointly engaging in anti-weapons of mass destruction efforts; (3) developing "win-win" economic and investment initiatives; (4) maintaining an honest, open, and continual dialogue regarding issues of disagreement; and (5) ensuring proper communication and trust by "key people" from each country.llll On January 18, 2017, Gerson gave a copy of the document to Kushner. 1112 Kushner had not heard of Dmitriev at that time. 111 3 Gerson explained that Dmitriev was the head of ROlF, and Gerson may have alluded to Dmitriev's being well connected 1 114 Kushner placed the document in a file and said he would get it to the right people. 1115 Kushner ultimately gave one copy of the document to Bannon and another to Rex Tillerson; according to Kushner, neither of them followed up with Kushner about it. 1116 On January 19,2017, Dmitriev sent Nader a copy of the two-page document, telling him that this was "a view from our side that I discussed in my meeting on the islands and with you and with our friends. Please share with them - we believe this is a good foundation to start from.,, 11 17 Gerson informed Dmitriev that he had given the document to Kushner soon after delivering it. 1118 On January 26 , 2017, Dmitriev wrote to Gerson that his "boss"-an apparent reference to Putin-was asking if there had been any feedback on the proposal.111 9 Dmitriev said, " [w]e do not want to rush things and move at a comfortable speed. At the same time, my boss asked me to try to have the key US meetings in the next two weeks if possible.,,11 20 He informed Gerson that Putin and President Trump would speak by phone that Saturday, and noted that that information was "very confidential.,,1121 The same day, Dmitriev wrote to Nader that he had seen his "boss" again yesterday who had "emphasized that this is a great priority for us and that we need to build this communication 1109 Gerson 6/5/18302, at 4. 11 10 1/18/17 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Gerson. 1111 1/16/ 17 Text Messages, Dmitriev & Gerson. 1112 Gerson 6/5/18 302, at 3; Gerson 6/15118302, at 2. 1113 Gerson 6/5118302, at 3. 1114 Gerson 6/5118 302, at 3; Gerson 6115118.302 , at 1-2; Kushner 4/11118 302, at 22. 1115 Gerson 6/5/18 302, at 3. 1116 Kushner 4/11118 302, at 32. 11 17 1119/17 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (11: 11 :56 a.m.). 1118 1118/17 Text Message, Gerson to Dmitriev; Gerson 6115118302, at 2. 1119 1/26117 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson. 1120 1126117 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson. 1121 1/26/17 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson. 158 u.s. Department of Justice AttslHe) ll.T6rk Pt6attet II ~48y CSfltaift P,4atefiai Pfsteetea VltaeI Feel. R. Elil:" P. 6Ee) channel to avoid bureaucracy.,, 11 22 On January 28, 2017, Dmitriev texted Nader that he wanted "to see if [ can confirm to my boss that your friends may use some of the ideas from the 2 pager I sent you in the telephone call that will happen at 12 EST,""23 an apparent reference to the call scheduled between President Trump and Putin. Nader replied, "Definitely paper was so submitted to Team by Rick and me . They took it seriously! ,,1124 After the call between President Trump and Putin occurred, Dmitriev wrote to Nader that "the call went very well. My boss wants me to continue making some public statements that us [sic] Russia cooperation is good and important.,,1125 Gerson also wrote to Dmitriev to say that the call had gone well, and Dmitriev replied that the document they had drafted together "played an important role .,, 1126 Gerson and Dmitriev appeared to stop communicating with one another in approximately March 2017, when the investment deal they had been working on together showed no signs of progressing. I127 3. Ambassador Kislyak's Meeting with Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn Trump Tower Following the Election In On November 16,2016, Catherine Vargas, an executive assistant to Kushner, received a reg uest for a meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. 1128 That same day, Vargas sent Kushner an email with the subject, "MISSED CALL: Russian Ambassador to the US, Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak ... ."1129 The text of the email read, "RE: setting up a time to meet wlyou on 12/1. LMK how to proceed." Kushner responded in relevant part, "I think I do this one -- confirm with Dimitri [Simes ofCNI] that this is the right guy.,,1130 After reaching out to a colleague of Simes at CNI, Vargas reported back to Kushner that Kislyak was "the best go-to guy for routine matters in the US," while Yuri Ushakov, a Russian foreign policy advisor, was the contact for "more direct/substantial matters."II)1 Bob Foresman, the UBS investment bank executive who had previously tried to transmit to candidate Trump an invitation to speak at an economic forum in Russia, see Volume I, Section IV.A. l.d.ii , supra, may have provided similar information to the Transition Team. According to 1122 1/26117 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (10:04:41 p.m .). 1123 1/2 8117 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader «(I :05:39 a.m.). 1124 1128117 Text Message, Nader to Dmitriev (11:1l:33 a.m.). 1115 1/29/17 Text Message, Dmitriev to Nader (11 :06:35 a.m.). 1126 1/28/17 Text Message, Gerson to Dmitriev; 1/29117 Text Message, Dmitriev to Gerson. 11 27 Gerson 6115118 302, at 4; 3/21 /17 Text Message, Gerson to Dmitriev. 11 28 Statement ofJared C. Kushner to Congressional Committees ("Kushner Stmt."), at 6 (7/24117) (written statement by Kushner to the Senate Judiciary Committee). 11 29 NOSC00004356 ( 11 116116 Email, Vargas to Kushner (6:44 p.m.)). 1130 NOSC00004356 (11/16/ 16 Email, Kushner to Vargas (9:54 p.m.)). 1131 11117/16 Email, Brown to Simes ( 10:41 a.m .); Brown 10/13/17 302, at 4; 1111 7116 Email, Vargas to Kushner (12:31:18). 159 U.S. Department of Justice AM:eme) Vt[6r~{ PfeStlet /1 ~4fl)' CeHtftift ~48tefial Pfeteetea Utuiet FeEl. R. 61 im. P. 6(ej Foresman, at the end of an early December 20 16 meeting with incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and his designated deputy (K.T. McFarland) in New York, Flynn asked Foresman for his thoughts on Kislyak. Foresman had not met Kislyak but told Flynn that, while Kislyak was an important person, Kislyak did not have a direct line to Putin. 1132 Foresman subsequently traveled to Moscow, inquired of a source he believed to be close to Putin, and heard back from that source that Ushakov would be the official channel for the incoming U .S. national security advisor l 133 Foresman acknowledged that F lynn had not asked him to undertake that inquiry in Russia but told the Office that he nonetheless felt obligated to report the information back to Flynn, and that he worked to get a face-to-face meeting with Flynn in January 2017 so that he could do SO.1 134 Emai l correspondence suggests that the meeting ultimately went forward, I 135 but Flynn has no recollection of it or of the earlier December meeting. I 136 (The investigation did not identify evidence of Flynn or Kushner meeting with Ushakov after being given his name. 1137 ) In the meantime, although he had already formed the impression that Kislyak was not necessarily the right point of contact, 1138 Kushner went forward with the meeting that Kislyak had requested on November 16. It took place at Trump Tower on November 30, 2016. 1139 At Kushner's invitation, Flynn also attended ; Bannon was invited but did not attend. I 140 During the meeting, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, Kushner expressed a desire on the part of the incoming Administration to start afresh with U.S.-Russian relations. I 14 1 Kushner also asked Kislyak to identify the best person (whether Kislyak or someone else) with whom to direct future discussions-someone who had contact with Putin and the ability to speak for him. 1142 The three men also discussed U.S. policy toward Syria, and Kislyak floated the idea of having Russian generals brief the Transition Team on the topic using a secure communications line. 1143 After Flynn explained that there was no secure line in the Transition Team offices, 11 32 Foresman 1011 711 8302, at 17. 11 33 Foresman 10117118 302, at 17-18. 1IJ4 Foresman 10117118 302, at 18. 1135 RMF-SCO-00000015 (115/17 Email, Foresman to Atencio & Flaherty); RMF-SCO-OOOOOOI5 (115117 Email, Flaherty to Foresman & Atencio). 1136 9/26118 Attorney Proffer from Covington & Burling LLP (reflected in email on file with the 1i37 Vargas 4/4/18 302, at 5. 1138 Kushner 111111 7 302, at 4. 1139 AKIN_GUMP_BERKOW[TZ_00000I6-019 (11 /29/ 16 Email, Vargas to Kuznetsov). 1140 Flynn 11111[8302, at 2; NOS00004240 (Calendar Invite, Vargas to Kushner & Flynn). 114 1 Kushner Stmt. at 6. 1142 Kushner Stmt. at 6; Kushner 4111118 302, at 18. 1143 Kushner Stmt. at 7; Kushner 4111 / 18 302, at 18; Flynn 1111118 302, at 2. Office). 160 u.s. Department of Justice At-t61I\e, 'Jl6fk Pl6atlet II ~4ft) C8Htaili ft.48tel iel Pr8teetee UI'laer FeEl. R. CI in •. P. 6(ej Kushner asked Kislyak if they could communicate usmg secure facilities at the Russian Embassy.1 144 Kislyak quickly rejected that idea. 1145 4. Jared Kushner's Meeting with Sergey Gorkov On December 6, 2016, the Russian Embassy reached out to Kushner' s assistant to set up a second meeting between Kislyak and Kushner." 46 Kushner declined several proposed meeting dates, but Kushner's assistant indicated that Kislyak was very insistent about securing a second meeting. 1147 Kushner told the Office that he did not want to take another meeting because he had already decided Kislyak was not the right channel for him to communicate with Russia, so he arranged to have one of his assistants, Avi Berkowitz, meet with Kislyak in his stead. 1148 Although embassy official Sergey K uznetsov wrote to Berkowitz that Kislyak thought it " important" to "continue the conversation with Mr. Kushner in person,,,1149 Kislyak nonetheless agreed to meet instead with Berkowitz once it became apparent that Kushner was unlikely to take a meeting. Berkowitz met with Kislyak on December 12,2016, at Trump Tower.' 150 The meeting lasted only a few minutes, during which Kislyak indicated that he wanted Kushner to meet someone who had a direct line to Putin: Sergey Gorkov, the head of the Russian-governmentowned bank Vnesheconombank (VEB). Kushner agreed to meet with Gorkov. 1151 The one-on-one meeting took place the next day, December 13, 2016, at the Colony Capital building in Manhattan, where Kushner had previously scheduled meetings.' 152 YEB was (and is) the subject of Department of Treasury economic sanctions imposed in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea.' 153 Kushner did not, however, recall any discussion during his meeting with Gorkov about the sanctions against VEB or sanctions more generally.1l54 Kushner stated in an interview that he did not engage in any preparation for 1144 Kushner 4111118 302, at 18. 1145 Kushner 4111118 302, at 18. 1146 Kushner Stmt. at 7; NOSeOOOoo 123 (12/6/ 16 Email, Vargas to Kushner (12: 11 :40 p.m.». 1147 Kushner 4111118 302, at 19; NOSeOOOOOl30 (12112116 Email, Kushner to Vargas (10:41 p.m.». 1148 at 19; Kushner Stmt. at 7; DJTFP_seo_01442290 (12/6116 Email, Berkowitz to 1149 DJTFP_seo_0 1442290 ( 1217116 to Berkowitz (12:31:39 p.m.». 1150 Berkowitz 1112/ 18 302, at 7; AKIN_GUMP_BERKOWITZ_00000I-04 (12112116 Text Messages, Berkowitz & 202-701-8532). 1151 Kushner 4111 / 18302, at 19; NoseOOOOOI30-135 (12112116 Email, Kushner to Berkowitz). 1152 Kushner 4111/18302 , at 19; NoseOOOOOI30-135 (12/12/16 Email, Kushner to Berkowitz). 1153 Announcement oj Treasury Sanctions on Entities Within the Financial Services and Energy Sectors oj Russia, Against Arms or Related Materiel Entities, and those Undermining Ukraine's Sovereignty, United States Department ofthe Treasury (Jul. 16,2014). 1154 Kushner 411 1118 302, at 20. 161 U.S. Department of Justice At:t8tfle) Vicarl( Pl88ttet II fit4a) C8HtaiH P.4ateriai Pf8teetea Ul'taer FeEl. R. Crilfl. P. 6~e) the meeting and that no one on the Transition Team even did a Google search for Gorkov's name. 1155 At the start of the meeting, Gorkov presented Kushner with two gifts: a painting and a bag of soil from the town in Belarus where Kushner's family originated. I 156 The accounts from Kushner and Gorkov differ as to whether the meeting was diplomatic or business in nature. Kushner told the Office that the meeting was diplomatic, with Gorkov expressing disappointment with U.S.-Russia relations under President Obama and hopes for improved relations with the incoming Administration. I 157 According to Kushner, although Gorkov told Kushner a little bit about his bank and made some statements about the Russian economy, the two did not discuss Kushner's companies or private business dealings of any kind. 1158 (At the time of the meeting, Kushner Companies had a debt obligation coming due on the building it owned at 666 Fifth Avenue, and there had been public reporting both about efforts to secure lending on the property and possible conflicts of interest for Kushner arising out of his company's borrowing from foreign lenders. 1159 ) In contrast, in a 2017 public statement, VEB suggested Gorkov met with Kushner in Kushner's capacity as CEO of Kushner Companies for the purpose of discussing business, rather than as part of a diplomatic effort. In particular, VEB characterized Gorkov's meeting with Kushner as part of a series of "roads how meetings" with "representatives of major US banks and business circles," which included "negotiations" and discussion of the "most promising business lines and sectors.,,116D Foresman, the investment bank executive mentioned in Volume I, Sections IV.A.! and IV.B .3, supra, told the Office that he met with Gorkov and VEB deputy chairman Nikolay Tsekhomsky in Moscow just before Gorkov left for New York to meet Kushner. 1161 According to Foresman, Gorkov and Tsekhomsky told him that they were traveling to New York to discuss postelection issues with U.S. financial institutions, that their trip was sanctioned by Putin, and that they would be reporting back to Putin upon their return. I 162 "" Kushner 4/ 11118302, at 19. Berkowitz, by contrast, stated to the Office that he had googled Gorkov's name and told Kushner that Gorkov appeared to be a banker. Berkowitz 1112118 302, at 8. 1156 Kushner 4111118302, at 19-20. 1157 Kushner Stmt. at 8. I I" Kushner Stmt. at 8. 1159 See, e.g., Peter Grant, Donald Trump Son-in-Law Jared Kushner Could Face His Own Conjlictof-Interest Questions, Wall Street Journal (Nov. 29, 2016). 1160 Patrick Reevell & Matthew Mosk, Russian Banker Sergey Gorkov Brushes off Questions About Meeting with Jared Kushner, ABC News (June 1,20 17). 11 61 Foresman 10117118 302, at 14-15. 1162 Foresman 10/17/18302, at 15-16. !62 U.S. Department of Justice A1:tsfRey 'VelIe PIsettet II ~1a) CeRtain ~48tel isl Preteetea BReier Feel. R. Criffi. P. 6(e) The investigation did not resolve the apparent conflict in the accounts of Kushner and Gorkov or determine whether the meeting was diplomatic in nature (as Kushner stated), focused on business (as VEB's public statement indicated), or whether it involved some combination of those matters or other matters. Regardless, the investigation did not identifY evidence that Kushner and Gorkov engaged in any substantive follow-up after the meeting. Rather, a few days after the meeting, Gorkov's assistant texted Kushner's assistant, "Hi, please inform your side that the information about the meeting had a very positive response! ,, 11 63 Over the following weeks, the two assistants exchanged a handful of additional cordial texts. I 164 On February 8, 2017, Gorkov ' s assistant texted Kushner's assistant (Berkowitz) to try to set up another meeting, and followed up by text at least twice in the days that followed. 1165 According to Berkowitz, he did not respond to the meeting request in light of the press coverage regarding the Russ ia investigation, and did not tell Kushner about the meeting request. 1166 5. Petr Aven's Outreach Efforts to the Transition Team In December 2016, weeks after the one-on-one meeting with Putin described in Volume !, Section IV .B. l.b, supra, Petr Aven attended what he described as a separate " all-hands" oligarch meeting between Putin and Russia's most prominent businessmen. 1167 As in Aven' s one-on-one meeting, a main topic of discussion at the oligarch meeting in December 2016 was the prospect of forthcoming U.S . economic sanctions. 116S After the December 2016 all-hands meeting, Aven tried to establish a connection to the Trump team . Aven instructed Richard Burt to make contact with the incoming Trump Administration. Burt was on the board of directors for LetterOne (Ll), another company headed by Aven, and had done work for Alfa_Bank. 1169 Burt had previously served as U.S. ambassador to Germany and Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs, and one of his primary roles with Alfa-Bank and Ll was to facilitate introductions to business contacts in the United States and other Western countries. 1170 While at aLl board meeting held in Luxembourg in late December 20 16, Aven pulled Burt aside and told him that he had spoken to someone high in the Russian government who expressed AKIN_GUMP_BERKOWITZ_OOOOOII (12/19/16 Text Message, Ivanchenko to Berkowitz 1163 (9:S6 a.m.». 1164 AKIN_GUMP_BERKOWITZ_OOOOOII-IS (12119116 - 2/16/17 Text Messages, Ivanchenko & Berkowitz). 11 65 (10:41 AKIN_GUMP_BERKOWITZ_00000 IS (2/8/17 Text Message, Ivanchenko to Berkowitz a.m.» . 11 66 Berkowitz 3/22118 302, at 4-S . Aven 812118 302, at 6; Burt 2/9118 302, at 2. 163 U.S. Department of Justice AMell,e) \Vefl( Pl86ttet II ~4a) CeHtaifl ~4atel ittl Pf6teetea UI\6et Fe6. R. CfifH. P. 6(e) interest in establishing a communications channel between the Kremlin and the Trump Transition Team. 1171 Aven asked for Burt's help in contacting members ofthe Transition Team. l172 Although Burt had been responsible for helping Aven build connections in the past, Burt viewed Aven ' s request as unusual and outside the normal realm of his dealings with Aven. 11 73 Burt, who is a member of the board of CNI (discussed at Volume I, Section IV.A.4, supra), I 174 decided to approach CN! president Dimitri Simes for help facilitating Aven 's request, recalling that Simes had some relationship with Kushner. I 175 At the time, Simes was lobbying the Trump Transition Team, on Burt's behalf, to appoint Burt U.S. ambassador to Russia. 1176 Burt contacted Simes by telephone and asked if he could arrange a meeting with Kushner to discuss setting up a high-level communications channel between Putin and the incoming Administration. l l77 Simes told the Office that he declined and stated to Burt that setting up such a channel was not a good idea in light of the media attention surrounding Russian influence in the U.S. presidential election. 1l78 According to Simes, he understood that Burt was seeking a secret channel, and Simes did not want CN! to be seen as an intermediary between the Russian government and the incoming Administration. I 179 Based on what Simes had read in the media, he stated that he already had concerns that Trump's business connections could be exploited by Russia, and Simes said that he did not want CN! to have any involvement or apparent involvement in facilitating any connection. I 180 In an email dated December 22, 2016, Burt recounted for Aven his conversation with Simes: Through a trusted third party, I have reached out to the very influential person! mentioned in Luxembourg concerning Project A. There is an interest and an understanding for the need to establish such a channel. But the individual emphasized that at this moment, with so much intense interest in the Congress and the media over the question of cyber-hacking (and who ordered what), Project A was too explosive to discuss. The individual agreed to discuss it again after the New Year. I trust the individual 's instincts on this. 1173 Burt 2/9/18 302, at 4. 11 74 Burt 2/9118 302, at 5. 1175 Burt 2/9/\8302, at 3. 1176 Burt 2/9/\8302, at 3. 1177 Burt 2/9118302, at 3; Simes 3/27118 302, at 4. 11 78 Burt 2/9118302, at 3; Simes 3/27/18 302, at 4. 11 79 Simes 3/27/18 302, at 5. 11 80 Simes 3127/ 18 302, at 5. 164 U.S. Department of Justice A1:t8Ine) 'Nellc Pf8Eitiet II Pw{a, C6f1taiH ~48tel ittl Pfeteetea HHelel Feel. R. Crim. P. 6(e) If this is unclear or you would like to discuss, don't hesitate to call. 1181 According to Burt, the "very influential person" referenced in his email was Simes, and the reference to a "trusted third party" was a fabrication , as no such third party existed. "Project A" was a term that Burt created for Aven ' s effort to help establish a communications channel between Russia and the Trump team, which he used in light of the sensitivities surrounding what Aven was requesting, especially in light of the recent attention to Russia' s influence in the U.S. presidential election. 1182 According to Burt, his report that there was "interest" in a communications channel reflected Simes' s views, not necessarily those of the Transition Team, and in any event, Burt acknowledged that he added some "hype" to that sentence to make it sound like there was more interest from the Transition Team than may have actually existed. 11 83 Aven replied to Burt' s email on the same day, saying "Thank you. All clear." II84 According to Aven, this statement indicated that he did not want the outreach to continue. 1185 Burt spoke to A yen some time thereafter about his attempt to make with the ~hat the current environment made it impossible, _ _ . 1186 Burt did not recall discussing Aven's request he recall speaking to anyone else about the request. 118 ? In the first quarter of 20 17, Aven met again with Putin and other Russian officials. I188 At that meeting, Putin asked about Aven ' s to build relations with the 1189 and Aven recounted his lack of success. _ 1190 Putin continued to inquire Administration in several subsequent quarterly meetings. 1191 Aven also told Putin' s chief of staff that he had been subpoenaed by the FBI. II 92 As part ofthat conversation, he reported that he had been asked by the FBI about whether he had worked to create a back channel between the Russian government and the Trump Administration ll 93 11 81 12/22/16 Email, Burt to Aven (7:23 p.m.). 1182 Burt 2/9/18302, at 3. 11 83 Burt 2/9/18 302, at 3-4. 1184 12/22116 Email, Aven to Burt (4:58:22 p.m.). 1185 Aven 8/2118 302, at 7. 11 87 Burt 2/9118 302, at 3-4. 1192 Aven 8/2/ 18 302, at 8. 1193 Aven 8/2118 302, at 8; 165 U.S. Department of Justice .'\tt8IHe) 'Nelle PI86t1et // ~4a) C8J~tt1i_I' ~{8telial Preteetee URae) FeEl. R. Grit", P. 6Ee) According to Aven, the official showed no emotion in response to this report and did not appear to care. 1194 6. Carter Page Contact with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich In December 2016, more than two months after he was removed from the Trump Campaign, former Campaign foreign policy advisor Carter visited Moscow in an Mh,ml,t to business 1195 Manafort's in Russia the impression that he had maintained his connections to President-Elect Trump. In a December 8, 2016 email intended for Manafort, Kilimnik wrote, "Carter Page is in Moscow today, sending messages he is authorized to talk to Russia on behalf ofDT on a range of issues of mutual interest, including Ukraine.,,"97 On December 9, 2016, Page went to dinner with NES employees Shlomo Weber and Andrej Krickovic. " 98 Weber had contacted Dvorkovich to let him know that Page was in town and to invite him to stop by the dinner ifhe wished to do so, and Dvorkovich came to the restaurant for a few minutes to meet with Page. I 199 Dvorkovich congratulated Page on Trump's election and expressed interest in starting a dialogue between the United States and Russia. 12oo Dvorkovich asked Page ifhe could facilitate connecting Dvorkovich with individuals involved in the transition to . a discussion of future . 1201 1194 Aven 8/2/18 302, at 1195 Page 3/10/17 302, at 4; Page 3/16/17 302, at 3; other meetings, Page contacted Andrey Baranov, head of investc)r relall·ons the sale of Rosneft and meetings Baranov had attended with Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin. 1197 Investigative Technique 1198 Page 3/16/ 17 302, at 3; Page 3/30/17 302, at 8. 1199 Weber 7/28/17 302, at 4; Page 3/16/17 302, at 3; 1200 Page 3/16/17 302, at 3' 1202 1203 166 U.S. Department of Justice AM81f\e:r \Yerk PresHet II ~f6} CeRtain r.lateliai Preteetea UI.elel Fefl. R. CritH. P. 6(61 7. Contacts With and Through Michael T. Flynn Incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was the Transition Team 's pr imary conduit for communications with the Russian Ambassador and dealt with Russia on two sensitive matters during the transition period : a United Nations Security Council vote and the Russ ian government's reaction to the United States' s imposition of sanctions for Russian interference in the 2016 election. 1207 Despite Kushner's conclusion that Kislyak did not wield influence inside the Russian government, the Transition Team turned to Flynn's relationship with Kislyak on both issues. As to the sanctions, Flynn spoke by phone to K.T. McFarland, his incoming deputy, to prepare for his call to Kislyak; McFarland was with the Pres ident-Elect and other senior members of the Transition Team at Mar-a-Lago at the time. Although transition officials at Mara-Lago had some concern about possible Russ ian reactions to the sanctions, the investigation did not identi fy evidence that the President-Elect asked Flynn to make any request to Kislyak. Flynn asked Kislyak not to escalate the situation in response to U.S. sanctions imposed on December 29, 2016, and Kislyak later reported to Flynn that Russia acceded to that request. a. United Nations Vote on Israeli Settlements On December 21 , 2016, Egypt submitted a resolution to the United Nations Security Council calling on Israel to cease settlement activities in Palestinian territory.1208 The Security Council, which includes Russ ia, was scheduled to vote on the resolution the following day.1 209 There was speculation in the media that the Obama Administration would not oppose the resolution. 12lo 1207 As discussed further in Volume I, Section V.CA, infra, Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 100 1, about these communications with Ambassador Kislyak. Plea Agreement, United States v. Michael T. Flynn, No. I :17-cr-232 (D.D.C. Dec. 1, 2017), Doc. 3. Flynn's plea agreement required that he cooperate with this Office, and the statements from Flynn in this report rellect his cooperation over the course of multiple debriefings in 2017 and 201 8. 1208 Karen DeYoung, How the us. Cam e to Abstain on a UN. Resolution Condemning Israeli Settie,!,ents, Washington Post (Dec. 28, 2016). 1209 Karen DeYoung, How the US. Came to Abstain on a UN. Resolution Condemning Israeli Settlements, Washington Post (Dec. 28, 2016). 1210 Michelle Nichols & Lesley Wroughton, Us. Intended to Allow Passage of UN. Draft Critical ofIsrael, Reuters (Dec. 21, 2016). 167 U.S. Department of Justice 1"'M6lfley '.Vefll Pf68Het II hilt) C6Rtaili ~48k:tial Pf6teetea Ufl8er Fea. R. Cfiffi. P. ete) According to Flynn, the Transition Team regarded the vote as a significant issue and wanted to support Israel by opposing the resolution . 1211 On December 22, 2016, mUltiple members of the Transition Team, as well as President-Elect Trump, communicated with foreign government officials to determine their views on the resolution and to rally support to delay the vote or defeat the resolution. 1212 Kushner led the effort for the Transition Team; Flynn was responsible for the Russian government. !213 Minutes after an early morning phone call with Kushner on December 22, Flynn called Kislyak.1214 According to Flynn, he informed Kislyak about the vote and the Transition Team's opposition to the resolution, and requested that Russia vote against or delay the resolution. 12lS Later that day, President-Elect Trump spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the vote.!216 Ultimately, Egypt postponed the vote.!217 On December 23,2016, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, and Venezuela resubmitted the resolution. 121 8 Throughout the day, members of the Transition Team continued to talk with foreign leaders about the resolution, with Flynn continuing to lead the outreach with the Russian government through Kislyak.121 9 When Flynn again spoke with Kislyak, Kislyak informed Flynn that if the resolution came to a vote, Russia would not vote against it. 122o The resolution later passed 14-0, with the United States abstaining. 1221 h. u.s. Sanctions Against Russia Flynn was also the Transition Team member who spoke with the Russian government when the Obama Administration imposed sanctions and other measures against Russia in response to Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. On December 28, 2016, then-President Obama signed Executive Order 13757, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. the following day and 1211 Flynn 11116117 302, at 12; Flynn 11117/17 302, at 2. 1212 Flynn 11116/17 302, at 12- I 4; Flynn 11117117 302, at 2. 121 3 Flynn 11116/17 302, at 12-14; Flynn 11117/ 17 3 Email, Kushner to Flynn; 12/2211 6 Email, McFarland to 1214 Flynn 11116117302, at 13 ; Call Records of Michael T. 121 5 Statement of Offense 'If 3(d), United States v. Michael T. Flynn, No.1: 17-cr-232 (D.D.C. Dec. 1,2017), Doc. 4 ("Flynn Statement of Offense"); Flynn 11116117302, at 12-13 . 1216 Flynn 11117/17302, at2; Flynn 11116/17 302, at 13. 1217 U.N Vote on Israeli Settlement Postponed, "Potentially Indefinitely ", Reuters (Dec. 22, 2016). 1218 Somini Sengupta & Rick Gladstone, Rebuffing Israel, New York Times (Dec. 23 , 2016). u.s. Allows Censure Over Settlements, 1219 Flynn 11116117 302, at 12-14; Kushner 11/1/17302, at 3; 12123/16 Email, Flynn to Kushner et a!. 1220 Flynn Statement of Offense 'If 3(g). 1221 Israel's Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute Flagrant Violation of International Law, Security Council Reaffirms, 7853rd Meeting (PM), United Nations Security Council (Dec. 23 , 2016). 168 U.S. Department of Justice lArU611,e, \Veflt Pf68l:1et l/ h4tt) C8f1tsiH P.istelial Preteetea Untlel feEl. R. Crill •. P. 6(e) imposed sanctions on nine Russian individuals and entities. 1222 On December 29, 2016, the Obama Administration also expelled 35 Russian government officials and closed two Russian government-owned compounds in the United States. 1223 During the rollout of the sanctions, President-Elect Trump and multiple Transition Team senior officials, including McFarland, Steve Bannon, and Reince Priebus, were staying at the Mara-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Flynn was on vacation in the Dominican Republic,1224 but was in daily contact with McFarland. 1225 The Transition Team and President-Elect Trump were concerned that these sanctions would harm the United States's relationship with Russia. 1226 Although the details and timing of sanctions were unknown on December 28, 20 16, the media began reporting that retaliatory measures from the Obama Administration against Russia were forthcoming. 1227 When asked about imposing sanctions on Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, President-Elect Trump told the media, "I think we ought to get on with our lives.,,1228 Russia initiated the outreach to the Transition Team. On the evening of December 28, 2016, Kislyak texted Flynn, "can you kindly call me back at your convenience.,,1 229 Flynn did not respond to the text message that evening. Someone from the Russian Embassy also called Flynn the next morning, at 10:38 a.m., but they did not talk. 1230 The sanctions were announced publicly on December 29,2016. 1231 At 1:53 p.m. that day, McFarland began exchanging emails with multiple Transition Team members and advisors about the impact the sanctions would have on the incoming Administration. l232 At 2:07 p.m., a Transition Team member texted Flynn a link to a New York Times article about the sanctions. l233 At 2:29 122l Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities, The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Dec. 29, 2016). Statement by the President on Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment, The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Dec. 29, 2016). 1223 1224 Flynn 11116117302, at 14; McFarland 12/22/17302, a13-8; Bannon 2/12118 302, at 5. Il25 FlYlm 11117/17 302, at 5; Flynn 1119/18 302, at I; McFarland 11/22/ 17 302, at 3-9. Ill6 Flynn 11117117302, at 3. 1227 Christine Wang, US to announce new sanctions against Russia in response to election hacking, CNBC (Dec. 28, 2016). 1228 John Wagner, Trump on alleged election interference by Russia: "Get on with our lives ", Washington Post (Dec. 29, 2016). 1229 SF000006 (12/28116 Text Message, Kislyak to Flynn). 1230 Call Records of Michael T. Flynn Il31 Flynn 11117/17302, at 2-3; McFarland 12/221173 02, at 4-5. 1232 12/29116 Email, McFarland to O'Brien et aJ.; 12/29116 Email, McFarland to Flynn et aJ. Il33 SFOOOOOI (12/29116 Text Message, Flaherty to Flynn). 169 U.S. Department of Justice A:tt6J'ne) \\'e;pi( PI 68l:let II ~48) Cent8iH ~{8teIiftl P16teetea UAaer Fea. R. Crin •. P. 6te) p.m., McFarland called Flynn, but they did not talk. 1214 Shortly thereafter, McFarland and Bannon discussed the sanctions. 1235 According to McFarland, Bannon remarked that the sanctions would hurt their ability to have good relations with Russia, and that Russian escalation would make things more difficult. 1236 McFarland believed she told Bannon that Flynn was scheduled to talk to Kislyak later that night. 1237 McFarland also believed she may have discussed the sanctions with Priebus, and likewise told him that Flynn was scheduled to talk to Kislyak that night.1238 At 3:14 p.m., Flynn texted a Transition Team member who was assisting McFarland, "Time for a ca1l777,,1239 The Transition Team member responded that McFarland was on the phone with Tom Bossert, a Transition Team senior official, to which Flynn responded, "Tit for tat w Russia not good . Russian AMBO reaching out to me today.,,1240 Flynn recalled that he chose not to communicate with Kislyak about the sanctions until he had heard from the team at Mar_a_Lago. 1241 He first spoke with Michael Ledeen,1242 a Transition Team member who advised on foreign policy and national security matters, for 20 minutes. 1243 Flynn then spoke with McFarland for almost 20 minutes to discuss what, if anything, to communicate to Kislyak about the sanctions. 1244 On that call, McFarland and Flynn discussed the sanctions, including their potential impact on the incoming Trump Administration' s foreign policy goals . 1245 McFarland and Flynn also discussed that Transition Team members in Mar-a-Lago did not want Russia to escalate the situation 1246 They both understood that Flynn would relay a message to Kislyak in hopes of making sure the situation would not get out of hand. 1247 1234 Call Records of K.T. McFarland 1235 McFarland 12/22117 302, at 5-6. 1236 McFarland 12/22117302, at 5-6 . 1237 McFarland 12/22117 302, at 6. 1238 McFarland 12/22117302, at 6. 1239 SFOOOOOI (12/29/16 Text Message, Flynn to Flaherty). 1240 SFOOOOOI (12/29116 Text Message, Flynn to Flahel1y). 1241 Flynn 11120/17 302, at 3. 1242 Michael Ledeen is married to Barbara Ledeen, the Senate staffer whose 2016 efforts to locate Hillary Clinton's missing emails are described in Volume I, Section III.D.2, supra. 1243 Flynn 11117/17302, at 3; Call Records of Michael Ledeen at 3-4; Flynn Statement of Offense Call Records of Michael T. Flynn 1245 Flynn 11117/ 17302, at 3-4 1246 Flynn 11 /17117 302, at 3-4; Flynn Statement of Offense 11 3( c); McFarland 12/22/ 17 302, at 67. 1247 Flynn 11/17117302, at 4; McFarland 12/22117302, at 6-7. 170 U.S. Department of Justice AM:elne) V/eri( Pfe8Het 1/ P,{fl) Centaifl ~4tHefilll Pfeteetea Ufl8et Fea. R. Grilli. P. 6(e1 Immediately after speaking with McFarland, Flynn called and spoke with Kislyak. 1248 Flynn discussed mUltiple topics with Kislyak, including the sanctions, scheduling a video teleconference between President-Elect Trump and Putin, an upcoming terrorism conference, and Russia's views about the Middle East. 1249 With respect to the sanctions, Flynn requested that Russia not escalate the situation, not get into a "tit for tat," and only respond to the sanctions in a reciprocal manner. 1250 Multiple Transition Team members were aware that Flynn was speaking with Kislyak that day. In addition to her conversations with Bannon and Reince Priebus, at 4:43 p.m. , McFarland sent an email to Transition Team members about the sanctions, informing the group that "Oen [F]lynn is talking to russian ambassador this evening.,,1251 Less than an hour later, McFarland briefed President-Elect Trump. Bannon, Priebus, Sean Spicer, and other Transition Team members were present. 1252 During the briefing, President-Elect Trump asked McFarland if the Russians did " it," meaning the intrusions intended to influence the presidential election. 1253 McFarland said yes, and President-Elect Trump expressed doubt that it was the Russians. 1254 McFarland also discussed potential Russian responses to the sanctions, and said Russia's response would be an indicator of what the Russians wanted going forward. 1255 President-Elect Trump opined that the sanctions provided him with leverage to use with the Russians. 1256 McFarland recalled that at the end of the meeting, someone may have mentioned to President-Elect Trump that Flynn was speaking to the Russian ambassador that evening. 1257 After the briefing, Flynn and McFarland spoke over the phone. 1258 Flynn reported on the substance of his call with Kislyak, including their discussion of the sanctions. 1259 According to McFarland, Flynn mentioned that the Russian response to the sanctions was not going to be escalatory because they wanted a good relationship with the incoming Administration. 126o McFarland also gave Flynn a summary of her recent briefing with President-Elect Trump.1 261 1248 Flynn Statement of Offense 11 3(d). 1249 Flynn lI!l7!l7 302, at 3-4; Flynn Statement of Offense 11 3(c); 12/30/ 16 Email, Flynn to McFarland. 1250 Flynn 11117117 302, at I; Flynn Statement of Offense 11 3(d). 1251 12/29116 Email, McFarland to Flynn et a!. 1252 12/29/16 Email,WesterhouttoFlaherty; McFarland 12/221173 02, at 7. 1253 McFarland 12/22117302, at 7. 1254 McFarland 12/22117302, at 7. 12" McFarland 12/22117 302, at 7. 1256 McFarland 12/22117302, at 7. 1257 McFarland 12/22117 302, at 7. 1258 McFarland 12122117 302, at 7. 1259 Flynn 1111 7117302, at 4; Flynn Statement of Offense 11 3(e). 1260 McFarland 12/22117 302, at 8. 1261 McFarland 12/22/ 17302, at 8. 171 U.S. Department of Justice ~48teriftl PI8teetee BnBel Feel. R. Criffi. P. 6Ee) Att6fAe, "VBlle Pl8Btlet II P.ffl} Certtail'l The next day, December 30, 2016, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov remarked that Russia would respond in kind to the sanctions. 1262 Putin superseded that comment two hours later, releasing a statement that Russia would not take retaliatory measures in response to the sanctions at that time. 1263 Hours later President-Elect Trump tweeted, "Great move on delay (by V . Putin)."1264 Shortly thereafter, Flynn sent a text message to McFarland summarizing his call with Kislyak from the day before, which she emailedtoKushner.Bannon.Priebus. and other Transition Team members. 1265 The text message and emai l did not include sanctions as one of the topics discussed with Kislyak. 1266 Flynn told the Office that he did not document his discussion of sanctions because it could be perceived as getting in the way of the Obama Administration's foreign policy. 1267 On December 31, 2016, Kislyak called Flynn and told him the request had been received at the highest levels and that Russia had chosen not to retaliate to the sanctions in response to the request. 1268 Two hours later, Flynn spoke with McFarland and relayed his conversation with Kislyak.1269 According to McFarland, Flynn remarked that the Russians wanted a better relationship and that the relationship was back on track. 1270 Flynn also told McFarland that he believed his phone call had made a difference. 1271 McFarland recalled congratulating Flynn in response. 1272 Flynn spoke with other Transition Team members that day, but does not recall whether they discussed the sanctions. 1273 Flynn recalled discussing the sanctions with Bannon the next day and that Bannon appeared to know about Flynn's conversation with Kislyak.1274 Bannon, 1262 Comment by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on recent US sanctions and the expulsion of Russian diplomats, Moscow, December 20, 2016, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (Dec. 30, 2016 (5:32 a.m.)). 1263 Statement of the President of the Russian Federation, Kremlin, Office of the President (Dec. 30, 20 16 (7:15 a.m.)). 1264 @realDonaldTrump 12/30/ 16 (11 :4 1 a.m.) Tweet. 1265 12/30/16 Email, Flynn to McFarland; 12/30116 Email, McFarland to Kushner et al. 1266 12/30116 Email, McFarland to Kushner et al. 1267 Flynn 11117117302, at 4. 1268 Call Records of Michael T. Flynn Flynn 1119117 302, at 3; Flynn Statement of nfi=". 1269 Call Records of Michael T. Flynn Flynn 1119/ 17302, at 3; McFarland 12122117 1270 McFarland 12/22117302, at 10. 1271 McFarland 12/22117302 , at 10. 1272 McFarland 12/22/ 17302, at 10. 1273 Flynn 11 117117 302, ~t 5-6. ; Flynn 11117117302, at 1; Flynn 11117117302, at 5; 1274 Flynn 11121117 302, at I; Flynn 11120117302, at 3; Flynn 1119117302, at 5; Flynn Statement of Offense ~ 3(h). 172 U.S. Department of Justice AU61fley '.Vsfl£ PfSSl:Iet II ~4tt) Cet'ltsilt ~48tel ittl Pf'steetea Ulh~et Feel. R. Grim. P. 6(e~ for his part, recalled meeting with Flynn that day, but said that he did not remember discussing sanctions with him . 1275 Additional information about Flynn ' s sanctions-related discussions with Kislyak, and the handling of those discussions by the Transition Team and the Trump Administration, is provided in Volume II of this report. ••• In sum, the investigation established multiple links between Trump Campaign officials and individuals tied to the Russian government. Those links included Russian offers of assistance to the Campaign. In some instances, the Campaign was receptive to the offer, while in other instances the Campaign officials shied away. Ultimately, the investigation did not establish that the Campaign coordinated or conspired with the Russian government in its election-interference activities. 1275 Bannon 2/ 12/18 302, at 9. 173 AM:81Iie~ U.S. Department of Justice Vlerk PrS8ttet // ~1fl) CSftttliH "4Merial Plsteeteti Unset Feel. R. Grim. P. 6~e) V. PROSECUTION AND DECLINATION DECISIONS The Appointment Order authorized the Special Counsel's Office "to prosecute federal crimes arising from [its] investigation" of the matters assigned to it. In deciding whether to exercise this prosecutorial authority, the Office has been guided by the Principles of Federal Prosecution set forth in the Justice (formerly U.S . Attorney ' s) Manual. In particular, the Office has evaluated whether the conduct of the individuals considered for prosecution constituted a federal offense and whether admissible evidence would probably be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction for such an offense. Justice Manual § 9-27.220 (2018). Where the answer to those questions was yes, the Office further considered whether the prosecution would serve a substantial federal interest, the individuals were subject to effective prosecution in another jurisdiction, and there existed an adequate non-criminal alternative to prosecution. Id. R .. .- As explained below, those considerations led the Office to seek charges against two sets of at" I £ th ' I' t t" - th a t" 'al d' . d • • Harm to Ongoing Matter similarly determined that the contacts between Campaign officials and Russia-linked individuals either did not involve the commission of a federal crime or, in the case of campaign-finance offenses, that our evidence was not sufficient to obtain and sustain a criminal conviction. At the same time, the Office concluded that the Principles of Federal Prosecution supported charging certain individuals connected to the Campaign with making false statements or otherwise obstructing this investigation or parallel congressional investigations. A. Russian" Active Measures" Social Media Campaign On February 16, 2018, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities-including the Internet Research Agency (IRA) and Concord Management and Consulting LLC (Concord)- with violating U.S. criminal laws in order to interfere with U.S. elections and political processes. 1276 The indictment charges all of the defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States (Count One), three defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud (Count Two), and five defendants with aggravated identity theft (Counts Three through Eight). Internet Research Agency Indictment. Concord, which is one of the entities charged in the Count One conspiracy, entered an appearance through U.S. counsel and moved to dismiss the charge on multiple grounds. In orders and memorandum opinions issued on August 13 and November 15, 2018, the district court denied Concord ' s motions to dismiss. United States v. Concord Management & Consulting LLC, 347 F. Supp. 3d 38 (D.D.C. 2018). United States v. Concord Management & Consulting LLC, 317 F. Supp. 3d 598 (D.D.C. 2018). As of this writing, the prosecution of Concord remains ongoing before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The other defendants remain at large. A more detailed explanation of the charging decision in this case is set forth in a separate memorandum provided to the Acting Attorney General before the indictment. 1276 174 U.S. Department of Justice 14c:M61ney ';Vslk Pre8ttet II f',{ft) CSl1taifi r,411ter ittl Preteeteei UI,,4el FeEl. R. Cfilfl. P. 6(e) Although members of the IRA had contact with individuals affiliated with the Trump Campaign, the indictment does not charge any Trump Campaign official or any other U.S. person with participating in the conspiracy. That is because the investigation did not identify evidence that any U.S. person who coordinated or communicated with the IRA knew that he or she was speaking with Russian nationals engaged in the criminal conspiracy. The Office therefore determined that such persons did not have the knowledge or criminal purpose required to charge them in the conspiracy to defraud the United States (Count One) or in the separate count alleging a wire- and bank-fraud conspiracy involving the IRA and two individual Russian nationals (Count Two). The Office did, however, charge one U.S. national for his role in supplying false or stolen bank account numbers that allowed the IRA conspirators to access U.S. online payment systems by circumventing those systems ' security features. On February 12, 2018, Richard Pinedo pleaded guilty, pursuant to a single-count information, to identity fraud , in violation of 18 U.S.c. § 1028(a)(7) and (b)(I)(D). Plea Agreement, United States v. Richard Pinedo, No. 1:18-cr-24 (D .D.C. Feb. 12,2018), Doc. 10. The investigation did not establish that Pinedo was aware of the identity of the IRA members who purchased bank account numbers from him. Pinedo ' s sales of account numbers enabled the IRA members to anonymously access a financial network through which they transacted with U.S. persons and companies. See Gov 't Sent. Mem. at 3, United States v. Richard Pinedo, No. I: 18-cr-24 (D.D.C. Sept. 26, 20 I 8), Doc. 24 . On October 10,2018, Pinedo was sentenced to six months of imprisonment, to be followed by six months of home confinement, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. B. Russian Hacking and Dumping Operations I. Section 1030 Computer-Intrusion Conspiracy a. Background On July 13,2018, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging Russian military intelligence officers from the GRU with conspiring to hack into various U.S. computers used by the Clinton Campaign, DNC, DCCC, and other U.S. persons, in violation of 18 U.S.c. §§ 1030 and 371 (Count One); committing identity theft and conspiring to commit money laundering in furtherance of that hacking conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S .c. §§ 1028A and 1956(h) (Counts Two through Ten); and a separate conspiracy to hack into the computers of U.S. persons and entities responsible for the administration of the 2016 U.S. election, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1030 and 371 (Count Eleven). Netyksho Indictment. 1277 As of this writing, all 12 defendants remain at large. The Netyksho indictment alleges that the defendants conspired with one another and with others to hack into the computers of U.S. persons and entities involved in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, steal documents from those computers, and stage releases of the stolen documents to interfere in the election. Netyksho Indictment ~ 2. The indictment also describes how, in staging 1277 The Office provided a more detailed explanation of the charging decision in this case in meetings with the Office of the Acting Attorney General before the indictment. 175 U.S. Department of Justice AM:ell~e) 'Nelle Pleatlet II ~4a) Centaift ~{atelial Pleteetee Unset Fee. R. Grim. P. 6(e) the releases, the defendants used the Guccifer 2.0 persona to disseminate docume nts through WikiLeaks. On July 22, 2016, WikiLeaks released over 20,000 emails and other documents that the hacking conspirators had stolen from the DNC. Netyksho Indictment '1[48. In addition, on October 7, 2016, WikiLeaks began releasing emails that some conspirators had stolen from Clinton Campaign chairman John Podesta after a successful spearphishing operation. Netyksho Indictment '1[49. b. Charging Decision As 10 Harm to Ongoing Matter 1278 The Office also considered, but ruled out, charges on the theory that the post· hacking sharing and dissemination of emails could constitute trafficking in or receipt of stolen propelty under the National Stolen Property Act (NSPA), 18 U.S.C. §§ 2314 and 2315. The statutes comprising the NSPA cover "goods, wares, or merchandise," and lower COUlts have largely understood that phrase to be limited to tangible items since the Supreme Court's decision in Dowling v. United States, 473 U.S. 207 (1985). See United States v. Yijia Zhang, 995 F. Supp. 2d 340, 344·48 (E.D. Pa. 2014) (collecting cases). One of those post·Dowling decisions-United Staies v. Brown, 925 F.2d 1301 (10th Cir. 1991)-specifically held that the NSPA does not reach "a computer program in source code form," even though that code was stored in tangible items (i.e., a hard disk and in a three·ring notebook). Id. at 1302·03. Congress, in turn, cited the Brown opinion in explaining the need for amendments to 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2) that " would ensure that the theft of intangible information by the unauthorized use of a computer is prohibited in the same way theft of physical items [is] protected. " S. Rep. 104·357, at 7 ( 1996). That sequence of events would make it difficult to argue that hacked emails in electronic form, which are the relevant stolen items here, constitute "goods, wares, or merchandise" within the meaning of the NSPA. 176 Aa6fHe~ U.S. Department ofJustice 'Harlt Prsehiet II ~{f1:) C61.tsiH ~{Meliftl PIeteetea Uftaer Fea. R. Cliff!. P. 6(ej 177 U.S. Department of Justice After fte~ \'/8fl{ Preeh:let // ~46;) CSHtaiJ i ~1atefiftl PI8teeteei UHBef Fea. R. Ct ita, P. 6(e) Harm to Ongoing Matter 178 U.S. Department of Justice AttePHey \Veri( Pr8fh:let II ~,q8;) CefltaiH ~4aterial Preteetea Unser Fee. R. Cfira. P. GEe) 2. Potential Section 1030 Violation By _ _ v. amendments to Section 1030 reflect Congress ' s desire to reach ''' intentional acts of unauthorized access-rather than (quoting S. Rep. 99-432, at 5 (1986)). In addition, the likely qualifies as a "protected" one under the statute, which 676 FJd Internet access ." United States v. Applying the Principles of Federal Prosecution, however, the Office determined that prosecution of this potential violation was not warranted. Those Principles instruct prosecutors to consider, among other things, the nature and seriousness of the offense, the person's culpability in connection with the offense, and the sentence to be . if the . successful. Justice Manual 9-27.230. 179 U.S. Department of Justice AttelHe) '.Verlt PresHet 1/ P,'1a) CeHtaiH ~18teli81 Pleteetea UHeel FeEl. R. CriM. P. 6(eJ C. Russian Government Outreach and Contacts As explained in Section IV above, the Office's investigation uncovered evidence of nUmerous links (i.e., contacts) between Trump Campaign officials and individuals having or claiming to have ties to the Russian government. The Office evaluated the contacts under several sets of federal laws, including conspiracy laws and statutes governing foreign agents who operate in the United States. After considering the available evidence, the Office did not pursue charges under these statutes against any of the individuals discussed in Section IV above-with the exception of F ARA charges against Paul Manafort and Richard Gates based on their activities on behalf of Ukraine. One of the interactions between the Trump Campaign and Russian-affiliated individualsthe June 9, 2016 meeting between high-ranking campaign officials and Russians promising derogatory information on Hillary Clinton-implicates an additional body of law: campaignfinance statutes. Schemes involving the solicitation or receipt of assistance from foreign sources raise difficult statutory and constitutional questions. : those questions in connection with the June 9 were The Office ultimately concluded that, even if the to the government, a prosecution would encounter difficulties proving that Campaign officials or individuals connected to the Campaign willfully violated the law. Finally, although the evidence of contacts between Campaign officials and Russiaaffiliated individuals may not have been sufficient to establish or sustain criminal charges, several U.S. persons connected to the Campaign made false statements about those contacts and took other steps to obstruct the Office' s investigation and those of Congress. This Office has therefore charged some of those individuals with making false statements and obstructing justice. 1. Potential Coordination: Conspiracy and Collusion As an initial matter, this Office evaluated potentially criminal conduct that involved the collective action of multiple individuals not under the rubric of "collusion," but through the lens of conspiracy law. In so doing, the Office recognized that the word "collud[ e]" appears in the Acting Attorney General's August 2, 2017 memorandum; it has frequently been invoked in public reporting; and it is sometimes referenced in antitrust law, see, e.g., Brooke Group v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 509 U.S. 209, 227 (1993). But collusion is not a specific offense or theory of liability found in the U.S. Code; nor is it a term of art in federal criminal law. To the contrary, even as defined in legal dictionaries, collusion is largely synonymous with conspiracy as that crime is set forth in the general federal conspiracy statute, 18 U.S.C. § 371. See Black 's Law Dictionary 321 (10th ed. 2014) (collusion is " [a]n agreement to defraud another or to do or obtain something forbidden by law"); 1 Alexander Burrill, A Law Dictionary and Glossary 311 (1871) ("An agreement between two or more persons to defraud another by the forms of law, or to employ such forms as means of accomplishing some unlawful object."); 1 Bouvier's Law Dictionary 352 180 U.S. Department of Justice lOr:ttoll.ey 'Nsflt PlsifHet II P.4ft') CefltaiH &4atelial Pfeteetea UnBer FeEl. R. Grim. P. 6(e) (1897) ("An agreement between two or more persons to defraud a person of his rights by the forms of law, or to obtain an object forbidden by law."). For that reason, this Office' s focus in resolving the question of joint criminal liability was on conspiracy as defined in federal law, not the commonly discussed term "collusion." The Office considered in particular whether contacts between Trump Campaign officials and Russia-linked individuals could trigger liability for the crime of conspiracy-either under statutes that have their own conspiracy language (e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349, 1951(a» , or under the general conspiracy statute (18 U.S.C. § 371). The investigation did not establish that the contacts described in Volume I, Section IV, supra, amounted to an agreement to commit any substantive violation of federal criminal law-including foreign-influence and campaign-finance laws, both of which are discussed further below. The Office therefore did not charge any individual associated with the Trump Campaign with conspiracy to commit a federal offense arising from Russia contacts, either under a specific statute or under Section 371 's offenses clause. The Office also did not charge any campaign official or associate with a conspiracy under Section 371 's defraud clause. That clause criminalizes participating in an agreement to obstruct a lawful function of the U.S. government or its agencies through deceitful or dishonest means. See Dennis v. United States, 384 U.S . 855, 861 (1966); Hammerschmidt v. United States, 265 U.S. 182, 188 (1924); see also United States v. Concord Mgmt. & Consulting LLC, 347 F. Supp. 3d 38, 46 (D.D.C. 2018). The investigation did not estab lish any agreement among Campaign officialsor between such officials and Russia-linked individuals-to interfere with or obstruct a lawful function of a government agency during the campaign or transition period. And, as discussed in Volume I, Section V.A, supra, the investigation did not identify evidence that any Campaign official or associate knowingly and intentionally participated in the conspiracy to defraud that the Office charged, namely, the active-measures conspiracy described in Vo lume I, Section II, supra. Accordingly, the Office did not charge any Campaign associate or other U.S. person with conspiracy to defraud the United States based on the Russia-related contacts described in Section IV above. 2. Potential Coordination: Foreign Agent Statutes (FARA and 18 U.S.C. § 95]) The Office next assessed the potential liability of Campaign-affiliated individuals under federal statutes regulating actions on behalf of, or work done for, a foreign government. a. Governing Law Under 18 U.S.c. § 951 , it is generally illegal to act in the United States as an agent of a foreign government without providing notice to the Attorney General. Although the defendant must act on behalf of a foreign government (as opposed to other kinds of foreign entities), the acts need not involve espionage; rather, acts of any type suffice for liability. See United States v. Duran, 596 F.3d 1283, 1293-94 (11 th Cir. 2010); United States v. Latchin, 554 F.3d 709, 715 (7th Cir. 2009); United States v. Dumeisi, 424 F.3d 566, 581 (7th Cir. 2005). An "agent of a foreign government" is an "individual" who "agrees to operate" in the United States "subject to the direction or control of a foreign government or official." 18 U.S.C. § 951 (d) . 181 U.S. Department of Justice Aft61He) V/efi{ Pfeattet II P,la; CentftiH ~48tefi8:1 Pfeteetea Uliser Feel. R. Clint. P. 6(e) The crime defined by Section 951 is complete upon knowingly acting in the United States as an unregistered foreign-government agent. 18 U.S .C. § 951(a). The statute does not require willfulness, and knowledge ofthe notification requirement is not an element of the offense. United States v. Campa, 529 F.3d 980, 998-99 (11th Cir. 2008); Duran, 596 F.3d at 1291-94; Dumeisi, 424 F.3 d at 581. The Foreign Agents Registration Act (F ARA) generally makes it illegal to act as an agent of a foreign principal by engaging in certain (largely political) activities in the United States without registering with the Attorney General. 22 U.S.C. §§ 611-621. The triggering agency relationship must be with a foreign principal or "a person any of whose activities are directly or indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidized in whole or in major part by a foreign principal." 22 U.S.C. § 61 I (c)(I). That includes a foreign government or political party and various foreign individuals and entities. 22 U.S .C. § 611(b). A covered relationship exists if a person " acts as an agent, representative, employee, or servant" or " in any other capacity at the order, request, or under the [foreign principal ' s) direction or control." 22 U.S .c. § 61 I (c)(1). It is sufficient if the person "agrees, consents, assumes or purports to act as, or who is or holds himself out to be, whether or not pursuant to contractual relationship, an agent of a foreign principal. " 22 U.S.c. § 61 I (c)(2). The triggering activity is that the agent "directly or through any other person" in the United States (I) engages in "political activities for or in the interests of [the) foreign principal," which includes attempts to influence federal officials or the public; (2) acts as "public relations counsel, publicity agent, information-service employee or political consultant for or in the interests of such foreign principal"; (3) "solicits, collects, disburses, or dispenses contributions, loans, money, or other things of value for or in the interest of such foreign principal"; or (4) "represents the interests of such foreign principal" before any federal agency or official. 22 U.S.C. § 61 I (c)(1). It is a crime to engage in a "[w)illful violation of any provision of the Act or any regulation thereunder. " 22 U.S.C . § 618(a)(1). [t is also a crime willfully to make false statements or omissions of material facts in FARA registration statements or supplements. 22 U.S.c. § 618(a)(2). Most violations have a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment and a $10,000 fine. 22 U.S.C. § 618. b. Application The investigation uncovered extensive evidence that Paul ManafOli's and Richard Gates's pre-campaign work for the government of Ukraine violated FARA. Manafort and Gates were charged for that conduct and admitted to it when they pleaded guilty to superseding criminal informations in the District of Columbia prosecution. 1280 The evidence underlying those charges is not addressed in this report because it was discussed in public court documents and in a separate 1280 Gates Superseding Criminal Information; Waiver ofIndictment, United States v. Richard W Gates III, I :17-cr-201 (D.D.C. Feb. 23 , 201 8), Doc. 203 ; Waiver of Trial by Jury, United States v. Richard W Gates III, 1: 17-cr-201 (D.D.C. Feb. 23, 2018), Doc. 204; Gates Plea Agreement; Statement of Offense, United States v. Richard W Gates III, I: 17-cr-20 1 (D.D.C. Feb. 23, 2018), Doc. 206; Plea Agreement, United States v. Paul J Manafort, Jr., 1:17-cr-201 (D. D.C. Sept. 14,2018), Doc. 422 ; Statement of Offense, United States v. Paul J Manafort. Jr., 1:1 7-cr-201 (D.D.C. Sept. 14,2018), Doc. 423. 182 U.S. Department of Justice Aftefne) '-Veplc PI 88t1et II P,fs) Cefttsift ~46teli61 Pfsteetea Unciel Fea. R. 61 ilil. P. 6(e1 prosecution memorandum submitted to the Acting Attorney General before the original indictment in that case. In addition, the investigation produced evidence of F ARA violations involving Michael Flynn. Those potential violations, however, concerned a country other than Russia (i.e., Turkey) and were resolved when Flynn admitted to the underlying facts in the Statement of Offense that accompanied his guilty plea to a false-statements charge . Statement of Offense, United States v. Michael T. Flynn, No. 1 :17-cr-232 (D.D.C . Dec. 1, 2017), Doc. 4 ("Flynn Statement of Offense,,). 1281 The investigation did not, however, yield evidence sufficient to sustain any charge that any individual affiliated with the Trump Campaign acted as an agent of a foreign principal within the meaning ofFARA or, in terms of Section 951 , subject to the direction or control of the government of Russia, or any official thereof. In particular, the Office did not find evidence likely to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Campaign officials such as Paul Manafort, George Papadopoulos, and Carter Page acted as agents of the !:!.'.! . ~~'!, ue!it--dllrlrlg the relevant FARA or Section 951, or attempting or COriSPIritlg to do so, based on contacts with the Russian government or a Russian principal. Finally, the Office investigated whether one of the above campaign advisors-George Papadopoulos-acted as an agent of, or at the direction and control of, the government of Israel. While the investigation revealed significant ties between Papadopoulos and Israel (and search warrants were obtained in part on that basis), the Office ultimately determined that the evidence was not sufficient to obtain and sustain' a conviction under FARA or Section 951. 3. Campaign Finance Several areas of the Office ' s investigation involved efforts or offers by foreign nationals to provide negative information about candidate Clinton to the Trump Campaign or to distribute that information to the public, to the anticipated benefit of the Campaign . As explained below, the Office considered whether two of those efforts in particular-the June 9, 2016 meeting at Trump 12 82 On four occasions, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) issued warrants based on a finding of probable cause to believe that Page was an agent of a foreign power. 50 U.S.C. §§ I 80 I (b), 1805(a)(2)(A). The FISC' s probable-cause finding was based on a different (and lower) standard than the one governing the Office's decision whether to bring charges against Page, which is whether admissible evidence would likely be sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Page acted as an agent of the Russian Federation during the period at issue. Cf United States v. Cardoza, 713 F.3d 656, 660 (D.C. Cir. 20 13) (explaining that probable cause requires only "a fair probability," and not "certainty, or proof beyond a reasonable doubt, or proof by a preponderance of the evidence"). 183 u.s. Department of Justice Aa:erHe, Vt'erk PresHet II ~4a:) CeAtsif) P,4a:teriai Preteetea DRaer Feel. R. Clin •. P. 6Ee~ '-,--colnstituted prosecutable violations of evidence was not sufficient to charge either incident as a criminal violation. a. Overview Of Governing Law "[T]he United States has a compelling interest ... in limiting the participation of foreign citizens in activities of democratic self-government, and in thereby preventing foreign influence over the U.S. political process." Blumon v. FEe, 800 F. Supp. 2d 281 , 288 (D.D.C. 2011) (Kavanaugh, J. , for three-judge court), off'd, 565 U.S. 1104 (2012). To that end, federal campaignfinance law broadly prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions, donations, expenditures, or other disbursements in connection with federal, state, or local candidate elections, and prohibits anyone from soliciting, accepting, or receiving such contributions or donations. As relevant here, foreign nationals may not make- and no one may "solicit,' accept, or receive" from them-"a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value" or "an express or impl ied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal , State, or local e lection." 52 U.S.c. § 30121(a)(I)(A), (a)(2).1 283 The term "contribution," which is used throughout the campaign-finance law, " includes" "any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office." 52 U.S.C. § 30101(8)(A)(i). It excludes, among other things, "the value of [volunteer] services." 52 U.S.C. § 30101(8)(B)(i). Foreign nationals are also barred from making "an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication." 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a)(l)(C). The term "expenditure" "includes" "any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office. " 52 U.S.C. §3010 1(9)(A)(i) . It excludes, among other things, news stories and non-partisan get-out-the-vote activities. 52 U.S.C. § 3010 I (9)(B)(i)-(ii). An " independent expenditure" is an expenditure "expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate" and made independently of the campaign. 52 U.S.c. § 30101(17). An "electioneering communication" is a broadcast communication that "refers to a clearly identified candidate for Federal office" and is made within specified time periods and targeted at the relevant e lectorate. 52 U.S .C. § 30104(t)(3). The statute defines "foreign national" by reference to FARA and the Immigration and Nationality Act, with minor modification. 52 U.S .C. § 30121(b) (cross-referencing 22 U.S.C. § 611(b)(I)-(3) and 8 U.S.c. § 1101(a)(20), (22». That definition yields five, sometimesoverlapping categories of foreign nationals, which include all of the individuals and entities relevant for present purposes-namely, foreign governments and political parties, individuals 1283 Campaign-finance law also places financial limits on contributions, 52 U.S.C. § 301 16(a), and prohibits contributions from corporations, banks, and labor unions, 52 U.S.C. § 30 118(a); see Citizens United v. FEC, 558 U.S. 310, 320 (2010). Because the conduct that the Office investigated involved possible electoral activity by foreign nationals, the foreign-contributions ban is the most readily applicable provision. 184 U.S. Department of Justice lHtellle) 'HarlE Preatlet II p'4a) Csfttaillt P,4atet'ial Preteetea Ul.sef Fee. R. Grim:. P. 6Ee) outside of the U.S. who are not legal permanent residents, and certain non-U .S. entities located outside of the U.S . A "knowing[] and willful[]" violation involving an aggregate of $25,000 or more in a calendar year is a felony. 52 U.S.C. § 30109(d)(l)(A)(i); see Blurnan, 800 F. Supp. 2d at 292 (noting that a willful violation will require some "proof of the defendant's knowledge of the law"); United States v. Danielczyk, 917 F. Supp. 2d 573, 577 (E.D. Va. 2013) (applying willfulness standard drawn from Bryan v. United States, 524 U.S. 184, 191-92 (1998)); see also Wagner v. FEe, 793 F.3d 1,19 n.23 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (en banc) (same). A "knowing[] and willful[J" violation involving an aggregate of $2,000 or more in a calendar year, but less than $25,000, is a misdemeanor. 52 U.S.C. § 30109(d)(1)(A)(ii). h. Application to June 9 Trump Tower Meeting The Office considered whether to charge Trump Campaign officials with crimes in connection with the June 9 meeting described in Volume I, Section IV.A.5, supra. The Office concluded that, in light of the government's substantial burden of proof on issues of intent ("knowing" and "willful"), and the difficulty of establishing the value of the offered information, criminal charges would not meet the Justice Manual standard that "the admissible evidence will probably be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction." Justice Manual § 9-27.220. In brief, the key facts are that, on June 3, 2016, Robert Goldstone emailed Donald Trump Jr., to pass along from Emin and Aras Agalarov an "offer" from Russia's "Crown prosecutor" to "the Trump campaign" of "official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to [Trump Jr. 's] father. " The email described this as "very high level and sensitive information" that is "part of Russia and its government's support to Mr. Trump-helped along by Aras and Emin." Trump Jr. responded : "if it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer." Trump Jr. and Emin Agalarov had follow-up conversations and, within days, scheduled a meeting with Russian representatives that was attended by Trump Jr., Manafort, and Kushner. The communications setting up the meeting and the attendance by high-level Campaign representatives support an inference that the Campaign anticipated receiving derogatory documents and information from official Russian sources that could assist candidate Trump 's electoral prospects. This series of events could implicate the federal election-law ban on contributions and donations by foreign nationals, 52 U.S.c. § 30121(a)(I)(A). Specifically, Goldstone passed along an offer purportedly from a Russian government official to provide "official documents and information" to the Trump Campaign for the purposes of influencing the presidential election. Trump Jr. appears to have accepted that offer and to have arranged a meeting to receive those material s. Documentary evidence in the form of email chains supports the inference that Kushner and Manafort were aware of that purpose and attended the June 9 meeting anticipating the receipt of helpful information to the Campaign from Russian sources. The Office considered whether this evidence would establish a conspiracy to violate the foreign contributions ban, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; the solicitation of an illegal foreignsource contribution; or the acceptance or receipt of "an express or implied promise to make a 185 U.S. Department of Justice AMante) V/erl( PI 86t1et // ~f8:) Cal'ttain ~48:teri81 PI6teetea Unser FeEl. R. Cfift'!. P. 6te~ [foreign-source] contribution," both in violation of 52 U.S.c. § 3012 I (a)(I)(A), (a)(2). There are reasonable arguments that the offered information would constitute a "thing of value" within the meaning of these provisions, but the Office determined that the government would not be likely to obtain and sustain a conviction for two other reasons: first, the Office did not obtain admissible evidence likely to meet the government' s burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these individuals acted "willfully," i.e., with general knowledge of the illegality of their conduct; and, second, the government would likely encounter difficulty in proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the value of the promised information exceeded the threshold for a criminal violation, see 52 U.S.C. § 30109(d)(I)(A)(i). i. Thing-of-Value Element A threshold legal question is whether providing to a campaign "documents and information" of the type involved here would constitute a prohibited campaign contribution. The foreign contribution ban is not limited to contributions of money. It expressly prohibits "a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value." 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a)(1)(A), (a)(2) (emphasis added). And the term "contribution" is defined throughout the campaign-finance laws to " includeD" "any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value." 52 U.S.C. § 30101(8)(A)(i) (emphasis added). The phrases "thing of value" and "anything of value" are broad and inclusive enough to encompass at least some forms of valuable information. Throughout the United States Code, these phrases serve as "term[ s] of art" that are construed "broad[ly]." United States v. Nilsen, 967 F.2d 539, 542 (II th Cir. 1992) (per curiam) ("thing of value" includes "both tangibles and intangibles"); see also, e.g. , 18 U.S.C. §§ 201(b)(1), 666(a)(2) (bribery statutes); id. § 641 (theft of government property). For example, the term "thing of value" encompasses law enforcement reports that would reveal the identity of informants, United States v. Girard, 60 I F.2d 69, 71 (2d Cir. 1979); classified materials, United States v. Fowler, 932 F.2d 306, 310 (4th Cir. 1991); confidential information about a competitive bid, United States v, Matzkin, 14 F.3d 1014, 1020 (4th Cir. 1994); secret grand jury information, United States v. Jeter, 775 F.2d 670, 680 (6th Cir. 1985); and information about a witness's whereabouts, United States v. Sheker, 618 F.2d 607, 609 (9th Cir. 1980) (per curiam). And in the public corruption context, "' thing of value' is defined broadly to include the value which the defendant subjectively attaches to the items received." United States v. Renzi, 769 F.3d 731, 744 (9th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted). Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations recognize the value to a campaign of at least some forms of information, stating that the term "anything of value" includes "the provision of any goods or services without charge," such as "membership lists" and "mailing lists." II C.F.R. § 100.52(d)(I). The FEC has concluded that the phrase includes a state-by-state list of activists. See Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington v. FEC, 475 F.3d 337, 338 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (describing the FEC's findings). Likewise, polling data provided to a campaign constitutes a "contribution." FEC Advisory Opinion 1990-12 (Strub), 1990 WL 153454 (citing 11 C.F.R. § 106.4(b)). And in the specific context of the foreign-contributions ban, the FEC has concluded that "election materials used in previous Canadian campaigns," including "flyers, advertisements, door hangers, tri-folds, signs, and other printed materia l," constitute "anything of 186 U.S. Department of Justice AffaiRe, ',V611( Pr8attet II ~4ft) Cehtsin ~4flteri81 Pl8teetea Unser Feel. R. Grit". P. 6(e) value," even though "the value of these materials may be nominal or difficult to ascertain." FEC Advisory Opinion 2007-22 (Hurysz), 2007 WL 5172375, at *5. These authorities would support the view that candidate-related opposition research given to a campaign for the purpose of influencing an election could constitute a contribution to which the foreign-source ban could apply . A campaign can be assisted not only by the provision offunds, but also by the provision of derogatory information about an opponent. Political campaigns frequently conduct and pay for opposition research. A foreign entity that engaged in such research and provided resulting information to a campaign could exert a greater effect on an election, and a greater tendency to ingratiate the donor to the candidate, than a gift of money or tangible things of value. At the same time, no judicial decision has treated the voluntary provision of uncompensated opposition research or similar information as a thing of value that could amount to a contribution under campaign-finance law. Such an interpretation could have implications beyond the foreign-source ban, see 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a) (imposing monetary limits on campaign contributions), and raise First Amendment questions. Those questions could be especially difficult where the information consisted simply of the recounting of historically accurate facts. It is uncertain how courts would resolve those issues. ii. Willfolness 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. Most significantly, the government has not obtained admissible evidence that is likely to establish the scienter requirement beyond a reasonable doubt. To prove that a defendant acted " knowingly and willfully," the government would have to show that the defendant had general knowledge that his conduct was unlawful. U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Prosecution ofElection Offenses 123 (8th ed. Dec. 2017) ("Election Offenses"); see Biurnan, 800 F. Supp. 2d at 292 (noting that a willful violation requires "proof of the defendant's knowledge of the law"); Danielczyk, 917 F. Supp. 2d at 577 ("knowledge of general unlawfulness"). "This standard creates an elevated scienter element requiring, at the very least, that application of the law to the facts in question be fairly clear. When there is substantial doubt concerning whether the law applies to the facts of a particular matter, the offender is more likely to have an intent defense. " Election Offenses 123. On the facts here, the government would unlikely be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the June 9 meeting participants had general knowledge that their conduct was unlawful. The investigation has not developed evidence that the participants in the meeting were familiar with the foreign-contribution ban or the application of federal law to the relevant factual context. The government does not have strong evidence of surreptitious behavior or efforts at concealment at the time of the June 9 meeting. While the government has evidence of later efforts to prevent disclosure of the nature of the June 9 meeting that could circumstantially provide support for a showing of scienter, see Volume II, Section !l.G, infra, that concealment occurred more than a year later, involved individuals who did not attend the June 9 meeting, and may reflect an intention to avoid political consequences rather than any prior knowledge of illegality. Additionally, in light of the unresolved legal questions about whether giving "documents and information" of the sort offered here constitutes a campaign contribution, Trump Jr. could mount a factual defense that he 187 U.S. Department of Justice Att:8fl,e) ),"erlt Preatlet 1/ ~4tl) C8MaiIt P,iHterial Pleteetea Unset Fee. R. Criltt. P. 6(e) did not believe his response to the offer and the June 9 meeting itself violated the law. Given his less direct involvement in arranging the June 9 meeting, Kushner could likely mount a similar defense . And, while Manafort is experienced with political campaigns, the Office has not developed evidence showing that he had relevant knowledge of these legal issues. iii. Difficulties in Valuing Promised Information The Office would also encounter difficulty proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the value of the promised documents and information exceeds the $2,000 threshold for a criminal violation, as well as the $25,000 threshold for felony punishment. See 52 U.S.c. § 30109(d)(1). The type of evidence commonly used to establish the value of non-monetary contributions-such as pricing the contribution on a commercial market or determining the upstream acquisition cost or the cost of distribution-would likely be unavailable or ineffective in this factual setting. Although damaging opposition research is surely valuable to a campaign, it appears that the information ultimately delivered in the meeting was not valuable. And while value in a conspiracy may well be measured by what the participants expected to receive at the time of the agreement, see, e.g., United States v. Tombrello, 666 F.2d 485, 489 (lIth Cir. 1982), Goldstone's description of the offered material here was quite general. His suggestion of the information ' s value-i.e., that it would "incriminate Hillary" and "would be very useful to [Trump Jr.'s] father"-was nonspecific and may have been understood as being of uncertain worth or reliability, given Goldstone's lack of direct access to the original source. The uncertainty over what would be delivered could be reflected in Trump Jr.'s response ("if it's what you say 1 love it") (emphasis added). Accordingly, taking into account the high burden to establish a culpable mental state in a campaign-finance prosecution and the difficulty in establishing the required valuation, the Office decided not to pursue criminal campaign-finance charges against Trump J1'. or other campaign officials for the events culminating in the June 9 meeting. c. Application to Harm to Ongoing Matter Harm to Ongoing Matter 188 U.S. Department of Justice AU61fle~ Viet" PI 86tlet /1 ~{B:Y C6fltaift ~4Mefial PreteeteEl Uflaet Fed. R. 61 in:. P. 6(e) i.~er Harm to Ongoing Matter 189 U.s. Department of Justice A*6ffle, 'V/erk Pre81:tet II Pvitt) Cantai!. p.1aferiai Preteetea BA8er Fea. R. Crilft. P. 6(e1 ii. Willfulness As discussed, to establish a criminal campaign-finance violation, the government must prove that the defendant acted "knowingly and willfully." 52 U.S .C. § 30109(d)(l)(A)(i). That standard requires proof that the defendant knew generally that his conduct was unlawful. Election Offenses 123. Given the uncertainties noted above, the "willfulness" requirement wou ld pose a substantial barrier to prosecution. iii. Constitutional Considerations iv. Analysis as to _ _ 190 U.S. Department of Justice AM:6fl'le, Werle Pf6Eh:let II ~'16) Centsin ~46teliftl Pfeteetea Vltaet Feel. R. eriAl. P. 6(e) 4. False Statements and Obstruction of the Investigation The Office determined that certain individuals associated with the Campaign lied to investigators about Campaign contacts with Russia and have taken other actions to interfere with the investigation. As explained below, the Office therefore charged some U.S. persons connected to the Campaign with false statements and obstruction offenses. a. Overview O/Governing Law False Statements. The principal federal statute criminalizing false statements to government investigators is 18 U.S.C. § 1001. As relevant here, under Section 1001 (a)(2), it is a crime to knowingly and willfully " make[] any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation" " in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive ... branch of the Government." An FBI investigation is a matter within the Executive Branch' sjurisdiction. United States v. Rodgers, 466 U.S. 475, 479 (1984). The statute also applies to a subset of legislative branch actions-viz., administrative matters and " investigation[s] or review[s]" conducted by a congressional committee or subcommittee. 18 U.S.C. § 1001(c)(l) and (2); see United States v. Pickett, 353 F.3d 62, 66 (D.C. Cir. 2004). Whether the statement was made to law enforcement or congressional investigators, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the same basic non-jurisdictional elements: the statement was false, fictitious , or fraudulent; the defendant knew both that it was fa lse and that it was unlawful to make a false statement; and the false statement was material. See, e.g., United States v. Smith, 831 F.3d 1207, 1222 n.27 (9th Cir. 2017) (listing elements); see also Ninth Circuit Pattern Instruction 8.73 & cmt. (explaining that the Section 1001 jury instruction was modified in light of the Department ofJustice's position that the phrase "knowingly and willfully" in the statute requires the defendant's knowledge that his or her conduct was unlawful). In the D.C. Circuit, the government must prove that the statement was actually false; a statement that is misleading but " literally true" does not satisfy Section 1001 (a)(2). See United States v. Milton, 8 FJd 39, 45 191 u.s. Department of Justice A-tt8flie~' \\'8Ilc PresHet II l\fa) C6fltaifl ~,1Merial Pleteetea Ul'taer Fea. R. Critn. P. 6(e) (D.C. Cir. 1993); United States v. Dale, 991 F.2d 819, 832-33 & n.22 (D.C. Cir. 1993). For that false statement to qualify as "material," it must have a natural tendency to influence, or be capable of influencing, a discrete decision or any other function of the agency to which it is addressed. See United States v. Gaudin, 515 U.S. 506, 509 (1995); United States v. Moore , 612 F.3d 698, 701 (D.C. Cir. 2010). Perjury. Under the federal perjury statutes, it is a crime for a witness testifying under oath before a grand jury to knowingly make any false material declaration. See 18 U.S .C. § 1623. The government must prove four elements beyond a reasonable doubt to obtain a conviction under Section 1623(a): the defendant testified under oath before a federal grand jury; the defendant's testimony was false in one or more respects; the false testimony concerned matters that were material to the grand jury investigation; and the false testimony was knowingly given. United States v. Bridges, 717 F.2d 1444, 1449 n.30 (D.C. Cir. 1983). The general perjury statute, 18 U.S .C. § 1621 , also applies to grand jury testimony and has similar elements, except that it requires that the witness have acted willfully and that the government satisfy "strict common-law requirements for establishing falsity." See Dunn v. United States, 442 U.S. 100, 106 & n.6 (1979) (explaining "the two-witness rule" and the corroboration that it demands). Obstruction of Justice. Three basic elements are common to the obstruction statutes pertinent to this Office's charging decisions: an obstructive act; some form of nexus between the obstructive act and an official proceeding; and criminal (i.e., corrupt) intent. A detailed discussion of those elements, and the law governing obstruction of justice more generally, is included in Volume II of the report. b. Application to Certain Individuals i. George Papadopoulos Investigators approached Papadopoulos for an interview based on his role as a foreign policy advisor to the Trump Campaign and his suggestion to a foreign government representative that Russia had indicated that it could assist the Campaign through the anonymous release of information damaging to candidate Clinton. On January 27, 2017, Papadopoulos agreed to be interviewed by FBI agents, who informed him that the interview was part of the investigation into potential Russian government interference in the 2016 presidential election. During the interview, Papadopoulos lied about the timing, extent, and nature of his communications with Joseph Mifsud, Olga Polonskaya, and Ivan Timofeev. With respect to timing, Papadopoulos acknowledged that he had met Mifsud and that Mifsud told him the Russians had "dirt" on Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails." But Papadopoulos stated multiple times that those communications occurred before he joined the Trump Campaign and that it was a "very strange coincidence" to be told of the "dirt" before he started working for the Campaign. This account was false. Papadopoulos met Mifsud for the first time on approximately March 14, 2016, after Papadopoulos had already learned he would be a foreign policy advisor for the Campaign. Mifsud showed interest in Papadopoulos only after learning of his role on the Campaign. And Mifsud told Papadopoulos about the Russians possessing "dirt" on candidate Clinton in late April 2016, more than a month after Papadopoulos had joined the Campaign and 192 ltfter1te) 'Nelle Pf88tlet II U.S. Department of Justice CentaiH ~4atefi8:1 Preteetea VlttleI Feel. R. Clitn. P. 6te) ~4a) n been publicly announced by candidate Trump. Statement of Offense 25-26, United States v. George Papadopoulos, No. 1:17-cr-IS2 (D.D.C. Oct. 5, 2017), Doc. 19 ("Papadopoulos Statement of Offense"). Papadopoulos also made false statements in an effort to mmuTIlze the extent and importance of his communications with Mifsud. For example, Papadopoulos stated that "[Mifsud]'s a nothing," that he thought Mifsud was "just a guy talk[ing] up connections or something," and that he believed Mifsud was "BS'ing to be completely honest with you." In fact, however, Papadopoulos understood Mifsud to have substantial connections to high-level Russian government officials and that Mifsud spoke with some of those officials in Moscow before telling Papadopoulos about the "dirt. " Papadopoulos also engaged in extensive communications over a period of months with Mifsud about foreign policy issues for the Campaign, including efforts to arrange a "history making" meeting between the Campaign and Russian government officials. In addition, Papadopoulos failed to inform investigators that Mifsud had introduced him to Timofeev, the Russian national who Papadopoulos understood to be connected to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite being asked if he had met with Russian nationals or "[a]nyone with a Russian accent" during the campaign. Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~~ 27-29. Papadopoulos also falsely claimed that he met Polonskaya before he joined the Campaign, and falsely told the FBI that he had "no" relationship at all with her. He stated that the extent of their communications was her sending emails-"Just, 'Hi, how are you?' That's it." In truth, however, Papadopoulos met Polonskaya on March 24, 2016, after he had joined the Campaign; he believed that she had connections to high-level Russian government officials and could help him arrange a potential foreign policy trip to Russia. During the campaign he emailed and spoke with her over Skype on numerous occasions about the potential foreign policy trip to Russia. Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ~~ 30-31. Papadopoulos ' s false statements in January 2017 impeded the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Most immediately, those statements hindered investigators' ability to effectively question Mifsud when he was interviewed in the lobby ofa Washington, D.C. hotel on February 10, 2017. See Gov't Sent. Mem. at 6, United States v. George Papadopoulos, No. I: 17-cr-IS2 (D.D.C. Aug. IS, 2017), Doc. 44. During that interview, Mifsud admitted to knowing Papadopoulos and to having introduced him to Polonskaya and Timofeev. But Mifsud denied that he had advance knowledge that Russia was in possession of emails damaging to candidate Clinton, stating that he and Papadopoulos had discussed cybersecurity and hacking as a larger issue and that Papadopoulos must have misunderstood their conversation. Mifsud also falsely stated that he had not seen Papadopoulos since the meeting at which Mifsud introduced him to Polonskaya, even though emails, text messages, and other information show that Mifsud met with Papadopoulos on at least two other occasions-April 12 and April 26, 2016. In addition, Mifsud omitted that he had drafted (or edited) the follow-up message that Polonskaya sent to Papadopoulos following the initial meeting and that, as reflected in the language of that email chain ("Baby, thank you!"), Mifsud may have been involved in a personal relationship with Polonskaya at the time. The false information and omissions in Papadopoulos's January 2017 interview undermined investigators' ability to challenge Mifsud when he made these inaccurate statements. 193 Attefl'le~ \"afit PresHet II U.S. Department of Justice Preteetea VAder Fee. R. Crifti. P. 6(e) ~{fl) C811taifl ~{Melial Given the seriousness of the lies and omissions and their effect on the FBI ' s investigation, the Office charged Papadopoulos with making false statements to the FBI, in violation of IS U.S.c. § 1001. Information, United States v. George Papadopoulos, No . 1:17-cr-IS2 (D.D.C. Oct. 3, 2017), Doc. S. On October 7, 2017, Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to that charge pursuant to a plea agreement. On September 7, 201S, he was sentenced to 14 days of imprisonment, a $9,500 fine, and 200 hours of community service. ii._ iii. Michael Flynn Michael Flynn agreed to be interviewed by the FBI on January 24, 2017, four days after he had officially assumed his duties as National Security Advisor to the President. During the interview, Flynn made several false statements pertaining to his communications with the Russian ambassador. First, Flynn made two false statements about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Kislyak in late December 2016, at a time when the United States had imposed sanctions on Russia for interfering with the 2016 presidential election and Russia was considering its response. See Flynn Statement of Offense. Flynn told the agents that he did not ask Kislyak to refrain from escalating the situation in response to the United States's imposition of sanctions. That statement was false. On December 29, 2016, Flynn called Kislyak to request Russian restraint. Flynn made the call immediately after speaking to a senior Transition Team official (K.T. McFarland) about what to communicate to Kislyak. Flynn then spoke with McFarland again after the Kislyak call to report on the substance of that conversation. Flynn also falsely told the FBI that he did not remember a foHow-up conversation in which Kislyak stated that Russia had chosen to moderate its response to the U.S. sanctions as a result of Flynn's request. On December 31,2016, Flynn in fact had such a conversation with Kislyak, and he again spoke with McFarland within hours of the call to relay the substance of his conversation with Kislyak. See Flynn Statement of Offense ~ 3. 194 U.S. Department of Justice IHt81 He) V/elk PI 88t1et // ~{tl) CeHtaifl ~,4atefi8:1 Preteetea UH8er Fe8. R . Cl im. P. 6Ee) Second, Flynn made false statements about calls he had previously made to representatives of Russia and other countries regarding a resolution submitted by Egypt to the United Nations Security Council on December 21, 2016. Specifically, Flynn stated that he only asked the countries' positions on how they would vote on the resolution and that he did not request that any of the countries take any particular action on the resolution. That statement was false. On December 22, 2016, Flynn called Kislyak, informed him of the incoming Trump Administration's opposition to the resolution, and requested that Russia vote against or delay the resolution. Flynn also falsely stated that Kislyak never described Russia's response to his December 22 request regarding the resolution. Kislyak in fact told Flynn in a conversation on December 23, 2016, that Russia would not vote against the resolution if it came to a vote. See Flynn Statement of Offense ~ 4. Flynn made these false statements to the FBI at a time when he was serving as National Security Advisor and when the FBI had an open investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, including the nature of any links between the Trump Campaign and Russia. Flynn's false statements and omissions impeded and otherwise had a material impact on that ongoing investigation. Flynn Statement of Offense ~~ 1-2. They also came shortly before Flynn made separate submissions to the Department of Justice, pursuant to FARA, that also contained materially false statements and omissions. Id. ~ 5. Based on the totality of that conduct, the Office decided to charge Flynn with making false statements to the FBI, in violation of 18 U.S.c. § 100 I (a). On December 1, 2017, and pursuant to a plea agreement, Flynn pleaded guilty to that charge and also admitted his false statements to the Department in his FARA filing. See id.; Plea Agreement, United States v. Michael T Flynn, No. 1:17-cr-232 (DD.C. Dec. 1,2017), Doc. 3. Flynn is awaiting sentencing. iv. Michael Cohen Michael Cohen was the executive vice president and special counsel to the Trump Organization when Trump was president of the Trump Organization. Information ~ I, United States v. Cohen , No.1 :18-cr-850 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 29, 2018), Doc. 2 ("Cohen Information"). From the fall of 2015 through approximately June 2016, Cohen was involved in a project to build a Trump-branded tower and adjoining development in Moscow. The project was known as Trump Tower Moscow. In 2017, Cohen was called to testify before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), both of which were investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible links between Russia and the presidential campaigns. In late August 2017, in advance of his testimony, Cohen caused a two-page statement to be sent to SSCI and HPSCI addressing Trump Tower Moscow. Cohen Information 2-3. The letter contained three representations relevant here. First, Cohen stated that the Trump Moscow project had ended in January 2016 and that he had briefed candidate Trump on the project only three times before making the unilateral decision to terminate it. Second, Cohen represented that he never agreed to travel to Russia in connection with the project and never considered asking Trump to travel for the project. Third, Cohen stated that he did not recall any Russian government contact about the project, including any response to an email that n 195 U.S. Department of Justice AHerne, JJl6rl( PfesHet II P.4ft) CeHtaiH P.iB:terial PteteeteEi Unciel Pea. R. Crint. P. ate) he had sent to a Russian government email account. Cohen Information ~ 4. Cohen later asked that his two-page statement be incorporated into his testimony ' s transcript before SSCI, and he ultimately gave testimony to SSCI that was consistent with that statement. Cohen Information ~ 5. Each of the foregoing representations in Cohen' s two-page statement was false and misleading. Consideration of the project had extended through approximately June 2016 and included more than three progress reports from Cohen to Trump. Cohen had discussed with Felix Sater his own travel to Russia as part of the project, and he had inquired about the possibility of Trump traveling there- both with the candidate himself and with senior campaign official Corey Lewandowski. Cohen did recall that he had received a response to the email that he sent to Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov-in particular, that he received an email reply and had a follow-up phone conversation with an English-speaking assistant to Peskov in mid-January 2016. Cohen Information ~ 7. Cohen knew the statements in the letter to be false at the time, and admitted that he made them in an effort (I) to minimize the links between the project and Trump (who by this time was President), and (2) to give the false impression that the project had ended before the first vote in the Republican Party primary process, in the hopes of limiting the ongoing Russia investigations. fd. Given the nature ofthe false statements and the fact that he repeated them during his initial interview with the Office, we charged Cohen with violating Section 100 I. On November 29, 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to a single-count information charging him with making false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2) and (c). Cohen Information. The case was transferred to the district judge presiding over the separate prosecution of Cohen pursued by the Southern District of New York (after a referral from our Office). On December 7, 2018, this Office submitted a letter to that judge recommending that Cohen's cooperation with our investigation be taken into account in sentencing Cohen on both the false-statements charge and the offenses in the Southern District prosecution. On December 12, 2018, the judge sentenced Cohen to two months of imprisonment on the false-statements count, to run concurrently with a 36-month sentence imposed on the other counts. v. . . 196 U.S. Department of Justice Merne, "Verlc PfeaHet 1/ ~ifl) CeHtaiH ~iatef ial Preteeted DRaer Feci. R. Crilfl. P. 6Ee) vi. JejJSessions As set forth in Volume I, Section IV.A.6, supra, the investigation established that, while a U.S . Senator and a Trump Campaign advisor, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions interacted with Russian Ambassador Kislyak during the week of the Republican National Convention in July 2016 and again at a meeting in Sessions's Senate office in September 2016. The investigation also established that Sessions and Kislyak both attended a reception held before candidate Trump 's 197 U.S. Department of Justice AMelHey \Velk PresHet II ~{ft) Cemtain ~.1&tefial PreteeteEi UflaeF Pea . R. Crittl. P. 6(e) foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., in April 2016, and that it is possible that they met briefly at that reception. The Office considered whether, in light of these interactions, Sessions committed perjury before, or made false statements to, Congress in connection with his confirmation as Attorney General. In January 2017 testimony during his confirmation hearing, Sessions stated in response to a question about Trump Campaign communications with the Russian government that he had "been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn 't have - did not have communications with the Russians ." In written responses submitted on January 17, 2017, Sessions answered "[n]o" to a question asking whether he had "been in contact with anyone connected to any part of the Russian government about the 2016 election, either before or after election day." And, in a March 2017 supplement to his testimony, Sessions identified two of the campaign-period contacts with Ambassador Kislyak noted above, which had been reported in the media following the January 2017 confirmation hearing. Sessions stated in the supplemental response that he did "not recall any discussions with the Russian Ambassador, or any other representatives of the Russian government, regarding the political campaign on these occasions or any other occasion." Although the investigation established that Sessions interacted with Kislyak on the occasions described above and that Kislyak mentioned the presidential campaign on at least one occasion, the evidence is not sufficient to prove that Sessions gave knowingly false answers to Russia-related questions in light of the wording and context of those questions. With respect to Sessions ' s statements that he did "not recall any discussions with the Russian Ambassador ... regarding the political campaign" and he had not been in contact with any Russian official "about the 2016 election," the evidence concerning the nature of Sessions's interactions with Kislyak makes it plausible that Sessions did not recall discussing the campaign with Kislyak at the time of his statements. Similarly, while Sessions stated in his January 2017 oral testimony that he "did not have communications with Russians," he did so in response to a question that had linked such communications to an alleged "continuing exchange of information" between the Trump Campaign and Russian government intermediaries. Sessions later explained to the Senate and to the Office that he understood the question as narrowly calling for disclosure of interactions with Russians that involved the exchange of campaign information, as distinguished from more routine contacts with Russian nationals. Given the context in which the question was asked, that understanding is plausible. Accordingly, the Office concluded that the evidence was insufficient to prove that Sessions was willfully untruthful in his answers and thus insufficient to obtain or sustain a conviction for perjury or false statements. Consistent with the Principles of Federal Prosecution, the Office therefore determined not to pursue charges against Sessions and informed his counsel of that decision in March 2018. vii. Others Interviewed During the Investigation The Office considered whether, during the course of the investigation, other individuals interviewed either omitted material information or provided information determined to be false . Applying the Principles of Federal Prosecution, the Office did not seek criminal charges against any individuals other than those listed above. In some instances, that decision was due to 198 U.S. Department of Justice l\ittterial Preteetea UH8er Feel. R. Cl ita. P . Gte) Aftsfne) Vt'erl( PrS8t1et /1 ~fa) CSHtaiH evidentiary hurdles to proving falsity . In others, the Office determined that the witness ultimately provided truthful information and that considerations of culpability, deterrence, . See Justice Manual 9-27 9-27.230. - 199 U.S. Department of Justice AM:StHe) \V81k Pr8al:let 1/ £\18:)' CSl'ltail't P,1atelial Preteeteti Untlet Fea. R. Criffl. P. 6te) Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election Volume II of II Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III Submitted Pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 600.8(c) Washington, D.C. March 2019 U.S . Department of Justice AM8IHe) 'Nelk PI 88t:let II p.1:ft) CantHi" P.4aterial P18teetea UHaer FeB. R. Clim. P. 6(e) TABLE OF CONTENTS - VOLUME II INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME II ... ... ... ... .. ........... .......................... .... .......... . ... ....... ... .. .. ................. ..... I EXECUTTVE SUMMARY TO VOLUME II ................................... .. ......... ... .... ............... .. ... ... .. ....... ........ 3 I. BACKGROUND LEGAL AND EVTDENTIARY PRTNCTPLES ........ .......................... ....... ....................... 9 A. Legal Framework of Obstruction of Justice .............................................................. ..... 9 B. Investigative and Evidentiary Considerations ... ..................................................... ...... 12 [I. FACTUAL RESULTS OF THE OBSTRUCTION [NVESTIGATTON ...... ... ........ ..... ........ ............ .. .... ...... 15 A. The Campaign ' s Response to Reports About Russian Support for Trump .......... ....... 15 [. Press Reports Allege Links Between the Trump Campaign and Russia .............. 16 2. The Trump Campaign Reacts to WikiLeaks's Release of Hacked Emails ........... 17 3. The Trump Campaign Reacts to Allegations That Russia was Seeking to Aid Candidate Trump .. ......................................................................................... 18 4. After the Election, Trump Continues to Deny Any Contacts or Connections with Russia or That Russia Aided his Election ................................ 21 B. The President's Conduct Concerning the Investigation of Michael Flynn .................. 24 1. Incoming National Security Advisor Flynn Discusses Sanctions on Russia with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak ........ .......... ... .. .................................... 24 2. President-Elect Trump is Briefed on the Intelligence Community's Assessment of Russian Interference in the Election and Congress Opens Election-Interference Investigations ....................................................... .............. 27 3. Flynn Makes False Statements About his Communications with Kislyak to Incoming Administration Officials, the Media, and the FBI ..... ............ ...... ..... .... 29 4. DOJ Officials NotifY the White House of Their Concerns About Flynn ........... .. 31 5. McGahn has a Follow-Up Meeting About Flynn with Vates; President Trump has Dinner with FBI Director Comey ....................................................... 32 6. Flynn's Resignation ............... .... ............. ....... ................................................. ...... 36 7. The President Discusses Flynn with FBI Director Corney ................................... 38 8. The Media Raises Questions About the President's Delay in Terminating Flynn ..... .......... ............. ............... ....... ..... ........................ ......... .......... ................... 41 9. The President Attempts to Have K.T. McFarland Create a Witness Statement Denying that he Directed Flynn's Discussions with Kislyak .............. 42 C. The President's Reaction to Public Confirmation of the FBI ' s Russia Investigation ..................................... ........ ... ................... .. ......... ............. ... ................... 48 I. Attorney General Sessions Recuses From the Russia Investigation ..................... 48 /\rtteffle) \Velk Plsettet II U.S. Department of Justice Cel,taifl P.1ateriai Pleteetea Vltael Fee. R . Grim. P. 6(e} ~fa) 2. FBI Director Corney Publicly Confirms the Existence of the Russia Investigation in Testimony Before HPSCI ......... ........ ................ ......... ............ ..... 52 3. The President Asks Intelligence Community Leaders to Make Public Statements that he had No Connection to Russia ................ ............................. .... 55 4. The President Asks Corney to "Li ft the Cloud" Created by the Russia Investigation ....................................................... .................. ................................. 57 D. Events Leading Up To and Surrounding the Termination of FBI Director Corney ...... ........... ....... ..................................... ................. .......... ...... ............................ 62 I. Corney Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Committee and Declines to Answer Questions About Whether the President is Under Investigation ............. 62 2. The President Makes the Decision to Terminate Corney ..................... ............ .. ... 64 E. The President's Efforts to Remove the Special Counsel. ............................................ 77 I. The Appointment of the Special Counsel and the President's Reaction ............. . 78 2. The President Asserts that the Special Counsel has Conflicts of Interest. ............ 80 3. The Press Reports that the President is Being Investigated for Obstruction of Justice and the President Directs the White House Counsel to Have the Special Counsel Removed ........ ......... ................... ......... ............... ............. .......... . 84 F. The President's Efforts to Curtail the Special Counsel Investigation ...... ........ ............ 90 1. The President Asks Corey Lewandowski to Deliver a Message to Sessions to Curtail the Special Counsel Investigation .................................. .... ..... ........ ..... . 90 2. The President Follows Up with Lewandowski ..................................................... 92 3. The President Publicly Criticizes Sessions in a New York Times Interview ....... 93 4. The President Orders Priebus to Demand Sessions's Resignation ....................... 94 G. The President's Efforts to Prevent Disclosure of Em ails About the June 9, 2016 Meeting Between Russians and Senior Campaign Officials ............................... 98 I. The President Learns About the Ex istence of Em ails Concerning the June 9, 2016 Trump Tower Meeting ...................... ...... ...... ......... ........ .......................... 98 2. The President Directs Communications Staff Not to Publicly Disclose Information About the June 9 Meeting ..................... ... ....................................... 100 3. The President Directs Trump Jr. 's Response to Press Inquiries About the June 9 Meeting ............................................................ ....................................... . 101 4. The Media Reports on the June 9, 20 I 6 Meeting .... ........................................... 103 H. The President's Further Efforts to Have the Attorney General Take Over the Investigation ... ....... ............. ..... ........... ................... ........ ................ ............ .. ... ...... 107 I. The President Again Seeks to Have Sessions Reverse his Recusal. .. ................. 107 2. Additional Efforts to Have Sessions Unrecuse or Direct Investigations Covered by his Recusal... ..................................... ........ ....................................... 109 II U.S. Department of Justice AKerfte} \"efIE PI 6attet II ~4B:)! C6fttaiH ~4tttefiB:I PFsteetea Uncle) Feel. R. Clim. P. 6fe) I. The President Orders McGahn to Deny that the President Tried to Fire the Special Counsel ......... ............................ ................ ................ ......................... ............ 11 3 I. The Press Reports that the President Tried to Fire the Special Counsel. ............ 113 2. The President Seeks to Have McGahn Dispute the Press Reports ..................... 114 J. The President's Conduct Towards Flynn, Manafort, ~ ................................ 120 I. Conduct Directed at Michael Flynn .......... .............. .... ...................... ............ ...... 120 2. Conduct Directed at Paul Manafort ................................................... :................ 122 3. Harm to Ongoing Matter .......................... .......... ......................... .......... 128 K. The President's Conduct Involving Michael Cohen ........................... .................... .. . 134 I. Candidate Trump 's Awareness of and Involvement in the Trump Tower Moscow Project .............................. ........ ................................ ......... ...... ............. 134 2. Cohen Determines to Adhere to a "Party Line" Distancing Candidate Trump From Russ ia .............................. ...... ................... ...... .... ................ ........... 138 3. Cohen Submits False Statements to Congress Minimizing the Trump Tower Moscow Project in Accordance with the Party Line .... .................... ....... 139 4. The President Sends Messages of Support to Cohen .......................................... 144 5. The President's Conduct After Cohen Began Cooperating with the Government... ................................................................. ... ....................... ........... 148 L. Overarching Factual Issues ............. ........................................................................... 156 III . LEGAL DEFENSES To THE ApPLICATION OF OBSTRUCTION-Of-JUSTICE STATUTES To THE PRESIDENT ........................ ...... .............................................................................................. 159 A. Statutory Defenses to the Application of Obstruction-Of-Justice Provisions to the Conduct Under Investigation ...................................... ......... ....... ... .................. 160 l. The Text of Section 1512(c)(2) Prohibits a Broad Range of Obstructive Acts ................... ............................................................................................... 160 2. Judicial Decisions Support a Broad Reading of Section 1512(c)(2) .................. 162 3. The Legislative History of Section 1512(c)(2) Does Not JustifY Narrowing Its Text. . .. ................................. ...... ............. ......................... .............................. I 64 4. General Principles of Statutory Construction Do Not Suggest That Section 1512(c)(2) is Inapplicable to the Conduct in this Investigation .......................... 165 5. Other Obstruction Statutes Might Apply to the Conduct in this Investigation ................................... ....... .............................................................. 167 B. Constitutional Defenses to Applying Obstruction-Of-Justice Statutes to Presidential Conduct ................... ................................................................... ............ 168 I. The Requirement of a Clear Statement to Apply Statutes to Presidential Conduct Does Not Limit the Obstruction Statutes ............................................. 169 iii U.S. Department of Justice Altai He., \Y61 k Pf86t!et II ~4a) C6fttaifl ~48:terial Pf6teetea UAaer FeB. R. 61 inl. P. 6(e~ 2. Separation-of-Powers Principles Support the Conclusion that Congress May Validly Prohibit Corrupt Obstructive Acts Carried Out Through the President's Official Powers ............................................................................... .. 171 a. The Supreme Court's Separation-of-Powers Balancing Test Applies In This Context ................................................................................................... 172 b. The Effect of Obstruction-of-lust ice Statutes on the President's Capacity to Perform His Article II Responsibilities is Limited ..................... 173 c. Congress Has Power to Protect Congressional, Grand Jury, and Judicial Proceedings Against Corrupt Acts from Any Source .................. .................. 176 3. Ascertaining Whether the President Violated the Obstruction Statutes Would Not Chill his Performance of his Article" Duties ................................. 178 IV. CONCLUSION .................................................. ....................................................................... 182 iv U.S. Department of Justice Att61 Hey " 'efk Preaklet II ~4tt) CefttaiR ~4flterial Preteetee URBer Fed. R. C, iff •. P. 6~e) INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME II This report is submitted to the Attorney General pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 600.8(c), which states that, " [a]t the conclusion of the Special Counsel's work, he ... shall provide the Attorney General a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions [the Special Counsel] reached." Beginning in 2017, the President of the United States took a variety of actions towards the ongoing FBI investigation into Russia' s interference in the 2016 presidential election and related matters that raised questions about whether he had obstructed justice. The Order appointing the Special Counsel gave this Office jurisdiction to investigate matters that arose directly from the FBI's Russia investigation , including whether the President had obstructed justice in connection with Russia-related investigations. The Special Counsel's jurisdiction also covered potentially obstructive acts related to the Special Counsel ' s investigation itself. This Volume of our report summarizes our obstruction-of-justice investigation of the President. We first describe the considerations that guided our obstruction-of-justice investigation, and then provide an overview of this Volume: First, a traditional prosecution or declination decision entails a binary determination to initiate or decline a prosecution, but we determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment. The Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) has issued an opinion finding that "the indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would impermissibly undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions" in violation of " the constitutional separation of powers.'" Given the role of the Special Counsel as an attorney in the Department of Justice and the framework ofthe Special Counsel regulations, see 28 U.S .c. § 515; 28 C.F.R. § 600.7(a), this Office accepted OLe's legal conclusion for the purpose of exercising prosecutorialjurisdiction. And apart from OLe's constitutional view, we recognized that a federal criminal accusation against a sitting President would place burdens on the President's capacity to govern and potentially preempt constitutional processes for addressing presidential misconduct. 2 Second, while the OLC opinion concludes that a sitting President may not be prosecuted, it recognizes that a criminal investigation during the President's term is permissible] The OLC opinion also recognizes that a President does not have immunity after he leaves office. 4 And if individuals other than the President comm itted an obstruction offense, they may be prosecuted at this time. Given those considerations, the facts known to us, and the strong public interest in I A Sitting President 's Amenability to Indictment and Criminal Prosecution , 24 Op. O.L.c. 222, 222, 260 (2000) (OLC Op.). See U.S. CONST. Art. I § 2, cl. 5; § 3, cl. 6; cf OLC Op. at 257-258 (discussing relationship between impeachment and criminal prosecution of a sitting President). 2 3 OLC Op. at 257 n.36 ("A grand jUly could continue to gather evidence throughout the period of immunity"). 4 OLC Op. at 255 ("Recognizing an immunity from prosecution for a sitting President would not preclude such prosecution once the President's term is over or he is otherwise removed from office by resignation or impeachment"). u.s. Department of Justice /t[t:t6Ine) \Veri< PI 88t!et II ~48) C8f1taiH ~48:tefial PI8teetea U"'6er Fea. R. Grim. P. 6(ej safeguarding the integrity of the criminal justice system, we conducted a thorough factual investigation in order to preserve the evidence when memories were fresh and documentary materials were available. Third, we considered whether to evaluate the conduct we investigated under the Justice Manual standards governing prosecution and declination decisions, but we determined not to apply an approach that could potentially result in ajudgment that the President committed crimes. The threshold step under the Justice Manual standards is to assess whether a person's conduct "constitutes a federal offense." U.S. Dep 't of Justice, Justice Manual § 9-27.220 (2018) (Justice Manual). Fairness concerns counseled against potentially reaching that judgment when no charges can be brought. The ordinary means for an individual to respond to an accusation is through a speedy and public trial, with all the procedural protections that surround a criminal case. An individual who believes he was wrongly accused can use that process to seek to clear his name. In contrast, a prosecutor'sjudgment that crimes were committed, but that no charges will be brought, affords no such adversarial opportunity for public name-clearing before an impartial adjudicator. 5 The concerns about the fairness of such a determination would be heightened in the case ofa sitting President, where a federal prosecutor's accusation ofa crime, even in an internal report, could carry consequences that extend beyond the realm of criminal justice. OLC noted similar concerns about sealed indictments. Even ifan indictment were sealed during the President's term, OLC reasoned, "it would be very difficult to preserve [an indictment's] secrecy," and if an indictment became public, "[t]he stigma and opprobrium" could imperil the President's ability to govern."6 Although a prosecutor's internal report would not represent a formal public accusation akin to an indictment, the possibility of the report's public disclosure and the absence ofa neutral adjudicatory forum to review its findings counseled against potentially determining "that the person's conduct constitutes a federal offense." Justice Manual § 9-27.220. Fourth, 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. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, however, we are unable to reach that judgment. The evidence we obtained about the President' s actions and intent presents difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him . • • • This report on our investigation consists of four parts . Section I provides an overview of obstruction-of-justice principles and summarizes certain investigatory and evidentiary considerations. Section II sets forth the factual results of our obstruction investigation and analyzes the evidence. Section III addresses statutory and constitutional defenses. Section IV states our conclusion. S For that reason, criticisms have been lodged against the practice of naming unindicted coconspirators in an indictment. See United Slales v. Briggs, 514 F.2d 794, 802 (5th Cir. 1975) ("The courts have struck down with strong language efforts by grand juries to accuse persons of crime while affording them no forum in which to vindicate themselves."); see also Justice Manual § 9-11.130. 6 OLC Op. at 259 & n.38 (citation omitted). 2 U.S . Department of Justice AtfsfAe, VlBfl( Pr66tlet /1 P-1tt} CentaiFl p.1ateliai Pleteetea OAser Fee. R. Critfl. P. 6Ee) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TO VOLUME II Our obstruction-of-justice inquiry focused on a series of actions by the President that related to the Russian-interference investigations, incl uding the President' s conduct towards the law enforcement officials overseeing the investigations and the witnesses to relevant events. FACTUAL RESULTS OF THE OBSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION The key issues and events we examined include the following: The Campaign's response to reports about Russian support/or Trump. During the 2016 presidential campaign, questions arose about the Russian government's apparent support for candidate Trump. After WikiLeaks released politically damaging Democratic Party emails that were reported to have been hacked by Russia, Trump publicly expressed skepticism that Russia was responsible for the hacks at the same time that he and other Campaign officials privately sought information about any further planned WikiLeaks releases. Trump also denied hav ing any business in or connections to Russia, even though as late as June 2016 the Trump Organization had been pursuing a licensing deal for a skyscraper to be built in Russia called Trump Tower Moscow. After the election, the President expressed concerns to advisors that reports of Russia's election interference might lead the public to question the leg itimacy of his election. Conduct involving FBI Director Comey and Michael Flynn. In mid-January 2017, incom ing National Security Advisor Michael Flynn falsely denied to the Vice President, other admini stration officials, and FBI agents that he had talked to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about Russia' s response to U.S. sanctions on Russia for its election interference. On January 27, the day after the President was told that Flynn had lied to the Vice President and had made similar statements to the FBI, the President invited FBI Director Corney to a private dinner at the White House and told Corney that he needed loyalty. On February 14, the day after the President requested Flynn's resignation, the President told an outside advisor, "Now that we fired Flynn, the Russia thing is over." The advisor disagreed and said the investigations would continue. Later that afternoon, the President cleared the Oval Office to have a one-on-one meeting with Corney. Referring to the FB I' s investigation of Flynn, the President said, " I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go." Shortly after requesting Flynn's resignation and speaking privately to Corney, the President sought to have Deputy National Security Advisor K.T. McFarland draft an internal letter stating that the President had not directed Flynn to discuss sanctions with Kislyak. 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. The President's reaction to the continuing Russia investigation. In February 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions began to assess whether he had to recuse himselffrom campaignrelated investigations because of his role in the Trump Campaign. In early March, the President told White House Counsel Donald McGahn to stop Sessions from recusing. And after Sessions announced his recusal on March 2, the President expressed anger at the decision and told advisors that he should have an Attorney General who would protect him. That weekend, the President took Sessions aside at an event and urged him to "unrecuse." Later in March, Corney publicly 3 U.S. Department of Justice At:18fRey \V6fk PI 86tlet II l\fs) CenteiH i\4aterial P18teetea UHaer Fee. R. Grim . P. 6(e1 disclosed at a congressional hearing that the FBI was investigating "the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election," including any links or coordination between the Russian government and the Trump Campaign. In the following days, the President reached out to the Director of National Intelligence and the leaders of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) to ask them what they could do to publicly dispel the suggestion that the President had any connection to the Russian election-interference effort. The President also twice called Corney directly, notwithstanding guidance from McGahn to avoid direct contacts with the Department of Justice. Corney had previously assured the President that the FBI was not investigating him personally, and the President asked Corney to "lift the cloud" of the Russia investigation by saying that publicly . The President's termination of Comey. On May 3, 2017, Corney testified in a congressional hearing, but declined to answer questions about whether the President was personally under investigation. Within days, the President decided to terminate Corney. The President insisted that the termination letter, which was written for public release, state that Corney had informed the President that he was not under investigation. The day of the firing, the White House maintained that Corney' s termination resulted from independent recommendations from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General that Corney should be discharged for mishandling the Hillary Clinton email investigation. But the President had decided to fire Corney before hearing from the Department of Justice. The day after firing Corney, the President told Russian officials that he had "faced great pressure because of Russia," which had been "taken off' by Corney's firing. The next day, the President acknowledged in a television interview that he was going to fire Corney regardless of the Department of Justice's recommendation and that when he "decided to just do it," he was thinking that "this thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story." In response to a question about whether he was angry with Corney about the Russia investigation, the President said, "As far as I'm concerned, I want that thing to be absolutely done properly," adding that firing Corney "might even lengthen out the investigation." The appointment of a Special COllnsel and efforts to remove him. On May 17, 2017, the Acting Attorney General for the Russia investigation appointed a Special Counsel to conduct the investigation and related matters. The President reacted to news that a Special Counsel had been appointed by telling advisors that it was "the end of his presidency" and demanding that Sessions resign. Sessions submitted his resignation, but the President ultimately did not accept it. The President told aides that the Special Counsel had contlicts of interest and suggested that the Special Counsel therefore could not serve. The President's advisors told him the asserted conflicts were meritless and had already been considered by the Department of Justice. On June 14,2017, the media reported that the Special Counsel's Office was investigating whether the President had obstructed justice. Press reports called this "a major turning point" in the investigation: while Corney had told the President he was not under investigation, following Corney's firing, the President now was under investigation. The President reacted to this news with a series of tweets criticizing the Department of Justice and the Special Counsel ' s investigation. On June 17, 2017, the President called McGahn at home and directed him to call the Acting Attorney General and say that the Special Counsel had conflicts of interest and must be removed. McGahn did not carry out the direction, however, deciding that he would resign rather than trigger what he regarded as a potential Saturday Night Massacre. 4 u.s. Department of Justice AKel'Rey '.V6fl[ PfflEitiet II P,4a) C6Htaifl ~4atel isl Pf8teetee URftel Feel. R. Grift •. P. 6(e) Efforts to curtail the Special Counsel's investigation. Two days after directing McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed, the President made another attempt to affect the course of the Russia investigation. On June 19, 2017, the President met one-on-one in the Oval Office with his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, a trusted advisor outside the government, and dictated a message for Lewandowski to deliver to Sessions. The message said that Sessions should publicly announce that, notwithstanding his recusal from the Russia investigation, the investigation was "very unfair" to the President, the President had done nothing wrong, and Sessions planned to meet with the Special Counsel and "let [him] move forward with investigating election meddling for future elections." Lewandowski said he understood what the President wanted Sessions to do. One month later, in another private meeting with Lewandowski on July 19, 2017, the President asked about the status of his message for Sessions to limit the Special Counsel investigation to future election interference. Lewandowski told the President that the message would be delivered soon. Hours after that meeting, the President publicly criticized Sessions in an interview with the New York Times, and then issued a series of tweets making it clear that Sessions ' s job was in jeopardy. Lewandowski did not want to deliver the President's message personally, so he asked senior White House official Rick Dearborn to deliver it to Sessions. Dearborn was uncomfortable with the task and did not follow through. Effom" to prevent public disclosure of evidence. In the summer of 2017, the President learned that media outlets were asking questions about the June 9, 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between senior campaign officials, including Donald Trump Jr., and a Russian lawyer who was said to be offering damaging information about Hillary Clinton as "part of Russia and its government' s support for Mr. Trump." On several occasions, the President directed aides not to publicly disclose the emails setting up the June 9 meeting, suggesting that the emails would not leak and that the number of lawyers with access to them should be limited. Before the emails became public, the President edited a press statement for Trump Jr. by deleting a line that acknowledged that the meeting was with "an individual who [Trump Jr.] was told might have information helpful to the campaign" and instead said only that the meeting was about adoptions of Russian children. When the press asked questions about the President's involvement in Trump Jr.'s statement, the President's personal lawyer repeatedly denied the President had played any role. Further efforts to have the Attorney General take control of the investigation. In early summer 2017, the President called Sessions at home and again asked him to reverse his recusal from the Russia investigation. Sessions did not reverse his recusal. In October 20 17, the President met privately with Sessions in the Oval Office and asked him to "take [a] look" at investigating Clinton. In December 2017, shortly after Flynn pleaded guilty pursuant to a cooperation agreement, the President met with Sessions in the Oval Office and suggested, according to notes taken by a senior advisor, that if Sessions unrecused and took back supervision of the Russia investigation, he would be a " hero." The President told Sessions, " I'm not going to do anything or direct you to do anything. I just want to be treated fairly." In response, Sessions volunteered that he had never seen anything " improper" on the campaign and told the President there was a "whole new leadership team" in place. He did not unrecuse. Efforts to have McGahn deny that the President had ordered him to have the Special Counsel removed. In early 2018, the press reported that the President had directed McGahn to 5 U.S. Department of Justice AftsFHey ')/811£ Pr68t:let II p.4a) C81.taiH P.4ateriai Pleteetea Ufleef Fee. R. Grim. P. 6(e) have the Special Counsel removed in June 2017 and that McGahn had threatened to resign rather than carry out the order. The President reacted to the news stories by directing White House officials to tell McGahn to dispute the story and create a record stating he had not been ordered to have the Special Counsel removed. McGahn told those officials that the media reports were accurate in stating that the President had directed McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed. The President then met with McGahn in the Oval Office and again pressured him to deny the reports. Tn the same meeting, the President also asked McGahn why he had told the Special Counsel about the President's effort to remove the Special Counsel and why McGahn took notes of his conversations with the President. McGahn refused to back away from what he remembered happening and perceived the President to be testing his mettle. Conduct towards Flynn, Mana/ort, - .. After Flynn withdrew from a joint defense agreement with the President and began cooperating with the government, the President's personal counsel left a message for Flynn ' s attorneys reminding them of the President's warm feelings towards Flynn, which he said "still remains," and asking for a " heads up" if Flynn knew " information that implicates the President. " When Flynn's counsel reiterated that Flynn could no longer share information pursuant to a joint defense agreement, the President's personal counsel said he would make sure that the President knew that Flynn's actions reflected " hostility" towards the President. During Manafort's prosecution and when the jury in his criminal. trial was deliberating, the President praised Manafort in public, said that Manafort was being treated unfairly, and declined to rule out a pardon. After Manafort was convicted, the President called Manafort that to be Conduct involving Michael Cohen. The President's conduct towards Michael Cohen, a former Trump Organization executive, changed from praise for Cohen when he falsely minimized the President's involvement in the Trump Tower Moscow project, to castigation of Cohen when he became a cooperating witness. From September 2015 to June 2016, Cohen had pursued the Trump Tower Moscow project on behalf of the Trump Organization and had briefed candidate Trump on the project numerous times, including discussing whether Trump should travel to Russia to advance the deal. Tn 2017, Cohen provided false testimony to Congress about the project, including stating that he had only briefed Trump on the project three times and never discussed travel to Russia with him, in an effort to adhere to a "party line" that Cohen said was developed to minimize the President's connections to Russia. While preparing for his congressional testimony, Cohen had extensive discussions with the President's personal counsel, who, according to Cohen, said that Cohen should "stay on message" and not contradict the President. A fter the FBT searched Cohen's home and office in April 2018, the President publicly asserted that Cohen would not "fl ip," contacted him directly to tell him to "stay strong," and privately passed messages of support to him . Cohen also discussed pardons with the President's personal counsel and believed that if he stayed on message he would be taken care of. But after Cohen began cooperating with the government in the summer of 20 18, the President publicly criticized him, called him a " rat," and suggested that his family members had committed crimes. 6 U.S. Department of Justice Aaefl'1e, \Vef!{ PY6BI:let /1 ~4fly C61'1taifl ~4ftterial Pfeteetea Uf1aef Fea. R. Cl'iffl. P. 6€e) Overarching factual issues. We did not make a traditional prosecution decision about these facts, but the evidence we obtained supports several general statements about the President's conduct. Several features of the conduct we investigated distinguish it from typical obstruction-ofjustice cases. First, the investigation concerned the President, and some of his actions, such as firing the FB[ director, involved facially lawful acts within his Article [[ authority, which raises constitutional issues discussed below. At the same time, the President's position as the head of the Executive Branch provided him with unique and powerful means of influencing official proceedings, subordinate officers, and potential witnesses-all of which is relevant to a potential obstruction-of-justice analysis. Second, unlike cases in which a subject engages in obstruction of justice to cover up a crime, the evidence we obtained did not establish that the President was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference. Although the obstruction statutes do not require proof of such a crime, the absence of that evidence affects the analysis of the President's intent and requires consideration of other possible motives for his conduct. Third, many of the President's acts directed at witnesses, including discouragement of cooperation with the government and suggestions of possible future pardons, took place in public view. That circumstance is unusual, but no principle of law excludes public acts from the reach of the obstruction laws. [fthe likely effect of public acts is to influence witnesses or alter their testimony, the harm to the justice system's integrity is the same. Although the series of events we investigated involved discrete acts, the overall pattern of the President's conduct towards the investigations can shed light on the nature of the President's acts and the inferences that can be drawn about his intent. In particular, the actions we investigated can be divided into two phases, reflecting a possible shift in the President's motives. The first phase covered the period from the President's first interactions with Corney through the President's firing of Corney. During that time, the President had been repeatedly told he was not personally under investigation. Soon after the firing of Corney and the appointment of the Special Counsel , however, the President became aware that his own conduct was being investigated in an obstruction-of-justice inquiry. At that point, the President engaged in a second phase of conduct, involving public attacks on the investigation, non-public efforts to control it, and efforts in both public and private to encourage witnesses not to cooperate with the investigation. Judgments about the nature of the President's motives during each phase would be informed by the totality of the evidence. STATUTORY AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEFENSES The President's counsel raised statutory and constitutional defenses to a possible obstruction-of-justice analysis of the conduct we investigated. We concluded that none of those legal defenses provided a basis for declining to investigate the facts. Statutory defenses. Consistent with precedent and the Department of Justice's general approach to interpreting obstruction statutes, we concluded that several statutes could apply here. See 18 U.S.c. §§ IS03, IS0S , ISI2(b)(3), ISI2(c)(2). Section ISI2(c)(2) is an omnibus obstruction-of-justice provision that covers a range of obstructive acts directed at pending or contemplated official proceedings. No principle of statutory construction justifies narrowing the provision to cover only conduct that impairs the integrity or availability of evidence. Sections IS03 and IS0S also offer broad protection against obstructive acts directed at pending grand jury, 7 u.s. Department of Justice Aft6l"fte, ,)/efk Preal1et 1/ P,4s) CeRtaift ~1ttterial Pf6teetea UAtler Fee. R. Grim. P. 6(e) judicial, administrative, and congressional proceedings, and they are supplemented by a provision in Section IS 12(b) aimed specifically at conduct intended to prevent or hinder the communication to law enforcement of information related to a federal crime . Constitutional defenses. As for constitutional defenses arising from the President's status as the head of the Executive Branch, we recognized that the Department of Justice and the courts have not definitively resolved these issues. We therefore examined those issues through the framework established by Supreme Court precedent governing separation-of-powers issues. The Department of Justice and the President's personal counsel have recognized that the President is subject to statutes that prohibit obstruction of justice by bribing a witness or suborning perjury because that conduct does not implicate his constitutional authority. With respect to whether the President can be found to have obstructed justice by exercising his powers under Article II of the Constitution, we concluded that Congress has authority to prohibit a President's corrupt use of his authority in order to protect the integrity of the administration of justice. Under applicable Supreme Court precedent, the Constitution does not categorically and permanently immunize a President for obstructing justice through the use of his Article II powers. The separation-of-powers doctrine authorizes Congress to protect official proceedings, including those of courts and grand juries, from corrupt, obstructive acts regardless of their source . We also concluded that any inroad on presidential authority that would occur from prohibiting corrupt acts does not undermine the President's ability to fulfill his constitutional mission. The term "corruptly" sets a demanding standard. It requires a concrete showing that a person acted with an intent to obtain an improper advantage for himself or someone else, inconsistent with official duty and the rights of others. A preclusion of "corrupt" official action does not diminish the President's ability to exercise Article Il powers. For example, the proper supervision of criminal law does not demand freedom for the President to act with a corrupt intention of shielding himself from criminal punishment, avoiding financial liability, or preventing personal embarrassment. To the contrary, a statute that proh ibits official action undertaken for such corrupt purposes furthers, rather than hinders, the impartial and evenhanded administration ofthe law. Tt also aligns with the President's constitutional duty to faithfully execute the laws. Finally, we concluded that in the rare case in which a criminal investigation of the President' s conduct is justified, inquiries to determine whether the President acted for a corrupt motive should not impermissibly chill his performance of his constitutionally assigned duties. The conclusion that Congress may apply the obstruction laws to the President's corrupt exercise of the powers of office accords with our constitutional system of checks and balances and the principle that no person is above the law. CONCLUSION Because we determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment, we did not draw ultimate conclusions about the President's conduct. The evidence we obtained about the President's actions and intent presents difficult issues that would need to be resolved if we were making a traditional prosecutorial judgment. 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. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him. 8 U.S. Department of Justice Al:t6ffte) ¥l6fl{ Pfe8Met II ~4fl)! C61.faift ~4atefifll Preteetea OABer Fee. R. 61 itfl. P. 6(ej I. BACKGROUND LEGAL AND EVIDENTIARY PRINCIPLES A. Legal Framework of Obstruction of Justice The May 17, 2017 Appointment Order and the Special Counsel regulations provide this Office with jurisdiction to investigate "federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel's investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses ." 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a). Because of that description of our jurisdiction, we sought evidence for our obstruction-of-justice investigation with the elements of obstruction offenses in mind. Our evidentiary analysis is similarly focused on the elements of such offenses, although we do not draw conclusions on the ultimate questions that govern a prosecutorial decision under the Principles of Federal Prosecution. See Justice Manual § 9-27.000 et seq. (2018). Here, we summarize the law interpreting the elements of potentially relevant obstruction statutes in an ordinary case. This discussion does not address the unique constitutional issues that arise in an inquiry into official acts by the President. Those issues are discussed in a later section of this report addressing constitutional defenses that the President's counsel have raised. See Volume II, Section m.B, infra. Three basic elements are common to most of the relevant obstruction statutes: (I) an obstructive act; (2) a nexus between the obstructive act and an official proceeding; and (3) a corrupt intent. See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1505, 1512(c)(2). We describe those elements as they have ' been interpreted by the courts . We then discuss a more specific statute aimed at witness tampering, see 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b), and describe the requirements for attempted offenses and endeavors to obstruct justice, see 18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1512(c)(2). Obstructive act. Obstruction-of-justice law "reaches all corrupt conduct capable of producing an effect that prevents justice from being duly administered, regardless of the means employed." United States v. Silverman, 745 F.2d 1386, 1393 (11th Cir. 1984) (interpreting 18 U.S.C. § 1503). An "effort to influence" a proceeding can quality as an endeavor to obstruct justice even if the effort was "subtle or circuitous" and "however cleverly or with whatever cloaking of purpose" it was made. United States v. Roe, 529 F.2d 629, 632 (4th Cir. 1975); see also United States v. Quattrone, 441 F.3d 153, 173 (2d Cir. 2006). The verbs "'obstruct or impede ' are broad" and "can refer to anything that blocks, makes difficult, or hinders." Marinello v. United States, 138 S. Ct. 1101, 1106 (2018) (internal brackets and quotation marks omitted). An improper motive can render an actor's conduct criminal even when the conduct would otherwise be lawful and within the actor's authority. See United States v. Cueto, lSI F.3d 620, 631 (7th Cir. 1998) (affirming obstruction conviction of a criminal defense attorney for "Iitigationrelated conduct"); United States v. Cintolo, 818 F.2d 980, 992 (1 st Cir. 1987) ("any act by any party- whether lawful or unlawful on its face- may abridge § 1503 if performed with a corrupt motive"). Nexus to a pending or contemplated official proceeding. Obstruction-of-justice law generally requires a nexus, or connection, to an official proceeding. In Section 1503, the nexus must be to pending "judicial or grand jury proceedings." United States v. Aguilar, 515 U.S. 593, 9 Attal He) '.vel Ie u.s. Department of Justice PI 86tlet II P.4fl) CSFltaifl P.18tel ial Pf6teetee UI ..~ef Feci. R. CI ilfl. P. 6(ej 599 (1995). In Section 1505, the nexus can include a connection to a "pending" federal agency proceeding or a congressional inquiry or investigation. Under both statutes, the government must demonstrate "a relationship in time, causation, or logic" between the obstructive act and the proceeding or inquiry to be obstructed. Id. at 599; see also Arthur Andersen LLP v. United States, 544 U.S. 696, 707-708 (2005). Section 1512(c) prohibits obstructive efforts aimed at official proceedings including judicial or grand jury proceedings. 18 u .s.c. § 1515(a)(1 )(A) . "For purposes of' Section 1512, "an official proceeding need not be pending or about to be instituted at the time of the offense." 18 U.S.c. § 1512(f)(1). Although a proceeding need not already be in progress to trigger liability under Section 1512(c), a nexus to a contemplated proceeding still must be shown . United States v. Young, 916 F.3d 368, 386 (4th Cir. 2019); United States v. Petruk, 781 F.3d 438, 445 (8th Cir. 2015); United States v. Phillips, 583 F.3d 1261, 1264 (lOth Cir. 2009); Uniled Stales v. Reich, 479 F.3d 179, 186 (2d Cir. 2007). The nexus requirement narrows the scope of obstruction statutes to ensure that individuals have "fair warning" of what the law proscribes. Aguilar, 515 U.S. at 600 (internal quotation marks omitted). The nexus showing has subj ective and objective components. As an objective matter, a defendant must act "in a manner that is likely to obstruct justice," such that the statute "excludes defendants who have an evil purpose but use means that would only unnaturally and improbably be successful." Aguilar, 515 U.S. at 601-602 (emphasis added; internal quotation marks omitted). "[T]he endeavor must have the natural and probable effect of interfering with the due administration of justice." ld. at 599 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). As a subjective matter, the actor must have "contemplated a particular, foreseeable proceeding." Petruk, 781 F.3d at 445 -446. A defendant need not directly impede the proceeding. Rather, a nexus exists if "discretionary actions of a third person would be required to obstruct the judicial proceeding ifit was foreseeable to the defendant that the third party would act on the [defendant' s] communication in such a way as to obstruct the judicial proceeding." United Stales v. Martinez, 862 F.3d 223, 238 (2d Cir. 2017) (brackets, ellipses, and internal quotation marks omitted). Corruptly. The word "corruptly" provides the intent element for obstruction of justice and means acting " knowingly and dishonestly" or "with an improper motive." United Slales v. Richardson, 676 F.3d 491 , 508 (5th Cir. 2012); United Slales v. Gordon, 710 F.3d 1124, 1151 (lOth C ir. 2013) (to act corruptly means to "act[] with an improper purpose and to engage in conduct knowingly and dishonestly with the specific intent to subvert, impede or obstruct" the relevant proceeding) (some quotation marks omitted); see 18 U.S.c. § 1515(b) ("As used in section 1505, the term 'corruptly' means acting with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another."); see also Arthur Andersen, 544 U.S. at 705-706 (interpreting "corruptly" to mean "wrongful , immoral, depraved, or evil" and holding that acting "knowingly ... corruptly" in 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b) requires "consciousness of wrongdoing"). The requisite showing is made when a person acted with an intent to obtain an " improper advantage for [him ]self or someone else, inconsistent with official duty and the rights of others." BALLENTINE'S LAW DICTIONARV 276 (3d ed. 1969); see Uniled States v. Pasha, 797 F.3d 1122, 1132 (D.C. Cir. 2015); Aguilar, 515 U.S. at 616 (Scalia, J ., concurring in part and dissenting in part) (characterizing this definition as the " longstanding and well-accepted meaning" of "corruptly"). Witness tampering. A more specific provision in Section 1512 prohibits tampering with a witness. See 18 u.s.c. § 1512(b)(I), (3) (making it a crime to "knowingly user] intimidation ... or corruptly persuade[] another person," or "engage[] in misleading conduct towards another 10 AM:ePfle) VlSfl( Pfst:htet /1 U.S. Department of Justice Celltaifl P.4atel'isi Pisteetee Ufulef Fea. R. Grim, P. 6{e) ~48:) person," with the intent to "influence, delay, or prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding" or to "hinder, delay, or prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer ... of information relating to the commission or possible commission of a Federal offense"). To establish corrupt persuasion, it is sufficient that the defendant asked a potential witness to lie to investigators in contemplation of a likely federal investigation into his conduct. United States v. Edlind, 887 F.3d 166, 174 (4th Cir. 2018); United States v. Sparks, 791 F.3d 1188, 1191-1192 (lOth Cir. 2015); United States v. Byrne, 435 F.3d 16, 23-26 (1st Cir. 2006); United States v. LaShay, 417 F.3d 715, 718-719 (7th Cir. 2005); United States v. Burns, 298 F.3d 523, 539-540 (6th Cir. 2002); United States v. Pennington, 168 F.3d 1060, 1066 (8th Cir. 1999). The Hpersuasion" need not be coercive, intimidating, or explicit; it is sufficient to "urge," "induce," "ask[]," "argu[ e]," "giv[e] reasons," Sparks, 791 F.3d at 1192, or "coach[] or remind[] witnesses by planting misleading facts," Edlind, 887 F.3d at 174. Corrupt persuasion is shown "where a defendant tells a potential witness a false story as if the story were true, intending that the witness believe the story and testity to it." United States v. Rodolitz, 786 F.2d 77, 82 (2d C ir. 1986); see United States v. Gabriel, 125 F.3d 89, 102 (2d Cir. 1997). It also covers urging a witness to recall a fact that the witness did not know, even if the fact was actually true. See LaShay, 417 F.3d at 719. Corrupt persuasion also can be shown in certain circumstances when a person, with an improper motive, urges a witness not to cooperate with law enforcement. See United States v. Shotts, 145 F.3d 1289, 1301 (11th Cr. 1998) (telling Secretary " not to [say] anything [to the FBI] and [she] would not be bothered"). When the charge is acting with the intent to hinder, delay, or prevent the communication of information to law enforcement under Section 1512(b)(3), the "nexus" to a proceeding inquiry articulated in Aguilar-that an individual have "knowledge that his actions are likely to affect the judicial proceeding," 515 U.S. at 599-does not apply because the obstructive act is aimed at the communication of information to investigators, not at impeding an official proceeding. Acting " knowingly ... corruptly" requires proof that the individual was "conscious of wrongdoing." Arthur Andersen, 544 U.S. at 705-706 (declining to explore " [t]he outer limits of this element" but indicating that an instruction was infirm where it permitted conviction even if the defendant "honestly and sincerely believed that [the] conduct was lawful"). It is an affirmative defense that "the conduct consisted solely of lawful conduct.and that the defendant' s sole intention was to encourage, induce, or cause the other person to testity truthfully." 18 U.S.C. § 1512(e). Attempts and endeavors. Section 1512(c)(2) covers both substantive obstruction offenses and attempts to obstruct justice. Under general principles of attempt law, a person is guilty of an attempt when he has the intent to commit a substantive offense and takes an overt act that constitutes a substantial step towards that goa\. See United States v. Resendiz-Ponce, 549 U.S. 102, 106-107 (2007). "[T]he act [must be] substantial, in that it was strongly corroborative of the defendant' s criminal purpose." United States v. Pratt, 351 F.3d 131 , 135 (4th Cir. 2003). While "mere abstract talk" does not suffice, any "concrete and specific" acts that corroborate the defendant's intent can constitute a "substantial step." United States v. Irving, 665 F.3d 1184, I 1981205 (10th Cir. 2011). Thus, "soliciting an innocent agent to engage in conduct constituting an element of the crime" may quality as a substantial step. Model Penal Code § 5.01 (2)(g) ; see United States v. Lucas, 499 F.3d 769, 781 (8th C ir. 2007). II U.S. Department of Justice Atfsffley 'Netic PI 86ttet II ~ffl) CsntaiH Pt4atel iai PI steetes ORaer Feel. R. Crilfl . P. 6(e) The omnibus clause of 18 U.S.c. § 1503 prohibits an "endeavor" to obstruct justice, which sweeps more broadly than Section 1512's attempt provision . See United States v. Sampson, 898 F.3d 287, 302 (2d Cir. 2018); United States v. Leisure, 844 F .2d 1347, 1366-1367 (8th Cir. 1988) (collecting cases). "It is well established that a[n] [obstruction-of-justice] offense is complete when one corruptly endeavors to obstruct or impede the due administration of justice; the prosecution need not prove that the due administration of justice was actually obstructed or impeded." United States v. Davis, 854 F.3d 1276, 1292 (II th Cir. 2017) (internal quotation marks omitted). B. Investigative and Evidentiary Considerations After the appointment of the Special Counsel, this Office obtained evidence about the following events relating to potential issues of obstruction of justice involving the President: (a) The President's January 27, 2017 dinner with former FBI Director James Corney in which the President reportedly asked for Corney' s loyalty, one day after the White House had been briefed by the Department of Justice on contacts between former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and the Russian Ambassador; (b) The President's February 14,2017 meeting with Corney in which the President reportedly asked Corney not to pursue an investigation of Flynn; (c) The President's private requests to Corney to make public the fact that the President was not the subject of an FBI investigation and to lift what the President regarded as a cloud; (d) The President' s outreach to the Director of National Intelligence and the Directors of the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency about the FBI's Russia investigation; (e) The President' s stated rationales for terminating Corney on May 9, 2017, including statements that could reasonably be understood as acknowledging that the FBI ' s Russia investigation was a factor in Corney' s termination; and (I) The President's reported involvement in issuing a statement about the June 9, 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Russians and senior Trump Campaign officials that said the meeting was about adoption and omitted that the Russians had offered to provide the Trump Campaign with derogatory information about Hillary Clinton. Taking into account that information and our analysis of applicable statutory and constitutional principles (discussed below in Volume II, Section 1II, irifra), we determined that there was a sufficient factual and legal basis to further investigate potential obstruction-of-justice issues involving the President. Many of the core issues in an obstruction-of-justice investigation turn on an individual ' s actions and intent. We therefore requested that the White House provide us with documentary evidence in its possession on the relevant events. We also sought and obtained the White House ' s concurrence in our conducting interviews of White House personnel who had relevant information. And we interviewed other witnesses who had pertinent knowledge, obtained documents on a 12 U.S. Department of Justice AM81fle) 'oVetk PI 88tlet /1 ~1ft) CeJ.taifl ~,4atefial PI8teetea URaer Fee. R. Crim. P. 6~e) voluntary basis when possible, and used legal process where appropriate. These investigative steps allowed us to gather a substantial amount of evidence. We also sought a voluntary interview with discussi the President declined to be interviewed. course our discus:sio,ns, on certain Russia-related topics, and he agree to answer provided us with answers. He did not similarly agree to provide written answers to questions on obstruction topics or questions on events during the transition. Ultimately, while we believed that we had the authority and legal justification to issue a grand jury subpoena to obtain the President's testimony, we chose not to do so. We made that decision in view ofthe substantial delay that such an investigative step would likely produce at a late stage in our investigation. We also assessed that based on the significant body of evidence we had already obtained of the President' s actions and his public and private statements describing or explaining those actions, we had sufficient evidence to understand relevant events and to make certain assessments without the President's testimony. The Office's decision-making process on this issue is described in more detail in Appendix C, infra, in a note that precedes the President's written responses. In assessing the evidence we obtained, we relied on common principles that apply in any investigation. The issue of criminal intent is often inferred from circumstantial evidence. See, e.g. , United States v. Croteau, 819 F.3d 1293, 1305 (11th Cir. 2016) ("[G]uilty knowledge can rarely be established by direct evidence . ... Therefore, mens rea elements such as knowledge or intent may be proved by circumstantial evidence .") (internal quotation marks omitted); United States v. Robinson, 702 F.3d 22, 36 (2d Cir. 2012) ("The government's case rested on circumstantial evidence, but the mens rea elements of knowledge and intent can often be proved through circumstantial evidence and the reasonable inferences drawn therefrom.") (internal quotation marks omitted). The principle that intent can be inferred from circumstantial evidence is a necessity in criminal cases, given the right ofa subject to assert his privilege against compelled self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment and therefore decline to testilY. Accordingly, determinations on intent are frequently reached without the opportunity to interview an investigatory subject. Obstruction-of-justice cases are consistent with this rule. See, e.g., Edlind, 887 F.3d at 174, 176 (relying on "significant circumstantial evidence that [the defendant] was conscious of her wrongdoing" in an obstruction case; "[b ]ecause evidence of intent will almost always be circumstantial, a defendant may be found culpable where the reasonable and foreseeable consequences of her acts are the obstruction of justice") (internal quotation marks, ellipses, and punctuation omitted); Quattrone, 441 F.3d at 173-174. Circumstantial evidence that illuminates intent may include a pattern of potentially obstructive acts. Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) (" Evidence of a crime, wrong, or other act ... may be admissible .. . [to] prov[e] motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack ofaccident."); see, e.g. , United States v. Frankhauser, 80 F.3d 641, 648-650 (1st Cir. 1996); United Stales v. Arnold, 773 F.2d 823 , 832-834 (7th Cir. 1985); Cintolo, 818 F.2d at 1000. Credibility judgments may also be made based on objective facts and circumstantial evidence. Standard jury instructions highlight a variety of factors that are often relevant in 13 u.s. Department of Justice Atf8fHe) 'Net Ie PI 66t1et II ~4B) CSfltaiH P,4atel ittl PI eteetea URaer FeEl. R. CritH. P. 6(e} assessing credibility. These include whether a witness had a reason not to tell the truth; whether the witness had a good memory; whether the witness had the opportunity to observe the events about which he testified; whether the witness ' s testimony was corroborated by other witnesses; and whether anything the witness said or wrote previously contradicts his testimony. See, e.g., First Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions § 1.06 (2018); Fiflh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal Cases) § 1.08 (2012); Seventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instruction § 3.01 (2012). In addition to those general factors, we took into account more specific factors in assessing the credibility of conflicting accounts of the facts. For example, contemporaneous written notes can provide strong corroborating evidence. See United States v. Nobles, 422 U.S. 225 , 232 (1975) (the fact that a "statement appeared in the contemporaneously recorded report .. . would tend strongly to corroborate the investigator's version of the interview"). Similarly, a witness ' s recitation of his account before he had any motive to fabricate also supports the witness's credibility. See Tome v. United States, 513 U.S. 150, 158 (1995) (" A consistent statement that predates the motive is a square rebuttal of the charge that the testimony was contrived as a consequence of that motive .")' Finally, a witness's false description of an encounter can imply consciousness of wrongdoing. See AI-Adahi v. Obama, 613 F.3d 1102, 1107 (D.C. Cir. 2010) (noting the "well-settled principle that false exculpatory statements are evidence-often strong evidence-of guilt"). We applied those settled legal principles in evaluating the factual results of our investigation. 14 u.s. Department of Justice At:tel He) 'Net I( Pte61:1et 1/ ~18:) C6HtaiH ~4atefiB:1 Pfeteetea Uflaet Fee. R. 61 ilil. P. 6(e} II. FACTUAL RESULTS OF TH E OBSTRUCTION INVESTIGATION This section of the report details the evidence we obtained. We first provide an overv iew of how Russia became an issue in the 2016 presidential campaign, and how candidate Trump responded. We then tum to the key events that we investigated: the President's conduct concerning the FBI investigation of Michael Flynn; the President's reaction to public confirmation of the FBI's Russia investigation; events leading up to and surrounding the termination of FBI Director Comey; efforts to terminate the Special Counsel; efforts to curtail the scope of the Special Counsel's investigation; efforts to prevent disclosure of information about the June 9, 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Russians and senior campaign officials; efforts to have the Attorney General unrecuse; and conduct towards McGahn, Cohen, and other witnesses. We summarize the evidence we found and then analyze it by reference to the three statutory obstruction-of-justice elements: obstructive act, nexus to a proceeding, and intent. We focus on elements because, by regulation, the Special Counsel has "j urisdiction ... to investigate ... federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel's investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses." 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a). Consistent with our jurisdiction to investigate federal obstruction crimes, we gathered evidence that is relevant to the elements of those crimes and analyzed them within an elements framework-while refraining from reaching ultimate conclusions about whether crimes were committed, for the reasons explained above. This section also does not address legal and constitutional defenses raised by counsel for the President; those defenses are analyzed in Volume II, Section Ill, infra. A. The Campaign's Response to Reports About Russian Support for Trump During the 2016 campaign, the media raised questions about a poss ible connection between the Trump Campaign and Russia.' The questions intensified after WikiLeaks released politically damaging Democratic Party emails that were reported to have been hacked by Russia. Trump responded to questions about possible connections to Russia by denying any bus iness involvement in Russia-even though the Trump Organization had pursued a business project in Russia as late as June 2016. Trump also expressed skepticism that Russia had hacked the same time as he and other Campaign advisors privately sought information about any further planned WikiLeaks releases. After the election, when possible links between Russia and the Trump Campaign, the President-Elect continued to deny any connections to Russia and privately expressed concerns that reports of Russian election interference might lead the public to question the legitimacy of his election. 8 7 This section summarizes and cites various news stories not for the truth of the information contained in the stories, but rather to place candidate Trump's response to those stories in context. Volume 1 of this report analyzes the underlying facts of several relevant events that were reported on by the media during the campaign. R As discussed in Volume I, while the investigation identified numerous links between individuals with ties to the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump Campaign, the evidence was not sufficient to charge that any member of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with representatives of the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 election. 15 U.S. Department of Justice AU61fle) ,""spit PreaHet II ~48)' CeHtaifl ~48teri81 Pfsteetea UHSet FeB. R. Grim. P. 6(e} 1. Press Reports Allege Links Between the Trump Campaign a nd Russia On June 16, 2015 , Donald 1. Trump declared his intent to seek nomination as the Republican candidate for President.' By early 2016, he distinguished himself among Republican candidates by speaking of closer ties with Russia,' o saying he would get along well with Russian President Vladimir Putin, II questioning whether the NATO alliance was obsolete,' 2 and praising Putin as a "strong leader. ,,'3 The press reported that Russian political analysts and commentators perceived Trump as favorable to Russia. '4 Beginning in February 2016 and continuing through the summer, the media reported that several Trump campaign advisors appeared to have ties to Russia. For example, the press reported that campaign advisor Michael Flynn was seated next to Vladimir Putin at an RT gala in Moscow in December 2015 and that Flynn had appeared regularly on RT as an analyst. 'S The press also reported that foreign policy advisor Carter Page had ties to a Russian state-run gas company, ' 6 and that campaign chairman Paul Manafort had done work for the " Russian-backed former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.,,17 In addition, the press raised questions during the Republican 9@reaIDonaldTrump6/16/15(11:57a.m. ET) Tweet. 10 See, e.g, Meet the Press Interview with Donald 1. Trump, NBC (Dec. 20, 2015) (Trump: "I think it would be a positive thing if Russia and the United States actually got along"); Presidential Candidate Donald Trump News Conference. Hanahan. South Carolina, C-SPAN (Feb. 15,2016) ("You want to make a good deal for the country, you want to deal with Russia."). II See, e.g, Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees, CNN (July 8, 2015) ("I think I get along with [Putin] fine. "); Andrew Rafferty, Trump Says He Would "Get Along Very Well" With Putin, NBC (July 30, 2015) . (quoting Trump as saying, " I think I would get along very well with Vladimir Putin."). 12 See, e.g, @realDonaldTrump Tweet 3124/ 16 (7:47 a.m. ET); @realDonaldTrump Tweet 3/24/ 16 (7:59 a.m . ET). 13 See, e.g, Meet the Press Interview with Donald J. Trump, NBC (Dec. 20, 2015) ("[Putin] is a strong leader. What am I gonna say, he's a weak leader? He's making mincemeat out of our President.") ; Donald Trump Campaign Rally in Vandalia, Ohio, C-SPAN (Mar. 12, 2016) ("I said [Putin] was a strong leader, which he is. 1 mean, he might be bad, he might be good. But he's a strong leader."). 14 See, e.g, Andrew Osborn, From Russia with love: why the Kremlin backs Trump , Reuters (Mar. 24, 2016); Robert Zubrin, Trump: The Kremlin's Candidate, National Review (Apr. 4, 2016). 15 See, e.g, Mark Hosenball & Steve Holland, Trump being advised by ex-U.S. Lieutenant General who favors closer Russia lies, Reuters (Feb. 26, 2016); Tom Hamburger et aI., Inside Trump 'sfinancial ties to Russia and his unusual jlallery of Vladimir Putin, Washington Post (June 17, 2016). Certain matters pertaining to Flynn are described in Volume I, Section IV.B.7, supra. 16 See, e.g, Zachary Mider, Trump's New Russia Advisor Has Deep Ties 10 Kremlin 's Gazprom, Bloomberg (Mar. 30, 2016); Julia lofee, Who is Carler Page?, Politico (Sep. 23, 20 16). Certain matters pertaining to Page are described in Volume I, Section IV.A.3, supra. 17 Tracy Wilkinson, In a shift, Republican platform doesn'l callfor arming Ukraine againsl Russia, spurring oulrage, Los Angeles Times (July 21 , 2016); Josh Rogin, Trump campaign gUls GOP's anliRussia slance on Ukraine , Washington Post (July 18, 2016). 16 U.S. Department of Justice AKal ney 'Nark Pre8tlet II ~4fl) Cef1taiR h4aterial P'6teetea URee, Fea. R. Cfiff(. P. 6(e) National Convention about the Trump Campaign's involvement in changing the Republican platform 's stance on giving "weapons to Ukraine to fi ght Russian and rebel forces .,,!8 2. The Trump Campaign Reacts to WikiLeaks' s Release of Hacked Emails On June 14, 2016, a cybersecurity firm that had conducted in-house analys is for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) posted an announcement that Russian government hackers had infiltrated the DNC 's computer and obtained access to documents.!9 On July 22, 2016, the day before the Democratic National Convention, WikiLeaks posted thousands of hacked DNC documents revealing sensitive internal deliberations 20 Soon thereafter, Hillary C linton' s campaign manager publicly contended that Russ ia had hacked the DNC emails and arranged their release in order to help candidate Trump? ! On July 26, 2016, the New York Times reported that U.S. " intelligence agencies ha rd] told the White House they now have 'h igh confidence' that the Russian government was behind the theft of emails and documents from the Democratic National Committee.'>22 reacted with enthusiasm to reports of the hacks 23 di scussed with Campaign officials that WikiLeaks witnesses said that Trump himself discussed the Michael Cohen, the led he,,"in,,' IS Josh Ragin, Trump campaign guts GOP's anti-Russia stance on Ukraine, Washington Post, Opinions (July 18, 2016). The Republican Platform events are described in Volume I, Section IV.A.6, supra. " Bears in the Midst: Intrusion into the Democratic National Committee, CrowdS trike (June IS, 20 16) (post originally appearing on June 14, 2016, according to records of the timing provided by CrowdStrike); Ellen Nakashima, Russian government hackers penetrated DNC, stole opposition research on Trump, Was hington Post (June 14,2016). 20 Tom Hamburger and Karen Tumulty, WikiLeaks releases thousands of documents about Clinton and internal deliberations, Washington Post (July 22, 201 6). 21 Amber Phillips, Clinton campaign manager: Russians leaked Democrats' emails to help Donald Trump, Washington Post (July 24, 2016). 21 David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt, Spy Agency Consensus Grows That Russia Hacked D.N.e., New York Times (July 26, 20 16). 23 Gates 4/10/1 8 302, at 5; Newman 8/23 /18 302, at 1. 24 Gates 4/1 1/18 302, at 2-3 (SM-2180998); Gates 10/25 /18302, at 2; see also Volume I, Section IlI.D.I , supra. Cohen 8/7/18 302, at 8; see also Volume I, Section III.D.I , supra. According to Cohen, after DNC emails on July 22, 2016, Trump said to Cohen words to the effect of, ~ Cohen 9/ 18/18 302, at 10. Cohen's role in the candidate's and later 2S WikiLeak~to l en 17 U.S. Department of Justice AttsfHe) Vlefl( Pf88t1et II P,4a) CefttaiH l\4atefhll Pfsteetea UfHlet Fee. R. Ct im. P. 6(e) and Harm to Ongoing Matter 20 I 6 release of hacked 26 Gates was and shortly after the infrwrn"tiCln would be coming. 29 : Campaign,30 and in the summer was planninlg a communications strategy based on the possible release of Clinton emails by WikiLeaks 31 3. The Trump Campaign Reacts to Allegations That Russia was Seeking to Aid Candidate Trump In the days that followed WikiLeaks's July 22, 2016 release of hacked DNC emails, the Trump Campaign publicly rejected suggestions that Russia was seeking to aid candidate Trump . On July 26, 2016, Trump tweeted that it was " [cJrazy" to suggest that Russia was "dealing with Trump,,32 and that "[fjor the record," he had "ZERO investments in Russia.,,33 In a press conference the next day, July 27, 2016, Trump characterized "this whole thing with Russia" as " a total deflection" and stated that it was "farfetched " and "ridiculous .,,34 Trump said that the assertion that Russia had hacked the emails was unproven, but stated that it would give him "no pause" if Russia had Clinton's emails. 35 Trump added, "Russia, if you ' re listening, I hope you' re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded President's activities, and his own criminal conduct, is described in Volume II, Section ILK, infra, and in Volume I, Section IV.A.1, supra. 26 Cohen 8/7/ 18 302, at 8. 27 . As explained in footnote 197 of Volume I, Section supra, Manat"Oit's account of these events because it aligns with those of other witnesses and is corroborated to that extent. 28 Gates 10/25/18 302, at 4. 29 Gates 10/25118 302, at 4. 30 Bannon 1118/19302, at 3. 31 fonnen in Gates 4111118 302, at 1-2 (SM-2180998); Gates 10125118302, at 2 (messa~ timeframe based on claims on June 12, 2016, _ _ 32 @realDonaldTrump 7/26116 (6:47 p.m . ET) Tweet. 33 @realDonaldTrump 7/26/16 (6:50 p.m. ET) Tweet. 34 Donald Trump News Conference, Doral, Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016) . 35 Donald Trump News Conference. Doral. Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016). 18 U.S. Department of Justice {'rtterHey V/sri( Prestlet II Pt4tl) CSfltflifl Pt4ateriai Prsteetea URser Fea. R. Criffi. P. 6(ej mightily by our press. "" Trump also said that "there's nothing that I can think of that I'd rather do than have Russia friendly as opposed to the way they are right now," and in response to a question about whether he would recognize Crimea as Russian territory and consider lifting sanctions, Trump replied, "We ' ll be looking at that. Yeah, we'll be 100king.,,3? During the press conference, Trump repeated "I have nothing to do with Russia" five times]' He stated that "the closest [he1came to Russia" was that Russians may have purchased a home or condos from him. 39 He said that after he held the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow in 2013 he had be,en interested in working with Russian companies that "wanted to put a lot of money into developments in Russia" but " it never worked out."'o He explained, " [lJrankly, I didn't want to do it for a couple of different reasons. But we had a major developer . .. that wanted to develop property in Moscow and other places. But we decided not to do it. ,,41 The Trump Organization, however, had been pursuing a building project in Moscow-the Trump Tower Moscow projectfrom approximately September 2015 through June 2016, and the candidate was regularly updated on developments, including possible trips by Michael Cohen to Moscow to promote the deal and by Trump himself to finalize it'" Cohen recalled speaking with Trump after the press conference about Trump's denial of any business dealings in Russia, which Cohen regarded as untrue 43 Trump told Cohen that Trump Tower Moscow was not a deal yet and said, "Why mention it if it is not a deal?"" According to Cohen, at around this time, in response to Trump ' s disavowal of connections to Russia, campaign 36 Donald Trump News Conference, Doral, Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016). Within five hours of Trump's remark, a Russian intelligence service began targeting email accounts associated with Hillary Clinton for possible hacks. See Volume I, Section III, supra. In written answers submitted in this investigation, the President stated that he made the "Russia, if you' re listening" statement "in jest and sarcastically, as was apparent to any objective observer." Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20, 2018), at 13 (Response to Question n, Part (d)). 37 Donald Trump News Conference, Doral, Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016). In his written answers submitted in this investigation, the President said that his statement that "we'll be looking" at Crimea and sanctions "did not communicate any position." Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20, 20(8), at 17 (Response to Question IV, Part (g)). 38 Donald Trump News Conference, Doral, Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016). 39 Donald Trump News Conference. Doral. Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016). ' 0 Donald Trump News Conference, Doral. Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016) . "Donald Trump News Conference, Doral, Florida, C-SPAN (July 27, 2016). 42 The Trump Tower Moscow project and Trump's involvement in it is discussed in detail in Volume I, Section IV.A.!, supra, and Volume II, Section ILK, infra. 43 Cohen 91l 81l 8 302, at 4. 44 Cohen 9118118 302, at 4-5 . 19 U.S. Department of Justice Attelfle) \Vell{ Pleetlet 1/ ~48:) Cefltaifl ~48:terial PreteeteEl UReel Fea. R. 61 it". P. 6(e) advisors had developed a " party line" that Trump had no business with Russia and no connections to Russia. 4s In addition to denying any connections with Russia, the Trump Campaign reacted to reports of Russian election interference in aid of the Campaign by seeking to distance itself from Russian contacts. For example, in August 2016, foreign policy advisor J.D . Gordon declined an invitation to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak 's residence because the timing was "not optimal" in view of media reports about Russian interference. 46 On August 19,2016, Manafort was asked to resign amid media coverage scrutinizing his ties to a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine and links to Russian business 47 And when the media published stories about Page 's connections to Russia in September 2016, Trump Campaign officials terminated Page's association with the Campaign and told the press that he had played " no role" in the Campaign. 48 On October 7, 2016, WikiLeaks released the first set of emails stolen by a Russian intelligence agency from Clinton Campaign chairman John Podesta 4 9 The same day, the federal government announced that " the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations."so The government statement directly linked Russian hacking to the releases on WikiLeaks, with the goal of interfering with the presidential election, and concluded " that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities" based on their "scope and sensitivity.,,51 On October II, 2016, Podesta stated pub licly that the FBI was investigating Russia's hacking and said that candidate Trump might have known in advance that the hacked emails were going to be released. 52 Vice Presidential Candidate Mike Pence was asked whether the Trump 4S Cohen 11 /20/18302, at I; Cohen 9/ 18/ 18 302, at 3-5. The formation of the "party line" is described in greater detail in Volume 11, Section II.K, infra. 46 DJTFP00004953 (8/8/16 Email, Gordon to Pchelyakov) (stating that "[t]hese days are not optimal for us, as we are busily knocking down a stream of false media stories"). The invitation and Gordon 's response are discussed in Volume I, Section IV.A.7.a, supra. 47 See, e.g., Amber Phillips, Paul Manaforl's complicaled lies 10 Ukraine, explained, Washington Post (Aug. 19, 2016) ("There were also a wave of fresh headlines dealing with investigations into [Mana fort's] ties to a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine ."); Tom Winter & Ken Dilanian, Donald Trump Aide Paul Manaforl Scrulinized for Russian Business Ties, NBC (Aug. 18, 2016). Relevant events involving Manafort are discussed in Volume I, Section IV.A.8, supra. "Michaellsikoff, u.s. inlel officials probe lies between Trump adviser and Kremlin, Yahoo News (Sep. 23 , 2016); see. e.g., 9/25/16 Email, Hicks to Conway & Bannon; 9/23/16 Email, 1. Miller to Bannon & S. Miller; Page 3/16/17 302, at 2. 49 @WikiLeaks 1017116 (4 :32 p.m. ET) Tweet. " Joint Statement from the Department Of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Election Security, DHS (Oct. 7, 2016). 51 Joint Statement from the Department Of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Election Security, DHS (Oct. 7, 2016). 52 John Wagner & Anne Gearan, Clinlon campaign chairman lies email hack 10 Russians, suggesls Trump had early warning, Washington Post (Oct. 11,2016). 20 AasfRe, 'Vaple Preehiet II U.S. Department of Justice C6t.taiR Pt4atel ittl Preteetee URser Fee . R. Grim, P. 6Ee) ~4fi} Campaign was " in cahoots" with WikiLeaks in releasing damaging Clinton-related information and responded, "Nothing could be further from the truth.,,53 4. After the Election. Trump Continues to Deny Any Contacts or Connections with Russia or That Russia Aided his Election On November 8, 2016, Trump was elected President. Two days later, Russian officials told the press that the Russian government had maintained contacts with Trump's "immediate entourage" during the campaign. 54 In response, Hope Hicks, who had been the Trump Campaign spokesperson, said, "We are not aware of any campaign representatives that were in touch with any foreign entities before yesterday, when Mr. Trump spoke with many world leaders."ss Hicks gave an additional statement denying any contacts between the Campaign and Russia: "It never happened. There was no communication between the campaign and any foreign entity during the campaign.,,56 On December 10, 2016, the press reported that U.S. intelligence agencies had "concluded that Russia interfered in last month 's presidential election to boost Do'nald Trump 's bid for the White House."s7 Reacting to the story the next day, President-Elect Trump stated, "I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse."S8 He continued that no one really knew who was responsible for the hacking, suggesting that the intelligence community had "no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place."s9 The President-Elect 53 Louis Nelson, Pence denies Trump camp in cahoots with WikiLeaks, Politico (Oct. 14, 2016). 54 [van Nechepurenko, Russian OffiCials Were in Contact With Trump Allies, Diplomat Says, New York Times (Nov. 10, 2016) (quoting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov saying, "[t]here were contacts" and "[ cannot say that all, but a number of them maintained contacts with Russian representatives"); Jim Heintz & Matthew Lee, Russia eyes better ties with Trump; says contacts underway, Associated Press (Nov. 11 ,20 16)(quoting Ryabkov saying, "I don' t say that all of them, but a whole array of them supported contacts with Russian representatives"). 55 [van Nechepurenko, Russian OffiCials Were in Contact With Trump Allies, Diplomat Says, New York Times (Nov. 11,2016) (quoting Hicks). 56 Jim Heintz & Matthew Lee, Russia eyes belter ties with Trump; says contacts underway, Associated Press (Nov. 10,20 16) (quoting Hicks). Hicks recalled that after she made that statement, she spoke with Campaign advisors Kellyanne Conway, Stephen Miller, Jason Miller, and probably Kushner and Bannon to ensure it was accurate, and there was no hesitation or pushback from any of them. Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 4. " Damien Gayle, CIA concludes Russia interfered to help Trump win election, say reports, Guardian (Dec. 10, 2016). 58 Chris Wallace Hosts "Fox News Sunday, " Interview with President-Elect Donald Trump, CQ Newsmaker Transcripts (Dec. 11 , 2016). Chris Wallace Hosts "Fox News Sunday, " Interview with President-Elect Donald Trump, CQ Newsmaker Transcripts (Dec. II , 2016). 59 21 U.S. Department of Justice AK6fHe) ""Sflt Pf86ttet II ~4B:) C6Htaift P,4aterial Pf6teetee Under Fee. R. Gtitd. P. 6(e} also said that Democrats were "putting 0 out" the story of Russian interference "because they suffered one of the greatest defeats in the history ofpolitics.,,6o On December 18, 2016, Podesta told the press that the election was "di storted by the Russian intervention" and questioned whether Trump Campaign officials had been "in touch with the Russians.,,61 The same day, incoming Chief of Staff Reince Priebus appeared on Fox News Sunday and declined to say whether the President-Elect accepted the intelligence community's determination that Russia intervened in the election. 62 When asked about any contact or coordination between the Campaign and Russia, Priebus said, "Even this question is insane. Of course we didn't interface with the Russians.,,63 Priebus added that "this whole thing is a spin job" and said, "the real question is, why the Democrats .. . are doing everything they can to de legitimize the outcome of the election?,,64 On December 29, 2016, the Obama Administration announced that in response to Russian cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election, it was imposing sanctions and other measures on several Russian individuals and entities. 65 When first asked about the sanctions, President-Elect Trump said, " [ think we ought to get on with our lives.,,66 He then put out a statement that said "It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things," but indicated that he would meet with intelligence community leaders the following week for a briefing on Russian interference 67 The briefing occurred on January 6, 2017. 68 Following the briefing, the intelligence community released the public version of its assessment, which concluded with high confidence that Russia had intervened in the election through a variety of means with the goal of harming Clinton 's 60 Chris Wallace Hosts "Fox News Sunday, " Interview with President-Elect Donald Trump, CQ Newsmaker Transcripts (Dec. 11 ,20 16). 61 David Morgan, Clinton campaign: It 's an 'open question' if Trump team colluded with Russia, Reuters Business Insider (Dec. 18,20 16). 62 Chris Wallace Hosts "Fox News Sunday, " Interview with Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Fox News (Dec. 18, 2016). 63 Chris Wallace Hosts "Fox News Sunday, .. Interview with Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, Fox News (Dec. 18, 2016). 64 Chris Wallace Hosts "Fox News Sunday," Interview with Incoming White House ChiefofStaff Reince Priebus, Fox News (Dec. 18, 2016). 65 Statement by the President on Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment, White House (Dec. 29, 2016); see also Missy Ryan et aI., Obama administration announces measures to punish Russia/or 2016 election interference, Washington Post (Dec. 29, 2016). 66 John Wagner, Trump on alleged election inteiference by Russia: 'Get on with our lives, ' Washington Post (Dec. 29, 2016). 67 Missy Ryan et aI., Obama administration announces measures to punish Russiafor 2016 election interference, Washington Post (Dec. 29, 2016). 6S Corney I 1115117 302, at 3. 22 U.S. Department of Justice AM:6t'He) "-'eflc Pf'esl:let /1 ~4a) Cefttaift ~4atel ittl PI6teetea Uflaef Fee. R. C, ill:. P. 6Ee) e lectability .69 The assessment further concluded with high confidence that Putin and the Russian government had developed a clear preference for Trump 70 Several days later, BuzzFeed published unverified allegations compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele during the campaign about candidate Trump's Russia connections under the headline "These Reports Allege Trump Has Deep Ties To Russia.',7! In a press conference the next day, the President-Elect called the release "an absolute disgrace" and said, "I have no dealings with Russia. I have no deals that could happen in Russia, because we've stayed away .... So 1 have no deals, I have no loans and I have no dealings. We could make deals in Russia very easily if we wanted to, I just don't want to because I think that would be a conflic!."" Several advisors recalled that the President-Elect viewed stories about his Russian connections, the Russia investigations, and the intelligence community assessment of Russian interference as a threat to the legitimacy of his electoral victory.73 Hicks, for example, said that the President-Elect viewed the intelligence community assessment as his "Achilles heel" because, even if Russia had no impact on the election, people would think Russia helped him win, taking away from what he had accomplished. 74 Sean Sp icer, the first White House communications director, recalled that the President thought the Russia story was developed to undermine the legitimacy of his election. 75 Gates said the President viewed the Russia investigation as an attack on the legitimacy of his win 76 And Priebus recalled that when the intell igence assessment came out, the President-Elect was concerned people would question the legitimacy of his win." 69 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Russia's Influence Campaign Targeting the 2016 US Presidential Election, at I (Jan. 6, 2017). 70 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Russia 's Influence Campaign Targeting the 2016 US Presidential Election, at I (Jan. 6, 2017). 71 Ken Bensinger et aI., These Reports Allege Trump Has Deep Ties To Russia, BuzzFeed (Jan. 10, 2017). 72 Donald Trump's News Conference: Full Transcript and Video , New York Times (Jan. I I, 2017), available at https:llwww.nytimes.com/20 17/0 1/ II /us/politics/trump-press-conferencetranscrip!.html. 73 Priebus 10113117 302, at 7; Hicks 3/ 13/ 18 302, at 18; Spicer 10116117 302, at 6; Bannon 2114118 302, at 2; Gates 4118118 302, at 3; see Pompeo 6/28/ 17 302, at 2 (the President believed that the purpose of the Russia investigation was to delegitimize his presidency). 74 Hicks 3113118 302, at 18. 75 Spicer 10117117302, at 6. 76 Gates 411 8118 302, at 3. 77 Priebus 10113117 302, at 7. 23 At:t6IH8)S''lsrk B. PI 66tlet /1 U.S. Department of Justice CSHtaiH ~4fttetiftl Pf'steetea UI.8et fee. R. Cfiffl. P. 6(e) ~i4a) The President's Conduct Concerning the Investigation of Michael Flynn Overview During the presidential transition, incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn had two phone calls with the Russian Ambassador to the United States about the Russian response to U.S. sanctions imposed because of Russia's election interference. After the press reported on Flynn's contacts with the Russian Ambassador, Flynn lied to incoming Administration officials by saying he had not discussed sanctions on the calls. The officials publicly repeated those lies in press interviews. The FBI, which previously was investigating Flynn for other matters, interviewed him about the calls in the first week after the inauguration, and Flynn told similar lies to the FBI. On January 26, 2017, Department of Justice (DOJ) officials notified the White House that Flynn and the Russian Ambassador had discussed sanctions and that Flynn had been interviewed by the FBI. The next night, the President had a private dinner with FBI Director James Corney in which he asked for Comey's loyalty. On February 13,2017, the President asked Flynn to resign. The following day, the President had a one-on-one conversation with Corney in which he said, "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go ." Evidence 1. Incoming National Security Advisor Flynn Discusses Sanctions on Russia with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak Shortly after the election, President-Elect Trump announced he would appoint Michael Flynn as his National Security Advisor.'8 For the next two months, Flynn played an active role on the Presidential Transition Team (PIT) coordinating policy positions and communicating with foreign government officials, including Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.'9 On December 29, 2016, as noted in Volume n, Section n.A.4, supra, the Obama Administration announced that it was imposing sanctions and other measures on several Russian individuals and entities.'o That day, multiple members of the PTT exchanged emails about the sanctions and the impact they would have on the incoming Administration, and Flynn informed members of the PTT that he would be speaking to the Russian Ambassador later in the day'! 78 Flynn 11/16/17302, at 7; President-Elect Dondld.! Trump Selecls Us. Senator Jef/Sessions for Attorney General, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Us. Rep. Mike Pompeo as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, President-Elect Donald 1. Trump Press Release (Nov. 18,2016); see also, e.g., Bryan Bender, Trump names Mike Flynn national security adviser, Politico, (Nov. 17, 2016). 79 Flynn 11116117 302, at 8-14; Priebus 10113/ 17 302, at 3-5. 80 Stalemenl by the President on Actions in Response 10 Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassm ent, The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Dec. 29, 2016). 81 12/29/ 16 Email, O'Brien to McFarland et al. ; 12/29/16 Email, Bossert to Flynn et al.; 12/29116 Email, McFarland to Flynn et al. ; SFOOOOOI (12129116 Text Message, Flynn to Flaherty) ("Tit for tat w Russia not good. Russian AMBO reaching out to me today."); Flynn 1119/ 18302, at 2. 24 AEtefrtey ''!srlt Pf88l1et II U.S. Department of Justice P,48tel ial Preteete8 UHBel Feel. R. Grift •. P. 6(e} ~48)' CSRttlift F lynn, who was in the Dominican Republic at the time, and K.T . McFarland, who was slated to become the Deputy National Security Advisor and was at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida with the President-Elect and other senior staff, talked by phone about what, if anything, Flynn should communicate to Kislyak about the sanctions 82 McFarland had spoken with incoming Administration officials about the sanctions and Russia's possible responses and thought she had mentioned in those conversations that Flynn was scheduled to speak with Kislyak 8 3 Based on those conversations, McFarland informed Flynn that incoming Administration officials at Mar-aLago did not want Russia to escalate the situation 84 At 4:43 p.m. that afternoon, McFarland sent an email to several officials about the sanctions and informed the group that "Gen [F]lynn is talking to russian ambassador this evening."S5 Approximately one hour later, McFarland met with the President-Elect and senior officials and briefed them on the sanctions and Russia's possible responses. 86 Incoming Chief of Staff Reince Priebus recalled that McFarland may have mentioned at the meeting that the sanctions situation could be "cooled down" and not escalated. 8? McFarland recalled that at the end of the meeting, someone may have mentioned to the President-Elect that Flynn was speaking to the Russian Ambassador that evening.88 McFarland did not recall any response by the PresidentElect. 89 Priebus recalled that the President-Elect viewed the sanctions as an attempt by the Obama Administration to embarrass him by delegitimizing his election. 90 Immediately after discussing the sanctions with McFarland on December 29,2016, Flynn called Kislyak and requested that Russia respond to the sanctions only in a reciprocal manner, without escalating the situation. 9 ] After the call, F lynn briefed McFarland on its substance 92 Flynn told McFarland that the Russian response to the sanctions was not going to be escalatory because Russia wanted a good relationship with the Trump Administration 93 On December 30, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would not take retaliatory measures R2 Statement of Offense at 2-3, United States v. Michael T. Flynn, I: 17-cr-232 (D.D.C. Dec. I, 2017), Doc. 4 (Flynn Statement of Offense); Flynn 11117117302, at 3-4; Flynn 11/20117302, at 3; McFarland 12122/ 17302, at 6-7. 83 McFarland 12/22117302, at 4-7 (recalling discussions about this issue with Bannon and Priebus). 84 Flynn Statement of Offense, at 3; Flynn 11 / 17/ 17 302, at 3-4; McFarland 12/22117302, at 6-7. 85 12129116 Email, McFarland to Flynn et al. R6 McFarland 12122117302, at 7. 87 Priebus 1118118302, at 3. " McFarland 12/22/ 17302, at 7. Priebus thought it was possible that McFarland had mentioned Flynn's scheduled call with Kislyak at this meeting, although he was not certain. Priebus 1118/ 18 302, at 3. 89 McFarland 12/22117302, at 7. 90 Priebus 1118118302, at 3. 91 Flynn Statement of Offense, at 3; Flynn II I 17117 302, at 3-4. 92 Flynn Statement of Offense, at 3; McFarland 12122/ 17302, at 7-8; Flynn 11117117302, at 4. 93 McFarland 12/22117 302, at 8. 25 U.S. Department of Justice ,\M:6ffle, ')/srl( PF8Btlet II Pt4a) C6IJtaifl ~4aterial Pteteetea Ufuler FeB. R. Crilfl. P. 6(e) in response to the sanctions at that time and would instead "plan ... further steps to restore RussianUS relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration .,,·4 Following that announcement, the President-Elect tweeted, " Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart! ,,95 On December 31,2016, Kislyak called Flynn and told him that Flynn's request had been received at the highest levels and Russia had chosen not to retaliate in response to the request. 96 Later that day, Flynn told McFarland about this follow-up conversation with Kislyak and Russia's decision not to escalate the sanctions situation based on Flynn's request: 7 McFarland recalled that Flynn thought his phone call had made a difference:' Flynn spoke with other incoming Administration officials that day, but does not recall whether they discussed the sanctions 99 Flynn recalled discussing the sancti ons issue w ith incoming Administration official Stephen Bannon the next dayWO Flynn said that Bannon appeared to know about Flynn ' s conversations with Kislyak, and he and Bannon agreed that they had " stopped the train on Russia' s response" to the sanctions WI On January 3, 2017, Flynn saw the President-Elect in person and thought they discussed the Russian reaction to the sanctions, but Flynn did not have a spec ific recollection of telling the President-Elect about the substance of his calls with Kislyak. I02 Members of the intelligence community were surprised by Russia's decision not to retaliate in response to the sanctions. I03 When analyzing Russia's response, they became aware of Flynn's discussion of sanctions with Kislyak. I04 Previously, the FBI had opened an investigation of Flynn based on his relationship with the Russian govel11ment 105 Flynn's contacts with Kislyak became a key component of that investigation. I06 94 Statement by the President of Russia, President of Russia (Dec. 30, 2016) 12/30116. 9S @realDonaldTrump 12/30116 (2:41 p.m. ET) Tweet. 96 Flynn 1119118 302, at 3; Flynn Statement of Offense, at 3. 97 Flynn 1119118302, at 3; Flynn 11117/ 17302, at 6; McFarland 12/22117302, at 10; Flynn Statement of Offense, at 3. 98 McFarland 12122117302, at 10; see Flynn 1119118 302, at 4. 99 Flynn 11117117302, at 5-6. 100 Flynn 1119118302, at 4-5. Bannon recalled meeting with Flynn that day, but said he did not remember discussing sanctions with him . Bannon 2112/ 18 302, at 9. 101 Flynn 11 12 1117302, at I; Flynn 111 9118302, at 5. 102 Flynn 1119/ 18 302, at 6; Flynn 11 / 17/ 17 302, at 6. 103 McCord 7/ 17117 302, at 2. 104 McCord 7/ 17117 302, at 2. lOS McCord 7/ 17117 302, at 2-3 ; Corney 11115/ 17 302, at 5. 106 McCord 7117/ 17 302, at 2-3. 26 U.S. Department of Justice AftefRe) 'NellE Pfeat:let II ~4B:) CefttaiR l\4atel iai PI8teetee UftSef FeEl. R. Crim. P. 6(e) 2. President-Elect Trump is Briefed on the Intelligence Community's Assessment of Russ ian Inte rference in the Election and Congress Opens E lecti o nInterference Investigatio ns On January 6, 2017, as noted in Volume II, Section Il.A.4, supra, inte lligence officia ls briefed President-Elect Trump and the incom ing Administration on the inte lligence community's assessment that Russia had interfe red in th e 2016 pres idential election. I07 When the briefing concluded, Corney spoke with the President-Elect privately to brief him on unverified, personally sensitive allegations compiled by Stee le. l OS According to a memo randum Corn ey drafted immediate ly after their private discussi o n, the President-Elect began the meeting by te lling Corney he had condu cted himself hon orably over the prior year and had a great rep utati o n . I09 The President-Elect stated that he th ought highly of Corney, looked forward to working with him, and hoped that he planned to stay on as FB I director. l lo Corney responded that he intended to continue serving in that role. I II Corney th en briefed the Pres ident-Elect on the sensitive ma te rial in the Stee le reporting. I 12 Corney recalled tha t the President-Elect seemed defen s ive, so Corney decided 107 Hearing on Russian Election Inter/erence Be/ore the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, II 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI , at 1-2). 108 Corney 11 /15/17302, at 3; Hearing on Russian Election Inter/erence Be/ore the Senate Select Intelligence Com mittee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 1-2) . 109 Corney 1/7/17 Memorandum, at I. Corney began drafting th e memorandu m summarizing the meeting immediately after it occurred. Corney 11 /15/17 302, at 4. He finished the memorandum that evening and finalized it the following morning. Corney 11115117302, at 4. 11 0 Corney 1171 17 Memorandum, at I; Corney 11 / 15/17302, at 3. Corney identified several other occasions in January 20 17 when the President reiterated that he hoped Corney would stay on as FBI director. On January II , President-Elect Trump called Corn ey to discuss the Steele reports and stated that he thought Corney was doing great and the President-Elect hoped he would remain in his position as FBI director. Corney 11 / 15117302, at 4; Hearing on Russian Election Inter/erence Be/ore the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (testimony of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI), CQ Congo Transcripts, at 90. ("[DJuring that call, he asked me again, ' Hope you're going to stay, you're doing agreatjob.' And I told him that I intended to."). On January 22, at a White House reception honoring law enforceme nt, the President greeted Corney and said he looked forward to working with him. Hearing on Russian Election Inter/erence Be/ore the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (Ju ne 8, 2017) (testimony of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI), CQ Congo Transcripts, at 22. And as discussed in greater detail in Volume II, Section II.D, infra, on January 27, the President invited Corney to dinner at the White House and said he was glad Corney wanted to stay on as FBI Director. III Corney 117117 Memorandum, at 1; Corney 11 /15/17302, at 3. 11 2 Corney 1171 17 Memorandum, at 1-2; Corney 11 115/ 17302, at 3. Corney's briefing included the Steele reporting's unverified allegation that the Russians had compromising tapes of the President invo lving conduct when he was a private citizen during a 20 13 trip to Moscow for the Miss Universe Pageant. During the 20 16 presidential campaign, a similar claim may have reached candidate Trump. On October 30, 2016, Michael Cohen received a text from Russian bus inessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze that said, "Stopped flow of tapes from Russia but not sure if there's anything else. Just so you know .... " 10/30/16 Text Message, Rtskhiladze to Cohen. Rtskhiladze said "tapes" referred to compromising tapes of Tru mp rumored to be he ld by persons associated with the Russ ian real estate conglomerate Crocus Group, which had helped host 27 U.S. Department of Justice AM81fte) 'Nelic Ple6tlet II ~4fl) CSRtaift ~4tltel ittl Pfsteetea Uluiel Fea . R. Criffl. P. 6(e) to assure him that the FBI was not investigating him personally.'1 3 Corney recalled he did not want the President-Elect to think of the conversation as a "J. Edgar Hoover move.,,'14 On January 10, 2017, the media reported that Corney had briefed the President-Elect on the Steele reporting,'1S and BuzzFeed News published information compiled by Steele online, stating that the information included "specific, unverified, and potentially unverifiable allegations of contact between Trump aides and Russian operatives.,, ' 16 The next day, the President-Elect expressed concern to intelligence community leaders about the fact that the information had leaked and asked whether they could make public statements refuting the allegations in the Steele reports. " 7 In the following weeks, three Congressional committees opened investigations to examine Russia 's interference in the election and whether the Trump Campaign had colluded with Russia. lIs On January 13,20 17, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) announced that it would conduct a bipartisan inquiry into Russian interference in the election, including any " links between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns.,,119 On January 25, 2017, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) announced that it had been conducting an investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with the political campaigns. 120 And on February 2, 2017, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced that it too would investigate Russian efforts to intervene in the election. ' 21 the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant in Russia. Rtskhiladze 4/4/ 18 302, at 12. Cohen said he spoke to Trump about the issue after receiving the texts from Rtskhiladze. Cohen 9/ 12/ 18 302, at 13. Rtskhiladze said he was told the tapes were fake, but he did not communicate that to Cohen. Rtskhiladze 5/ 10118 302, at 7. 113 Corney I 1115/17302, at 3-4; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, II 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 2). 11 4 Corney 11115117302, at 3. li S See, e. g., Evan Perez et aI., Intel chiefs presented Trump with claims of Russian efforts to compromise him, CNN (Jan. 10,20 17; updated Jan. 12, 2017). 116 Ken Bensinger et aI., These Reports Allege Trump Has Deep Ties To Russia, BuzzFeed News (Jan. 10, 2017). 117 See I III 117 Email, Clapper to Corney ("He asked if! could put out a statement. He would prefer of course that I say the documents are bogus, which, of course, I can't do."); 1112117 Email, Corney to Clapper ("He called me at 5 yesterday and we had a very similar conversation."); Corney 11 / 15117302, at 4-5. " ' See 2016 Presidential El.ection Investigation Fast Facts, CNN (first published Oct. 12, 2017; updated Mar. I, 2019) (summarizing starting dates of Russia-related investigations). 119 Joint Statement on Committee Inquiry into Russian Intelligence Activities, SSCI (Jan. 13,2017). 120 Joint Statement on Progress of Bipartisan HPSCI Inquiry into Russian Active Measures, HPSCI (Jan. 25, 2017). Joint Statementfrom Senators Graham and Whitehouse on Investigation into Russian Influence on Democratic Nations' Elections (Feb. 2, 2017). 121 28 U.S . Department of Justice }"{;terRe), V/Sfk Pisettet II ~46) Ceftta iH "'4atefiai Pf8teetea UAaef Fea. R. 61 itA . P. 6(e) 3. Flynn Makes False Statements About his Communications with Kislyak to Incoming Administration Officials, the Media, and the FBI On January 12, 20 17, a Washington Post columnist reported that Flynn and Kislyak communicated on the day the Obama Adm inistration announced the Russia sanctions.122 The column questioned whether Flynn had said something to "undercut the U.S. sanctions" and whether Flynn's communications had violated the letter or spirit of the Logan Act.123 President-Elect Trump called Priebus after the story was published and expressed anger abo ut it l24 Priebus recalled that the President-Elect asked, "What the hell is this all about?,,125 Priebus called Flynn and told him that the President-Elect was angry about the reporting on Flynn 's conversations with Kislyak. '26 Flynn recalled that he felt a lot of pressure because Priebus had spoken to the "boss" and said Flynn needed to "kill the story.,,127 Flynn directed McFarland to call the Washington Post columnist and inform him that no discussion of sanctions had occurred. ' 28 McFarland recalled that Flynn said words to the effect of, "I want to kill the story.",29 McFarland made the call as Flynn had requested a lthough she knew she was providing false information, and the Washington Post updated the column to rellect that a "Trump official" had denied that F lynn and Kislyak di scussed sanctions. ' 30 When Priebus and other incom ing Admini stration officials questioned Flynn internall y about the Washington Post column, Flynn maintained that he had not discussed sanctions with Kislyak.13 1 Flynn repeated that claim to Vice President-Elect Michael Pence and to incoming press secretary Sean Spicer.132 In subsequent media intervi ews in mid-January, Pence, Priebus, and 122 David Ignatius, Why did Obama dawdle on Russia's hacking?, Washington Post (Jan. 12, 20 17). 123 David Ignatius, Why did Obama dawdle on Russia 's hacking?, Washington Post (Jan. 12,20 17). The Logan Act makes it a crime for "[aJny citizen of the United States, wherever he may be" to "without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commence[] or carr[yJ on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the Un ited States, or to defeat the measures of the United States." 18 U.S.C. § 953. 124 Priebus 111 8/ 18302, at 6. 125 Priebus 1118/ 18 302, at 6. 126 Priebus 1118/ 18302, at 6. 121 Flynn 11 12 1/17 302, at I ; Flynn 11120117 302, at 6. 128 McFarland 12/22/ 17 302, at 12-1 3. 129 McFarland 12122117 302, at 12. 130 McFarland 12/22/ 17 302, at 12-13; McFarland 8/29/ 17 302, at 8; see David Ignatius, Why did Obama dawdle on Russia's hacking?, Washington Post (Jan. 12, 20 17). 131 Flynn 11117117302, at 1,8; Flynn 11 19/ 18302, at 7; Priebus 10/ 13117302, at 7-8; S. Miller 8/31117302, at 8-1 1. 132 Flynn 11 / 17/ 17302, at I, 8; Flynn 1/ 19/ 18302, at 7; S. Miller 8/31117 302, at 10-11. 29 u.s. Department of Justice AM6ftley \V81k PI 881:tet 1/ P,4a) CefltaiR ~4aterial PI eteetea UAaer Fea. R. at itft . P. 6(e) Spicer denied that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions, basing those denials on their conversations with Flynn' 33 The public statements of incoming Administration officials denying that Flynn and Kislyak had discussed sanctions alarmed senior DOJ officials, who were aware that the statements were not true. '34 Those officials were concerned that Flynn had lied to his colleagues-who in turn had unwittingly misled the American public-creating a compromise situation for Flynn because the Department of Justice assessed that the Russian government could prove Flynn lied .135 The FBI investigative team also believed that Flynn's calls with Kislyak and subsequent denials about discussing sanctions raised potential Logan Act issues and were relevant to the FBI's broader Russia investigation. '36 On January 20, 2017, President Trump was inaugurated and Flynn was sworn in as National Security Advisor. On January 23, 2017, Spicer delivered his first press briefing and stated that he had spoken with Flynn the night before, who confirmed that the calls with Kislyak were about topics unrelated to sanctions.137 Spicer's statements added to the Department of Justice's concerns that Russia had leverage over Flynn based on his lies and could use that derogatory information to compromise him. '38 On January 24, 2017, Flynn agreed to be interviewed by agents from the FB1.139 During the interview, which took place at the White House, Flynn falsely stated that he did not ask Kislyak to refrain from escalating the situation in response to the sanctions on Russia imposed by the Obama Administration'40 Flynn also false ly stated that he did not remember a follow-up conversation in which Kislyak stated that Russia had chosen to moderate its response to those sanctions as a result of Flynn's request. '4' Face the Nation Interview with Vice President-Elect Pence, CBS (Jan. 15, 20 17); Julie Hirschfield Davis et aI., Trump National Security Advisor Called Russian Envoy Day Before Sanctions Were Imposed, Washington Post (Jan. 13, 2017); Meet the Press Interview with Reince Priebus, NBC (Jan. 15, 2017). 133 134 Yates 8/15/17 302, at 2-3; McCord 7/17117 302, at 3-4; McCabe 8/17/ 17 302, at 5 (DOJ officials were "really freaked out about it"). 135 Yates 8/15/17 302, at 3; McCord 7/17117 302, at 4. 136 McCord 7117117 302, at 4; McCabe 8/17/17302, at 5-6. 137 Sean Spicer, White House Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (Jan. 23, 2017). 138 Yates 8115/17 302, at 4; Axelrod 7/20/17 302, at 5. 13' Flynn Statement of Offense, at 2. 140 Flynn Statement of Offense, at 2. 141 Flynn Statement of Offense, at 2. On December 1,201 7, Flynn admitted to making these false statements and pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 100 I, which makes it a crime to knowingly and willfully "make[] any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation" to federal law enforcement officials. See Volume I, Section IV.A.7, supra. 30 U.S. Department of Justice AMefl'1e) '.verlt Ppsattet II ~48) CeHtaitl ~4ttterial Pf8teetea URder Fed. R. 61 it". P. 6(e) 4. DOJ Officials Notify the White House of Their Concerns About Flynn On January 26. 20 17, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates contacted White House Counsel Donald McGahn and informed him that she needed to discuss a sensitive matter with him in person . 142 Later that day, Yates and Mary McCord, a senior national security official at the Department of Justice, met at the White House with McGahn and White House Counsel's Office attorney James Burnham. 143 Yates said that the public statements made by the Vice President denying that Flynn and Kislyak discussed sanctions were not true and put Flynn in a potentially compromised position because the Russians would know he had lied. 144 Yates disclosed that Flynn had been interviewed by the FBl 1 4s She declined to answer a specific question about how Flynn had performed during that interview,146 but she indicated that Flynn's statements to the FBI were sim ilar to the statements he had made to Pence and Spicer denying that he had discussed sanctions. l47 McGahn came away from the meeting with the impression that the FBI had not pinned F lynn down in lies,l48 but he asked John Eisenberg, who served as legal advisor to the National Security Counci l, to examine potential legal issues raised by Flynn's FBI interview and his contacts with Kislyak. 149 That afternoon, McGahn notified the President that Yates had come to the White House to discuss concerns about Flynnl SO McGahn described what Yates had told him, and the President asked him to repeat it, so he did. lSI McGahn recalled that when he described the FBI interview of Flynn, he said that Flynn did not disclose having discussed sanctions with Kislyak, but that there may not have been a clear violation of 18 U .S.c. § 100 l.IS2 The President asked about Section IDOl , and McGahn explained the law to him, and also explained the Logan ACt. IS3 The President 142 Yates 8115/ 17 302, at 6. Yates 8/ 15117 302, at 6; McCord 7117117 302, at 6; SCROl5 000198 (2/ 15/17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President). 14' 144 Yates 8115117 302, at 6-8 ; McCord 7/ 17/ 17 302, at 6-7; Burnham 11 /3/ 17 302, at 4; SCR0 15_000198 (2/ 15117 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office ofthe Counsel to the President). 145 McGahn 11 /30117302 , at 5; Yates 8/ 15/ 17 302, at 7; McCord 7117117 302, at 7; Burnham 11/3/ 17302, at 4. 146 Yates 8/ 15117 302, at 7; McCord 7117117 302, at 7. 14 7 SCR015_000198 (2115117 Draft Memorandum to file fr~m the Office of the Counsel to the President); Burnham 11/3117302, at 4. 148 McGahn 1113 0117 302, at 5. 149 SCRO 15 000198 (2 / 15117 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President); McGahn 11 /30/ 17302, at 6,8. IS. McGahn 11/30/ 17302, at 6; SCR015_000278 (White House Counsel 's Office Memorandum re: " Flynn Tick Tock") (on January 26, " McGahn IMMEDIATELY advises POTUS"); SCR0 15_000 198 (2115/ 17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President). 15 1 McGahn 11 /30117302 , at 6. 152 McGahn 11/30/ 17302, at 7. 153 McGahn 11/30117302 , ai 7. 31 U.S. Department of Justice AMefRey ';V6fl( Pfe6tlet II Pt4a) C8fttaiH Pw4aterial PI'6teetea UI,8et Fea. R. Grim. P. 6(e) instructed McGahn to work with Priebus and Bannon to look into the matter further and directed that they not discuss it with any other officials. 154 Priebus recalled that the President was angry with Flynn in light of what Yates had told the White House and said, "not again, this guy, thi s stu ff. " 155 That evening, the President dined with several senior advisors and asked the group what they thought about FBI Director Corney. 156 According to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who was at the dinner, no one openly advocated terminating Corney but the consensus on him was not positive.15? Coats told the group that he thought Corney was a good director. 158 Coats encouraged the President to meet Corney face-to-face and spend time with him before making a decision about whether to retain him .IS9 5. McGahn has a Follow-Up Meeting About Flynn with Yates; President Trump has Dinner with FBI Director Corney The next day, January 27, 2017, McGahn and Eisenberg discussed the results of Eisenberg's initial legal research into Flynn ' s conduct, and specifically whether Flynn may have violated the Espionage Act, the Logan Act, or 18 U.S.c. § 1001. 160 Based on his preliminary research , Eisenberg informed McGahn that there was a possibility that Flynn had violated 18 U.S.c. § 100 I and the Logan ACt. 161 Eisenberg noted that the United States had never successfully prosecuted an individual under the Logan Act and that Flynn could have possible defenses, and 15< McGahn 11 /30117302, at 7; SCRO 15_000198-99 (2115117 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President). 155 Priebus 10/13117302, at 8. Several witnesses said that the President was unhappy with Flynn for other reasons at this time. Bannon said that Flynn's standing with the President was not good by December 2016. Bannon 2112118 302, at 12. The President-Elect had concerns because President Obama had warned him about Flynn shortly after the election. Bannon 2112/ 18 302, at 4-5; Hicks 12/8117302 , at 7 (President Obama's comment sat with President-Elect Trump more than Hicks expected). Priebus said that the President had become unhappy with Flynn even before the story of his calls with Kislyak broke and had become so upset with Flynn that he would not look at him during intelligence briefings. Priebus 1118118302, at 8. Hicks said that the President thought Flynn had bad judgment and was angered by tweets sent by Flynn and his son, and she described Flynn as "be ing on thin ice" by early February 2017. Hicks 12/8117302, at 7, 10. 156 Coats 6114/ 17 302, at 2. 15? Coats 6114/ 17 302, at 2. 15' Coats 6114117 302, at 2. I" Coats 6114117 302, at 2. 160 SCROl5 000199 (2/15/17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President); McGahn 11 /30/ 17 302, at 8. 161 SCRO 15 000199 (2/ 15/ 17 Draft Memorandum to fil e from the Office of the Counsel to the President); Eisenberg 11 /29117302, at 9. 32 U.S. Department of Justice AM:81I'te) \'/611£ Pf88tfet /1 ~4a) Cef\~aif\ ~4atefial Pi:eteeteel Uneet Feet. R. Grim . P. 6(e) told McGahn that he believed it was unlikely that a prosecutor would pursue a Logan Act charge under the c ircumstances .162 That same morning, McGahn asked Yates to return to the White House to discuss Flynn again. 16 ) In that second meeting, McGahn expressed doubts that the Department of Justice would bring a Logan Act prosecution against Flynn , but stated that the White House did not want to take action that would interfere with an ongoing FBI investigation of Flynn. 164 Yates responded that Department of Justice had notified the White House so that it could take action in response to the information provided. 165 McGahn ended the meeting by asking Yates for access to the underlying information the Department of Justice possessed pertaining to Flynn ' s discussions with Kislyak.1 66 Also on January 27, the President called FBI Director Corney and invited him to dinner that evening 167 Priebus recalled that before the dinner, he told the President something like, " don ' t talk about Russia, whatever you do," and the President promised he would not talk about Russia at the dinner.16s McGahn had previously advised the President that he shou ld not communicate directly with the Department of Justice to avoid the perception or reality of political interference in lawenforcement. 169 When Bannon learned about the President's planned dinner with Corney, he suggested that he or Priebus also attend, but the President stated that he wanted to dine with Corney a lone.17o Corney said that when he arrived for the dinner that evening, he was surprised and concerned to see that no one else had been invited. l 7l 162 SCRO 15_000199 (2115/17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President) ; Eisenberg 11 /29/ 17302, at 9. 163 SCRO 15 000199 (2115117 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President); McGahn 11130117302, at 8; Yates 8115/ 17 302, at 8. 164 Yates 8/ 15117 302, at 9; McGahn 11130/ 17302, at 8. 165 Yates 8115117 302, at 9; Burnham 1113/ 17302, at 5; see SCROl5 00199 (2115117 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President) ("Yates was unwilling to confirm or deny that there was an ongoing investigation but did indicate that the Department of Justice would not object to the White House taking action against Flynn."). 166 Yates 9115/17 302, at 9; Burnham 1113/ 17 302, at 5. In accordance with McGahn 's request, the Department of Justice made the underlying information available and Eisenberg viewed the information in early February. Eisenberg 11/29117302, at 5; FBI 217117 Electronic Communication, at I (documenting 2/2/ 17 meeting with Eisenberg). 167 Corney 11115117302, at 6; SCR012b_000001 (President's Daily Diary, 1127117); Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, I 15th Congo(June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 2-3). 16. Priebus 10/ 13117302, at 17. 169 See McGahn 11/30/ 17302, at 9; Dhillon 11 /21117302, at 2; Bannon 2112/ 18 302, at 17. 170 Bannon 2112118 302, at 17. 171 Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Comm ittee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 3); see Corney 11 115117302, at 6. 33 u.s. Department of Justice "MeIRe) '.\lelk Pre6t1et II ~48:) CefJ:laift ~4atepial Pisteetea URSey Fea. R. Grift). P. 6(e1 Corney provided an account of the dinner in a contemporaneous memo, an interview with this Office, and congressional testimony. According to Corney' s account of the dinner, the President repeatedly brought up Corney's future, asking whether he wanted to stay on as FBI director. 172 Because the President had previously said he wanted Corney to stay on as FBI director, Corney interpreted the President's comments as an effort to create a patronage relationship by having Corney ask for his job. 173 The President also brought up the Steele reporting that Corney had raised in the January 6, 2017 briefing and stated that he was thinking about ordering the FBI to investigate the allegations to prove they were false. '74 Corney responded that the President should think carefully about issuing such an order because it could create a narrative that the FBI was investigating him personally, which was incorrect. 175 Later in the dinner, the President brought up Flynn and said, "the guy has serious judgment issues.", 76 Corney did not comment on Flynn and the President did not acknowledge any FBI interest in or contact with Flynn. 177 According to Corney's account, at one point during the dinner the President stated, " I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.,,178 Corney did not respond and the conversation moved on to other topics, but the President returned to the subject of Corney's job at the end of the dinner and repeated, "I need loyalty.",79 Corney responded, " You will always get honesty from me.", 80 The 172 Corney 11115117 302, at 7; Corney 1/28117 Memorandum, at I, 3; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, I 15th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 3). 173 Corney 11115/ 17302, at 7; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 3). 174 Corney 1/28117 Memorandum, at 3; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director ofthe FBI, at 4). 175 Corney 1/28/ 17 Memorandum, at 3; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 4). 176 Corney 1/28/17 Memorandum, at4; Corney 11115117302, at7. m Corney 1/28/ 17 Memorandum, at 4; Corney 11115117302, at 7. m Corney 1128/ 18 Memorandum, at 2; Corney 11115/ 17302, at 7; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 3). 179 Corney 1128117 Memorandum, at 3; Corney 11115117302, at 7; Hearing on Russian Election Intelierence Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 3-4). 180 Corney 1/28117 Memorandum, at 3; Corney 11115117302, at 7; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 4). 34 U.S. Department of Justice AK611,e} '.V6fl£ PF8thtet 1/ ~4fl}! C6Htaifl ~4atefifll Pfsteetea Uflaer Fea. R. Pres ident said, " That's what I want, honest 10yalty."l81 at iltl. P. 6(e) Corney said, "You will get that from me .,, 182 After Corney's account ofthe dinner became public, the President and his advisors disputed that he had asked for Corney ' s loyalty l83 The President also indicated that he had not invited Corney to dinner, telling a reporter that he thought Corney had "asked for the dinner" because " he wanted to stay on .,,'84 But substantial evidence corroborates Corney' s account of the dinner invitation and the request for loyalty. The President's Daily Diary confirms that the President "extend[ed] a dinner invitation" to Corney on January 27.'85 With respect to the substance of the dinner conversation, Corney documented the President' s request for loyalty in a memorandum he began drafting the night of the dinner; 186 senior FBI officials recall that Corney told them about the loyalty request shortly after the dinner occurred;'87 and Corney described the request while 181 Corney 1128/17 Memorandum, at 3; Corney 11115/ 17 302, at 7; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI , at 4). 182 Corney 1/28/17 Memorandum, at 3; Corney 11 /15/17 302, at 7; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Comm illee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 4). 18] See, e.g. , Michael S. Schmidt, In a Private Dinner, Trump Demanded Loyally. Corney Demurred., New York Times (May 11 , 2017) (quoting Sarah Sanders as saying, " [The President] would never even suggest the expectation of personal loyalty"); Ali Vitali, Trump Never Asked for Corney's Loyalty, President's Personal Lawyer Says , NBC (June 8,2017) (quoting the President's personal counsel as saying, "The president also never told Mr. Corney, ' I need loyalty, I expect loyalty,' in form or substance."); Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference, White House (June 9, 2017) (" I hardly know the man. I' m not going to say ' I want you to pledge allegiance.' Who would do that? Who would ask a man to pledge allegiance under oath?"). In a private conversation with Spicer, the President stated that he had never asked for Corney's loyalty, but added that if he had asked for loyalty, " Who cares?" Spicer 10/ 16/ 17 302, at 4. The President also told McGahn that he never said what Corney said he had. McGahn 12/ 12/17302, at 17. 184 Interview ofDonald J. Trump , NBC (May 11 , 2017). ISS SCRO 12b_00000 I (President'S Dai Iy Diary, 1127/17) (reflecting that the President called Corney in the morning on January 27 and "[t]he purpose of the call was to extend a dinner invitation"). In addition, two witnesses corroborate Corney's account that the President reached out to schedule the dinner, without Corney having asked for it. Priebus 10/13/17302, at 17 (the President asked to schedule the January 27 dinner because he did not know much about Corney and intended to ask him whether he wanted to stay on as FBI Director); Rybicki 11121/18 302, at 3 (recalling that Corney told him about the President's dinner invitation on the day of the dinner) . 186 Corney 11/15/17302, at 8; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senale Seleci Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 4). 187 McCabe 8/17/ 17 302, at 9-10; Rybicki 11 /21118302, at 3. After leaving the White House, Corney called Deputy Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe, summarized what he and the President had discussed, including the President's request for loyalty, and expressed shock over the President's request. McCabe 8/17/17 302, at 9. Corney also convened a meeting with his senior leadership team to discuss what the President had asked of him during the dinner and whether he had handled the request for loyalty properly . McCabe 8/17/17 302 , at 10; Rybicki 11 /21/18302, at 3. In addition, Corney distributed his 35 U.S. Department of Justice AKal He, ')/81 Ie PI 86t1et 1/ tt.4ay Cel.t8:iH 1'4atet ietl Pt'6teetea Ufl8et Feel. R. Cl ilil. P. 6(e) under oath in congressional proceedings and in a subsequent interview with investigators subject to penalties for lying under 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Corney's memory of the details of the dinner, including that the President requested loyalty, has remained consistent throughout. l88 6. Flynn's Resignation On February 2, 2017, Eisenberg reviewed the underlying information relating to Flynn's calls with Kislyak. 189 Eisenberg recalled that he prepared a memorandum about criminal statutes that could apply to Flynn's conduct, but he did not believe the White House had enough information to make a definitive recommendation to the President 190 Eisenberg and McGahn discussed that Eisenberg's review of the underlying information confirmed his preliminary conclusion that Flynn was unlikely to be prosecuted for violating the Logan ACt. 191 Because White House officials were uncertain what Flynn had told the FBI, however, they could not assess his exposure to prosecution for violating 18 V.S.c. § 1001. 192 The week of February 6, Flynn had a one-on-one conversation with the President in the Oval Office about the negative media coverage of his contacts with Kislyak. 193 Flynn recalled that the President was upset and asked him for information on the conversations. 194 Flynn listed the specific dates on which he remembered speaking with Kislyak, but the President corrected one of the dates he listed. 195 The President asked Flynn what he and Kislyak discussed and Flynn responded that he might have talked about sanctions. 196 memorandum documenting the dinner to his senior leadership team, and McCabe confirmed that the memorandum captured what Corney said on the telephone call immediately following the dinner. McCabe 8117117302, at 9-10. IS' There also is evidence that corroborates other aspects of the memoranda Corney wrote documenting his interactions with the President. For example, Corney recalled, and his memoranda reflect, that he told the President in his January 6, 2017 meeting, and on phone calls on March 30 and April II, 2017, that the FBI was not investigating the President personally. On May 8, 2017, during White House discussions about firing Corney, the President told Rosenstein and others that Corney had told him three times that he was not under investigation, including once in person and twice on the phone. Gauhar-000058 (Gauhar 5/ 16/17 Notes). Eisenberg 11129/17302, at 5; FBI 217117 Electronic Communication, at I (documenting 2/2/17 meeting with Eisenberg). 189 190 Eisenberg 11129117302, at 6. 191 Eisenberg 11 /29117302, at 9; SCR015_000200 (2115117 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President). 192 Eisenberg I 1/29117302, at 9. 193 Flynn 11121/17 302, at 2. 194 Flynn 11121 /17 302, at 2. 19' Flynn 11 /21117302, at 2. 196 Flynn 1112111 7 302, at 2-3. 36 U.S. Department of Justice AH:61 He, Welk PIS6t1et /1 ~48) CSHtaifl "4atel isl Prsteetea UH8et Fee. R. Grim. P. 6~e) On February 9, 2017, the Washington Post reported that Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak the month before the President took office.!9? After the publication of that story, Vice President Pence learned of the Department of Justice' s notification to the White House about the content of Flynn's calls 198 He and other advisors then sought access to and reviewed the underlying information about Flynn's contacts with Kislyak. !99 FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who provided the White House officials access to the information and was present when they reviewed it, recalled the officials asking him whether Flynn's conduct violated the Logan Act. 200 McCabe responded that he did not know, but the FBI was investigating the matter because it was a possibility.20! Based on the evidence of Flynn's contacts with Kislyak, McGahn and Priebus concluded that Flynn could not have forgotten the details of the discussions of sanctions and had instead been lying about what he discussed with Kislyak.'02 Flynn had also told White House officials that the FBI had told him that the FBI was closing out its investigation ofhim,203 but Eisenberg did not believe him 204 After reviewing the materials and speaking with Flynn, McGahn and Priebus concluded that Flynn should be terminated and recommended that course of action to the President 20S That weekend, Flynn accompanied the President to Mar-a-Lago .'06 Flynn recalled that on February 12,2017, on the return flight to D.C. on Air Force One, the President asked him whether he had lied to the Vice Pres ident. 20 ? Flynn responded that he may have forgotten details of his calls, but he did not think he lied.'o, The President responded, "Okay. That' s fine. I got it.,,209 19' Greg Miller et aI. , National security adviser Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador, despite denials, officials say, Washington Post (Feb. 9, 2017). 19, SCRO 15 000202 (2/15/ 17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President); McGahn 11/30/17 302, at 12. 199 SCROl5 000202 (2/15/17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President); McCabe 8117117 302, at 11-13; Priebus 10/13/17302, at 10; McGahn 11 /30117302 , at 12. 200 McCabe 8/17/ 17 302, at 13. 201 McCabe 8/ 17/17 302, at 13. 202 McGahn 11/30/17 302, at 12; Priebus 1/18/ 18 302, at 8; Priebus 10/ 13/17 302, at 10; SCRO 15_000202 (2/ 15/17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President). 203 McGahn 11 /30/ 17302, at II ; Eisenberg 11 /29/ 17 302, at 9; Priebus 10/13/17302, at II. 20. Eisenberg 11 /29/17302, at 9. SCRO 15_000202 (2/15/17 Draft Memorandum to file from the Office of the Counsel to the President); Priebus 10/13/ 17302, at 10; McGahn 11/30/17302, at 12. 205 206 Flynn 11 / 17/ 17302, at 8. 20' Flynn 1/19/18302, at 9; Flynn 11/17117302, at 8. 20B Flynn 11/17/1 7 302, at 8; Flynn 1/19/18 302, at 9. 209 Flynn 1/ 19/ 18302, at 9. 37 U.S. Department of Justice AMeli He) 'J/sril PfSatlet II t\4ay CSfttaiH P.1aterial Pisteetea Undel FeEl. R . Grim. P. 6Ee) On February 13,2017, Priebus told Flynn he had to resign .21O Flynn said he wanted to say goodbye to the President, so Priebus brought him to the Oval Office 21 1 Priebus recalled that the President hugged Flynn, shook his hand, and said, "We ' ll give you a good recommendation. You're a good guy'. We' ll take care ofyou.,,2l2 Talking points on the resignation prepared by the White House Counsel's Office and distributed to the White House communications team stated that McGahn had advised the President that Flynn was unlikely to be prosecuted, and the President had determined that the issue with Flynn was one oftrust. 213 Spicer told the press the next day that Flynn was forced to resign " not based on a legal issue, but based on a trust issue, [where] a level of trust between the President and General Flynn had eroded to the point where [the President] felt he had to make a change.,,214 7. The President Discusses Flynn with FBI Director Corney On February 14, 2017, the day after Flynn's resignation, the President had lunch at the White House with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. 215 According to Christie, at one point during the lunch the President said, "Now that we fired Flynn, the Russia thing is over.,,2 16 Christie laughed and responded, "No way.,,2 17 He said, "this Russia thing is far from over" and " [w]e'll be here on Valentine' s Day 2018 talking about this.,,218 The President said, " [w]hat do you mean? Flynn met with the Russians . That was the problem. I fired Flynn. It's over.,,219 Christie recalled responding that based on his experience both as a prosecutor and as someone who had been investigated, firing Flynn would not end the investigation 220 Christie said there was no way to make an investigation shorter, but a lot of ways to make it 10nger.221 The President asked Christie what he meant, and Christie told the President not to talk about the investigation even if he was 210 Priebus 1118/ 18 302, at 9. 211 Priebus 1118118302, at 9; Flynn 11117/17302, at 10. m Priebus 1118118302, at 9; Flynn 11/17/ 17302, at 10. 2lJ SCR004_00600 (2/ 16117 Email, Burnham to Donaldson). 21 4 Sean Spicer, While House Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (Feb. 14, 20 17). After Flynn pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.c. § 100 I in December 20 17, the President tweeted, "I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FB\''' @reaLDonaldTrump 12/2/ 17 (12: 14 p.m. ET) Tweet. The next day, the President's personal counsel told the press that he had drafted the tweet. Maegan Vazquez et a\., Trump's lawyer says he was behind President's tweet aboutjiring Flynn, CNN (Dec. 3, 20 17). 2lS Christie 2/ 13/ 19 302, at 2-3; SCR012b_000022 (President's Daily Diary, 2114117). 21 6 Christie 2113119 302, at 3. m Christie 2113119 302, at 3. Christie 2/13119 302, at 3. Christie said he thought when the President said "the Russia thing" he was referring to not just the investigations but also press coverage about Russia. Christie thought the more important thing was that there was an investigation. Christie 2/13/19 302, at 4. 218 219 Christie 2113119 302, at 3. 220 Christie 2113/19 302, at 3. m Christie 2113119 302, at 3. 38 u.s. Department of Justice Att6fRe) \"srlt Pf8at:let II P.4s) CSHtaiA P,{aterial Pfsteetea UReel Fea . R. Gfim. P. 6(ej frustrated at times. 222 Christie also told the President that he would never be able to get rid of Flynn, " like gum on the bottom of your shoe.,,223 Towards the end of the lunch, the President brought up Corney and asked if Christie was still friendly w ith him .224 Christie said he was.225 The President told Christie to call Corney and tell him that the President "really like[s] him. Tell him he's part ofthe team.,,226 At the end of the lunch, the President repeated his request that Christie reach out to Comey.227 Christie had no intention of complying with the President' s request that he contact Comey.228 He thought the President's request was "nonsensical" and Christie did not want to put Corney in the position of having to receive such a phone call. 229 Christie thought it would have been uncomfortable to pass on that message. 230 At 4 p.m. that afternoon, the President met with Corney, Sessions, and other officials for a homeland security briefing. 2Jl At the end of the briefing, the President dismissed the other attendees and stated that he wanted to speak to Corney a lone.232 Sessions and sen ior advisor to the President Jared Kushner remained in the Oval Office as other participants left, but th e President 222 Christie 2113/ 19 302, at 3-4. 223 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 3. Christie also recalled that during the lunch, Flynn called Kushner, who was at the lunch, and complained about what Spicer had said about Flynn in his press briefing that day. Kushner told Flynn words to the effect of, "You know the President respects you. The President cares about you. I' ll get the President to send out a positive tweet about you later." Kushner looked at the President when he mentioned the tweet, and the President nodded his assent. Christie 2/13/19 302, at 3. Flynn recalled getting upset at Spicer's comments in the press conference and calling Kushner to say he did not appreciate the comments. Flynn 1119/18302 , at 9. 224 Christie 2/ 13/ 19 302, at 4. 225 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 4. 226 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 4-5. 227 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 5. '" Christie 21 13/19 302, at 5. 229 Christie 2/ 13/19 302, at 5. 2JO Chri stie 2/13/ 19 302, at 5. 231 SCRO 12b_000022 (President's Daily Diary, 2/14/17); Corney 11 / 15/ 17 302, at 9. 2J2 Corney 11/15/17 302, at 10; 2/14/17 Corney Memorandum, at 1; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FB I, at 4); Priebus 10/13/ 17302, at 18 (confirming that everyone was shooed out "like Corney said" in his June testimony). 39 U.S. Department of Justice /ltt81I'te) ,}larle Pfe6t1et 1/ P,4a) CSRtaift ~48:tel iai Pfeteetea UFlaef Fee. R. Ct itA. P. 6(e) excused them, repeating that he wanted to speak only with Comey.233 At some point after others had left the Oval Office, Priebus opened the door, but the President sent him away.234 According to Comey's account of the meeting, once they were alone, the President began the conversation by saying, '" want to talk about Mike Flynn.,,235 The President stated that Flynn had not done anything wrong in speaking with the Russians, but had to be terminated because he had misled the Vice President. 236 The conversation turned to the topic of leaks of classified information , but the President returned to Flynn, saying "he is a good guy and has been through a 10\.,,237 The President stated, '" hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. 'hope you can let this gO.'>238 Comey agreed that Flynn " is a good guy," but did not commit to ending the investigation of Flynn.239 Comey testified under oath that he took the President's statement "as a direction" because of the President's position and the circumstances of the one-on-one meeting .2 4o 233 Corney 11 / 1S/ 17 302, at 10; Corney 2/ 14117 Memorandum, at I; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I ISth Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 4). Sessions recalled that the President asked to speak to Corney alone and that Sessions was one of the last to leave the room; he described Corney 's testimony about the events leading up to the private meeting with the President as "pretty accurate." Sessions 1117118302, at 6. Kushner had no recollection of whether the President asked Corney to stay behind. Kushner 4111118302, at 24. 234 Corney 2/ 14117 Memorandum, at 2; Priebus 10/ 13117 302, at 18. m Corney I II1SI1 7 302, at 10; Corney 2114/ 17 Memorandum, at 1; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Selecl Intelligence Committee, IISth Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 4). 236 Corney 2/ 14/ 17 Memorandum, at I; Hearing on Russian Eleclion Interference Before the Senale Select Intelligence Committee, IISth Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at S). 237 Corney 1I / IS/ 17 302, at 10; Corney 2/ 14117 Memorandum, at 2; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at S). 238 Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, IISth Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 5); Corney 2/14117 Memorandum, at 2. Corney said he was highly confident that the words in quotations in his Memorandum documenting this meeting were the exact words used by the President. He said he knew ' from the outset of the meeting that he was about to have a conversation of consequence, and he remem bered the words used by the President and wrote them down soon after the meeting. Corney II I lSI 17 302, at 10-11. 239 Corney 1I / IS/ 17 302, at 10; Corney 2/ 14117 Memorandum, at2. l<0 Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before Ihe Senate Selecl Intelligence Committee, IISth Congo(June 8, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 31) (testimony of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI). Corney further stated, " I mean, this is the president ofthe United States, with me alone, saying, ' I hope ' this. 1took it as, this is what he wants me to do." Id.; see also Corney 1I / ISI17 302, at 10 (Corney took the statement as an order to shut down the Flynn investigation). 40 U.S. Department of Justice AM81ne) \VeIl( PI 86ttet II ~1ft) CSHtaiR ~4atefiftl Prsteetea UHaer Fea. R. Crim. P. 6(e} Shortly after meeting with the President, Corney began drafting a memorandum documenting their conversation 241 Corney also met with his senior leadership team to discuss the President's request, and they agreed not to inform FBI officials working on the Flynn case of the President's statements so the officials would not be influenced by the request?42 Corney also asked for a meeting with Sessions and requested that Sessions not leave Corney alone with the President again243 8. The Media Raises Ouestions About the President's Delay in Terminating Flynn After Flynn was forced to resign, the press raised questions about why the President waited more than two weeks after the DOJ notification to remove Flynn and whether the President had known about Flynn's contacts with Kislyak before the DOJ notification?44 The press also continued to raise questions about connections between Russia and the President's campaign 245 On February 15,2017, the President told reporters, "General Flynn is a wonderful man. T think he's been treated very, very unfairly by the media.,,246 On February 16, 2017, the President held 241 Corney 1111SI17 302, at 11; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, IISth Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the record ofJames B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at S). 242 Corney I111SI17 302, at 11; Rybicki 6/9117 302, at 4; Rybicki 6/22117 302, at I; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, IISth Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at S-6). 243 Corney 1\/IS/ 17 302, at 11; Rybicki 6/9117 302, at 4-S; Rybicki 6/22117 302, at 1-2; Sessions 1/17/ 18 302, at 6 (confirming that later in the week following Corney's one-an-one meeting with the President in the Oval Office, Corney told the Attorney General that he did not want to be alone with the President); Hunt 2/1/18 302, at 6 (within days of the February 14 Oval Office meeting, Corney told Sessions he did not think it was appropriate for the FBI Director to meet alone with the President); Rybicki 1\/2\/18 302, at 4 (Rybicki helped to schedule the meeting with Sessions because Corney wanted to talk about his concerns about meeting with the President alone); Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, IISth Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 6). 244 See, e.g, Sean Spicer, White House Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (Feb. 14, 2017) (questions from the press included, "if [the President] was notified 17 days ago that Flynn had misled the Vice President, other officials here, and that he was a potential threat to blackmail by the Russians, why would he be kept on for almost three weeks?" and "Did the President instruct [Flynn] to talk about sanctions with the [Russian ambassador]?"). Priebus recalled that the President initially equivocated on whether to fire Flynn because it would generate negative press to lose his National Security Advisor so early in his term. Priebus 1118/18 302, at 8. 245 E.g. , Sean Sullivan et aI., Senators from both parties pledge to deepen probe of Russia and the 2016 election, Washington Post (Feb. 14,2017); Aaron Blake, 5 times Donald Trump's team denied contact with Russia, Washington Post (Feb. IS, 2017); Oren Dorell, Donald Trump's ties to Russia go back 30 years, USA Today (Feb. IS , 2017); Pamela Brown et aI., Trump aides were in constant touch with senior Russian officials during campaign, CNN (Feb. IS , 2017); Austin Wright, Corney briefs senators amidfuror over Trump-Russia ties, Politico (Feb. 17, 2017); Megan Twohey & Scott Shane, A Back-Channel Planfor Ukraine and Russia, Courtesy of Trump Associates, New York Times (Feb. 19, 2017). 246 Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu oflsrael in Joint Press Conference, White House (Feb. IS, 2017). 41 U.S. Department of Justice A1:t6ffte) '.Vefl( Ppsatlet II P-1s) Centail. ~4fttel isl PI steetes VABer FeB. R. 61 ilil. P. 6(e) a press conference and said that he removed Flynn because Flynn " didn ' t tell the Vice President of the United States the facts , and then he didn ' t remember. And that just wasn ' t acceptable to me."241 The President said he did not direct Flynn to discuss sanctions with Kis lyak, but " it certainly would have been okay with me ifhe did . I would have directed him to do it if I thought he wasn't doing it. I didn ' t direct him , but I would have directed him because that's his job.,,248 In listing the reasons for terminating Flynn, the President did not say that Flynn had lied to him 249 The President also denied having any connection to Russia, stating, "I have nothing to do with Russia. I told you, Thave no deals there. I have no anything.,,250 The President also said he "had nothing to do with" WikiLeaks's publication of information hacked from the Clinton campaign 25 1 9. The President Attempts to Have K.T. McFarland Create a Witness Statement Denying that he Directed Flynn's Discussions with Kislyak On February 22, 2017, Priebus and Bannon told McFarland that the President wanted her to resign as Deputy National Security Advisor, but they suggested to her that the Administration could make her the ambassador to Singapore.252 The next day, the President asked Priebus to have McFarland draft an internal email that would confirm that the President did not direct Flynn to call the Russ ian Ambassador about sanctions.25J Priebus said he told the President he would only direct McFarland to write such a letter ifshe were comfortable with it 2 54 Priebus called McFarland into his office to convey the President's request that she memorialize in writing that the President did not direct Flynn to talk to Kislyak. 255 McFarland told Priebus she did not know whether the President had directed Flynn to talk to Kislyak about sanctions, and she declined to say yes or no 247 Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference, White House (Feb. 16,2017). 248 Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference, White House (Feb. 16,2017). The President also said that Flynn's conduct "wasn' t wrong - what he did in terms of the information he saw." The President said that Flynn was just "doing the job," and " if anything, he did something right." 249 Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference, White House (Feb. 16, 2017); Priebus 1118/18302, at 9. 250 Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference, White House (Feb. 16,2017). 251 Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference, White House (Feb. 16,2017). 2S2 KTMF _00000047 (McFarland 2/26/ 17 Memorandum for the Record); McFarland 12/22/ 17302, at 16-17. 253 See Priebus 1118118302, at II; see also KTMF _00000048 (McFarland 2126/ 17 Memorandum for the Record); McFarland 12122117 302, at 17. 254 Priebus 111 8118 302, at 1 1. 25S KTMF_00000048 (McFarland 2/26/ 17 Memorandum for the Record); McFarland 12122/ 17302, at 17. 42 U.S. Department of Justice Att61 fie) 'Nel Ie PIS6tlet /1 ~,48) C8f\taiR P-1atel ittl Pfsteetea Ulielet Fea. R. Cfiffl. P. 6(e) to the request 256 Priebus understood that McFarland was not comfortable with the President's request, and he recommended that she talk to attorneys in the White House Counsel's Office. 257 McFarland then reached out to Eisenberg. 258 McFarland told him that she had been fired from her job as Deputy National Security Advisor and offered the ambassadorship in Singapore but that the President and Priebus wanted a letter from her denying that the President directed Flynn to discuss sanctions with Kislyak.'59 Eisenberg advised McFarland not to write the requested letter?60 As documented by McFarland in a contemporaneous "Memorandum for the Record" that she wrote because she was concerned by the President's request: "Eisenberg . .. thought the requested email and letter would be a bad idea - from my side because the email would be awkward . Why would I be emailing Priebus to make a statement for the record? But it would also be a bad idea for the President because it looked as if my ambassadorial appointment was in some way a quid pro quO.,,'61 Later that evening, Priebus stopped by McFarland's office and told her not to write the email and to forget he even mentioned it. 262 Around the same time, the President asked Priebus to reach out to Flynn and let him know that the President still cared about him 263 Priebus called Flynn and said that he was checking in and that Flynn was an American hero. 264 Priebus thought the President did not want Flynn saying bad things about him 265 On March 31, 2017, following news that Flynn had offered to testity before the FBI and congressional investigators in exchange for immunity, the President tweeted, "Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Oems, of 256 KTMF _ 00000047 (McFarland 2/26/ \7 Memorandum for the Record) ("I said I did not know whether he did or didn't, but was in Maralago the week between Christmas and New Year's (while Flynn was on vacation in Carribean) and I was not aware of any Flynn-Trump, or Trump-Russian phone calls"); McFarland \2122117 302, at 17. 251 Priebus 1118/ 18 302, at II. 258 McFarland 12/22117302, at 17. 250 McFarland 12122117 302, at 17. 260 KTMF_00000048 (McFarland 2/26/ \7 Memorandum for the Record); McFarland 12/22117302, 261 KTMF_00000048 (McFarland 2/26117 Memorandum for the Record); see McFarland 12/22117 at 17. 302, at 17. 262 McFarland 12/22/ 17 302, at 17; KTMF 00000048 (McFarland 2/26117 Memorandum for the Record). 263 Priebus 1/ \8/18302, at 9. 264 Priebus 1118/ 18302, at 9; Flynn \119118302, at 9. 265 Priebus 1118/ 18 302, at 9-10. 43 u.s. Department of Justice AM8fRe) 'Nefl( Pl'8Eit:let II P,4a) CefltaiR P,{atet itti PI8teetee Ultael Fed. R. 81 ita. P. 6Ee) historic proportion! ,,266 Tn late March or early April , the President asked McFarland to pass a message to Flynn telling him the President felt bad for him and that he should stay strong?67 Analysis In analyzing the President's conduct related to the Flynn investigation, the following evidence is relevant to the elements of obstruction of justice: Obstructive act. According to Corney's account of his February 14,2017 meeting a. in the Oval Office, the President told him, " I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go .. . . I hope you can let this go." In analyzing whether these statements constitute an obstructive act, a threshold question is whether Corney's account of the interaction is accurate, and, if so, whether the President' s statements had the tendency to impede the administration of justice by shutting down an inquiry that could result in a grand jury investigation and a criminal charge. After Corney' s account of the President ' s request to "let[J Flynn go" became public, the President publicly disputed several aspects of the story. The President told the New York Times that he did not "shoo other people out of the room" when he talked to Corney and that he did not remember having a one-on-one conversation with Comey.26' The President also publicly denied that he had asked Corney to " let[J Flynn go" or otherwise communicated that Corney should drop the investigation ofFlynn 269 In private, the President denied aspects of Corney' s account to White House advisors, but acknowledged to Priebus that he brought Flynn up in the meeting with Corney and stated that Flynn was a good guy yo Despite those denials, substantial evidence corroborates Corney ' s account. 266 @realDonaldTrump 3/31 / 17 (7 :04 a.m. ET) Tweet; see Shane Harris at aI. , Mike Flynn Offers to Testify in Exchange/or Immunity, Wall Street Journal (Mar. 30, 2017). 267 McFarland 12/22117 302, at 18. 268 Excerpts From The Times 's Interview With Trump, New York Times (July 19, 2017). Hicks recalled that the President told her he had never asked Corney to stay behind in his office. Hicks 12/ 8/ 17 302, at 12. 269 In a statement on May 16,2017, the White House said: "While the President has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the President has never asked Mr. Corney or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn .... This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Corney. " See Michael S. Schmidt, Comey Memorandum Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation, New York Times (May 16, 2017) (quoting White House statement); @realDonaldTrump 12/3117 (6: 15 a.m. ET) Tweet ("I never asked Corney to stop investigating Flynn. Just more Fake News covering another Corney lie!"). 270 Priebus recalled that the President acknowledged telling Corney that Flynn was a good guy and he hoped "everything worked out for him." Priebus 10113 / 17 302, at 19. McGahn recalled that the President den ied saying to Corney that he hoped Corney would let Flynn go, but added that he was "allowed to hope." The President told McGahn he did not think he had crossed any lines. McGahn 12114117302, at 8. 44 U.S. Department of Justice AMerne) \Velk Ptsatlet II Pv4fl) Cslttaifl Pv4atel ittl Preteetea UREle, Feel R. 81 it"'. P. 6(e) First, Comey wrote a detailed memorandum of his encounter with the President on the same day it occurred. Corney also told senior FBI officials about the meeting with the President that day, and their recollections of what Comey told them at the time are consistent with Comey's account. 271 Second, Comey provided testimony about the President's request that he "Iet[] Flynn go" under oath in congressional proceedings and in interviews with federal investigators subject to penalties for lying under 18 U.S.C. § 100 I. Comey's recollections ofthe encounter have remained consistent over time. Third, the objective, corroborated circumstances of how the one-on-one meeting came to occur support Comey's description of the event. Comey recalled that the President cleared the room to speak with Comey alone after a homeland security briefing in the Oval Office, that Kushner and Sessions lingered and had to be shooed out by the President, and that Priebus briefly opened the door during the meeting, prompting the President to wave him away. While the President has publicly denied those details, other Administration officials who were present have confirmed Corney ' s account of how he ended up in a one-on-one meeting with the President 272 And the President acknowledged to Priebus and McGahn that he in fact spoke to Comey about Flynn in their one-on-one meeting. Fourth, the President's decision to clear the room and, in particular, to exclude the Attorney General from the meeting signals that the President wanted to be alone with Corney, which is consistent with the delivery of a message of the type that Comey recalls, rather than a more innocuous conversation that could have occurred in the presence of the Attorney General. Finally, Comey 's reaction to the President's statements is consistent with the President having asked him to " Iet[] Flynn go. " Corney met with the FBI leadership team, which agreed to keep the President's statements closely held and not to inform the team working on the Flynn investigation so that they would not be influenced by the President's request. Comey also promptly met with the Attorney General to ask him not to be left alone with the President again, an account verified by Sessions, FBI Chief of Staff James Rybicki, and Jody Hunt, who was then the Attorney General's chief of staff. A second question is whether the President's statements, which were not phrased as a direct order to Corney, could impede or interfere with the FBI's investigation of Flynn. While the President said he " hope[d]" Corney could "Iet[] Flynn go," rather than affirmatively directing him to do so, the circumstances of the conversation show that the President was asking Comey to close the FBI's investigation into Flynn. First, the President arranged the meeting with Comey so that they would be alone and purposely excluded the Attorney General, which suggests that the President meant to make a request to Corney that he did not want anyone else to hear. Second, because the President is the head of the Executive Branch, when he says that he "hopes" a subordinate will do something, it is reasonable to expect that the subordinate will do what the President wants. Indeed, the President repeated a version of "let this go" three times, and Comey 271 Rybicki 11/21118302, at 4; McCabe 8117/ 17 302, at 13-14. 271 See Priebus 10/ 13117 302, at 18; Sessions 1117118 302, at 6. 45 U.S. Department of Justice AKsllle), 'NSfk PIS8tlet II t\4a) CSRtaifl ~48tel ittl Pfstedea Ululer Fee. R. CrifH. P. 6~e) testified that he understood the President's statements as a directive, which is corroborated by the way Corney reacted at the time. b. Nexus to a proceeding. To establish a nexus to a proceeding, it would be necessary to show that the President could reasonably foresee and actually contemplated that the investigation of Flynn was likely to lead to a grand jury investigation or prosecution. At the time of the President's one-on-one meeting with Corney, no grand jury subpoenas . . B u t ' s lies to the FBI violated had been issued as part of the federal criminal law, and resulted in Flynn ' s prosecution for spoke to Corney about Flynn, DOJ officials had informed McGahn, who informed the President, that Flynn's statements to senior White House officials about his contacts with Kislyak were not true and that Flynn had told the same version of events to the FBI. McGahn also informed the President that Flynn ' s condu~t could violate 18 U.S.c. § 1001 . After the Vice President and senior White House officials reviewed the underlying information about Flynn's calls on February 10, 2017, they believed that Flynn could not have forgotten his conversations with Kislyak and concluded that he had been lying. In addition, the President' s instruction to the FBI Director to " let[] Flynn go" suggests his awareness that Flynn could face criminal exposure for his conduct and was at risk of prosecution. c. Intent. As part of our investigation, we examined whether the President had a personal stake in the outcome of an investigation into Flynn-for example, whether the President was aware of Flynn's communications with Kislyak close in time to when they occurred, such that the President knew that Flynn had lied to senior White House officials and that those lies had been passed on to the public. Some evidence suggests that the President knew about the existence and content of Flynn's calls when they occurred, but the evidence is inconclusive and could not be relied upon to establish the President' s knowledge. In advance of Flynn's initial call with Kislyak, the President attended a meeting where the sanctions were discussed and an advisor may have mentioned that Flynn was scheduled to talk to Kislyak. Flynn told McFarland about the substance of his calls with Kislyak and said they may have made a difference in Russia's response, and Flynn recalled talking to Bannon in early January 2017 about how they had successfully "stopped the train on Russia's response" to the sanctions. It would have been reasonable for Flynn to have wanted the President to know of his communications with Kislyak because Kislyak told Flynn his request had been received at the highest levels in Russia and that Russia had chosen not to retaliate in response to the request, and the President was pleased by the Russian response, calling it a "[g]reat move ." And the President never said publicly or internally that Flynn had lied to him about the calls with Kislyak. But McFarland did not recall providing the President-Elect with Flynn 's read-out of his calls with Kislyak, and Flynn does not have a specific recollection of telling the President-Elect directly about the calls. Bannon also said he did not recall hearing about the calls from Flynn. And in February 2017, the President asked Flynn what was discussed on the calls and whether he had lied to the Vice President, suggesting that he did not already know. Our investigation accordingly did not produce evidence that established that the President knew about Flynn's discussions of sanctions before the Department of Justice notified the White House of those discussions in late January 2017 . The evidence also does not establish that Flynn otherwise 46 u.s. Department of Justice "Mat Iley '.Verk Pisettet 1/ ~46:y C8fttftin ~4atel iel Pf8teete6 Uftaer FeEl. R. Cfilfl. P. 6(e) possessed information damaging to the President that would give the President a personal incentive to end the FBI's inquiry into Flynn's conduct. Evidence does establish that the President connected the Flynn investigation to the FBI's broader Russia investigation and that he believed, as he told Christie, that terminating Flynn would end "the whole Russia thing." Flynn ' s firing occurred at a time when the media and Congress were raising questions about Russia's interference in the election and whether members of the President's campaign had colluded with Russia. Multiple witnesses recalled that the President viewed the Russia investigations as a challenge to the legitimacy of his election. The President paid careful attention to negative coverage of Flynn and reacted with annoyance and anger when the story broke disclosing that Flynn had discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Just hours before meeting one-on-one with Comey, the President told Christie that firing Flynn would put an end to the Russia inquiries . And after Christie pushed back, telling the President that firing Flynn would not end the Russia investigation, the President asked Christie to reach out to Comey and convey that the President liked him and he was part of "the team." That afternoon, the President cleared the room and asked Comey to "let[] Flynn go ." We also sought evidence relevant to assessing whether the President's direction to Comey was motivated by sympathy towards Flynn. In public statements the President repeatedly described Flynn as a good person who had been harmed by the Russia investigation, and the President directed advisors to reach out to Flynn to tell him the President "care[d]" about him and felt bad for him. At the same time, multiple senior advisors, including Bannon, Priebus, and Hicks, said that the President had become unhappy with Flynn well before Flynn was forced to resign and that the President was frequently irritated with Flynn. Priebus said he believed the President's initial reluctance to fire Flynn stemmed not from personal regard, but from concern about the negative press that would be generated by firing the National Security Advisor so early in the Administration. And Priebus indicated that the President's post-firing expressions of support for Flynn were motivated by the President's desire to keep Flynn from saying negative things about him. The way in which the President communicated the request to Comey also is relevant to understanding the President's intent. When the President first learned about the FBI investigation into Flynn, he told McGahn, Bannon, and Priebus not to discuss the matter with anyone else in the White House. The next day, the President invited Comey for a one-on-one dinner against the advice of an aide who recommended that other White House officials also attend . At the dinner, the President asked Comey for " loyalty" and, at a different point in the conversation, mentioned that Flynn had judgment issues. When the President met with Comey the day after Flynn's termination- shortly after being told by Christie that firing Flynn would not end the Russia investigation- the President cleared the room, even excluding the Attorney General, so that he could again speak to Comey alone. The President's decision to meet one-on-one with Comey contravened the advice of the White House Counsel that the President should not communicate directly with the Department of Justice to avoid any appearance of interfering in law enforcement activities . And the President later denied that he cleared the room and asked Comey to "Iet[] Flynn go"- a denial that would have been unnecessary ifhe believed his request was a proper exercise of prosecutorial discretion. 47 U.S. Department of Justice Attel !ley Vleflt Pr6attet II ~48:y CeHtail' fit4atel isl Pleteetea Uf18er Fee. R. Cfiffl. P. 6(e) Finally, the President's effort to have McFarland write an internal email denying that the President had directed Flynn to discuss sanctions with Kislyak highlights the President's concern about being associated with Flynn ' s conduct. The evidence does not establish that the President was trying to have McFarland lie. The President's request, however, was sufficiently irregular that McFarland- who did not know the full extent of Flynn ' s communications with the President and thus could not make the representation the President wanted-felt the need to draft an internal memorandum documenting the President's request, and Eisenberg was concerned that the request would look like a quid pro quo in exchange for an ambassadorship. C. The President's Reaction to Public Confirmation of the FBI's Russia Investigation Overview In early March 2017, the President learned that Sessions was considering recusing from the Russia investigation and tried to prevent the recusa\. After Sessions announced his recusal on March 2, the President expressed anger at Sessions for the decision and then privately asked Sessions to " unrecuse." On March 20, 2017, Corney publicly disclosed the existence of the FBI's Russia investigation. In the days that followed, the President contacted Corney and other intelligence agency leaders and asked them to push back publicly on the suggestion that the President had any connection to the Russian election-interference effort in order to "lift the cloud" of the ongoing investigation. Evidence I. Attorney General Sessions Recuses From the Russia Investigation In late February 2017, the Department of Justice began an internal analysis of whether Sessions should recuse from the Russia investigation based on his role in the 2016 Trump Campaign.273 On March 1,2017, the press reported that, in his January confirmation hearing to become Attorney General, Senator Sessions had not disclosed two meetings he had with Russian Ambassador Kislyak before the presidential election, leading to congressional calls for Sessions to recuse or for a special counsel to investigate Russia' s interference in the presidential election .'74 Also on March I, the President called Corney and said he wanted to check in and see how Corney was doing.'75 According to an email Corney sent to his chief of staff after the call, the President "talked about Sessions a bit," said that he had heard Corney was "doing great," and said that he hoped Corney would come by to say hello when he was at the White House.'76 Corney 273 Sessions 1117/ 18302, at I; Hunt 2/ 1/18 302, at 3. 274 E.g. , Adam Entaus et aI., Sessions met with Russian envoy twice last year, encounters he later did not disclos e, Washington Post (Mar. I, 2017). 215 3/1/17 Email, Corney to Rybicki; SCRO 12b_000030 (President'S Daily Diary, 3/1 /17, reflecting call with Corney at II :55 am.) 276 3/ 1/17 Email, Corney to Rybicki; see Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 86) (testimony 48 U.S. Department of Justice Att6t !ley 'Vark PI 88tlet II 1\:48) C8Htaift P.4etel iel Pl6teet:ea HABer Fee. R. Criffl. P. 6(e) interpreted the call as an effort by the President to "pull [him] in," but he did not perceive the call as an attempt by the President to find out what Corney was doing with the Flynn investigati on.277 The next morning, the President called McGahn and urged him to contact Sessions to tell him not to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.278 McGahn understood the President to be concerned that a recusal would make Sessions look gUilty for omitting details in his confirmation hearing; leave the President unprotected from an investigatio n that could hobble the presidency and derail his policy objectives; and detract from favorable press coverage of a Presidential Address to Congress the President had delivered earlier in the week 279 McGahn reached out to Sessions and reported that the President was not happy about the possibility of recusa l. 280 Sess ions replied that he intended to follow the rules on recusal. 281 McGahn reported back to the President about the call with Sessions, and the President reiterated that he did not want Sessions to recuse 282 Throughout the day, McGahn continued trying on behal f of the President to avert Sessions's recusal by speaking to Sessions's personal counsel, Sessions's chief of staff, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and by contacting Sessions himself two more times.283 Sessions recalled that other White House advisors also called him that day to argue against his recusal. 284 That afternoon, Sessions announced his decision to recuse " from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States.',2H5 Sessions believed the decision to recuse was not a close call, given the applicable of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI) ("[H]e called me one day ... . [H]e just called to check in and tell me I was doing an awesome job, and wanted to see how I was doing."). 277 Corney 11115117 302, at 17- 18. 278 McGahn I 1/30117302, at 16. 279 McGahn 11/30117 302, at 16-17; see SC AD 00123 (Donaldson 3/2117 Notes) ("Just in the middle of another Russia Fiasco."). 280 Sessions 1/ 17118302, at 3. 281 McGahn 11/30/ 17302, at 17. 282 McGahn 11 /30117302, at 17. 283 McGahn 11/30117302, at 18-19; Sessions 1/17118302, at 3; Hunt 211118 302, at 4; Donaldson I 1/6/ 17 302, at 8-10; see Hunt-OOOO 17; SC AD 00121 (Donaldson 3/2117 Notes). 284 Sessions 1/ 17118302, at 3. 285 Attorney General Sessions Statement on Recusal, Department of Justice Press Release (Mar. 2, 2017) ("During the course of the last several weeks, [ have met with the relevant senior career Department officials to discuss whether I should recuse myself from any matters arising from the campaigns for President of the United States. Having concluded those meetings today, [ have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for President of the United States.") . At the time of Sessions's recusal, Dana Boente, then the Acting Deputy Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, became the Acting Attorney General for campaign-related matters pursuant to an executive order specitying the order of succession at the Department of Justice. Id {"Consistent with the succession order for the Department of Justice, ... Dana Boente shall act as and perform the functions of the Attorney General with respect to any matters from 49 u.s. Department of Justice Atten=te) \Vsfk Pf8BI:let /1 ~4fl) CSfltai" P.4aterial Pl"8teetea Uflaer FeEl. R. Critfl. P. 6(e) language in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which Sessions considered to be clear and deci sive 286 Sessions thought that any argument that the CFR did not apply to him was "very thin."287 Sessions got the impression, based on calls he received from White House officials, that the President was very upset with him and did not think he had done his duty as Attorney General 288 Shortly after Sessions announced his recusal, the White House Counsel's Office directed that Sessions should not be contacted about the matter. 289 Internal White House Counsel's Office notes from March 2, 20 17, state "No contact w/Sessions" and "No comm s I Serious concerns about obstruction.,,290 On M arc h 3, the day after Sessions's recusal , McGahn was called into the Oval Office .'9 1 Other advisors were there, including Priebus and Bannon .292 The President opened the conversation by saying, " I don ' t have a lawyer."293 The President expressed anger at McGahn about the recusal and brought up Roy Cohn, stating that he wished Cohn was his attorney.294 McGahn interpreted this comment as directed at him , suggesting that Cohn would fight for th e which I have recused myself to the extent they exist."); see Exec. Order No. 13775,82 Fed. Reg. 10697 (Feb. 14, 2017). 286 Sessions 1117118302, at 1-2. 28 C.F.R. § 45.2 provides that "no employee shall participate in a criminal investigation or prosecution if he has a personal or political relationship with . . . [aJny person or organization substantially involved in the conduct that is the subject of the investigation or prosecution," and defines " political relations hi p" as "a close identification with an elected official, a candidate (whether or not successful) for elective, public office, a political party, or a campaign organization, arising from service as a principal adviser thereto or a principal official thereof." 287 Sessions 1117/ 18 302, at 2. 188 Sessions 111711 8302, at 3. m Donaldson 11/6/ 17302, at II; SC_AD_00123 (Donaldson 3/2/17 Notes). It is not clear whether the President was aware of the White House Counsel's Office direction not to contact Sessions about his recusal. 290 SC_AD_00123 (Donaldson 3/2117 Notes). McGahn said he believed the note "No comms / Serious concerns about obstruction" may have referred to concerns McGahn had about the press team sayi ng "crazy things" and trying to spin Sessions's recusal in a way that would raise concerns about obstruction. McGahn 11 /30/ 17302, at 19. Donaldson recalled that "No comms" referred to the order that no one should contact Sessions. Donaldson 11 /6/ 17 302, at II. 291 McGahn 12/ 12/ 17302, at2. 292 McGahn 12112/ 17302, at 2. 203 McGahn 12112117302 , at 2. 294 McGahn 12112117302, at 2. Cohn had previously served as a lawyer for the President during his career as a private businessman. Priebus recalled that when the President talked about Cohn, he said Cohn would win cases for him that had no chance, and that Cohn had done incredible things for him. Priebus 4/3/18 302, at 5. Bannon recalled the President describing Cohn as a winner and a fixer, someone who got things done. Bannon 2114118 302, at 6. 50 AM:6I"fte, ')/8fl( Pf6dt:let II U.S. Department of Justice C8Rtaift p.4atel isl PI8teetea Unelel FeEl. R. Crim. P. 6(e) ~4a) President whereas McGahn would not. 295 The President wanted McGahn to talk to Sessions about the recusal , but McGahn told the President that DOJ ethics officials had weighed in on Sessions ' s decision to recuse .296 The President then brought up former Attorneys General Robert Kennedy and Eric Holder and said that they had protected their presidents.'97 The President also pushed back on the DOJ contacts policy, and said words to the effect of, " You ' re telling me that Bobby and Jack didn ' t talk about investigations? Or Obama didn ' t tell Eric Holder who to investigate?,,298 Bannon recalled that the President was as mad as Bannon had ever seen him and that he screamed at McGahn about how weak Sessions was.'99 Bannon recalled telling the President that Sessions's recusal was not a surprise and that before the inauguration they had discussed that Sessions wou ld have to recuse from campaign-related investigations because of his work on the Trump Campaign ] OO That weekend, Sessions and McGahn flew to Mar-a-Lago to meet with the President. 301 Sessions recalled that the President pulled him aside to speak to him alone and suggested that Sessions should "unrecuse" from the Russia investigation. 302 The President contrasted Sessions with Attorneys General Holder and Kennedy, who had developed a strategy to help their presidents where Sessions had not. 303 Sessions said he had the impression that the President feared that the investigation could spin out of control and disrupt his ability to govern, which Sessions cou ld have helped avert ifhe were still overseeing it. 304 On March 5, 2017, the White House Counsel ' s Office was informed that the FBI was asking for transition-period records relating to Flynn- indicating that the FBI was still actively investigating him ] 05 On March 6, the President told advisors he wanted to call the Acting Attorney 295 McGahn 12112117 302, at 2. 296 McGahn 12112117 302, at 2. 291 McGahn 12/ 12/ 17302, at 3. Bannon said the President saw Robert Kennedy and Eric Holder as Attorneys General who protected the presidents they served. The President thought Holder always stood up for President Obama and even took a contempt charge for him, and Robert Kennedy always had his brother's back. Bannon 2114118 302, at 5. Priebus recalled that the President said he had been told his entire life he needed to have a great lawyer, a "bulldog," and added that Holder had been willing to take a contempt-of-Congress charge for President Obama. Priebus 4/3118 302, at 5. 298 McGahn 12112117 302, at 3. 299 Bannon 2114118 302, at 5. 300 Bannon 211 4118 302, at 5. 301 Sessions 111 711 8 302, at 3; Hunt 2/ 1118 302, at 5; McGahn 12112117 302, at 3. 302 Sessions 111 711 8302, at 3-4. 303 Sessions 1117/ 18302, at 3-4 304 Sessions 1117118302, at 3-4. Hicks recalled that after Sessions recused, the President was angry and scolded Sessions in her presence, but she could not remember exactly when that conversation occurred. Hicks 12/8/ 17302, at 13. 305 SC_AD_000137 (Donaldson 3/5/ 17 Notes); see Donaldson 11 /6117302, at 13. 51 Att6t'Re) 'Velk PI 66ttet II U.S. Departme nt of Justice C8fttaift ~48tet'i81 Pfeteetea URBef FeEl. R. Cfilfl. P. 6(e) ~4ft) General to find out whether the White House or the President was being investigated, altho ugh it is not clear whether the President knew atthat time of the FBI's recent request concerning Flynn 306 2. FBI Director Corney Publicly Confirms the Exis tence of the Investigati o n in Testimony Before HPSCI Russia On M arch 9, 2017, Corney briefed the "Gang of Eight" congressional leaders about the FBI' s investigation of Russ ian interference, including an identification of the principal U .S. subjects ofthe investigation. 307 Although it is uncl ear whether the President knew of that briefing at the time, notes taken by Annie D onaldson, then McGahn's chief of staff, o n March 12, 2017, state, " POTUS in panic/chaos . . . Need binders to put in front of POTUS. (I) All things re lated to Russia.,,308 The week after Corney's briefing, the White H o use Counsel's Office was in contact with SSCI C hairman Senator Rich ard Burr about the Russia investi gatio ns and appears to have received information about the status of the FBI investigation. 309 On March 20, 2017, Corney was scheduled to testify before HPSCr. 31O In advance of Corney's testimony, congressional officials made clear that they wanted Corney to provide information a bout the ongoing FBI investigation .311 Dana Boente, who at that time was the Acting Attorney General for the Russia investigation , authorized Corney to confirm the existence of the Russia investigation and agreed that Corney should decline to comment o n whether any particular individuals, including the President, were be ing investigated. 3J2 306 Donaldson 11 /6117 302, at 14; see SC AD 000168 (Donaldson 3/6/ 17 Notes) ("porus wants to call Dana [then the Acting Attorney General for campaign-related investigations] / Is investi gation / No I We know something on Flynn I GSA got contacted by FBI I T here ' s something hot"). 307 Corney 11 / 15117302, at 13-1 4; SNS-Classified-0000140-44 (3 /8/ 17 Emai l, Gauhar to Page et al. ). 30. SC_AD_00188 (Donaldson 3112118 Notes). Donaldson said she was not part ofthe conversation that led to these notes, and must have been told about it from others. Donaldson 11 /6/ 17 302, at 13 . 309 Donaldson 11 /6/ 17302, at 14- 15. On March 16,201 7, the White House Counsel's Office was briefed by Senator Burr on the existence of "4-5 targets." Donaldson 1116/ 17302, at IS . The "targets" were identified in notes taken by Donaldson as "Flynn (FBI was . . . for phone records"; "Comey->Manafort (Ukr + Russia, not campaign)"; "Carter Page ($ game)"; and "Greek Guy" (potentially referring to George with violating 18 V.S.c. § 1001 for lying to th e FB I). SC_AD_00198 (Donaldson 3/ 16117 Notes). Donaldson and McGahn both said they believed these were targets of SSCI. Donaldson 11 /6/ 17 302, at IS; McGahn 12112/17 302, at 4. But SSC I does not formally investigate individuals as "targets"; the notes on their face reference the FBI , the Department of Justice, and Corney; and the notes track the background materials prepared by the FBI for Corn ey's briefing to the Gang of 8 on March 9. See SNS-Classi fi ed-0000 140-44 (3 /8117 Email, Gauhar to Page et al.); see also Donaldson 11 /6117 302, at 15 (Donaldson could not rule out that Burr had told McGahn those individuals were the FBI's targets). 310 Hearing on Russian Election Tampering Before the House Permanent Select Intelligence Commillee, I 15th Congo (Mar. 20, 2017). 3 11 Corney 11 115117302, at 16; McCabe 8/ 17/ 17, at IS; McGahn 12114/ 17 302, at 1. 312 Boente 1/31118302, at 5; Corney 111 15117302, at 16-1 7. 52 U.S. Department of Justice Att6ffle) \\'sfll PrSBl:let II ~4a) CSfttail1 Pt4atel ial Pisteetea UHael FeEl. R. CI ilfl. P. e(e) In his opening remarks at the HPSCI hearing, which were drafted in consultation with the Department of Justice, Corney stated that he had "been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of [its] counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russ ian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia 's efforts. As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed.,,313 Corney added that he would not comment further on what the FBI was "doing and whose conduct [it] [was] examining" because the investigation was ongoing and classified- but he observed that he had "taken the extraordinary step in consultation with the Department of Justice of briefing this Congress's leaders ... in a classified setting in detail about the investigation.,,314 Corney was specifically asked whether President Trump was " under investigation during the campaign" or " under investigation now.,,315 Corney declined to answer, stating, "Please don't over interpret what I've said as-as the chair and ranking know, we have briefed him in great detail on the subjects of the investigation and what we're doing, but I' m not gonna answer about anybody in this forum.,,316 Corney was also asked whether the FBI was investigating the information contained in the Steele reporting, and he declined to answer.317 According to McGahn and Donaldson, the President had expressed frustration with Corney before his March 20 testimony, and the testimony made matters worse .318 The President had previously criticized Corney for too frequently making headlines and for not attending intelligence briefings at the White House, and the President suspected Corney of leaking certain information to the media.319 McGahn said the President thought Corney was acting like "his own branch of government.,,320 313 Hearing on Russian Election Tampering Before the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (Mar. 20, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at II) (testimony by FBI Director James B. Corney); Corney 11115/17302, at 17; Boente 1131118302, at 5 (confirming that the Department of Justice authorized Corney 's remarks). 314 Hearing on Russian Election Tampering Before the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, I I5th Congo (Mar. 20, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at II) (testi mony by FBI Director James B. Corney). ]IS Hearing on Russian Election Tampering Before the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, 115th Congo (Mar. 20, 2017) (CQ CongoTranscripts, at 130) (question by Rep. Swalwell). 316 Hearing on Russian Election Tampering Before the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (Mar. 20, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 130) (testimony by FBI Director James B. Corney). Hearing on Russian Election Tampering Before the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, I I5th Congo(Mar. 20, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 143) (testimony by FBI Director James B. Corney). 3J7 318 Donaldson 11 /6117302, at 21; McGahn 12/ 12/ 17302, at 7. 319 Donaldson 11 /6117 302, at 21; McGahn 12/ 12117302, at 6-9. 320 McGahn 12112117 302, at 7. 53 I'rM6Pfle) Vt' 811( U.S. Department of Justice Pf6f1l:1et II ~4tt) C6HtaiR ~4fttet ittl Pfeteetea Ullaet Feel. R. CI iH1. P. 6(e) Press reports following Comey's March 20 testimony suggested that the FBI was investigating the President, contrary to what Comey had told the President at the end of the January 6, 2017 intelligence assessment briefing. 321 McGahn, Donaldson , and senior advisor Stephen Miller recalled that the President was upset with Comey' s testimony and the press coverage that followed because of the suggestion that the President was under investigation .'22 Notes from the White House Counsel's Office dated March 21, 2017, indicate that the President was " beside himself" over Comey's testimony.323 The President called McGahn repeatedly that day to ask him to intervene with the Department of Justice, and, according to the notes, the President was "getting hotter and hotter, get rid?,,32' Officials in the White House Counsel 's Office became so concerned that the President would fire Comey that they began drafting a memorandum that examined whether the President needed cause to terminate the FBI director. 325 At the President's urging, McGahn contacted Boente several times on March 21, 2017, to seek Boente's assistance in having Comey or the Department of Justice correct the misperception that the President was under investigation.'26 Boente did not specifically recall the conversations, although he did remember one conversation with McGahn around this time where McGahn asked if there was a way to speed up or end the Russia investigation as quickly as possible.327 Boente said McGahn told him the President was under a cloud and it made it hard for him to govern328 Boente recalled telling McGahn that there was no good way to shorten the investigation and attempting to do so could erode confidence in the investigation's conclusions.'29 Boente said McGahn agreed and dropped the issue. 33o The President also sought to speak with Boente directly, but McGahn told the President that Boente did not want to talk to the President about the request 321 E.g., Matt Apuzzo et aI., FBJ Is Investigating Trump's Russia Ties, Corney Confirms, New York Times (Mar. 20, 2017); Andy Greenberg. The FBI Has Been Investigating Trump's Russia Ties Since July, Wired (Mar. 20, 2017); Julie Borger & Spencer Ackerman, Trump-Russia collusion is being investigated by FBI, Corney confirms, Guardian (Mar. 20, 2017); see Corney 1/6/ 17 Memorandum, at 2. m Donaldson 11 /6117302, at 16-17; S. Miller 10/31117302, at 4; McGahn 12112117302, at 5-7. SC_AD_00213 (Donaldson 3/21117 Notes). The notes from that day also indicate that the President referred to the "Corney bombshell" which "made [him] look like a fool." SC_AD_00206 (Donaldson 3/2 1/ 17 Notes). 323 324 SC_AD_00210 (Donaldson 3121117 Notes). 325 SCROI6_000002-05 (White House Counsel's Office Memorandum). White House Counsel's Office attorney Utlam Dhillon did not recall a triggering event causing the White House Counsel's Office to begin this research. Dhillon 11121117302, at 5. Metadata from the document, which was provided by the White House, establishes that it was created on March 21,2017. 326 Donaldson 11 /6117 302, at 16-21; McGahn 12/ 12117302, at 5-7. 327 Boente 1/31/18302, at 5. 328 Boente 1/3 1118 302, at 5. 329 Boente 1/31 / 18302, at 5. 330 Boente 1131118302, at 5. 54 AM61 ney ',vBI Ie PI 88tlet II U.S. Department of Justice 1\48:) C611tftill ~48tel iel PI8teetea BAaer Feel. R. Grim. P. 6(e) to intervene with Comey331 McGahn recalled Boente telling him in calls that day that he did not think it was sustainable for Comey to stay on as FBI director for the next four years, which McGahn said he conveyed to the President. 332 Boente did not recall discussing with McGahn or anyone else the idea that Comey should not continue as FBI director]33 3. The President Asks Intelligence Community Leaders to Make Public Statements that he had No Connection to Russia In the weeks following Comey ' s March 20, 2017 testimony, the President repeatedly asked intelligence community officials to push back publicly on any suggestion that the President had a connection to the Russian election-interference effort. On March 22, 2017, the President asked Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats and CIA Director Michael Pompeo to stay behind in the Oval Office after a Presidential Daily Briefing. 334 According to Coats, the Pres ident asked them whether they could say publicly that no link existed between him and Russia. 335 Coats responded that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has nothing to do with investigations and it was not his role to make a public statement on the Russia investigation.336 Pompeo had no recollection of being asked to stay behind after the March 22 briefing, but he recalled that the President regularly urged officials to get the word out that he had not done anything wrong related to Russia]37 Coats told this Office that the President never asked him to speak to Comey about the FBI investigation. 338 Some ODNI staffers, however, had a different recollection of how Coats described the meeting immediately after it occurred. According to senior ODNI official Michael Dempsey, Coats said after the meeting that the President had brought up the Russia investigation and asked him to contact Comey to see ifthere was a way to get past the investigation, get it over with, end it, or words to that effect. 339 Dempsey said that Coats described the President's comments as falling "somewhere between musing about hating the investigation" and wanting Coats to "do something to stop it.,,340 Dempsey said Coats made it clear that he would not get involved with an ongoing FBI investigation]41 Edward Gistaro, another ODNI official, recalled 331 SC_AD_00210 (Donaldson 3121117 Notes); MeGahn 12112117302, at 7; Donaldson 1116/ 17 302, at 19. 332 MeGahn 12112117302, at 7; Burnham 11103/ 17302, at II. 333 Boente 1/31118302, at 3. 334 Coats 6114/ \7 302, at 3; Culver 6/14/ 17 302, at 2. m Coats 6/ 14117 302, at 3. 336 Coats 6114/ 17 302, at 3. 337 Pompeo 6/28117 302, at 1-3. m Coats 6114/17 302, at 3. 339 Dempsey 6114117 302, at 2. 340 Dempsey 6/ 14/ 17 302, at 2-3. 341 Dempsey 6114/ 17 302, at 3. 55 U.S. Department of Justice AM:8FHe) 'Nelk Ple6ttet II ~4tt) CeJ.taiH ~'1B:telial Preteetee Uneler FeeL R. Ctil1'~. P. 6(e) that right after Coats's meeting with the President, on the walk from the Oval Office back to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Coats said that the President had kept him behind to ask him what he could do to "help with the investigation.,,342 Another ODNI staffer who had been waiting for Coats outside the Oval Office talked to Gistaro a few minutes later and recalled Gistaro reporting that Coats was upset because the President had asked him to contact Corney to convince him there was nothing to the Russia investigation 343 On Saturday, March 25, 2017, three days after the meeting in the Oval Office, the President called Coats and again complained about the Russia investigations, saying words to the effect of, " I can ' t do anything with Russia, there ' s things I'd like to do with Russia, with trade, with ISIS, they' re all over me with this.,,344 Coats told the President that the investigations were going to go on and the best thing to do was to let them run their course 345 Coats later testified in a congressional hearing that he had "never felt pressure to intervene or interfere in any way and shape-with shaping intelligence in a political way, or in relationship . . . to an ongoing investigation.,,346 On March 26, 2017, the day after the President called Coats, the President called NSA Director Admiral Michael Rogers. 347 The President expressed frustration with the Russia investigation, saying that it made relations with the Russians difficult. 348 The President told Rogers "the thing with the Russians [waJs messing up" his ability to get things done with Russia.J49 The President also said that the news stories linking him with Russia were not true and asked Rogers if he could do anything to refute the stories 35o Deputy Director of the NSA Richard Ledgett, who was present for the call, said it was the most unusual thing he had experienced in 40 years of government service.J51 After the call concluded, Ledgett prepared a memorandum that he and Rogers both signed documenting the content of the conversation and the President's request, and they placed the memorandum in a safe.352 But Rogers did not perceive the President's request to be an order, and the President did not ask Rogers to push back on the Russia 342 Gistaro 6/ 14117 302, at 2. 343 Culver 6114/17 302, at 2-3. 344 Coats 6114117 302, at 4. 345 Coats 6/ 14117 302, at 4; Dempsey 6/ 14/ 17 302, at 3 (Coats relayed that the President had asked several times what Coats could do to help "get [the investigation] done," and Coats had repeatedly told the President that fastest way to "get it done" was to let it run its course) . . 346 Hearing on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, lIS'" Congo (June 7, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 25) (testimony by Daniel Coats, Director of National Intelligence). 347 Rogers 6112117 302, at 3-4. 348 Rogers 6112117 302, at 4. 349 Ledgett 6/ 13117302, at 1-2; see Rogers 6112117 302, at 4. 350 Rogers 6112117 302, at 4-5; Ledgett 6113117 302, at 2. 351 Ledgett 6/13/17 302, at 2. 351 Ledgett 6113117 302, at 2-3; Rogers 6112/ 17 302, at 4. 56 u.s. Department of Justice AK61'Aey " refit Pf8at:let II hid) Cefltaifl ~t8:tel ittl Preteeted Uli8el Fea. R. Crim. P. 6(e1 investigation itself353 Rogers later testified in a congressional hearing that as NSA Director he had "never been directed to do anything [he] believe[ d] to be ill ega l, immoral, unethical or inappropriate" and did " not recall ever feeling pressured to do SO.,,3 54 In addition to the specific comments made to Coats, Pompeo, and Rogers, the President spoke on other occasions in the presence of intelligence community officials about the Russia investigation and stated that it interfered with his ability to conduct foreign relations 355 On at least two occasions, the President began Presidential Daily Briefings by stating that there was no collusion with Russia and he hoped a press statement to that effect could be issued 356 Pompeo recalled that the President vented about the investigation on multiple occasions, complaining that there was no evidence against him and that nobody would publicly defend him .357 Rogers recalled a private conversation with the President in which he "vent[ed]" about the investigation, said he had done nothing wrong, and said something like the "Russia thing has got to go away.",58 Coats recalled the President bringing up the Russia investigation several times, and Coats said he finally told the President that Coats's job was to provide intelligence and not get involved in investigations 359 4. The President Asks Corney to "Lift the Cloud" Created by the Russia Investigation On the morning of March 30, 2017, the President reached out to Corney directly about the Russia investigation.'6o According to Corney's contemporaneous record of the conversation, the President said "he was trying to run the country and the cloud of this Russia business was making 353 Rogers 6112117 302, at 5; Ledgett 6113117 302, at 2. 35' Hearing on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, 115 th Congo (June 7, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 20) (testimony by Admiral Michael Rogers, Director of the National Security Agency). 355 Gistaro 6114117 302, at 1, 3; Pompeo 6/28117 302, at 2-3. 35' Gistaro 6114/ 17 302, at I. 357 Pompeo 6/28/ 17 302, at 2. m Rogers 6/ 12117 302, at 6. 359 Coats 6/14/ 17 302, at 3-4. 360 SCRO 12b 000044 (President's Daily Diary, 3/30117, reflecting call to Corney from 8: 14 - 8:24 a.m.); Corney 3/30117 Memorandum, at I ("The President called me on my CMS phone at 8: 13 am today . . .. The call lasted II minutes (about 10 minutes when he was connected)."; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I 15th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 6). 57 U.S. Department of Justice Aftel He) \\'81 it Pisettet II P,ta) Cefttaifl h4aterial PI6teetea Uli8el Fea. R. Crim. P. 6(e) that difficult.,,361 The President asked Corney what could be done to "lift the c\oud."362 Corney explained "that we were running it down as quickly as possible and that there would be great benefit, if we didn ' t find anything, to our Good Housekeeping seal of approval, but we had to do our work.,,363 Corney also told the President that congressional leaders were aware that the FBI was not investigating the President personally 364 The President said several times, "We need to get that fact OUt.,,365 The President commented that if there was "some satellite" (which Corney took to mean an associate of the President's or the campaign) that did something, " it would be good to find that out" but that he himself had not done anything wrong and he hoped Corney "would find a way to get out that we weren't investigating him.,,366 After the call ended, Corney called Boente and told him about the conversation, asked for guidance on how to respond, and said he was uncomfortable with direct contact from the President about the investigation. 367 On the morning of April II, 2017, the President called Corney again 368 According to Corney's contemporaneous record of the conversation, the President said he was " following up to see if[Comey] did what [the President] had asked last time- getting out that he personally is not under investigation.,,369 Corney responded that he had passed the request to Boente but not heard back, and he informed the President that the traditional channel for such a request would be to 361 Corney 3/30117 Memorandum, at I. Corney subsequently testified before Congress about this conversation and described it to our Office; his recollections were consistent with his memorandum. Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 6); Corney 11115/ 17302, at 18. 362 Corney 3/30117 Memorandum , at I; Corney 11115/ 17302, at 18. 363 Corney 3/30117 Memorandum, at I; Corney 11 / 15117302, at 18. 36< Corney 3/30117 Memorandum, at I; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I 15th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 6). 365 Corney 3/30/ 17 Memorandum, at I ; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commiltee, I 15th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 6). 366 Corney 3/30/17 Memorandum, at I; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 6-7). 367 Corney 3/30117 Memorandum, at 2; Boente 1/31118 302, at 6-7; Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I 15th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, fanner Director of the FBI , at 7). 368 SCRO 12b_000053 (President's Daily Diary, 4/ 11117, reflecting call to Corney from 8:27 - 8:31 a.m.); Corney 4/ 11117 Memorandum, at I ("I returned the president's call this morning at 8:26 am EDT. We spoke for about four minutes."). 369 Corney 4111117 Memorandum, at I. Corney subsequently testified before Congress about this conversation and his recollections were consistent with his memo. Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, I I5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI, at 7). 58 u.s. Department of Justice AM:8ffte) \"silt Pfe6l:let II ~48:) C6f1taifl ~48tefial Pt6teetea Unclel Fea . R. CritH. P. 6(e) have the White House Counsel contact DOJ leadership.370 The President said he would take that step.37i The President then added, "Because I have been very loyal to you, very loyal , we had that thing, you know."m In a televised interview that was taped early that afternoon, the President was asked if it was too late for him to ask Corney to step down; the President responded, "No, it's not too late, but you know, I have confidence in him. We ' ll see what happens. You know, it's going to be interesting.,,373 After the interview, Hicks told the President she thought the President's comment about Corney should be removed from the broadcast of the interview, but the President wanted to keep it in, which Hicks thought was unusual. 374 Later that day, the President told senior advisors, including McGahn and Priebus, that he had reached out to Corney twice in recent weeks .'75 The President acknowledged that McGahn would not approve of the outreach to Corney because McGahn had previously cautioned the President that he should not talk to Corney directly to prevent any perception that the White House was interfering with investigations. 376 The President told McGahn that Corney had indicated the FBI could make a public statement that the President was not under investigation ifthe Department of Justice approved that action. 377 After speaking with the President, McGahn followed up with Boente to relay the President's understanding that the FBI could make a public announcement if the Department of Justice cleared it. J78 McGahn recalled that Boente said Corney had told him there was nothing obstructive about the calls from the President, but they made Corney uncomfortable.'79 According to McGahn, Boente responded that he did not want to issue a statement about the President not being under investigation because of the potential political ramifications and did not want to order Corney to do it because that action could prompt the 370 Comey 4111117 Memorandum, at 1. 371 Comey 4/ 11117 Memorandum, at 1. 372 Comey 4111117 Memorandum, at 1. In a footnote to this statement in his memorandum, Comey wrote, "His use of these words did not fit with the flow of the call, which at that point had moved away from any request of me, but 1 have recorded it here as it happened." 373 Maria Bartiromo, Interview with President Trump, Fox Business Network (Apr. 12, 2017); SCR012b_000054 (President's Daily Diary, 4111117 , reflecting Bartiromo interview from 12:30 - 12:55 p.m.). 374 Hicks 12/8117302, at 13 . 375 Priebus 10113117 302, at 23; McGahn 12112/17 302, at 9. 376 Priebus 10113117 302, at 23 ; McGahn 12/ 12117 302, at 9; see McGahn 11 /30117 302, at 9; Dhillon 11 /21117302, at 2 (stating that White House Counsel attorneys had advised the President not to contact the FBI Director directly because it could create a perception he was interfering with investigations). Later in April, the President told other attorneys in the White House Counsel 's Office that he had called Comey even though he knew they had advised against direct contact. Dhillon 11 /21 / 17302, at 2 (recalling that the President said, "I know you told me not to, but I called Comey anyway."). 377 McGahn 12112117 302, at 9. 378 McGahn 12/ 12117 302, at 9. 379 McGahn 12/ 12117 302, at 9; see Boente 1/31118 302, at 6 (recalling that Comey told him after the March 30, 2017 call that it was not obstructive). 59 u.s. Department of Justice Att61 He) \'18fl{ Pf86t:let II Pw4ft) C6Htaift ~4aterial Pl"eteetea Ultael Fea. R. CI ift i. P. 6(e~ appointment of a Special Counsel. 380 Boente did not recall that aspect of his conversation with McGahn, but did recall telling McGahn that the direct outreaches from the President to Corney were a problem. 3s 1 Boente recalled that McGahn agreed and said he would do what he could to address that issue.382 Analysis In analyzing the President's reaction to Sessions's recusal and the requests he made to Coats, Pompeo, Rogers, and Comey, the following evidence is relevant to the elements of obstruction of justice: a. Obstructive act. The evidence shows that, after Comey's March 20, 2017 testimony, the President repeatedly reached out to intelligence agency leaders to discuss the FBI 's investigation. But witnesses had different recollections of the precise content of those outreaches. Some ODNI officials recalled that Coats told them immediately after the March 22 Oval Office meeting that the President asked Coats to intervene with Comey and "stop" the investigation. But the first-hand witnesses to the encounter remember the conversation differently. Pompeo had no memory of the specific meeting, but generally recalled the President urging officials to get the word out that the President had not done anything wrong related to Russia. Coats recalled that the President asked that Coats state publicly that no link existed between the President and Russia, but did not ask him to speak with Comey or to help end the investigation. The other outreaches by the President during this period were similar in nature. The President asked Rogers if he could do anything to refute the stories linking the President to Russia, and the President asked Comey to make a public statement that would "lift the cloud" of the ongoing investigation by making clear that the President was not personally under investigation . These requests, while significant enough that Rogers thought it important to document the encounter in a written memorandum , were not interpreted by the officials who received them as directives to improperly interfere with the investigation. b. Nexus to a proceeding. At the time of the President's outreaches to leaders of the intelligence agencies in late March and early April 2017, the FBI's Russia investigation did not yet involve grand jury proceedings. The outreaches, however, came after and were in response to Comey's March 20, 2017 announcement that the FBI, as a part of its counterintelligence mission, was conducting an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Corney testified that the investigation included any links or coordination with Trump campaign officials and would "include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed." c. Intent. As described above, the evidence does not establish that the President asked or directed intelligence agency leaders to stop or interfere with the FBI's Russia investigationand the President affirmatively told Comey that if "some satellite" was involved in Russian election interference " it would be good to find that out." But the President's intent in trying to prevent Sessions's recusal, and in reaching out to Coats, Pompeo, Rogers, and Corney following 380 McGahn 12112117302, at 9-10. '" Boente 1/31118302, at 7; McGahn 12112/ 17302, at 9. 382 Boente 1131118302, at 7. 60 U.S. Department of Justice At:t6ffle~ \Y611< Pt66t1et II £'.48) C8fltftift P,4ateliai Pfeteetea Uft6er FeEl. R. Clint. P. 6(e) Comey's public announcement of the FBI's Russia investigation, is nevertheless relevant to understanding what motivated the President's other actions towards the investigation. The evidence shows that the President was focused on the Russia investigation's implications for his presidency- and, specifically, on dispelling any suggestion that he was under investigation or had links to Russia. In early March, the President attempted to prevent Sessions's recusal, even after being told that Sessions was following DOJ conflict-of-interest rules . After Sessions recused, the White House Counsel's Office tried to cut off further contact with Sessions about the matter, although it is not clear whether that direction was conveyed to the President. The President continued to raise the issue of Sessions's recusal and, when he had the opportunity, he pulled Sessions aside and urged him to unrecuse. The President also told advisors that he wanted an Attorney General who would protect him, the way he perceived Robert Kennedy and Eric Holder to have protected their presidents. The President made statements about being able to direct the course of criminal investigations, saying words to the effect of, "You're telling me that Bobby and Jack didn't talk about investigations? Or Obama didn't tell Eric Holder who to investigate?" After Comey publicly confirmed the existence of the FBI's Russia investigation on March 20, 2017, the President was "beside himself" and expressed anger that Comey did not issue a statement correcting any misperception that the President himself was under investigation. The President sought to speak with Acting Attorney General Boente directly and told McGahn to contact Boente to request that Comey make a clarifying statement. The President then asked other intelligence community leaders to make public statements to refute the suggestion that the President had links to Russia, but the leaders told him they could not publicly comment on the investigation. On March 30 and April II, against the advice of White House advisors who had informed him that any direct contact with the FBI could be perceived as improper interference in an ongoing investigation, the President made personal outreaches to Corney asking him to "lift the cloud" of the Russia investigation by making public the fact that the President was not personally under investigation . Evidence indicates that the President was angered by both the existence of the Russia investigation and the public reporting that he was under investigation, which he knew was not true based on Comey's representations. The President complained to advisors that if people thought Russia helped him with the election, it would detract from what he had accomplished. Other evidence indicates that the President was concerned about the impact of the Russia investigation on his ability to govern. The President comp lained that the perception that he was under investigation was hurting his ab ility to conduct foreign relations, particularly with Russia. The President told Coats he "can't do anything with Russia," he told Rogers that "the thing with the Russians" was interfering with his ability to conduct foreign affairs, and he told Comey that "he was trying to run the country and the cloud oflhis Russia business was making that difficult." 61 U.S. Department of Justice AKsf'fte) 'Nsf'i( Pf'8f4\:let II ~4ft) CSRtaiflt\iatet ittl Prsteetea UIl6el Fea. R. Grim. P. 6Ee) D. Events Leading Up To and Surrounding the Termination of FBI Director Corney Overview Corney was scheduled to testify before Congress on May 3, 2017 . Leading up to that testimony, the President continued to tell advisors that he wanted Corney to make public that the President was not under investigation. At the hearing, Corney declined to answer questions about the scope or subjects of the Russia investigation and did not state publicly that the President was not under investigation . Two days later, on May S, 2017, the President told close aides he was going to fire Corney, and on May 9, he did so, using his official termination letter to make public that Corney had on three occasions informed the President that he was not under investigation. The President decided to fire Corney before receiving advice or a recommendation from the Department of Justice,. but he approved an initial public account of the termination that attributed it to a recommendation from the Department of Justice based on Corney's handling of the Clinton email investigation. After Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein resisted attributing the firing to his recommendation, the President acknowledged that he intended to fire Corney regardless of the DOJ recommendation and was thinking ofthe Russia investigation when he made the decision. The President also told the Russian Foreign Minister, "I just fired the head of the F.B.1. He was crazy, a real nut job. I faced great pressure because of Russia. That' s taken off..... I' m not under investigation." Evidence I. Corney Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Committee and Declines to Answer Ouestions About Whether the President is Under Investigation On May 3, 2017, Corney was scheduled to testify at an FBI oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 383 McGahn recalled that in the week leading up to the hearing, the President said that it would be the last straw if Corney did not take the opportunity to set the record straight by publicly announcing that the President was not under investigation 384 The President had previously told McGahn that the perception that the President was under investigation was hurting his ability to carry out his presidential duties and deal with foreign leaders.385 At the hearing, Corney declined to answer questions about the status of the Russia investigation, stating " [t)he Department of Justice hard) authorized [him) to confirm that [the Russia investigation) exists," but that he was "not going to say another word about it" until the investigation was completed. 386 Corney also declined to answer questions about whether investigators had "ruled 383 Hearing on Oversight of the FBI before the Senate Judiciary Cammillee, I I 5th Congo (May 3, 384 McGahn 12112/ 17 302, at 10-1 1. 2017). 385 McGahn 12112/17 302, at 7, 10-11 (McGahn believed that two foreign leaders had expressed sympathy to the President for being under investigation); SC_AD_00265 (Donaldson 4/11117 Notes) ("P Called Corney - Day we told him not to? ' You are not under investigation' NK/China/Sapping Credibility"). 386 Hearing on FBI Oversight Before the Senate Judiciary Cammillee, I 15th Congo (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 70) (May 3, 2017) (testimony by FBI Director James Corney). Corney repeated this point 62 U.S. Department of Justice Att8ffle) \"srlt Pf86ttet 1/ P.4a) CeMtail'l ~,4atefial Preteetea UMBer Fee. R. Grim. P. 6(e) out anyone in the Trump campaign as potentially a target ofth[e1criminal investigation ," including whether the FBI had " ruled out the president of the United States ."m Corney was also asked at the hearing about his decision to announce II days before the presidential e lection that the FBI was reopening the Clinton email investigation. 388 Corney stated that it made him " mildly nauseous to think that we might have had some impact on the election," but added that "even in hindsight" he "wou ld make the same decision."389 He later repeated that he had no regrets about how he had handled the email investigation and believed he had "done the right thing at each turn.,,390 In the afternoon following Corney ' s testimony, the President met with McGahn, Sessions, and Sessions's Chief of Staff Iody Hunt. 39l At that meeting, the President asked McGahn how Corney had done in his testimony and McGahn relayed that Corney had declined to answer questions about whether the President was under investigation.392 The President became very upset and directed his anger at Sessions .393 According to notes written by Hunt, the President said, "This is terrible Jeff. It' s all because you recused. AG is supposed to be most important appointment. Kennedy appointed his brother. Obama appointed Holder. I appointed you and you recused yourself. You left me on an island. I can't do anything .,,394 The President said that the recusal was unfair and that it was interfering with his ability to govern and undermining his authority with foreign leaders.395 Sessions responded that he had had no choice but to recuse, and it was a mandatory rather than discretionary decision. 396 Hunt recalled that Sessions also stated at several times during his testimony. See id. at 26 (explaining that he was "not going to say another peep about [the investigation] until we're done"); id. at 90 (stating that he would not provide any updates about the status of investigation "before the matter is concluded"). 387 Hearing on FBI OverSight Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I I 5th Congo (May 3, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 87-88) (questions by Sen. Blumenthal and testimony by FBI Director James B. Corney). 388 Hearing on FBI Oversight Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I I 5th Congo (May 3, 2017) (CQ CongoTranscripts, at 15) (question by Sen. Feinstein). 389 Hearing on FBI OverSight Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I I 5th Congo (May 3, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 17) (testimony by FBI Director James B. Corney). 390 Hearing on FBI OverSight Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I I 5th Congo(May 3, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 92) (testimony by FBI Director James B. Corney). 391 Sessions 1117/18 302, at 8; Hunt 2/1118 302, at 8. 392 Sessions 1/ 17118302, at 8; Hunt-000021 (Hunt 5/3/ 17 Notes); McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 6. 393 Sessions 1117118302, at 8-9. 394 Hunt-000021 (Hunt 5/3117 Notes). Hunt said that he wrote down notes describing this meeting and others with the President after the events occurred . Hunt 2/1117 302, at 2. Hunt-000021-22 (Hunt 5/3/ 17 Notes) ("I have foreign leaders say ing they are sony I am being investigated."); Sessions 1117/ 18302, at 8 (Sessions recalled that a Chinese leader had said to the President that he was sorry the President was under investigation, which the President interpreted as undennining his authority); Hunt 2/1118 302, at 8. 395 396 Sessions 1117/ 18302, at 8; Hunt-000022 (Hunt 5/3117 Notes). 63 AtterRey ')/sfl{ Pf68t:1et II U.S. Department of Justice Preteetea Ulit:lel Fee. R. Crim. P. 6(e) ~4a) C6f1taiA ~48:tefiftl some point during the conversation that a new start at the FBI would be appropriate and the President should consider replacing Corney as FBI director. 397 According to Sessions, when the meeting concluded, it was clear that the President was unhappy with Corney, but Sessions did not think the President had made the decision to terminate Comey.398 Bannon recalled that the President brought Corney up with him at least eight times on May 3 and May 4, 2017. 399 According to Bannon, the President said the same thing each time: " He told me three times I'm not under investigation. He's a showboater. He's a grandstander. I don't know any Russians. There was no collusion.,,4oo Bannon told the President that he could not fire Corney because "that ship had sailed.,,4ol Bannon also told the President that firing Corney was not going to stop the investigation, cautioning him that he could fire the FBI director but could not fire the FBl. 402 2. The President Makes the Decision to Terminate Corney The weekend following Corney's May 3, 2017 testimony, the President traveled to his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey 403 At a dinner on Friday, May 5, attended by the President and various advisors and family members, including Jared Kushner and senior advisor Stephen Miller, the President stated that he wanted to remove Corney and had ideas for a letter that would be used to make the announcement 404 The President dictated arguments and specific language for the letter, and Miller took notes. 405 As reflected in the notes, the President told Miller that the letter should start, "While I greatly appreciate you informing me that I am not under investigation concerning what I have often stated is a fabricated story on a Trump-Russia relationship pertaining to the 2016 presidential election, please be informed that I, and I believe the American public - including Ds and Rs - have lost faith in you as Director of the FBl.''406 Following the dinner, Miller prepared a termination letter based on those notes and research he conducted to support the President's arguments 407 Over the weekend, the President provided several rounds of 397 Hunt-000022 (Hunt 5/3/ 17 Notes). 398 Sessions 1117118302, at 9. 399 Bannon 2112118 302, at 20. 400 Bannon 2112118 302, at 20. 401 Bannon 2112118 302, at 20. 402 Bannon 2112118 302, at 20-21 ; see Priebus 10113117 302, at 28. 40J S. Miller 10/31117302, at 4-5; SCR025_000019 (President's Daily Diary, 5/4117). 404 S. Miller 10/31117 302, at 5. 40S S. Miller 10/31117 302, at 5-6. 406 S. Miller 5/5/ 17 Notes, at 1; see S. Miller 10/31117 302, at 8. 407 S. Miller 10/31117 302, at 6. 64 u.s. Department of Justice {'(Meine), \V8fk Preatlet II ~48;) C6Htaifi ~1t\tetial Pl6teeteti: URaer FeEl. R. Gfift'}. P. 6(e} edits on the draft letter. 408 Miller said the President was adamant that he not tell anyone at the White House what they were preparing because the President was worried about leaks 409 In his discussions with Miller, the President made clear that he wanted the letter to open with a reference to him not being under investigation 41O Miller said he believed that fact was important to the President to show that Comey was not being terminated based on any such investigation.41] According to Miller, the President wanted to establish as a factual matter that Comey had been under a "review period" and did not have assurance from the President that he would be permitted to keep his job. 412 The final version of the termination letter prepared by Miller and the President began in a way that closely tracked what the President had dictated to Miller at the May 5 dinner: " Dear Director Comey, While I greatly appreciate your informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation concerning the fabricated and politically-motivated allegations of a Trump-Russia relationship with respect to the 2016 Presidential Election , please be informed that T, along with members of both political parties and, most importantly, the American Public, have lost faith in you as the Director of the FBI and you are hereby terminated.,,4]3 The four-page letter went on to critique Comey's judgment and conduct, including his May 3 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, his handling of the Clinton email investigation, and his failure to hold leakers accountable. 4]' The letter stated that Corney had "asked [the President] at dinner shortly after inauguration to let [Comey] stay on in the Director's role, and [the President] said that [he] would consider it," but the President had "concluded that [he] hard] no alternative but to find new leadership for the Bureau - a leader that restores confidence and truSt.,,41 5 In the morning of Monday, May 8, 2017, the President met in the Oval Office with senior advisors, including McGahn , Priebus, and Miller, and informed them he had decided to terminate Comey.41 6 The President read aloud the first paragraphs of the termination letter he wrote with 408 S. Miller 10/31 / 17 302, at 6-8 . 409 S. Miller 10/31117 302, at 7. Miller said he did not want Priebus to be blindsided, so on Sunday night he called Priebus to tell him that the President had been thinking about the "Corney situation" and there would be an important discussion on Monday. S. Miller 10/31117 302, at 7. 410 S. Miller 10/31117302, at 8. 4]] S. Miller 10/31117 302, at S. 412 S. Miller 10/31117 302, at 10. 413 SCRO 13c 000003-06 (Draft Termination Letter to FBI Director Corney). 414 SCROI3c_000003-06 (Draft Termination Letter to FBI Director Corney). Kushner said that the termination letter reflected the reasons the President wanted to fire Corney and was the truest representation of what the President had said during the May 5 dinner. Kushner 4111 /IS 302, at 25. 415 SCRO 13c 000003 (Draft Termination Letter to FBI Director Corney). 416 McGahn 12/ 12117302, at II ; Priebus 10113/ 17302, at 24; S. Miller 10/31 / 17302, at II ; Dhillon 11 /21117302, at 6; Eisenberg 11129117302, at 13. 65 AM:61Iie~ Vialk PI 66t1et /1 U.S. Department of Justice ft.1ateriai Pt'eteetea Uruler FeEl. R. Cfiffl. P. 6(e) ~4a) C8fttaiR Miller and conveyed that the decision had been made and was not up for discussion. 417 The President told the group that Miller had researched the issue and determined the President had the authority to terminate Corney without cause 4 !' In an effort to slow down the decision-making process, McGahn told the President that DOJ leadership was currently discussing Corney's status and suggested that Wh ite House Counsel's Office attorneys should talk w ith Sessions and Rod Rosenstein, who had recently been confirmed as the Deputy Attorney General. 4!9 McGahn said that previously scheduled meetings with Sessions and Rosenstein that day would be an opportun ity to find out what they thought about firing Comey.420 At noon, Sessions, Rosenstein, and Hunt met with McGahn and White House Counsel ' s Office attorney Ultam Dhillon at the White House.42 ! McGah n said that the President had decided to fire Corney and asked for Sessions ' s and Rosenstein 's views. 422 Sessions and Rosenstein criticized Corney and did not raise concerns about replacing him 423 McGahn and Dhillon said the fact that neither Sess ions nor Rosenstein objected to replacing Corney gave them peace of mind that the President's decision to fire Corney was not an attempt to obstruct justice. 424 An Oval Office meeting was scheduled later that day so that Sessions and Rosenstein could discuss the issue with the President. 425 At around 5 p.m., the President and several White House officials met with Sessions and Rosenstein to discuss Comey426 The President told the group that he had watched Corney' s May 417 S. Miller 10/31117302, at II (observing that the President started the meeting by saying, "I'm going to read you a letter. Don't talk me out of this. I've made my decision."); Dhillon 11121117302, at 6 (the President announced in an irreversible way that he was firing Corney); Eisenberg 11 /29/17302, at 13 (the President did not leave whether or not to fire Corney up for discussion); Priebus 10/ 13117302, at 25; McGahn 12/ 12117302, at 11-12. 418 Dhillon 30211/21117, at 6; Eisenberg 11129/17302, at 13; McGahn 12112117302, at II. 419 McGahn 12/12117302, at 12, 13; S. Miller 10/31117 302, at II; Dhil lon 11121117302, at 7. Because of the Attorney General's recusal , Rosenstein became the Acting Attorney General for the Russia investigation upon his confirmation as Deputy Attorney General. See 28 U.S.C. § 508(a) ("In case of a vacancy in the office of Attorney General, or of his absence or disability, the Deputy Attorney General may exercise all the duties ofthat office"). 420 McGahn 1211 211 7302, at 12. 421 Dhillon 11121117302, at 7; McGahn 12112/17302, at 13; Gauhar-000056 (Gauhar 5/16117 Notes); see Gauhar-000056-72 (211 1119 Memorandum to File attaching Gauhar handwritten notes) ("Ms. Gauhar determined that she likely recorded all these notes during one or more meetings on Tuesday, May 16, 2017."). 422 McGahn 12/ 12117302, at 13; see Gauhar-000056 (Gauhar 5/ 16/ 17 Notes). 42J Dhillon 11/21 II 7 302, at 7-9; Sessions 1117/ 18 302, at 9; McGahn 12/ 1211 7 302, at 13. 424 McGahn 12112117302, at 13 ; Dhillon 11 /2 1/ 17302, at 9. 425 Hunt-000026 (Hunt 5/8/ 17 Notes); see Gauhar-000057 (Gauhar 5/ 16/ 17 Notes). 426 Rosenstein 512311 7302, at 2; McGahn 12/ 12/ 17302, at 14; see Gauhar-000057 (Gauhar 5/ 1611 7 Notes). 66 U.S. Department of Justice AMsll,e,t Vlarl, Ple8t1et II Mft} CantHil' £-tittle) isl Preteetea UfuJet Fea. R. Crim. P. 6(e) 3 testimony over the weekend and thought that something was "not right" with Comey.427 The President said that Corney should be removed and asked Sessions and Rosenstein for their views.428 Hunt, who was in the room, recalled that Sessions responded that he had previously recommended that Corney be replaced. 429 McGahn and Dhillon said Rosenstein described his concerns about Corney's handling of the Clinton email investigation 430 The President then distributed copies of the termination letter he had drafted with Miller, and the discussion turned to the mechanics of how to fire Corney and whether the President 's letter should be used. 43 ] McGahn and Dhillon urged the President to permit Corney to resign, but the President was adamant that he be fired.'32 The group discussed the possibility that Rosenstein and Sessions could provide a recommendation in writing that Corney should be removed. 433 The President agreed and told Rosenstein to draft a memorandum, but said he wanted to receive it first thing the next morning 43 ' Hunt's notes reflect that the President told Rosenstein to include in his recommendation the fact that Corney had refused to confirm that the President was not personally under investigation .435 According to notes taken by a senior DO] official of Rosenstein's description of his meeting with the President, the President said, "Put the Russia stuff in the memo .,,'36 Rosenstein responded that the Russia investigation was not the basis of his recommendation, so he did not think Russia should be mentioned .437 The President told Rosenste in he would appreciate it if Rosenstein put it in his letter anyway.438 When Rosenstein 427 Hunt-000026-27 (Hunt 5/811 7 Notes). m Sessions 1117118302, at 10; see Gauhar-000058 (Gauhar 5/ 16117 Notes) ("POTUS to AG: What is your rec?"). 4Z9 Hunt-000027 (Hunt 5/8/17 Notes). 430 McGahn 12112117302, at 14; Dhillon 11121117302, at 7. 431 Hunt-000028 (Hunt 5/8117 Notes). 432 McGahn 12112117302, at 13. m Hunt-000028-29 (Hunt 5/8/ 17 Notes). 434 McCabe 9/26117 302, at 13; Rosenstein 5/23/17 302, at 2; see Gauhar-000059 (Gauhar 5/16117 Notes) ("POTUS tells DAG to write a memo''). 435 Hunt-000028-29 (Hunt 5/8117 Notes) ("POTUS asked if Rod 's recommendation would include the fact that although Corney talks about the investigation he refuses to say that the President is not under investigation .... So it would be good if your recommendation would make mention ofthe fact that Corney refuses to say public[ly] what he said privately 3 times."). 436 Gauhar-000059 (Gauhar 5116117 Notes). 437 Sessions 1117118302 at 10; McCabe 9126117 302, at 13; see Gauhar-000059 (Gauhar 5116/ 17 438 Gauhar-000059 (Gauhar 5116/ 17 Notes); McCabe 5/ 16117 Memorandum I; McCabe 9/26117 Notes). 302,at 13. 67 U.S. Department of Justice "",Mel fie) '."ark PI86ttet II ~48:y CeRtaifl ~4atefial PI'8teetee UftEler Feel. R. CI iffi. P. 6(e) left the meeting, he knew that Comey wou ld be terminated, and he told DOJ colleagues that his own reasons for replacing Comey were " not [the President's] reasons.,,439 On May 9, Hunt delivered to the White House a letter from Sessions recommending Comey' s removal and a memorandum from Rosenstein, addressed to the Attorney General, titled " Restoring Public Confidence in the FBI.,,440 McGahn recalled that the President liked the DOJ letters and agreed that they shou ld provide the foundation for a new cover letter from the President accepting the recommendation to terminate Comey.441 Notes taken by Donaldson on May 9 reflected the view of the White House Counsel's Office that the President 's original termination letter should " [n]ot [see the] light of day" and that it wou ld be better to offer " [n]0 other rationales" for the firing than what was in Rosenstein 's and Sessions ' s memoranda.' 42 The President asked Miller to draft a new termination letter and directed Miller to say in the letter that Corney had informed the President three times that he was not under investigation."3 McGahn, Priebus, and Dh ill on objected to including that language, but the President ins isted that it be included. 444 McGahn, Priebus, and others perceived that language to be the most important part oqhe letter to Rosenstein 5/23/17 302, at 2; Gauhar-000059 (Gauhar 5/16/17 Notes) ("DAG reasons not their reasons [POTUS],,); Gauhar-000060 (Gauhar 5/16/17 Notes) (" I" draft had a recommendation. Took it out b/c knew decision had already been made."). 439 440 Rosenstein 5/23/17 302, at 4; McGahn 12/12/17 302, at 15; 5/9/ 17 Letter, Sessions to President Trump ("Based on my evaluation, and for the reasons expressed by the Deputy Attorney General in the attached memorandum, I have concluded that a fresh start is needed at the leadership of the FB!."); 5/9/17 Memorandum, Rosenstein to Sessions (concluding with, "The way the Director handled the concl usion of the email investigation was wrong. As a result, the FB I is unlikely to regain public and congressional trust until it has a Director who understands the gravity of the mistakes and pledges never to repeat them. Having refused to admit his errors, the Director cannot be expected to implement the necessary corrective actions."). 441 S. Miller 10/31/ 17 302, at 12; McGahn 12/12/17 302, at 15; Hunt-000031 (Hunt 5/9/17 Notes). 442 SC_AD_00342 (Donaldson 5/9/17 Notes). Donaldson also wrote "[ils this the beginning of the end?" because she was worried that the decision to terminate Corney and the manner in which it was carried out would be the end of the presidency. Donaldson 11/6/17302, at 25. 44] S. Mil1er 10/31/17 302, at 12; McGahn 12/12/17 302, at IS ; Hunt-000032 (Hunt 5/9/17 Notes). 444 McGahn 12/12/17302, at 15; S. Mil1er 10/3 1/17302, at 12; Dhi l10n 11 /2 1/ 17302, at 8,10; Priebus 10/13/17302, at 27; Hunt 2/1 / 18 302, at 14-15; Hunt-000032 (Hunt 5/9/17 Notes). 68 U.S. Department of Justice Attst'fley \V6flt PFSBttet II ~4ft) CSRtaiH Matel itt) Ppsteeteo Uftael Fee. R. Crilfl. P. 6(e) the President. 445 Dhillon made a final pitch to the President that Corney should be permitted to resign, but the President refused. 446 Around the time the President' s letter was finalized, Priebus summoned Spicer and the press team to the Oval Office, where they were told that Corney had been terminated for the reasons stated in the letters by Rosenstein and Sessions. 447 To announce Corney' s termination, the White House released a statement, which Priebus thought had been dictated by the President. 44 8 In full , the statement read: "Today, President Donald J. Trump informed FBI Director James Corney that he has been terminated and removed from office. President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. ,,449 That evening, FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was summoned to meet with the President at the White House.'50 The President told McCabe that he had fired Corney because of the decisions Corney had made in the Clinton email investigation and for many other reasons 45 1 The President asked McCabe if he was aware that Corney had told the President three times that he was not under investigation. 452 The President also asked McCabe whether many people in the FBI disliked Corney and whether McCabe was part of the "resistance" that had disagreed with Corney's decisions in the Clinton investigation 453 McCabe told the President that he knew Corney had told the President he was not under investigation, that most people in the FBI felt positively about Corney, and that McCabe worked "very closely" with Corney and was part of all the decisions that had been made in the Clinton investigation. 454 445 Dhillon 1112111 7 302, at 10; Eisenberg 11/29117302, at 15 (providing the view that the President's desire to include the language about not being under investigation was the "driving animus of the whole thing"); Burnham 11 /3/ 17 302, at 16 (Burnham knew the only line the President cared about was the line that said Corney advised the President on three separate occasions that the President was not under investigation). According to Hunt's notes, the reference to Corney's statement would indicate that "notwithstanding" Corney's having informed the President that he was not under investigation, the President was tenninating Corney. Hunt-000032 (Hunt 5/9117 Notes). McGahn said he believed the President wanted the language included so that people would not think that the President had terminated Corney because the President was under investigation. McGahn 12112/ 17302, at 15. 446 McGahn 12112117302, at 15; Donaldson 1116/ 17302, at 25; see SC_AD_00342 (Donaldson 5/9117 Notes) ("Resign vs. Removal. - POruS/removal."). 447 Spicer 10/16/ 17302, at 9; McGahn 12112117302, at 16. m Priebus 10113117 302, at 28 . • 49 Statement oJthe Press Secretary, The White House, Office ofthe Press Secretary (May 9, 201 7). 450 McCabe 9/26117 302, at 4; SCR025_000044 (President's Daily Diary, 5/9/1 7); McCabe 5/ 10117 Memorandum, at I. 451 McCabe 9/26/17 302, at 5; McCabe 5/10117 Memorandum, at I. 4S2 McCabe 9/26/ 17 302, at 5; McCabe 511 0117 Memorandum, at 1-2. 453 McCabe 9/26/ 17 302, at 5; McCabe 5/ 1011 7 Memorandum, at 1-2. 454 McCabe 9/26117 302, at 5; McCabe 511 0117 Memorandum, at 1-2. 69 AM6ffte~ U.S. Department of Justice ''lark Pfe8t1et II Pt4a) CefttaiH P,4ateriai Pl e teetea Uftael FeEl. R. Grim. P. 6(e) Later that evening, the President told his communications team he was unhappy with the press coverage of Corney's termination and ordered them to go out and defend him.'55 The President also called Chris Christie and, according to Christie, said he was getting "killed" in the press over Corney's termination 456 The President asked what he should d0 457 Christie asked, "Did you fire [Corney] because of what Rod wrote in the memo?" , and the President responded, "Yes."m C hri stie said that the President should "get Rod out there" and have him defend the decision.' 59 The President told Chri stie that this was a "good idea" and said he was going to call Rosenstein right away460 That night, the White House Press Office called the Department of Justice and said the White House wanted to put out a statement saying that it was Rosenstein 's idea to fire Comey 461 Rosenstein told other DOJ officials that he would not participate in putting out a " fal se story.''''62 The Pres ident then called Rosenstein directly and sai d he was watching Fox News, that the coverage had been great, and that he wanted Rosenstein to do a press conference.'63 Rosenste in responded that this was not a good idea because if the press asked him , he would tell the truth that Corney's firing was not his idea.'6' Sessions also informed the White House Counsel 's Office that evening that Rosenstein was upset that his memorandum was being portrayed as the reason for Corney's termination 46 ' In an unplanned press conference late in the evening of May 9, 2017, Spicer told reporters, " It was all [Rosenstein]. No one from the White House. It was a DOJ decision.,,·66 That evening and the nex t morning, White House officials and spokespeople continued to maintain that the '" Spicer 10/ 16/ 17302, at II; Hicks 12/8/17, at 18; Sanders 7/3/18 302, at 2. '56 Christi e 2/13/19 302, at 6. 457 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 6. '" Christie 2/1 3/19 302, at 6. 459 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 6. 460 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 6. 461 Gauhar-000071 (Gauhar 5/ 16/ 17 Notes) ; Page Memorandum, at 3 (recording events of5/16/ 17); McCabe 9/26/17 302, at 14. 462 Rosenstein 5/23/ 17 302, at 4-5; Gauhar-000059 (Gauhar 5/16/17 Notes). 463 Rosenstein 5123/17 302, at 4-5; Gauhar-000071 (Gauhar 5/ 16/ 17 Notes). 464 Gauhar-00007 1 (Gauhar 5/ 16/17 Notes). DOJ notes from the week of Corney's firing indicate that Priebus was "screaming" at the DOJ public affairs office trying to get Rosenstein to do a press conference, and the DOJ publi c affairs office told Priebus that Rosenstein had told the President he was not doing it. Gauhar-000071-72 (Gauhar 5/ 16117 Notes). 465 McGahn 12112117302, at 16-17; Donaldson 11/6117302, at 26-27; Dhillon 11 /21117302, at II. 466 Jenna Johnson, Afier Trump fired Comey, While House slaff scrambled Washington Post (May 10,20 17) (quoting Spicer). 70 10 explain why, U.S. Department of Justice A1:t6Pfle~ ')/811( Pf681:let II ~4tl) C8fttaiR ~48teri81 Pl8teetee. Uruler Fee. R. Crim. P. 6(e) President's decision to terminate Comey was driven by the recommendations the President received from Rosenstein and Sessions. 467 In the morning on May 10, 2017, President Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office. 468 The media subsequently reported that during the May 10 meeting the President brought up his decision the prior day to terminate Corney, telling Lavrov and Kislyak : "I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job. I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off. .. . I' m not under investigation.'>469 The President never denied making those statements, and the White House did not dispute the account, instead issuing a statement that said: "By grandstanding and politiciz ing the investigation into Russia's actions, James Corney created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia. The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Corney would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classi fied information.,,470 Hicks said that when she told the President about the reports on his meeting with Lavrov, he did not look concerned and said of Corney, "he is crazy.,,47! When McGahn asked the President about his comments to Lavrov, the President said it was good that Comey was fired because that took the pressure off by making it clear that he was not under investigation so he could get more work done .472 That same morning, on May 10,2017, the President called McCabe.47] According to a memorandum McCabe wrote following the call, the President asked McCabe to come over to the White House to discuss whether the President should visit FBI headquarters and make a speech to 467 See, e.g., Sarah Sanders, White House Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (May 10, 2017); SCRO 13_00 lOSS (511 0117 Email, Hemming to Cheung et aL) (internal White House email describing comments on the Corney termination by Vice President Pence) . 468 SCROS 000353 (5/9117 White House Document, "Working Visit with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia"); SCR08_001274 (5/ 10/ 17 Email, Ciaramella to Kelly et aLl. The meeting had been planned on May 2, 2017, during a telephone call between the President and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the meeting date was confirmed on May 5, 2017, the same day the President dictated ideas for the Corney termination letter to Stephen Miller. SCROS 001274 (511 0117 Email, Ciaramella to Kelly et aLl· 469 Matt Apuzzo et aI., Trump Told Russians That Firing "Nut Job" Corney Eased Pressure From Investigation, New York Times (May 19, 2017). 470 SCROS 002117 (5119/ 17 Email, Walters to Farhi (CBS News»; see Spicer 101l6117302,at 13 (noting he would have been told to "clean it up" if the reporting on the meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister was inaccurate, but he was never told to correct the reporting); Hicks 12/8/ 17302, at 19 (recalling that the President never denied making the statements attributed to him in the Lavrov meeting and that the President had said similar things about Corney in an off-the-record meeting with reporters on May IS, 2017, calling Corney a "nut job" and "crazy"). 471 Hicks 12/S117 302, at 19. 412 McGahn 12112117302, at IS . 473 SCR025_000046 (President'S Daily Diary, 5110/ 17); McCabe 5110117 Memorandum, at I. 71 u.s. Department of Justice {\tt6fftey VIsfl( PrsaHet II ~4a) CSfltaifl ~4tltefial Pfsteetea Ufu4er FeEt. R. Grim. P. 6(e) employees 474 The President said he had received "hundreds" of messages from FBI employees indicating their support for terminating Comey.475 The President also told McCabe that Comey should not have been permitted to trave l back to Washington, D.C. on the FBI's airplane after he had been terminated and that he did not want Comey "in the building again," even to collect his belongings .476 When McCabe met with the Pres ident that afternoon , the President, without prompting, told McCabe that people in the FBI loved the President, estimated that at least 80% of the FBI had voted for him , and asked McCabe who he had voted for in the 2016 presidential election 477 . In the afternoon of May 10, 2017, deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders spoke to the President about his decision to fire Comey and then spoke to reporters in a televised press conference. 478 Sanders told reporters that the President, the Department of Justice, and bipartisan members of Congress had lost confidence in Comey, " [aJnd most importantly, the rank and file of the FBI had lost confidence in their director. Accordingly, the President accepted the recommendation of his Deputy Attorney General to remove James Comey from his position.,,479 In response to questions from reporters, Sanders said that Rosenstein decided "on his own" to review Comey's performance and that Rosenstein decided "on his own" to come to the President on Monday, May 8 to express his concerns about Comey. When a reporter indicated that the "vast majority" of FBI agents supported Comey, Sanders said, " Look, we've heard from countless members of the FBI that say very different things.,,48o Following the press conference, Sanders spoke to the President, who told her she did a good job and did not point out any inaccuracies in her comments 48 ] Sanders told this Office that her reference to hearing from " countless members of the FBI" was a "slip of the tongue.,,482 She also recalled that her statement in a separate press interview that rank-and-file FBI agents had lost confidence in Comey was a comment she made "in the heat of the moment" that was not founded on anything 483 Also on May 10,2017, Sessions and Rosenstein each spoke to McGahn and expressed concern that the White House was creating a narrative that Rosenstein had initiated the decision to 474 McCabe 511 0/ 17 Memorandum, at I. 475 McCabe 5/ I0/ 17 Memorandum, at I. 476 McCabe 511 0117 Memorandum, at I; Rybicki 6/13117 302, at 2. Comey had been visiting the FBI's Los Angeles office when he found out he had been terminated. Comey 11115/ 17 302, at 22. 417 McCabe 5/10117 Memorandum, at 1-2. McCabe's memorandum documenting his meeting with the President is consistent with notes taken by the White House Counsel's Office. See SC_AD_00347 (Donaldson 5/ 10117 Notes). 478 Sanders 7/3118 302, at 4; Sarah Sanders, While HOllse Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (May 10, 2017). 479 Sarah Sanders, While HOllse Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (May 10, 2017); Sanders 7/3118 302, at 4. 480 Sarah Sanders, While HOllse Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (May 10,2017). '81 Sanders 7/3/18 302, at 4. 482 Sanders 7/3/18 302, at 4. 483 Sanders 7/3118 302, at 3. 72 U.S. Department of Justice IHtst"fle,' ''''spit Pf'S81:let II ~4a) CeRtaifl ~1atet ittl Pf'8teetea Urulel FeEl . R. Cfilfl. P. 6(e) fire Comey.4'4 The White House Counsel's Office agreed that it was factually wrong to say that the Department of Justice had initiated Corney ' s termination,485 and McGahn asked attorneys in the White House Counsel's Office to work with the press office to correct the narrative .4 86 The next day, on May I 1, 2017, the President participated in an interview with Lester Holt. The President told White House Counsel's Office attorneys in advance of the interview that the communications team could not get the story right, so he was going on Lester Holt to say what really happened 48 ? During the interview, the President stated that he had made the decision to fire Corney before the President met with Rosenstein and Sessions. The President told Holt, " I was going to fire regardless of recommendation . . . . [Rosenstein] made a recommendation. But regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Corney knowing there was no good time to do it."m The President continued, "And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself-I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It' s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should ' ve won.,,489 In response to a question about whether he was angry with Corney about the Russia investigation, the President said, "As far as I'm concerned, I want that thing to be absolutely done properly.,,49o The President added that he realized his termination of Corney " probably maybe will confuse people" with the result that it "might even lengthen out the investigation," but he " ha[d] to do the right thing for the American people" and Corney was "the wrong man for that position."49! The President described Corney as "a showboat" and "a grandstander," said that "[t]he FBI has been in turmoil," and said he wanted "to have a really competent, capable director.,,492 The President affirmed that he expected the new FBI director to continue the Russia investigation. 493 On the evening of May II , 2017, following the Lester Holt interview, the President tweeted, " Russia must be laughing up their sleeves watching as the U.S . tears itself apart over a Democrat EXCUSE for losing the election.,,494 The same day, the media reported that the President had demanded that Corney pledge his loyalty to the President in a private dinner shortly 484 McGahn 12112117302, at 16-1 7; Donaldson 11 /6/ 17302, at 26; see Dhillon 11121117302, at 485 Donaldson I 1/6117 302, at 27. 11. '" McGahn 12/12117302, at 17. m Dhillon 11 /21117302 , at II. 488 Interview with President Donald Trump , NBC (May 11 , 2017) Transcript, at 2. 489 Interview with President Donald Trump, NBC (May 11,2017) Transcript, at 2. 490 Interview with President Donald Trump , NBC (May 11,2017) Transcript, at 3. 49 ! lnterview with President Donald Trump , NBC (May 11,2017) Transcript, at 3. 492 Interview with President Donald Trump , NBC (May 11,2017) Transcript, at I, 5. 493 Interview with President Donald Trump, NBC (May 11,2017) Transcript, at 7. 494 @realDonaldTrump 5/ 1111 7 (4 :34 p.m. ET) Tweet. 73 U.S. Department of Justice AM:6rlie) 'Nark Ple6tlet II P,itt) Certtaifl £t.fateliai Pleteetea UFlaer Fed. R. Clim. P. 6(e) after being sworn in 495 Late in the morning of May 12, 2017, the President tweeted, "Again, the story that there was collusion between the Russians & Trump campaign was fabricated by Oems as an excuse for losing the election.,,496 The President also tweeted, "James Corney better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!" and "When James Clapper himself, and virtually everyone else with knowledge of the witch hunt, says there is no collusion, when does it end?,,497 Analysis In analyzing the President's decision to fire Corney, the following evidence is relevant to the elements of obstruction of justice: a. Obstructive act. The act of firing Corney removed the individual overseeing the FBI's Russia investigation . The President knew that Corney was personally involved in the investigation based on Corney' s briefing of the Gang of Eight, Corney' s March 20, 2017 public testimony about the investigation, and the President's one-on-one conversations with Corney. Firing Corney would qualifY as an obstructive act if it had the natural and probable effect of interfering with or impeding the investigation-for example, if the termination would have the effect of delaying or disrupting the investigation or providing the President with the opportunity to appoint a director who would take a different approach to the investigation that the President perceived as more protective of his personal interests. Relevant circumstances bearing on that issue include whether the President's actions had the potential to discourage a successor director or other law enforcement officials in their conduct of the Russia investigation. The President fired Corney abruptly without offering him an opportunity to resign, banned him from the FBI building, and criticized him publicly, calling him a "showboat" and claiming that the FBI was "in turmoil " under his leadership. And the President followed the termination with public statements that were highly critical of the investigation ; for example, three days after firing Corney, the President referred to the investigation as a "witch hunt" and asked, "when does it end?" Those actions had the potential to affect a successor director' s conduct of the investigation. The anticipated effect of removing the FBI director, however, would not necessarily be to prevent or impede the FBI from continuing its investigation . As a general matter, FBI investigations run under the operational direction of FBI personnel levels below the FBI director. Bannon made a similar point when he told the President that he could fire the FBI director, but could not fire the FBI. The White House issued a press statement the day after Corney was fired that said, "The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Corney would not have ended it." In addition, in his May II interview with Lester Holt, the President stated that he understood when he made the decision to fire Corney that the action might prolong the investigation. And the President chose McCabe to serve as interim director, even 495 Michael S. Schmidt, In a Private Dinner. Trump Demanded Loyalty. Comey Demurred., New York Times (May 11 , 2017). 496@realDonaldTrump5/ 12117(7:51 a.m. ET) Tweet. 497 @realDonaldTrump 5112/ 17 (8:26 a.m. ET) Tweet; @realDonaldTrump 5112/17 (8:54 a.m. ET) Tweet. 74 u.s. Department of Justice i\M61 ne) ''''spit PF8fh:let II Pw4s) CSAtaiH ~4fdel isl Pfsteetea Uluiel Feet R. Grim. P. 6(e) though McCabe told the President he had worked "very closely" with Comey and was part of all the decisions made in the Clinton investigation. b. Nexus to a proceeding. The nexus element would be satisfied by evidence showing that a grand jury proceeding or criminal prosecution arising from an FBI investigation was objectively foreseeable and actually contemplated by the President when he terminated Comey. Several facts would be relevant to such a showing. At,the time the President fired Comey, a grand jury had not begun to hear evidence related to the Russia investigation and no grand jury subpoenas had been issued. On March 20, 2017, however, Comey had announced that the FBI was investigating Russia's interference in the election, including "an assessment of whether any crimes were committed." It was widely known that the FBI , as part of the Russia investigation, was investigating the hacking of the DNC's computers- a clear criminal offense. In addition, at the time the President fired Comey, evidence indicates the President knew that Flynn was still under criminal investigation and could potentially be prosecuted, despite the President's February 14,2017 request that Comey " letD Flynn go." On March 5, 2017, the White House Counsel ' s Office was informed that the FBI was asking for transition-period records relating to Flynn- indicating that the FBI was still actively investigating him. The same day, the President told advisors he wanted to call Dana Boente, then the Acting Attorney General for the Russia investigation, to find out whether the White House or the President was being investigated. On March 31 , 2017, the President signaled his awareness that Flynn remained in legal jeopardy by tweeting that " Mike Flynn should ask for immunity" before he agreed to provide testimony to the FBI or Congress. And in late March or early April, the President asked McFarland to pass a message to Flynn telling him that the President felt bad for him and that he should stay strong, further demonstrating the President's awareness of Flynn's criminal exposure. c. Intent. Substantial evidence indicates that the catalyst for the President' s decision to fire Comey was Comey's unwillingness to publicly state that the President was not personally under investigation, despite the President's repeated requests that Comey make such an announcement. In the week leading up to Comey's May 3, 2017 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony, the President told McGahn that it would be the last straw if Corney did not set the record straight and publicly announce that the President was not under investigation. But during his May 3 testimony, Comey refused to answer questions about whether the President was being investigated. Corney's refusal angered the President, who criticized Sessions for leaving him isolated and exposed, saying " You left me on an island. " Two days later, the President told advisors he had decided to fire Comey and dictated a letter to Stephen Miller that began with a reference to the fact that the President was not being investigated: " While I greatly appreciate you informing me that I am not under investigation concerning what I have often stated is a fabricated story on a Trump-Russia relationship .... " The President later asked Rosenstein to include "Russia" in his memorandum and to say that Corney had told the President that he was not under investigation. And the President's final termination letter included a sentence, at the President 's insistence and against McGahn 's advice, stating that Comey had told the President on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation. The President's other stated rationales for why he fired Comey are not similarly supported by the evidence. The termination letter the President and Stephen Miller prepared in Bedminster 75 u.s. Department of Justice Att6Jlne) \'lark Pftuh:let II Pt48) C6RtaiR ~48:tefial Preteeted Uft6el FeEl . R. Grit'". P. 6(e) cited Corney ' s handling of the Clinton email investigation, and the President told McCabe he fired Corney for that reason. But the facts surrounding Corney' s handling of the Clinton email investigation were well known to the President at the time he assumed office, and the President had made it clear to both Corney and the President's senior staff in early 2017 that he wanted Corney to stay on as director. And Rosenstein articulated his criticism of Corney ' s handling of the Clinton investigation after the President had already decided to fire Corney. The President's draft termination letter also stated that morale in the FBI was at an all-time low and Sanders told the press after Corney's termination that the White House had heard from "countless" FBI agents who had lost confidence in Corney. But the evidence does not support those claims. The President told Corney at their January 27 dinner that "the people of the FBI really like [him]," no evidence suggests that the President heard otherwise before deciding to terminate Corney, and Sanders acknowledged to investigators that her comments were not founded on anything. We al so considered why it was important to the President that Corney announce publicly that he was not under investigation. Some evidence indicates that the President believed that the erroneous perception he was under investigation harmed his ability to manage domestic and foreign affairs, particularly in dealings with Russia. The President told Corney that the "cloud" of " this Russia business" was making it difficult to run the country. The President told Sessions and McGahn that foreign leaders had expressed sympathy to him for being under investigation and that the perception he was under investigation was hurting his ability to address foreign relations issues. The President complained to Rogers that "the thing with the Russians [was] messing up" his ability to get things done with Russia, and told Coats, "I can't do anything with Russia, there ' s things I'd like to do with Russia, with trade, with ISIS, they ' re all over me with this." The President also may have viewed Corney as insubordinate for his failure to make clear in the May 3 testimony that the President was not under investigation. Other evidence, however, indicates that the President wanted to protect himsel f from an investigation into his campaign. The day after learning about the FBI's interview of Flynn, the President had a one-on-one dinner with Corney, against the advice of senior aides, and told Corney he needed Corney's "loyalty." When the President later asked Corney for a second time to make public that he was not under investigation, he brought up loyalty again, saying "Because I have been very loyal to you, very loyal, we had that thing, you know." After the President learned of Sessions's recusal from the Russia investigation, the President was furious and said he wanted an Attorney General who would protect him the way he perceived Robert Kennedy and Eric Holder to have protected their presidents. The President also said he wanted to be able to tell his Attorney General "who to investigate." In addition, the President had a motive to put the FBI's Russia investigation behind him. The evidence does not establish that the termination of Corney was designed to cover up a conspiracy between the Trump Campaign and Russia: As described in Volume I, the evidence uncovered in the investigation did not establish that the President or those close to him were involved in the charged Russian computer-hacking or active-measure conspiracies, or that the President otherwise had an unlawful relationship with any Russian official. But the evidence does indicate that a thorough FBI investigation would uncover facts about the campaign and the President personally that the President could have understood to be crimes or that would give rise to personal and political concerns. Although the President publicly stated during and after the election that he had no connection to Russia, the Trump Organization, through Michael Cohen, 76 U.S. Department of Justice Attet'He) 'tVell( PfS8tlet II ~ffl) CeMtein ~qaterial Pleteetea URa6t Fea. R. Ct in •. P. 6te) was pursuing the proposed Trump Tower Moscow project through June 2016 and candidate Trump was repeatedly briefed on the of those efforts. 498 Tn add some witnesses said that ~s aware that ._ at a time when . reports . were U~lllIlIU hacks, and that Trump privately sought information about future WikiLeaks releases 499 More broadly, multiple witnesses described the President's preoccupation with press coverage of the Russia investigation and his persistent concern that it raised questions about the legitimacy of his election 500 Finally, the President and White House aides initially advanced a pretextual reason to the press and the public for Corney's termination. Tn the immediate aftermath of the firing, the President dictated a press statement suggesting that he had acted based on the DO! recommendations, and White House press officials repeated that story. But the President had decided to fire Corney before the White House solicited those recommendations. Although the President ultimately acknowledged that he was going to fire Corney regardless of the Department of Justice's recommendations, he did so only after DOJ officials made clear to him that they would resist the White House 's suggestion that they had prompted the process that led to Corney 's termination . The initial reliance on a pretextual justification could support an inference that the President had concerns about providing the real reason for the firing, although the evidence does not resolve whether those concerns were personal, political, or both. E. The President's Efforts to Remove the Special Counsel Overview The Acting Attorney General appointed a Special Counsel on May 17, 2017, prompting the President to state that it was the end of his presidency and that Attorney General Sessions had failed to protect him and should resign. Sessions submitted his resignation, which the President ultimately did not accept. The President told senior advisors that the Special Counsel had conflicts of interest, but they responded that those claims were "ridiculous" and posed no obstacle to the Special Counsel 's service. Department of Justice ethics officials similarly cleared the Special Counsel's service. On June 14,2017, the press reported that the President was being personally investigated for obstruction of justice and the President responded with a series of tweets 498 See Volume II, Section II.K.I , infra. 499 See Volume I, Section IlI.D.I, supra. 500 In addition to whether the President had a motive related to Russia-related matters that an FBI investigation could uncover, we considered whether the President's intent in firing Corney was connected to other conduct that could come to light as a result of the FBI's Russian-interference investigation. In particular, Michael Cohen was a potential subject of investigation because of his pursuit of the Trump Tower Moscow project and involvement in other activities. And facts uncovered in the Russia investigation, which our Office referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, ultimately led to the conviction of Cohen in the Southern District of New York for campaign-finance offenses related to payments he said he made at the direction of the President. See Volume II, Section II.K.5, infra. The investigation, however, did not establish that when the President fired Corney, he was considering the possibility that the FBI 's investigation would uncover these payments or that the President's intent in firing Corney was otherwise connected to a concern about these matters coming to light. 77 AM:8tl'te) \\'erk PI8ettet U.S. Department of Justice ~4fttelittl PI8teetea UI.Bel Feel. R. Clila. P. 6(e) II t\4fi) Ct3Htaift criticiz ing the Special Counsel ' s investigation. That weekend, the President called McGahn and directed him to have the Special Counsel removed because of asserted conflicts of interest. McGahn did not carry out the instruction for fear of being seen as triggering another Saturday Night Massacre and instead prepared to resign. McGahn ultimately did not quit and the President did not follow up with McGahn on his request to have the Special Counsel removed. Evidence I. The Appointment of the Special Counsel and the President' s Reaction On May 17, 2017, Acting Attorney General Rosenstein appointed Robert S. Mueller, lIT as Special Counsel and authorized him to conduct the Russia investigation and matters that arose from the investigation 50l The President learned of the Special Counsel's appointment from Sessions, who was with the President, Hunt, and McGahn conducting interviews for a new FBI Director 502 Sessions stepped out of the Oval Office to take a call from Rosenstein, who told him about the Special Counsel appointment, and Sessions then returned to inform the President of the news 50} According to notes written by Hunt, when Sessions told the President that a Special Counsel had been appointed, the President slumped back in his chair and said, "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked. "so4 The President became angry and lambasted the Attorney General for his decision to recuse from the investigation, stating, "How could you let this happen, Jeff?,,505 The President said the position of Attorney General was his most important appointment and that Sessions had "let [him] down," contrasting him to Eric Holder and Robert Kennedy 506 Sessions recalled that the President said to him, " you were supposed to protect me," or words to that effect. 507 The President returned to the consequences of the appointment and said, "Everyone tells me if you get one of these independent counsels it ruins your presidency. It takes years and years and I won ' t be able to do anything. This is the worst thing that ever happened to me.,,50' 501Office of the Deputy Attorney General , Order No. 3915-2017, Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Interference with the 2016 Presidential Election and Related Matters (May 17, 2017). 502 Sessions 1117118302, at 13; Hunt211 / 18 302, at 18; MeGahn 12114117302, at4; Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5117117 Notes). 503 Sessions 1/ 17118302, at 13; Hunt 2/ 1/ 18 302, at 18; MeGahn 12114117302, at 4; Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5117117 Notes). 504 Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5117117 Notes). 505 Hunt-000039 (Hunt 5117117 Notes); Sessions 1/ 17/ 18302, at 13- 14. 506 Hunt-000040; see Sessions 1117/ 18302, at 14. 507 Sessions 1117118302, at 14. 508 Hunt-000040 (Hunt 5117/ 17 Notes); see Sessions 1117118302, at 14. Early the next morning, the President tweeted, "This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!" @rea1DonaldTrump 5118117 (7:52 a.m. ET) Tweet. 78 U.S. Department of Justice AU8IRe) \Vetk PfeBttet"// ~48:)' C8RtaiA ~4atefifll Preteetea Uf'H4ef Feel. R. Grim. P. 6(e) The President then told Sess ions he should resign as Attorney General. S09 Sessions agreed to submit his resignation and left the Oval Office 51O Hicks saw the President shortly after Sess ions departed and described the President as being extremely upset by the Special Counsel ' s appointment. S11 Hicks said that she had only seen the President like that one other time, when the Access Hollywood tape came out during the campaign.512 The next day, May 18, 2017, FBI agents delivered to McGahn a preservation notice that discussed an investigation related to Corney's termination and directed the White House to preserve all relevant documents. 513 When he received the letter, McGahn issued a document hold to White House staff and instructed them not to send out any burn bags over the weekend while he sorted things OUt. SI4 Also on May 18, Sessions finali zed a resignation letter that stated, " Pursuant to our conversation of yesterday, and at your request, I hereby offer my resignation.,,51S Sessions, accompanied by Hunt, brought the lette r to the White House and handed it to the President. 516 The Pres ident put the resignation letter in his pocket and asked Sessions several times whether he wanted to continue serving as Attorney General. 517 Sessions ultimately told the President he wa nted to stay, but it was up to the Pres ident. 518 The President said he wanted Sessions to stay5 19 At the conclusion of the meeting, the President shook Sessions ' s hand but did not return the resignation letter. 52o When Priebus and Bannon learned that the President was holding onto Sessions's resignation letter, they became concerned that it could be used to influence the Department of Justice .521 Priebus told Sessions it was not good for the President to have the letter because it 509 Hunt-000041 (Hunt 5/ 17117 Notes); Sessions 1/ 17118302, at 14. 510 Hunt-000041 (Hunt 511 7117 Notes); Sessions 1117118302, at 14. 51 1 Hicks 12/8117302, at 21. 512 Hicks 12/8117302, at 21. The Access Hollywood tape was released on October 7, 2016, as di scussed in Volume I, Section IIl .D. I, supra. 5IJ McGahn 12114/ 17302, at 9; SCRO I 5_000 175-82 (Undated Draft Memoranda to White House Staff). 514 McGahn 12114/ 17 302, at 9; SCRO 15 000175-82 (Undated Draft Memoranda to White House Staff). The White House Counsel's Office had previously issued a document hold on February 27, 2017. SCRO 15_000171 (2117117 Memorandum from McGahn to Executive Office of the President Staff). SIS Hunt-000047 (Hunt 5118/ 17 Notes); 5/18/ 17 Letter, Sessions to President Trump (resigning as Attorney General). 51' Hunt-000047-49 (Hunt 5/ 1811 7 Notes); Sessions 111711 8302, at 14. m Hunt-000047-49 (Hunt 511 811 7 Notes); Sessions 1/ 17118302, at 14. 518 Hunt-000048-49 (Hunt 5/ 18/ 17 Notes); Sessions 1/ 17/ 18 302, at 14. 519 Sessions 111 7/ 18302, at 14. 520 Hunt-000049 (Hunt 5/ 18/ 17 Notes). 52\ Hunt-000050-51 (Hunt 5/ 1811 7 Notes). 79 AMsI'fle) \Ver!{ PfSal:tet 1/ U.S. Department of Justice CSHtaifl ~,4flteli81 Preteetea Uliaer feci. R. ~48:)' Ctil~l. P. 6(ej would function as a kind of "shock collar" that the President could use any time he wanted ; Priebus said the President had " DO! by the throat."m Priebus and Bannon told Sessions they would attempt to get the letter back from the President with a notation that he was not accepting Sessions's resignation 523 On May 19, 2017, the President left for a trip to the Middle East. 524 Hicks recalled that on the President's flight from Saudi Arabia to Tel Aviv, the President pulled Sessions ' s resignation letter from his pocket, showed it to a group of senior advisors, and asked them what he should do about it.525 During the trip, Priebus asked about the res ignation letter so he could return it to Sessions, but the President told him that the letter was back at the White House, somewhere in the residence .526 It was not until May 30, three days after the President returned from the trip, that the President returned the letter to Sessions with a notation saying, "Not accepted ."527 2. The President Asserts that the Special Counsel has Conflicts oflnterest In the days following the Special Counsel's appointment, the President repeatedly told advisors, including Priebus, Bannon, and McGahn, that Special Counsel Mueller had conflicts of interest 528 The President cited as conflicts that Mueller had interviewed for the FBI Director position shortly before being appointed as Special Counsel, that he had worked for a law firm that represented people affiliated with the President, and that Mueller had disputed certain fees relating to his membership in a Trump golf course in Northern Yirginia. 529 The President's advisors pushed 522 Hunt-000050 (Hunt 5/18/ 17 Notes); Priebus 10/ 13/17302, at 21; Hunt 2/ 1118 302, at 21. 523 Hunt-000051 (Hunt 5/18/ 17 Notes). 524 SCR026_000110 (President's Daily Diary, 5/19/ 17). 525 Hicks 12/8/17 302, at 22. m Priebus 10/13/ 17302, at 21. Hunt's notes state that when Priebus returned from the trip, Priebus told Hunt that the President was supposed to have given him the letter, but when he asked for it, the President "slapped the desk" and said he had forgotten it back at the hotel. Hunt-000052 (Hunt Notes, undated). 527 Hunt-000052-53 (Hunt 5/30/17 Notes); 5/ 18117 Letter, Sessions to President Trump (resignation letter). Robert Porter, who was the White House Staff Secretary at the time, said that in the days after the President returned from the Middle East trip, the President Office and showed it to Porter. Pm'ler4/ 52 8 Priebus 1/ 18118 302, at 12; Bannon 2114118 302, at 10; McGahn 3/8/18 302, at I; McGahn 12/14117302, at 10; Bannon 10/26/18302, at 12. 529 Priebus 1/1 8/ 18302, at 12; Bannon 2114/ 18 302, at 10. In October 2011, Mueller resigned his family 'S membership from Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, in a letter that noted that "we live in the District and find that we are unable to make full use of the Club" and that inquired "whether we would be entitled to a refund of a portion of our initial membership fee," which was paid in 1994. 10112/ 11 Letter, Muellers to Trump National Golf Club. About two weeks later, the controller of the club responded that the Muellers' resignation would be effective October 31,2011, and that they would be "placed on a waitlist to be refunded on a first resigned / first refunded basis" in accordance with the club's legal 80 U.S. Department of Justice AftsfHe)' \}/erl( PfSal:let /1 P,4a) CSHtaifl: ~4flteFial Pf'steetea UI,aet Fee. R. C, ilfl. P. 6Ee) back on his assertion of conflicts, telling the President they did not count as true conflicts. 530 Bannon recalled telling the President that the purported conflicts were "ridiculous" and that none of them was real or could come close to justifying precluding Mueller from serving as Special CounseL 53 ! As for Mueller's interview for FBI Director, Bannon recalled that the White House had invited Mueller to speak to the Pres ident to offer a perspective on the institution of the FBI.532 Bannon said that, although the White House thought about beseeching Mueller to become Director again, he did not come in looking for the job.533 Bannon also told the President that the law firm position did not amount to a conflict in the legal community534 And Bannon told the President that the golf course dispute did not rise to the level ofa conflict and claiming one was "ridiculous and petty.,,535 The President did not respond when Bannon pushed back on the stated conflicts of interest 536 On May 23, 20 I 7, the Department of Justice announced that ethics officials had determined that the Special Counsel's prior law firm position did not bar his service, generating media reports that Mueller had been cleared to serve.537 McGahn recalled that around the same time, the President complained about the asserted contlicts and prodded McGahn to reach out to Rosenstein about the issue. 538 McGahn said he responded that he could not make such a call and that the President should instead consult his personal lawyer because it was not a White House issue. 539 Contemporaneous notes of a May 23 , 2017 conversation between McGahn and the President reflect that McGahn told the President that he would not call Rosenstein and that he would suggest that the President not make such a call either. 540 McGahn advised that the President could discuss the issue with his personal attorney but it would " look like still trying to meddle in [the] investigation" and "knocking out Mueller" would be "[a] nother fact used to claim obst[ruction] of documents. 10/27/ 11 Letter, Muellers to Trump National Golf Club. The Muellers have not had further contact with the club. . 530 Priebus 4/3/ 18 302, at 3; Bannon 10/26/ 18 302, at 13 (confirming that he, Priebus, and McGahn pushed back on the asserted conflicts). 531 Bannon 10/26118302, at 12-13. 532 Bannon 10/26118 302, at 12. m Bannon 10/26/ 18 302, at 12. 534 Bannon 10/26118 302, at 12. m Bannon 10/26/ 18 302, at 13. 536 Bannon 10/26118 302, at 12. m Matt Zapotosky & Matea Gold, Justice Department ethics experts clear Mueller to lead Russia probe, Washington Post (May 23 , 2017). 538 McGahn 3/8118 302, at I; McGahn 12/ 14117302, at 10; Priebus 1/ 18118302, at 12. 539 McGahn 3/8118 302, at I. McGahn and Donaldson said that after the appointment ofthe Special Counsel, they considered themselves potential fact witnesses and accordingly told the President that inquiries related to the investigation should be brought to his personal counsel. McGahn 12114117 302, at 7; Donaldson 4/2118 302, at 5. 540 SC_AD_00361 (Donaldson 5/31117 Notes). 81 U.S. Department of Justice AMsfAey ''''edt Pl"sal:let II 1\46:) CSf1taifl: I\{atefial Prsteetea Ufteler FeB. R. Grim. P. 6(e} just[icej.,,541 McGahn told the President that his " biggest exposure" was not his act of firing Corney but hi s "other contacts" and "calls," and hi s "ask reo Flynn. ,,542 By the time McGahn provided this advice to the President, there had been widespread reporting on the President's request for Corney ' s loyalty, which the President publicly denied; his request that Corney " Iet[] Flynn go," which the President also denied; and the President's statement to the Russian Foreign Minister that the termination of Corney had relieved " great pressure" related to Russia, which the President did not deny .'43 On June 8, 2017, Corney testified before Congress about his interactions with the President before his termination, including the request for loyalty, the request that Corney " Iet[] Flynn go," and the request that Corney "lift the cloud" over the presidency caused by the ongoing investigation. 544 Corney's testimony led to a series of news reports about whether the President had obstructed justice.'45 On June 9, 2017, the Special Counsel ' s Office informed the White Hou se Counsel's Office that investigators intended to interview intelligence community officials who had allegedly been asked by the President to push back against the Russia investigation. 546 On Monday, June 12,2017, Christopher Ruddy, the chief executive of Newsmax Media and a longtime friend of the President's, met at the White House with Priebus and Bannon.'4? Ruddy recalled that they told him the President was strongly considering firing the Special Counsel 541 SC_AD_00361 (Donaldson 5/31 / 17 Notes). 542 SC_AD_0036I (Donaldson 5/31117 Notes). 543 See, e.g., Michael S. Schmidt, In a Private Dinner, Trump Demanded Loyalty. Comey Demurred. , New York Times (May 11 , 2017); Michael S. Schmidt, Comey Memorandum Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation , New York Times (May 16,2017); Matt Apuzzo et aI. , Trump Told Russians That Firing 'Nut Job' Corney Eased Pressure From Investigation, New York Times (May 19, 2017). 544 Hearing on Russian Election Interference Before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, 115th Congo (June 8, 2017) (Statement for the Record of James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI , at 5-6). Corney testified that he deliberately caused his memorandum documenting the February 14, 2017 meeting to be leaked to the New York Times in response to a tweet from the President, sent on May 12, 201 7, that stated "James Corney better hope that there are no ' tapes ' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!," and because he thought sharing the memorandum with a reporter "might prompt the appointment of a special counsel." Hearing on Russian Election Interfe rence Before the Senate Select Intelligence Commillee, I I 5th Congo (June 8, 2017) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 55) (testimony by James B. Corney, former Director of the FBI). 545 See, e.g. , Matt Zapotosky, Comey lays out the case that Trump obstructed}ustice, Washington Post (June 8, 201 7) ("Legal anal ysts said Corney 's testimony clarified and bolstered the case that the president obstructed justice. "). 546 6/9/ 17 Email , Speci al Counsel 's Office to the White House Counsel' s Office. This Office made the notification to give the White House an opportunity to invoke executive privilege in advance of the interviews. On June 12, 2017, the Special Counsel 's Office interviewed Admiral Rogers in the presence of agency counsel. Rogers 611 2117 302, at 1. On June 13, the Special Counsel 's Office interviewed Ledgett. Ledgett 6113/ 17 302, at 1. On June 14, the Office interviewed Coats and other personnel from his office. Coats 6114117 302, at I; Gistaro 6114117 302, at I; Culver 6/ 14117 302, at 1. 54? Ruddy 6/6/ 18 302, at 5. 82 U.S. Department of Justice Atterfle) \Vsfl( PfS8t:1et II h4ft) Cefltaifl ~4atet iel Prateetea Unelel FeEl. R. Crift •. P. 6(e} and that he would do so precipitously, without vetting the deci sion through Administration officials 548 Ruddy asked Priebus if Ruddy could talk publicly about the discussion they had about the Special Counsel, and Priebus said he could. 549 Priebus told Ruddy he hoped another blow up like the one that followed the termination of Comey did not happen 550 Later that day, Ruddy stated in a televised interv iew that the President was "cons idering perhaps terminating the Special Counsel " based on purported con flicts of interest 551 Ruddy later told another news outlet that "Trump is definitely considering" terminating the Spec ial Counsel and " it' s not something that's bein g dismissed. ,,55' Ruddy's comments led to extensive coverage in the media that the President was considering firing the Special Counsel. 553 White House officials were unhappy with that press coverage and Ruddy heard from friend s that the President was upset with him 554 On June 13, 2017, Sanders as ked the President for guidance on how to respond to press inquiri es about the possi ble firing of the Special Counsel. 555 The President dictated an answer, which Sanders delivered, say ing that " [w]hile the president has every right to" fire the Special Counsel, "he has no intention to do SO .,,556 Also on June 13,20 17, the President's personal counsel contacted the Special Counsel ' s Office and raised concerns about possible conflicts.557 The Pres ident' s counsel cited Mueller's previous partnership in his law firm , his interview for the FBI Director position, and an asserted personal relationship he had with Comey.558 That same day, Rosenstein had testified publicly before Congress and said he saw no evidence of good cause to terminate the Special" Counse l, including for conflicts of interest. 559 Two days later, on June 15,20 17, the Special Counsel's 548 Ruddy 6/6/ 18 302, at 5-6. 549 Ruddy 6/6/18 302, at 6. 'so Ruddy 6/6/18 302, at 6. ,,, Trump Confidant Christopher Ruddy says Mueller has "real conflicts " as special counsel, PBS (June 12,20 17); Michael D. Shear & Maggie Haberman, Friend Says Trump Is Cons idering Firing Mueller as Special Counsel, New York Times (June 12,20 17). '52 Katherine Faulders & Veronica Stracqua1ursi, Trump friend Chris Ruddy says Spicer's 'bizarre' statement doesn't deny claim Trump seeking Mueller firing, ABC (June 13, 20 17). 553 See, e.g., Michael D. Shear & Maggie Haberman, Friend Says Trump Is Considering Firing Mueller as Special Counsel, New York Times (June 12, 2017). 554 Ruddy 6/6/18 302, at 6-7. '" Sanders 7/3/ 18 302, at 6-7. '" Glenn Thrush et aI., Trump Stews, StaffSteps In, and Mueller Is Safe for Now, New York Times (June 13, 20 17); see Sanders 7/3/18 302, at 6 (Sanders spoke with the President directly before speaking to the press on Air Force One and the answer she gave is the answer the President told her to give). m Special Counsel 's Office Attorney 6/13/17 Notes. '" Special Counsel's Office Attorney 6/13/17 Notes. ". Hearing on Fiscal 2018 Justice Department Budget before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, JUstice, and Science, 11 5th Congo (June 13, 20 17) (CQ Congo Transcripts, at 14) (testimony by Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General). 83 U.S. Department of Justice At:t8t fie) '.velk PI eattet /1 ~4fi) Cef1taifl: £\1:tttet ittl Preteetea UReet Fee. R. Ct in •. P. 6(e) Office informed the Acting Attorney General ' s office about the areas of concern rai sed by the President's counsel and told the President's counsel that their concerns had been commun icated to Rosenstein so that the Department of Justice could take any appropriate action. 56D 3. The Press Reports that the President is Being Investigated for Obstruction of Justice and the President Directs the White House Counsel to Have the Special Counsel Removed On the evening of June 14,2017, the Washington Post publi shed an article stating that the Special Counsel was investigating whether the President had attempted to obstructjustice. 561 This was the first public report that the President himse lf was under investigation by the Special Counsel ' s Office, and cable news networks quickly picked up on the report. 562 The Post story stated that the Special Counsel was interviewing inteliigence community leaders, including Coats and Rogers, about what the President had asked them to do in response to Corney's March 20, 2017 testimony; that the inquiry into obstruction marked "a major turning point" in the investigation; and that while "Trump had received private assurances from then-FBI Director James B. Corney starting in January that he was not personally under investigation," " [o]ffici als say that changed shortly after Corney's firing.,,563 That evening, at approximately 10:31 p.m. , the President called McGahn on McGahn 's personal cell phone and they spoke for about 15 minutes.'64 McGahn did not have a clear memory of the call but thought they might have discussed the stories reporting that the President was under investigation. 565 Beg inning early the next day, June 15, 2017, the President issued a series of tweets acknowledging the ex istence of the obstruction investigation and criticizing it. He wrote: "They made up a phony collusion w ith the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction ofjustice on the phony story. Nice,,;566 "You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history- led by some very bad and conflicted people!,,;,67 and "Crooked H destroyed phones wi hammer, 'b leached ' emails, & had husband meet w/AG days 560 Special Counsel's Office Attorney 6115117 Notes. 561 Devlin Barrett et aI., Special counsel is investigating Trump for possible obstruction ofjustice, officials say, Washington Post (June 14,2017). 562 CNN, for example, began running a chyron at 6:55 p.m. that stated: "WASH POST: MUELL ER INVESTIGATING TRUMP FOR OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. " CNN, (June 14, 2017, publi shed online at 7: 15 p.m. ET). 563 Devlin Barrett et aI., Special counsel is investigating Trump for possible obstruction ofjustice, officials say, Washington Post (June 14,20 17). 564 SCR026_000183 (President' s Daily Diary, 6/14/ 17) (reflecting call from the President to McGahn on 6/14117 with start time 10:31 p.m. and end time 10:46 p.m .); Call Records of Don McGahn. 565 McGahn 2128119 302, at 1-2. McGahn thought he and the President also probably talked about the investiture ceremony for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, which was scheduled for the following day . McGahn 2/28118 302, at 2. 566 @realDonaldTrump 6115/ 17 (6:55 a. m. ET) Tweet. 567 @realDonaldTrump 6/ 15117 (7:57 a.m. ET) Tweet. 84 U.S. Department of Justice Att6rtley ""Sflt PfSattet 1/ h48) GeRbill. p.4atel iel PI'steeted UI'leel Feel. R. CI iffl . P. 6(e} before she was c1eared- & they talk about obstruction?"s68 The next day, June 16, 2017, the President wrote additional tweets criticizing the investigation: " After 7 months of investigations & committee hearings about my 'co llusion with the Russians,' nobody has been able to show any proof. Sad! ,,;s69 and "I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt.,,570 On Saturday, June 17,2017, the President called McGahn and directed him to have the Special Counsel removed. 57 I McGahn was at home and the President was at Camp David.572 In interviews with this Office, McGahn recalled that the President called him at home twice and on both 'occasions directed him to call Rosenstein and say that Mueller had conflicts that precluded him from serving as Special Counsel. 573 On the first call, McGahn recalled that the President said something like, " You go Ita do this. You gotta call Rod. "s74 McGahn said he told the President that he would see what he could d0 575 McGahn was perturbed by the call and did not intend to act on the request. 576 He and other advisors believed the asserted conflicts were "silly" and "not real," and they had previous ly communicated that view to the President. 577 McGahn also had made clear to the President that the White House Counsel ' s Office should not be involved in any effort to press the issue ofconflicts. 578 McGahn was concerned about having any role in asking the Acting Attorney General to fire the Special Counsel because he had grown up in the Reagan era and wanted to be more like Judge ", @realDonaldTrump 6115/17 (3:56 p.m. ET) Tweet. 5" @realDonaldTrump 6116117 (7:53 a.m. ET) Tweet. 57°@realDonaldTrump6/ 16117(9:07 a.m . ET) Tweet. 571 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 1-2; McGahn 12/ 14/ 17302, at 10. m McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 1,3; SCR026_000196 (President's Daily Diary, 6117117) (records showing President departed the White House at II :07 a.m. on June 17,2017, and arrived at Camp David at II :37 a.m.). S73 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 1-2; McGahn 12/ 14/ 17302, at 10. Phone records show that the President called McGahn in the afternoon on June 17, 2017, and they spoke for approximately 23 minutes. SCR026 000196 (President's Daily Diary, 6/ 17117) (reflecting call from the President to McGahn on 6117117 with start time 2:23 p.m. and end time 2:46 p.m.); (Call Records of Don McGahn) . Phone records do not show another call between McGahn and the President that day . Although McGahn recalled receiving multiple calls from the President on the same day, in light of the phone records he thought it was possible that the first call instead occurred on June 14,2017, shortly after the press reported that the President was under investigation for obstruction of justice. McGahn 2/28119 302, at 1-3. While McGahn was not certain of the specific dates of the calls, McGahn was confident that he had at least two phone conversations with the President in which the President directed him to call the Acting Attorney General to have the Special Counsel removed. McGahn 2128119 302, at 1-3. 514 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at I. 575 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at I. 576 McGahn 3/8118 302, at I. 577 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 1-2. 518 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 1-2. 85 U.S. Department of Justice "'[MaiRe) \Vel It PI 86ttet II 1\1:6:) Centain P,'ateriai Preteeteti UR6er Fee. R. Grim . P. 6(e) Robert Bork and not "Saturday Night Massacre Bork.,,579 McGahn considered the President' s request to be an inflection point and he wanted to hit the brakes s 80 When the President called McGahn a second time to follow up on the order to call the Department of Justice, McGahn recalled that the President was more direct, saying something like, "Call Rod, tell Rod that Mueller has conflicts and can't be the Special Counsel.,,; 81 McGahn recalled the President telling him "Mueller has to go" and "Call me back when you do it.,,582 McGahn understood the President to be saying that the Special Counsel had to be removed by Rosenstein s 83 To end the conversation with the President, McGahn left the President with the impression that McGahn would call Rosensteins 84 McGahn recalled that he had already said no to the President's req uest and he was worn down, so he just wanted to get off the phone. 585 McGahn recalled feeling trapped because he did not plan to follow the President's directive but did not know what he wou ld say the next time the President called s86 McGahn decided he had to resign S87 He called his personal lawyer and then called his chief of staff, Annie Donaldson, to inform her of his decision s88 He then drove to the office to pack his belongings and submit his resignation letter S89 Donaldson recalled that McGahn told her the President had called and demanded he contact the Department of Justice and that the President wanted him to do something that McGahn did not want to do s9o McGahn told Donaldson that the President had called at least twice and in one of the calls asked "have you done it?,,591 McGahn did not tell Donaldson the specifics of the President' s request because he was consciously trying not to involve her in the 579 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2. 580 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2. 581 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 5. 582 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2, 5; McGahn 2128/19 302, at 3. 583 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 1-2,5. 584 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2. 585 McGahn 2/28/19 302, at 3; McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2. 586 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2. 587 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2. 588 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2-3 ; McGahn 2128/1 9 302, at 3; Donaldson 4/2/18 302, at 4; Cal1 Records of Don McGahn. 5" McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 2; Donaldson 412/ 18 302, at 4. 590 Donaldson 4/2/18 302, at 4. 5" Donaldson 4/2/ 18 302, at 4. 86 u.s. Department of Justice AMel'fle) \Vsll( PfS8t:let II ~hl) CeRtain P.1aterial Pteteetea Uliaet Fee. R. elil". P. 6(e) investigation, but Donaldson inferred that the President's directive was related to the Russia investigation. 592 Donaldson prepared to resign along with McGahn. 593 That evening, McGahn called both Priebus and Bannon and told them that he intended to resign. '94 McGahn recalled that, after speaking with his attorney and given the nature of the President ' s request, he decided not to share details of the President's request with other White House stafr.'9' Priebus recalled that McGahn said that the President had asked him to "do crazy shit," but he thought McGahn did not tell him the specifics of the President's request because McGahn was trying to protect Priebus from what he did not need to know 5 96 Priebus and Bannon both urged McGahn not to quit, and McGahn ultimately returned to work that Monday and remained in his position .597 He had not told the President directly that he planned to resign, and when they next saw each other the President did not ask McGahn whether he had followed through with calling Rosenstein 598 Around the same time, Chris Christie recalled a telephonecall with the Pres ident in which the President asked what Christie thought about the President firing the Special Counsel 599 Christie advised against doing so because there was no substantive basis for the President to fire the Special Counsel, and because the President would lose support from Republicans in Congress if he did SO.600 Analysis In analyzing the President' s direction to McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed, the following evidence is relevant to the elements of obstruction of justice: a. Obstructive act. As with the President' s firing of Corney, the attempt to remove the Special Counsel would qualify as an obstructive act if it would naturally obstruct the McGahn 2/28/1 9 302, at 3-4; Donaldson 4/2/ 18 302, at 4-5. Donaldson said she believed McGahn consciously did not share details with her because he did not want to drag her into the investigation. Donaldson 4/2/ 18 302, at 5; see McGahn 2/28/19 302, at 3, 592 S93 Donaldson 4/2/ 18 302, at 5. 594 McGahn 12/ 14/17302, at 10; Call Records of Don McGahn; McGahn 2/28/ 19 302, at 3-4; Priebus 4/3/ 18 302, at 6-7. 595 McGahn 2/28/19 302, at 4. Priebus and Bannon confirmed that McGahn did not tell them the specific details of the President's request. Priebus 4/3/ 18 302, at 7; Bannon 2/ 14/18 302, at 10. 596 Priebus 4/3/1 8 302, at 7. 597 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 3; McGahn 2/28/19 302, at 3-4. 598 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 3. 599 Christie 2/13/1 9 302, at 7. Christie did not recall the precise date of this call, but believed it was after Christopher Wray was announced as the nominee to be the new FBI director, which was on June 7, 2017. Christie 2/ 13/ 19302, at 7. Telephone records show that the President called Christie twice after that time period, on July 4, 2017, and July 14, 2017. Call Records of Chris Christie. 600 Christie 2/13/19 302, at 7. 87 U.S. Department of Justice C81~taift ~4tttel ittl Plsteetea Uluiel feel . R. Ct itt!. P. 6(e) AM:erfte) \'lark Pr86ttet /1 !'tift) investigation and any grand jury proceedings that might flow from the inquiry. Even ifthe removal of the lead prosecutor would not prevent the investigation from continuing under a new appointee, a factfinder would need to consider whether the act had the potential to delay further action in the investigation, chill the actions of any replacement Special Counsel , or otherwise impede the investigation. A threshold question is whethenhe President in fact directed McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed. After news organizations reported that in June 2017 the President had ordered McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed, the President publicly disputed these accounts, and privately told McGahn that he had simply wanted McGahn to bring conflicts of interest to the Department of Justice' s attention . See Volume II, Section II.I, infra. Some of the President' s specific language that McGahn recalled from the calls is consistent with that explanation. Substantial evidence, however, supports the conclusion that the President went further and in fact directed McGahn to call Rosenstein to have the Special Counsel removed. 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 60 1 McGahn spoke with the President twice and understood the directive the same way both times, making it unlikely that he misheard or misinterpreted the President's request. In response to that request, McGahn decided to quit because he did not want to participate in events that he described as akin to the Saturday Night Massacre. He called his lawyer, drove to the White House, packed up his office, prepared to submit a resignation letter with his chief of staff, told Priebus that the President had asked him to "do crazy shit," and informed Priebus and Bannon that he was leaving. Those acts would be a highly unusual reaction to a request to convey information to the Department of Justice. Second, in the days before the calls to McGahn, the President, through his counsel, had already brought the asserted conflicts to the attention of the Department of Justice. Accordingly, the President had no reason to have McGahn call Rosenstein that weekend to raise conflicts issues that already had been raised. Third, the President's sense of urgency and repeated requests to McGahn to take immediate action on a weekend-"You gotta do this. You gotta call Rod ."-suppOlt McGahn ' s recollection that the President wanted the Department of Justice to take action to remove the Special Counsel. Had the President instead sought only to have the Department of Justice re-examine asserted conflicts to evaluate whether they posed an ethical bar, it would have been unnecessary to set the process in motion on a Saturday and to make repeated calls to McGahn . 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. And in the days leading up to June 17, 2017, the President made clear to Priebus and Bannon, who then told Ruddy, that the President was considering terminating 601 When this Office first interviewed McGahn about this topic, he was reluctant to share detailed information about what had occurred and only did so after continued questioning. See McGahn 12114117 302 (agent notes). 88 U.S. Department of Justice AM61 He) \'181"1£ Pf88t1et II ~18) C6f1t8iR ~48tel iel Pf8teetea U",aet Fea. R. Crim. P. 6(e~ the Special Counsel. Also during this time period, the President reached out to Christie to get his thoughts on firing the Special Counsel. This evidence shows that the President was not just seeking an examination of whether conflicts existed but instead was looking to use asserted conflicts as a way to terminate the Special Counsel. b. Nexus to an official proceeding. To satisty the proceeding requirement, it would be necessary to establish a nexus between the President's act of seeking to terminate the Special Counsel and a pending or foreseeable grand jury proceeding. Substantial evidence indicates that by June 17, 20 17, the President knew his conduct was under investigation by a federal prosecutor who could present any evidence of federal crimes to a grand jury. On May 23, 2017, McGahn explicitly warned the President that his "biggest exposure" was not his act of firing Comey but his "other contacts" and "calls," and his "ask re: Flynn." By early June, it was widely reported in t\:le media that federal prosecutors had issued grand jury subpoenas in the Flynn inquiry and that the Special Counsel had taken over the Flynn investigation 602 On Jurie 9, 2017, the Special Counsel's Office informed the White House that investigators would be interviewing intelligence agency officials who allegedly had been asked by the President to push back against the Russia investigation. On June 14, 2017, news outlets began reporting that the President was himself being investigated for obstruction of justice. Based on widespread reporting, the President knew that such an investigation could include his request for Comey's loyalty; his request that Comey "Iet[] Flynn go"; his outreach to Coats and Rogers ; and his termination ofComey and statement to the Russian Foreign Minister that the termination had relieved "great pressure" related to Russia. And on June 16, 2017, the day before he directed McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed, the President publicly acknowledged that his conduct was under investigation by a federal prosecutor, tweeting, "I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director!" c. Intent. Substantial evidence indicates that the President's attempts to remove the Special Counsel were linked to the Special Counsel's oversight of investigations that involved the President's conduct-and, most immediately, to reports that the President was being investigated for potential obstruction of justice. Before the President terminated Comey, the President considered it critically important that he was not under investigation and that the public not erroneously think he was being investigated. As described in Volume II, Section 11.0, supra, advisors perceived the President, while he was drafting the Comey termination letter, to be concerned more than anything else about getting out that he was not personally under investigation. When the President learned ofthe appointment of the Special Counsel on May 17,2017, he expressed further concern about the investigation, saying " [t]his is the end of my Presidency." The President also faulted Sessions for recusing, saying "you were supposed to protect me. " On June 14, 2017, when the Washington Post reported that the Special Counsel was investigating the President for obstruction of justice, the President was facing what he had wanted 602 See, e.g., Evan Perez et a\., CNN exclusive:' Grand jury subpoenas issued in FBI's Russia investigation, CNN (May 9, 2017); Matt Ford, Why Mueller Is Taking Over the Michael Flynn Grand Jury, The Atlantic (June 2, 2017). 89 U.S. Department of Justice "£ferAe) WSfil PfSal:let II ~4fl) CeRtain !lt4atelial Pisteetea Urulel" Fee. R. Cfiffl. P. 6(e) to avoid: a criminal investigation into his own conduct that was the subject of widespread media attention. The evidence indicates that news of the obstruction investigation prompted the President to call McGahn and seek to have the Special Counsel removed. By mid-June, the Department of Justice had already cleared the Special Counsel ' s service and the President's advisors had told him that the claimed conflicts of interest were "silly" and did not provide a basis to remove the Special Counsel. On June 13,2017, the Acting Attorney General testified before Congress that no good cause for removing the Special Counsel existed, and the President dictated a press statement to Sanders saying he had no intention of firing the Special Counsel. But the next day, the media reported that the President was under investigation for obstruction of justice and the Special Counsel was interviewing witnesses about events related to possible obstruction- spurring the President to write critical tweets about the Special Counsel's investigation. The President called McGahn at home that night and then called him on Saturday from Camp David. The evidence accordingly indicates that news that an obstruction investigation had been opened is what led the President to call McGahn to have the Special Counsel terminated. There also is evidence that the President knew that he should not have made those calls to McGahn. The President made the calls to McGahn after McGahn had specifically told the President that the White House Counsel's Office- and McGahn himself-could not be involved in pressing contlicts claims and that the President should consult with his personal counsel if he wished to raise contlicts. Instead of relying on his personal counsel to submit the contlicts claims, the President sought to use his official powers to remove the Special Counsel. And after the media reported on the President's actions, he denied that he ever ordered McGahn to have the Special Counsel terminated and made repeated efforts to have McGahn deny the story, as discussed in Volume Il, Section Il.!, infra. Those denials are contrary to the evidence and suggest the President's awareness that the direction to McGahn could be seen as improper. F. The President's Efforts to Curtail the Special Counsel Investigation Overview Two days after the President directed McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed, the President made another attempt to affect the course of the Russia investigation. On June 19, 2017, the President met one-on-one with Corey Lewandowski in the Oval Office and dictated a message to be delivered to Attorney General Sessions that would have had the effect of limiting the Russia investigation to future election interference only. One month later, the President met again with Lewandowski and followed up on the request to have Sessions limit the scope of the Russia investigation. Lewandowski told the President the message would be delivered soon. Hours later, the President publicly criticized Sessions in an unplanned press interview, raising questions about Sessions ' s job security. I. The President Asks Corey Lewandowski to Deliver a Message to Sessions to Curtail the Special Counsel Investigation On June 19, 2017, two days after the President directed McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed, the President met one-on-one in the Oval Office with his former campaign 90 U.S. Department of Justice AtterHe) 'Nerk Ple6ttet II ~4ft)r Centaifl ~4fltel ittl Pleteetea U"eler Fea. R. Cri1'fl. P. 6(e1 manager Corey Lewandowski 603 Senior White House advisors described Lewandowski as a "devotee" of the President and said the relationship between the President and Lewandowski was "ciose.,,604 During the June 19 meeting, Lewandowski recalled that, after some small talk, the President brought up Sessions and criticized his recusal from the Russia investigation 605 The President told Lewandowski that Sessions was weak and that if the President had known about the likelihood of recusal in advance, he would not have appointed Sessions. 606 The President then asked Lewandowski to deliver a message to Sessions and said "write this down.,,607 This was the first time the President had asked Lewandowski to take dictation, and Lewandowski wrote as fast as possible to make sure he captured the content correctly608 The President directed that Sessions should give a speech publicly announcing: I know that I recused myself from certain things having to do with specific areas. But our POTUS ... is being treated very unfairly. He shouldn ' t have a Special Prosecutor/Coun sel blc he hasn't done anything wrong. I was on the campaign wi him for nine months, there were no Russians involved with him. I know it for a fact blc I was there. He didn't do anything wrong except he ran the greatest campaign in American history.609 The dictated message went on to state that Sessions would meet with the Special Counsel to limit his jurisdiction to future election interference: Now a group of people want to subvert the Constitution of the United States. I am going to meet with the Special Prosecutor to explain this is very unfair and let the Special Prosecutor move forward with investigating election meddling for future elections so that nothing can happen in future elections 6 10 604 Kelly 812118 302, at 7; Dearborn 6/20/18302, at I (describing Lewandowski as a "comfort to the President" whose loyalty was appreciated). Kelly said that when he was Chief of Staff and the President had meetings with friends like Lewandowski, Kelly tried not to be there and to push the meetings to the residence to create distance from the West Wing. Kelly 8/2/ 18 302, at 7. 605 Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 2. 606 Lewandowski 4/6/ 18 302, at 2. 607 Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 2. 608 Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 3. 609 Lewandowski 4/6/ 18 302, at 2-3 ; Lewandowski 6119117 Notes, at 1-2. 610 Lewandowski 4/611 8 302, at 3; Lewandowski 611 911 7 Notes, at 3. 91 AM:6IHe) 'Nelle PI 86t1et II U.S. Department of Justice Pw4ftteriai Preteetea Ululer FeEl. R. Criffi. P. 6(e) ~q~ C6RtaiR The President said that if Sessions delivered that statement he would be the "most popular guy in the country.,,61 1 Lewandowski told the President he understood what the President wanted Sessions to do.612 Lewandowski wanted to pass the message to Sessions in person rather than over the phone. 613 He did not want to meet at the Department of Justice because he did not want a public log of his visit and did not want Sessions to have an advantage over him by meeting on what Lewandowski described as Sessions's turf614 Lewandowski called Sessions and arranged a meeting for the following evening at Lewandowski's office, but Sessions had to cancel due to a last minute conflict. 615 Shortly thereafter, Lewandowski left Washington, D.C., without having had an opportunity to meet with Sessions to convey the President's message. 616 Lewandowski stored the notes in a safe at his home, which he stated was his standard procedure with sensitive items. 61? 2. The President Follows Up with Lewandowski Following his June meeting with the President, Lewandowski contacted Rick Dearborn, then a senior White House official, and asked if Dearborn could pass a message to Sessions 61 8 Dearborn agreed without knowing what the message was, and Lewandowski later confirmed that Dearborn would meet with Sessions for dinner in late July and could deliver the message then 619 Lewandowski recalled thinking that the President had asked him to pass the message because the President knew Lewandowski could be trusted, but Lewandowski believed Dearborn would be a better messenger because he had a longstanding relationship with Sessions and because Dearborn was in the government while Lewandowski was not 620 On July 19,2017, the President again met with Lewandowski alone in the Oval Office. 621 In the preceding days, as described in Volume II, Section II.G, infra, emails and other information about the June 9, 2016 meeting between several Russians and Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort had been publicly disclosed. In the July 19 meeting with Lewandowski, the 611 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 3; Lewandowski 6/19/17 Notes, at 4. 612 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 3. 613 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 3-4. 614 Lewandowski 4/6/\8 302, at 4. '" Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 4. 61 6 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 4. 617 Lewandowski 4/6/ \8 302, at 4. 618 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 4; see Dearborn 6/20/18 302, at 3. G19 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 4-5. 620 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 4, 6. 621 Lewandowski 4/6/18 302, at 5; SCR029b_000002-03 (6/5/ 18 Additional Response to Special Counsel Request for Certain Visitor Log Information). 92 U.S. Department of Justice Aft6t'tle)! V16fl{ PI 86ttet II p-qS) CeRtaifl I\iatel ist Pf6 ~eetea UI.6el Fee . R. Ct ilfl. P. 6(e) President raised his previous request and asked if Lewandowski had talked to Sessions.622 Lewandowski told the President that the message would be delivered soon. 623 Lewandowski recalled that the President told him that if Sessions did not meet with him, Lewandowski should tell Sessions he was fired .62• Immediately following the meeting with the President, Lewandowski saw Dearborn in the anteroom outside the Oval Office and gave him a typewritten version of the message the President had dictated to be delivered to Sessions.625 Lewandowski told Dearborn that the notes were the message they had discussed, but Dearborn did not recall whether Lewandowski said the message was from the President 626 The message "definitely rai sed an eyebrow" for Dearborn, and he recalled not wanting to ask where it came from or think further about doing anything with it. 627 Dearborn also said that being asked to serve as a messenger to Sessions made him uncomfortable 628 He recalled later telling Lewandowski that he had handled the situation, but he did not actually follow through with delivering the message to Sessions, and he did not keep a copy of the typewritten notes Lewandowski had given him. 629 3. The President Publicly Criticizes Sessions in a New York Times Interview Within hours of the President's meeting with Lewandowski on July 19,2017, the President gave an unplanned interview to the New York Times in which he criticized Sessions's decision to recuse from the Russia investigation. 630 The President said that " Sessions should have never recused him self, and ifhe was going to recuse himself, he should have told me before he took the job, and I would have picked somebody else.,,631 Sessions's recusal, the President said, was "very unfair to the president. How do you take ajob and then recuse yourself? Ifhe would have recused himself before the job, I would have said, ' Thanks, Jeff, but I can't, you know, I' m not go ing to 622 Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 5. 62J Lewandowski 4/6/ 18 302, at 5. ", Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 6. Priebus vaguely recalled Lewandowski telling him that in approximately Mayor June 2017 the President had asked Lewandowski to get Sessions's resignation. Priebus recalled that Lewandowski described his reaction as something like, "What can 1 do? I' m not an employee of the administration. I' m a nobody." Priebus 4/3/ 18302, at 6. '" Lewandowski 4/6/ 18 302, at 5. Lewandowski said he asked Hope Hicks to type the notes when he went in to the Oval Office, and he then retrieved the notes from her partway through his meeting with the President. Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 5. 626 Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 5; Dearborn 6/20/ 18 302, at 3. 627 Dearborn 6/20118 302, at 3. 628 Dearborn 6/20/ 18 302, at 3. 629 Dearborn 6/20/ 18 302, at 3-4. 630 Peter Baker et aI., Excerpts From The Times's Interview With Trump, New York Times (July 19,201 7). 631 Peter Baker et aI., Excerpts From The Times's Interview With Trump , New York Times (July 19, 2017). 93 /\~8IRe) u.S. Department of Justice \V81k Pfe8tlet II ~4fl) C61'1taiR ~48tefi81 Preteetea URael Fea. R. Criln. P. 6(ej take you. ' It's extremely unfair, and that's a mild word, to the president.,,632 Hicks, who was present for the interview, recalled trying to "throw [herself] between the reporters and [the President]" to stop parts of the interview, but the President " loved the interview.,,633 Later that day, Lewandowski met with Hicks and they discussed the President's New York Times interview. 634 Lewandowski recalled telling Hicks about the President 's request that he meet with Sessions and joking with her about the idea of firing Sessions as a private citizen if Sessions would not meet with him.635 As Hicks remembered the conversation, Lewandowski told her the President had recently asked him to meet with Sessions and deliver a message that he needed to do the " right thing" and resign. 636 While Hicks and Lewandowski were together, the President called Hicks and told her he was happy with how coverage of his New York Times interview criticizing Sessions was playing OUt. 637 4. The President Orders Priebus to Demand Sessions's Resignation Three days later, on July 21, 2017, the Washington Post reported that U.S. intelligence intercepts showed that Sessions had discussed campaign-related matters with the Russian ambassador, contrary to what Sessions had said publicly ."3. That evening, Priebus called Hunt to talk about whether Sessions might be fired or might resign. 639 Priebus had previously talked to Hunt when the media had reported on tensions between Sessions and the President, and, after speaking to Sessions, Hunt had told Priebus that the President would have to fire Sessions if he wanted to remove Sessions because Sessions was not going to quit. 64o According to Hunt, who . took contemporaneous notes of the July 21 call , Hunt told Priebus that, as they had previously discussed, Sessions had no intention ofresigning. 641 Hunt asked Priebus what the President would 632 Peter Baker et aI., Excerpts From The Tim es's Interview With Trump, New York Times (July 19,2017). 633 Hicks 12/8117302, at 23. 634 Hicks 3113118 302, at 10; Lewandowski 4/6/ 18 302, at 6. 635 Lewandowski 4/6/ 18 302, at 6. 636 Hicks 3113118 302, at 10. Hicks thought that the President might be able to make a recess appointment of a new Attorney General because the Senate was about to go on recess. Hicks 3/13/ 18 302, at 10. Lewandowski recalled that in the afternoon of July 19,2017, following his meeting with the President, he conducted research on recess appointments but did not share his research with the President. Lewandowski 4/6118 302, at 7. 637 Lewandowski 4/6/ 18 302, at 6. '" Adam Entous et aI., Sessions discussed Trump campaign-related mailers with Russian ambassador, u.s. intelligence intercepts show, Washington Post (July 21, 2017). The underlying events concerning the Sessions-Kislyak contacts are discussed in Volume I, Section lV .A.4.c, supra. '" Hunt 211 / 18302, at 23. 640 Hunt 211118 302, at 23. 64 1 Hunt 2/ 1/18 302, at 23-24; Hunt 7/21117 Notes, at 1. 94 AM:6I"fle~ U.S. Department of Justice ')/611£ Pf68t1et II t-.4tt) C6f1taifl r-.4aterial PI"6teetea Ululet Fee. R. Cfiffl. P. 6te) accomplish by firing Sessions, pointing out there was an investigation before and there would be an investigation after 642 Early the following morning, July 22, 2017, the Pres ident tweeted, "A new INTELLIGENC E LEAK from the Amazon Washington Post, this time against A.G. Jeff Sessions. These illegal leaks, like Corney' s, must stop!,,643 Approximately one hour later, the President tweeted, " So many people are asking why isn't the A.G . or Special Council looking at the many Hillary Clinton or Corney crimes . 33,000 e-mails deleted?,,644 Later that morning, while aboard Marine One on the way to Norfolk, Virginia, the President told Priebus that he had to get Sessions to resign immediately645 The President said that the country had lost confidence in Sessions and the negative publicity was not tolerable. 646 According to contemporaneous notes taken by Priebus, the President told Priebus to say that he "need[ ed] a letter of resignation on [his] desk immediately" and that Sessions had " no choice" but " must immediately resign.,,64, Priebus replied that if they fired Sessions, they would never get a new Attorney General confirmed and that the Department of Justice and Congress would turn their backs on the President, but the President suggested he could make a recess appointment to replace Sessions. 648 Priebus believed that the President's request was a problem , so he called McGahn and asked for advice, explaining that he did not want to pull the trigger on something that was "all wrong.,,64' Although the President tied his desire for Sessions to resign to Sessions ' s negative press and poor performance in congressional testimony, Priebus believed that the President's desire to replace Sessions was driven by the President's hatred of Sessions's recusal from the Russia investigation."5o McGahn told Priebus not to follow the President's order and said they should consult their personal counsel, with whom they had attorney-client privilege."51 McGahn 642 Hunt 211 / 18 302, at 23-24; Hunt 7/21117 Notes, at 1-2. 643@reaIDonaldTrump7/22/ 17 (6 :33 a.m. ET) Tweet. 64' @reaIDonaldTrump7/22/ 17(7:44 a.m. ET) Tweet. Three minutes later, the President tweeted, "What about all of the Clinton ties to Russia, including Podesta Company, Uranium deal, Russian Reset, big dollar speeches etc." @realDonaldTrump 7/22117 (7:47 a.m. ET) Tweet. 64 5 Priebus 1118/18302, at 13-14. 64' Priebus 1/18118302, at 14; Priebus 4/3/18 302, at 4-5; see RP _000073 (Priebus 7/22/ 17 Notes). 647 RP _000073 (Priebus 7/22/ 17 Notes) . • 48 Priebus 4/3118 302, at 5. 649 Priebus 1/18/ 18 302, at 14; Priebus 4/3118 302, at 4-5. 650 Priebus 4/3118 302, at 5. 651 RP_000074 (Priebus 7/22/ 17 Notes); McGahn 12114117302, at 11 ; Priebus 1118118302, at 14. Priebus followed McGahn's advice and called his personal attorney to discuss the President' s request because he thought it was the type of thing about which one would need to consult an attorney. Priebus 1/ 18118302, at 14. 95 u.s. Department of Justice Attsffle) \Vellt PY68t:1et II Pw4a) CSHtfliR Pw4atel ittl Prsteetea UR8et Fea. R. CI ifl" P. 6(e) and Priebus discussed the possibility that they would both have to resign rather than carry out the President' s order to ftre Sessions 6s2 That afternoon, the President followed up with Priebus about demanding Sessions's resignation, using words to the effect of, " Did you get it? Are yo u working on it?,,653 Priebus said that he believed that his job depended on whether he followed the order to remove Sessions, although the President did not directly say S06S4 Even though Priebus did not intend to carry out the President's directive, he told the President he would get Sessions to resign. 6SS Later in the day, Priebus called the President and explained that it would be a calamity if Sessions resigned because Priebus expected that Rosenstein and Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand would also resign and the President would be unable to get anyone else conftrmed 656 The President agreed to hold off on demanding Sessions's resignation until after the Sunday shows the next day, to prevent the shows from focusing on the ftring. 657 By the end of that weekend, Priebus recalled that the President relented and agreed not to ask Sessions to resign. 6s8 Over the next several days, the President tweeted about Sessions. On the morning of Monday, July 24, 2017, the President criticized Sessions for neglecting to investigate Clinton and called him " beleaguered."6S9 On July 25 , the President tweeted, "Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are Emails & DNC server) & Intelleakers! ,,66o The following day, July 26, the President tweeted, " Why didn ' t A.G. Sessions replace Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, a Corney friend who was in charge of Clinton investigation.,,661 According to Hunt, in light of the President's frequent public attacks, Sessions prepared another resignation letter and for the rest ofthe year carried it with him in his pocket every time he went to the White House.662 65' McGahn 12/ 14/ 17 302, at II; RP_000074 (Priebus 7/22/17 Notes) ("discuss resigning together"). 653 Priebus 1/18/ 18302, at 14; Priebus 4/3/18 302, at 4 . •" Priebus 4/3/ 18 302, at 4. 655 Priebus 1/18/ 18302, at IS. 6s6Priebus 1/18/18302,at IS. m Priebus 1/18/18 302, at 15. 658 Priebus 1118/18302, at IS. @realDonaldTrump 7/24/ 17 (8:49 a.m. ET) Tweet ("So why aren't the Committees and investigators, and of course our beleaguered A.G. , looking into Crooked Hillarys crimes & Russia relations?"). 659 660 @realDonaldTrump 7/25/17 (6: 12 a.m. ET) Tweet. The President sent another tweet shortly before this one asking "where is the investigation A.G." @reaIDonaldTrump7/25/ 17 (6:03 a.m. ET) Tweet. 661 @realDonaldTrump 7/26/ 17 (9:48 a.m. ET) Tweet. 662 Hunt 2/1 /18302, at 24-25. 96 U.S. Department of Justice At:t8IRe) \Vsrk PI8fhlet II ~4a) CSfltaifl ~4atefial Pl'steetea Unser Fee. R. Crim. P. 6(e) Analysis In analyzing the President's efforts to have Lewandowski deliver a message directing Sessions to publicly announce that the Special Counsel investigation would be confined to future election interference, the following evidence is relevant to the elements of obstruction of justice: a. Obstructive act. The President's effort to send Sessions a message through Lewandowski would qualify as an obstructive act if it would naturally obstruct the investigation and any grand jury proceedings that might flow from the inquiry. The President sought to have Sessions announce that the President "shouldn 't have a Special Prosecutor/Counsel" and that Sessions was going to "meet with the Special Prosecutor to explain this is very unfair and let the Special Prosecutor move forward with investigating election meddling for future elections so that nothing can happen in future elections." The President wanted Sessions to disregard his recusal from the investigation, which had followed from a formal DOJ ethics review, and have Sessions declare that he knew " for a fact" that "there were no Russians involved with the campaign" because he "was there." The President further directed that Sessions should explain that the President should not be subject to an investigation "because he hasn't done anything wrong." Taken together, the President's directives indicate that Sessions was being instructed to tell the Special Counsel to end the existing investigation into the President and hi s campaign, with the Special Counsel being permitted to "move forward with investigating election meddling for future elections." b. Nexus to an official proceeding. As described above, by the time of the President' s initial one-on-one meeting with Lewandowski on June 19, 2017, the existence of a grand jury investigation supervised by the Special Counsel nexus requIrement, necessary to show that limiting the Special Counsel 's investigation would have the natural and probable effect of impeding that grand jury proceeding. c. Intent. Substantial evidence indicates that the President's effort to have Sessions limit the scope of the Special Counsel ' s investigation to future election interference was intended to prevent further investigative scrutiny of the President' s and his campaign's conduct. As previously described, see Volume n, Section II.B, supra, the President knew that the Russia investigation was focu sed in part on his campaign, and he perceived allegations of Russian interference to cast doubt on the legitimacy of his election. The President further knew that the investigation had broadened to include his own conduct and whether he had obstructed justice. Those investigations would not proceed if the Special Counsel'sjurisdiction were limited to future election interference only. The timing and circumstances of the President' s actions support the conclusion that he sought that result. The President's initial direction that Sessions should limit the Special Counsel's investigation came just two days after the President had ordered McGahn to have the Special Counsel removed, which itself followed public reports that the President was personally under 97 U.S. Department of Justice AM611le) 'N6fl( Pfeat:tet II P,48:) Cefttaifl P,4atet ittl Prsteetea Ullaet Feel. R. C1 ilfl. P. 6(e) investigation for obstruction of justice. The sequence of those events raises an inference that after seeking to terminate the Special Counsel, the President sought to exclude his and his campaign's conduct from the investigation's scope. The President raised the matter with Lewandowski again on July 19, 2017, just days after emails and information about the June 9, 2016 meeting between Russians and senior campaign officials had been publicly disclosed, generating substantial media coverage and investigative interest. The manner in which the President acted provides additional evidence of his intent. Rather than rely on official channels, the President met with Lewandowski alone in the Oval Office. The President selected a loyal "devotee" outside the White House to deliver the message, supporting an inference that he was working outside White House channels, including McGahn, who had previously resisted contacting the Department of Justice about the Special Counsel. The President also did not contact the Acting Attorney General, who had just testified publicly that there was no cause to remove the Specia l Counsel. Instead, the President tried to use Sessions to restrict and redirect the Special Counsel's investigation when Sessions was recused and could not properly take any action on it. The July 19, 2017 events provide further evidence of the President's intent. The President followed up with Lewandowski in a separate one-on-one meeting one month after he first dictated the message for Sessions, demonstrating he still sought to pursue the request. And just hours after Lewandowski assured the President that the message would soon be delivered to Sessions, the President gave an unplanned interview to the New York Times in which he publicly attacked Sessions and raised questions about his job security. Four days later, on July 22, 2017, the President directed Priebus to obtain Sessions ' s resignation. That evidence could raise an inference that the President wanted Sessions to realize that his job might be on the line as he evaluated whether to comply with the President's direction that Sessions publicly announce that, notwithstanding his recusal, he was going to confine the Special Counsel's investigation to future election interference. G. The President's Efforts to Prevent Disclosure of Em ails About the June 9, 2016 Meeting Between Russians and Senior Campaign Officials Overview By June 2017, the President became aware of em ails setting up the June 9, 2016 meeting between senior campaign officials and Russians who offered derogatory information on Hillary Clinton as "part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." On multiple occasions in late June and early July 2017, the President directed aides not to publicly disclose the emails, and he then dictated a statement about the meeting to be issued by Donald Trump Jr. describing the meeting as about adoption. Evidence I. The President Learns About the Existence of Emails Concerning the June 9, 2016 Trump Tower Meeting In mid-June 2017- the same week that the President first asked Lewandowski to pass a message to Sessions- senior Administration officials became aware of emails exchanged during 98 U.S. Department of Justice Att611tey \Vspl( PI 86t1et II ~,48)' C8flftlift ~4fttefj81 Plsteetea HABer FeEl. R. CfifH. P. B(e) the campaign arranging a meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, and a Russian attorney.663 As described in Volume I, Section IV.A.5, supra, the emails stated that the "Crown [Plrosecutor of Russia" had offered "to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia" as part of " Russia and its government' s support for Mr. Trump.,,664 Trump Jr. responded, "[Ilf it's what you say I love it,,,665 and he, Kushner, and Manafort met with the Russian attorney and several other Russian individuals at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016. 666 At the meeting, the Russian attorney claimed that funds derived from illegal activities in Russia were provided to Hillary Clinton and other Democrats, and the Russian attorney then spoke about the Magnitsky Act, a 2012 U.S. statute that imposed financial and travel sanctions on Russ ian officials and that had resulted in a retaliatory ban in Russia on U.S. adoptions of Russian children 667 According to written answers submitted by the President in response to questions from this Office, the President had no recollection of learning of the meeting or the emails setting it up at the time the meeting occurred or at any other time before the election 668 The Trump Campaign had previously received a document request from SSCI that called for the production of various information, including, " [allist and a description of all meetings" between any "individual affiliated with the Trump campaign" and "any individual formally or informa lly affiliated with the Russian government or Russian business interests which took place between June 16,2015, and 12 pm on January 20, 2017," and associated records 669 Trump Organization attorneys became aware of the June 9 meeting no later than the first week of June 2017, when they began interviewing the meeting participants, and the Trump Organization attorneys provided the emails setting up the meeting to the President's personal counse1. 670 Mark Corallo, who had been hired as a spokesman for the President's personal legal team , recalled that he learned about the June 9 meeting around June 21 or 22,2017 671 Priebus recalled learning about the June 9 meeting from Fox News host Sean Hannity in late June 2017. 672 Priebus notified one 663 Hicks 3/13118 302, at I; Raffel 2/8118 302, at 2. 664 RG000061 (6/3116 Email, Goldstone to Trump Jr.); @DonaldJTrum pJR 7111117 (II :01 a.m. ET) Tweet. RG000061 (6/3116 Email, Trump Jr. to Goldstone); @DonaldJTrumpJR 7111117 (11:01 a.m. 66' ET) Tweet. 666 Samochornov 7112117 302, at 4. 667 See Volume I, Section IV.A.5, supra (describing meeting in detail). 668 Written Responses of Donald J. Trump (Nov. 20, 2018), at 8 (Response to Question I, Parts (a) through (c)). The President declined to answer questions about his knowledge of the June 9 meeting or other events after the election. 669 DJTFP_ SCQ_PDF_ 00000001-02 (5117117 Letter, SSC] to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.). 670 Goldstone 2/811 8 302, at 12; 6/2/17 and 6/5/17 Emails, Goldstone & Garten; Raffel 2/8118 302, at 3; Hicks 3113118 302, at 2. 671 Corallo 2/ 15/18 302, at 3. 672 Priebus 4/3118 302, at 7. 99 AM:8rRey '."splt Pfstitlet II U.S. Department of Justice CSfltaift ~4fttel ittl Preteetea Untlel Fea. R. Grim. P. 6Ee) ~i4fl) of the President's personal attorneys, who told Priebus he was already working on it 673 By late June, several advisors recalled receiving media inquiries that could relate to the June 9 meeting.674 2. The President Directs Communications Staff Not to Publicly Disclose Tnformation About the June 9 Meeting Communications advisors Hope Hicks and Josh Raffel recalled discussing with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump that the emails were damaging and would inevitably be leaked. 675 Hicks and Raffel advised that the best strategy was to proactively release the emails to the press. 676 On or about June 22, 2017, Hicks attended a meeting in the White House residence with the President, Kushner, and Tvanka Trump.677 According to Hicks, Kushner said that he wanted to fill the President in on something that had been discovered in the documents he was to provide to the congressional committees involving a meeting with him, Manafort, and Trump Jr678 Kushner brought a folder of documents to the meeting and tried to show them to the President, but the President stopped Kushner and said he did not want to know about it, shutting the conversation down. 679 On June 28, 2017, Hicks viewed the emails at Kushner' s attorney ' s office. 680 She recalled being shocked by the emails because they looked "really bad.,,681 The next day, Hicks spoke privately with the President to mention her concern about the emails, which she understood were soon going to be shared with Congress. 682 The President seemed upset because too many people knew about the emails and he told Hicks that just one lawyer should deal with the matter. 683 The President indicated that he did not think the emails would leak, but said they would leak ifeveryone had access to them. 684 673 Priebus 4/3/18 302, at 7. 674 Corallo 2/15/ 18 302, at 3; Hicks 1217117302, at 8; Raffel 2/8/ 18 302, at 3. 675 Raffel 2/8/18 302, at 2-3 ; Hicks 3/ 13/18 302, at 2. 676 Raffel 2/8/18 302, at 2-3, 5; Hicks 3/ 13/ 18 302, at 2; Hicks 12/7/17 302, at 8. 677 Hicks 1217117302, at 6-7; Hicks 3/13/18 302, at I. 678 Hicks 1217117302, at 7; Hicks 3/\3/18 302, at I. "9 Hicks 1217117302, at 7; Hicks 3/13/18 302, at I. Counsel for Ivanka Trump provided an attorney proffer that is consistent with Hicks's account and with the other events involving Ivanka Trump set forth in this section of the report. Kushner said that he did not recall talking to the President at this time about the June 9 meeting or the underlying emails.Kushner4/ 11 / 18302. at 30. 680 Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 1-2. 6" Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 2. 682 Hicks 1217117302, at 8. 683 Hicks 3/13/ 18 302, at 2-3 ; Hicks 1217117302, at 8. 684 Hicks 12171 17 302, at 8. 100 AKal He} 'N61 k PI 86tlet U.S. Department of Justice /1 P.48) CSflt8ifl ~48tel isl Pfsteetea Ululet Fee. R. Crim. P. 6Ee) Later that day, Hicks, Kushner, and Ivanka Trump went together to talk to the President 685 Hicks recalled that Kushner told the President the June 9 meeting was not a big deal and was about Russian adoption, but that em ails existed setting up the meeting. 686 Hicks said she wanted to get in front of the story and have Trump Jr. release the emai ls as part of an interview with "softball questions.,,687 The President said he did not want to know about it and they should not go to the press. 688 Hicks warned the President that the emails were "really bad" and the story would be "massive" when it broke, but the President was insistent that he did not want to talk about it and said he did not want details 689 Hicks recalled that the President asked Kushner when his document production was due. 690 Kushner responded that it would be a couple of weeks and the President said, "then leave it alone.,,691 Hicks a lso recalled that the President said Kushner's attorney should give the emails to whomever he needed to give them to, but the President did not think they wou ld be leaked to the press 692 Raffel later heard from Hicks that the President had directed the group not to be proactive in disclosing the emails because the President believed they would not leak. 693 3. The President Directs Trump Jr. 's Response to Press Inquiries About the June 9 Meeting The following week, the President departed on an overseas trip for the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, accompanied by Hicks, Raffel, Kushner, and Ivanka Trump, among others 694 On July 7,2017, while the President was overseas, Hicks and Raffel learned that the New York Times was working on a story about the June 9 meeting 695 The next day, Hicks told the President about the story and he directed her not to comment 696 Hicks thought the President's reaction was odd because he usually considered not responding to the press to be the ultimate sin 697 Later that day, Hicks and the President again spoke about the story.698 Hicks recalled that the President asked 685 Hicks 1217117302, at 8; Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 2. '" Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 2; Hicks 12171 17302, at 9. 687 Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 2-3. 688 Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 2-3 ; Hicks 12171 17302, at 9. '" Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 3; Hicks 1217117302, at 9. 090 Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 3. '" Hicks 3/ 13/ 18 302, at 3. 692 Hicks 1217117 302, at 9. 693 Raffel 2/8/18 302, at 5. 694 Raffel 2/8/18 302, at 6. 695 Raffel 2/8/18 302, at 6-7; Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 3. 696 Hicks 1217117 302, at 10; Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 3. 697 Hicks 12/7/17302, at 10. 69. Hicks 3/ 13/ 18 302, at 3. 101 U.S. Department of Justice At:t61Ile) 'NellE Pfe8tlet II ~4ft) C6fltaifl ~,48tel ittl Preteete6 Ullaet Fee. R. GriR •. P. 6(e) her what the meeting had been about, and she said that she had been told the meeting was about Russian adoption 699 The President responded, "then just say that."'oo On the flight home from the G20 on July 8, 2017, Hicks obtained a draft statement about the meeting to be released by Trump Jr. and brought it to the President.' o, The draft statement began with a reference to the information that was offered by the Russians in setting up the meeting: " I was asked to have a meeting by an acquaintance I knew from the 2013 Miss Universe pageant with an individual who I was told might have information helpful to the campaign."'o, Hicks again wanted to disclose the entire story, but the President directed that the statement not be issued because it said too much.'03 The President told Hicks to say only that Trump Jr. took a brief meeting and it was about Russian adoption 704 After speaking with the President, Hicks texted Trump Jr. a revised statement on the June 9 meeting that read: It was a short meeting. I asked Jared and Paul to stop by. We discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children that was active and popular with American families years ago and was since ended by the Russian government, but it was not a campaign issue at that time and there was no follow Up 705 Hicks 's text concluded, "Are you ok with this? Attributed to you.,,'06 Trump Jr. responded by text message that he wanted to add the word " primarily" before "discussed" so that the statement would read, "We primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children ."'o, Trump Jr. texted that he wanted the change because "[t]hey started with some Hillary thing which was bs and some other nonsense which we shot down fast.",08 Hicks texted back, "I think that's right too but boss man worried it invites a lot of questions[.] [U]ltimately [d]efer to you and [your attorney] on that word Bc I know it's important and I think the mention ofa campaign issue adds something to it in case we have to go further.,,'09 Trump Jr. responded, " If I don't have it in there it appears as though I' m lying later when they inevitably leak something.,,71o Trump Jr.' s statement-adding 699 Hicks 3113118 302, at 3; Hicks 12171 17 302, at 10. 700 Hicks 3113118 302, at 3; see Hicks 1217117302, at 10. '01 Hicks 3113118 302, at 4. 702 Hicks 7/8117 Notes. 703 Hicks 3113118 302, at 4-5; Hicks 1217117 302, at II. 70' Hicks 12171 17 302, at II. 705 SCRO II a_000004 (7/8117 Text Message, Hicks to Trump Jr.). 706 SCRO II a_000004 (7/8/ 17 Text Message, Hicks to Trump Jr.). 707 SCROlla 000005 (7/8/17 Text Message, Trump Jr. to Hicks). 708 SCROlla_000005 (7/8117 Text Message, Trump Jr. to Hicks). 709 SCRO lla 000005 (7/8117 Text Message, Hicks to Trump Jr.). 71 0 SC ROlla_000006 (7/8/ 17 Text Message, Trump Jr. to Hicks). 102 U.S. Department of Justice Aftsl He) \'/81 Ie Pi sattet / / fl.4ft) CSfttaiH I\iaterial Pfsteetea Uflaer Fee. R. Criffl. P. 6(e) the word "primarily" and making other minor additions- was then provided to the New York Times."1 The full statement provided to the Times stated: It was a short introductory meeting. I asked Jared and Paul to stop by. We primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children that was active and popular with American families years ago and was since ended by the Russian government, but it was not a campaign issue at the time and there was no follow up. I was asked to attend the meeting by an acquaintance, but was not told the name of the person I would be meeting with beforehand. 712 The statement did not mention the offer of derogatory information about Clinton or any discussion of the Magnitsky Act or U.S. sanctions, which were the principal subjects of the meeting, as described in Volume I, Section IV.A.S, supra. A short while later, while still on Air Force One, Hicks learned that Priebus knew about the emails, which further convinced her that additional information about the June 9 meeting would leak and the White House should be proactive and get in front of the story.713 Hicks recalled again going to the President to urge him that they should be fully transparent about the June 9 meeting, but he again said no, telling Hicks, "You've given a statement. We're done.,,"4 Later on the flight home, Hicks went to the President's cabin, where the President was on the phone with one of his personal attorneys.715 At one point the President handed the phone to Hicks, and the attorney told Hicks that he had been working with Circa News on a separate story, and that she should not talk to the New York Times 716 4. The Media Reports on the June 9, 2016 Meeting Before the President's flight home from the G20 landed, the New York Times published its story about the June 9, 2016 meeting. 717 In addition to the statement from Trump Jr., the Times story also quoted a statement from Corallo on behalf of the President's legal team suggesting that the meeting might have been a setup by individuals working with the firm that produced the Steele reporting. 718 Corallo also worked with Circa News on a story published an hour later that 711 Hicks 3113118 302, at 6; see Jo Becker et aI., Trump Team Met With Lawyer Linked to Kremlin During Campaign, New York Times (July 8, 2017). See Jo Becker et aI., Trump Team Met With Lawyer Linked to Kremlin During Campaign, New York Times (July 8, 2017). 712 713 Hicks 3113118 302, at 6; Raffel 2/8118 302, at 9-10. 714 Hicks 1217117302, at 12; Raffel 218/ 18 302, at 10. 715 Hicks 3/13/ 18 302, at 7. 716 Hicks 3/13/18 302, at 7. 71 7 See Jo Becker et aI., Trump Team Met With Lawyer Linked to Kremlin During Campaign, New York Times (July 8, 2017); Raffel 2/8/18 302, at 10. 718 See Jo Becker et aI., Trump Team Met With Lawyer Linked to Kremlin During Campaign, New York Times (July 8, 2017). 103 U.S. Department of Justice AHal fie) \"'Brlt Pf6Eh:let /1 ~4a) C6fttaift ~4atefiB:1 Pfsteetea lJnael Feel. R. Clili:. P. 6(e) questioned whether Democratic operatives had arranged the June 9 meeting to create the appearance of improper connections between Russ ia and Trump family members 7 19 Hicks was upset about Corallo's public statement and called him that evening to say the President had not approved the statement"'O The next day, July 9, 2017, Hicks and the President called Corallo together and the President criticized Corallo for the statement he had release.d.721 Corallo told the President the statement had been authorized and further observed that Trump Jr.'s statement was inaccurate and that a document existed that would contradict it.722 Corallo said that he purposely used the term "document" to refer to the emails setting up the June 9 meeting because he did not know what the President knew about the emails.723 Corallo recalled that when he referred to the "document" on the call with the President, Hicks responded that only a few people had access to it and said " it will never get OUt.,,724 Corallo took contemporaneous notes of the call that say: "A lso mention existence of doc. Hope says ' only a few people have it. It will never get out.",m Hicks later told investigators that she had no memory of making that comment and had always believed the emails would eventually be leaked, but she might have been channeling the President on the phone call because it was clear to her throughout her conversations with the President that he did not think the emaiis would leak.726 On July 11,2017, Trump Jr. posted redacted images of the emails setting up the June 9 meeting on Twitter; the New York Times reported that he did so "[alfter being told that The Times was about to publish the content of the emails.,,727 Later that day, the media reported that the President had been personally involved in preparing Trump Jr.'s initial statement to the New York Times that had claimed the meeting "primarily" concerned "a program about the adoption of Russian children."m Over the next several days, the President's personal counsel repeatedly and 719 See Donald Trump Jr. galhered members 0/ campaign/or meeting with Russian lawyer before election, Circa News (July 8, 2017). 720 Hicks 3/ 13118 302, at 8; Corallo 2/ 15118 302, at 6-7. 721 Corallo 2/15/18 302, at 7. 122 Corallo 2115/ 18 302, at 7. 123 Corallo 2115/18 302, at 7-9. 724 Corallo 2/ 15/18 302, at 8. 725 Corallo 2115118 302, at 8; Corallo 7/9/17 Notes ("Sunday 9'" - Hope calls wi POTUS on line"). Corallo said he is "100% confident" that Hicks said " It will never get out" on the call. Corallo 2115118 302, at 9. 726 Hicks 3/ 13/ \8 302, at 9. 721 @DonaldJTrumpJR 71111\7 (\1:0 I a.m. ET) Tweet; 10 Becker et aI., Russian Dirt on Clinton? 'I Love fl, ' Donald Trump Jr. Said, New York Times (July I 1, 2017). 72. See, e.g., Peter Baker & Maggie Haberman, Rancor at White House as Russia Story Refuses to Let Ihe Page Turn, New York Times (July 11 ,20 17) (reporting that the President "signed off' on Trump lr.'s statement). 104 U.S. Department of Justice Att8Ffle) \Velic Pfeal:let II P,1tl) CefttaiH [)'4atefial Preteetea Ulifler Fee. R. CI im. P. 6Ee) inaccurately denied that the Pres ident played any role in drafting Trump Jr. ' s statement. 729 After consulting with the President on the issue, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told the media that the President "certainly didn 't dictate" the statement, but that " he weighed in, offered suggestions like any father would do.' >730 Several month s later, the President's personal counsel stated in a private communication to the Special Counsel's Office that "the Pres ident dictated a short but accurate response to the New York Times article on behalf of his son, Donald Trump, Jr.,,731 The Pres ident later told the press that it was " irrelevant" whether he dictated the statem ent and said, "It's a statement to the New York Times . ... That's not a statement to a high tribunal of judges.,,732 Trump Jr. att"ndled the On July 19, 2017, the President had his follow-up meeting with Lewandowski and then met with reporters for the New York Times. In addition to criticizing Sessions in his Times interview, the President addressed the June 9, 2016 meeting and said he "didn 't know anything about the meeting" at the time.'34 The President added, "As I've said- most other people, you know, when they call up and say, ' By the way, we have information on your opponent,' I think most politicians - I was just with a lot of people, they said .. . , 'Who wouldn't have taken a meeting like that?",735 Analysis In analyzing the President's actions regarding the disclosure of information about the June 9 meeting, the following evidence is relevant to the elements of obstruction of justice : a. Obstructive act. On at least three occasions between June 29,2017, and July 9, 2017, the President directed Hicks and others not to publicly disclose information about the June 729 See, e.g., David Wright, Trump lawyer: President was aware of "nothing", CNN (July 12,2017) (quoting the President's personal attorney as saying, "I wasn't involved in the statement drafting at all nor was the President. "); see a/so Good Morning America, ABC (July 12,2017) ("The President didn 't sign off on anything .... The President wasn' t involved in that."); Meet the Press, NBC (July 16, 201 7) ("I do want to be clear-the President was not involved in the drafti ng of the statement."). 730 Sarah Sanders, White House Daily Briefing, C-SPAN (Aug. 1,20 17); Sanders 7/3118 302, at 9 (the President told Sanders he "weighed in, as any father would" and knew she intended to tell the press what he ·said). 731 1129/ 18 Letter, President's Personal Counsel to Special Counsel's Office, at 18. 732 Remarks by President Trump in Press Gaggle (June 15, 2018). 733 734 Peter Baker et aI. , Excerpts From The Tim es's Interview With Trump, New York Times (July 19,2017). 735 Peter Baker et aI., Excerpts From The Times's Interview With Trump, New York Times (July 19, 201 7). 105 U.S. Department of Justice Att6t'fte) 'A'ark Pt66t1et II P.18:) C6f1taiH P,4aterial Preteetea URaer Fee. R. Cfilfl. P. 6(e) 9, 2016 meeting between senior campaign officials and a Russian attorney. On June 29, Hicks warned the President that the emails setting up the June 9 meeting were "really bad" and the story would be " massive" when it broke, but the President told her and Kushner to " leave it alone." Early on July 8, after Hicks told the President the New York Times was working on a story about the June 9 meeting, the President directed her not to comment, even though Hicks said that the President usually considered not responding to the press to be the ultimate sin. Later that day, the President rejected Trump Jr.'s draft statement that would have acknowledged that the meeting was with "an individual who] was told might have information helpful to the campaign." The President then dictated a statement to Hicks that said the meeting was about Russian adoption (which the President had twice been told was di scussed at the meeting). The statement dictated by the President did not mention the offer of derogatory information about Clinton. Each of these efforts by the President involved his communications team and was directed at the press. They would amount to obstructive acts only if the President, by taking these actions, sought to withhold information from or mislead congressional investigators or the Special Counsel. On May 17, 2017, the President's campaign received a document request from SSC] that clearly covered the June 9 meeting and underlying emails, and those documents also plainly would have been relevant to the Special Counsel ' s investigation. But the evidence does not establish that the President took steps to prevent the emails or other information about the June 9 meeting from being provided to Congress or the Special Counsel. The series of discussions in which the President sought to limit access to the emails and prevent their public release occurred in the context of developing a press strategy. The only evidence .w e have of the President discussing the production of documents to Congress or the Special Counsel is the conversation on June 29, 2017, when Hicks recalled the President acknowledging that Kushner's attorney should provide emails related to the June 9 meeting to whomever he needed to give them to. We do not have evidence of what the President discussed with his own lawyers at that time . b. Nexus to an official proceeding. As described above, by the time ofthe President' s attempts to prevent the public release of the emails regarding the June 9 meeting, the existence of a grand jury investigation supervised by the Special Counsel was public knowledge, and the President had been told that the emai ls were responsive to congressional inquiries. To satisfy the nexus requirement, however, it would be necessary to show that preventing the re lease of the emails to the public would have the natural and probable effect of impeding the grand jury proceeding or congressional inquiries. As noted above, the evidence does not establish that the President sought to prevent disclosure of the emails in those official proceedings. c. Intent. The evidence establishes the President's substantial involvement in the communications strategy related to information about his campaign 's connections to Russia and his desire to minimize public disclosures about those connections. The President became aware of the emails no later than June 29, 2017, when he discussed them with Hicks and Kushner, and he could have been aware of them as early as June 2, 2017, when lawyers for the Trump Organization began interviewing witnesses who participated in the June 9 meeting. The President thereafter repeatedly rejected the advice of Hicks and other staffers to publicly release information about the June 9 meeting. The President expressed concern that multiple people had access to the emails and instructed Hicks that only one lawyer should deal with the matter. And the President 106 U.S. Department of Justice AMal fie) ';\'6fl( Pf68Het 1/ p.48:) C6fttatfl Pt4atel isl Prsteetea Unael Fee. R. Crim. P. 6(ej dictated a statement to be released by Trump Jr. in response to the first press accounts of the June 9 meeting that said the meeting was about adoption . But as described above, the evidence does not establish that the President intended to prevent the Special Counsel's Office or Congress from obtaining the em ails setting up the June 9 meeting or other information about that meeting. The statement recorded by Corallo--that the emails "will never get out"-can be explained as reflecting a belief that the emails would not be made public if the President's press strategy were followed, even if the emails were provided to Congress and the Special Counsel. H. The President's Further Efforts to Have the Attorney General Take Over the Investigation Overview From summer 2017 through 2018, the President attempted to have Attorney General Sessions reverse his recusal , take control of the Special Counsel's investigation, and order an investigation of Hillary Clinton. Evidence I. The President Again Seeks to Have Sessions Reverse his Recusal After returning Sessions's resignation letter at the end of May 2017, but before the President's July 19,2017 New York Times interview in which he publicly criticized Sessions for recusing from the Russia investigation, the President took additional steps to have Sessions reverse his recusal. In particular, at some point after the May 17,2017 appointment ofthe Special Counsel, Sessions recalled, the President called him at home and asked if Sessions would " unrecuse" himself736 According to Sessions, the President asked him to reverse his recusal so that Sessions could direct the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute Hillary Clinton, and the "gist" of the conversation was that the President wanted Sessions to un recuse from "all of it," including the Special Counsel's Russia investigation.'37 Sessions listened but did not respond, and he did not reverse his recusal or order an investigation ofClinton. 738 In early July 2017, the President asked Staff Secretary Rob Porter what he thought of Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand. 73 9 Porter recalled that the President asked him if Brand was good, tough, and "on the team.,,740 The President also asked if Porter thought Brand was interested in being responsible for the Special Counsel's investigation and whether she would want 736 Sessions 1117118302, at 15. That was the second time that the President asked Sessions to reverse his recusal from campaign-related investigations. See Volume II , Section II.C . I, supra (describing President' s March 2017 request at Mar-a-Lago for Sessions to unrecuse). 737 Sessions 1/ 17118302, at 15. 738 Sessions 11 17118302, at IS. 739 Porter 4113/ 18 302, at II ; Porter 5/8/ 18 302, at 6. 740 Porter 4/ 13118 302, at II ; Porter 5/8/1 8 302, at 6. 107 U.S. Department of Justice AM61 Hey \Vef'k PI 68t1et II Pw1ft:) Cefttaifl P,4atel"iai PI6teetea URael Fea . R. Grlm. P. 6(ej to be Attorney General one day.741 Because POIter knew Brand, the President asked him to sound her out about taking responsibility for the investigation and being Attorney General. 742 Contemporaneous notes taken by Porter show that the President told Porter to "Keep in touch with your friend ," in reference to Brand.'43 Later, the President asked Porter a few times in passing whether he had spoken to Brand, but Porter did not reach out to her because he was uncomfortable with the task.'44 In asking him to reach out to Brand, Porter understood the President to want to find someone to end the Russia investigation or fire the Special Counsel, although the President never said so explicitly.745 Porter did not contact Brand because he was sensitive to the implications of that action and did not want to be involved in a chain of events associated with an effort to end the investigation or fire the Special Counsel. 746 McGahn recalled that during the summer of 20 17, he and the President discussed the fact that if Sessions were no longer in his position the Special Counsel would report directly to a nonrecused Attorney General.'47 McGahn told the President that things might not change much under a new Attorney General.'48 McGahn also recalled that in or around July 2017, the President frequently brought up his displeasure with Sessions.749 Hicks recalled that the President viewed Sessions ' s recusal from the Russia investigation as an act ofdisloyalty.750 In addition to criticizing Sessions' s recusal, the President raised other concerns about Sessions and his job performance with McGahn and Hicks ?5 1 741 Porter 4113118 302, at II; Porter 5/8/ 18 302, at 6. Because of Sessions 's recusal, if Rosenstein were no longer in his position, Brand would, by default, become the DOJ official in charge of supervi sing the Special Counsel 's investigation, and if both Sessions and Rosenstein were removed, Brand would be next in line to become Acting Attorney General for all DOJ matters. See 28 U.S.C. § 508. 742 Porter 4113118 302, at II ; Porter 5/8118 302, at 6. 743 SC_RRP000020 (POtter 7/ 10/ 17 Notes). 744 Porter 4113118 302, at 11-12. 745 Porter 4113118 302, at 11-12. 746 Porter 4/ 13118 302, at I 1- 12. Brand confirmed that no one ever raised with her the prospect of taking over the Russia investigation or becoming Attorney General. Brand 1/29/ 19302, at 2. 747 McGahn 12114/ 17302, at 11. 74, McGahn 12114117302, at 11. 749 McGahn 12/ 14117302, at 9. 750 Hicks 3113/ 18 302, at 10. 751 McGahn 12114/ 17302, at 9; Hicks 3113118302, at 10. 108 U.S. Department of Justice AK6t I1ey V;erk PI sattet II ~q8) CSfltaifl ~4fttet ial Preteeted U''Ielel Feel. R. Crim. P. 6(e~ 2. Additional Efforts to Have Sessions Unrecuse or Direct Investigations Covered by his Recusal Later in 2017, the President continued to urge Sessions to reverse his recusal from campaign-related investigations and considered replacing Sessions with an Attorney General who wou ld not be recused. On October 16, 2017, the President met privately with Sessions and said that the Department of Justice was not investigating individuals and events that the President thought the Department should be investigating.'" According to contemporaneous notes taken by Porter, who was at the meeting, the President mentioned Clinton's ema ils and said, "Don ' t have to tell us, just take [al 100k.,,753 Sessions did not offer any assurances or promises to the President that the Department of Justice would comply with that request. 754 Two days later, on October 18, 2017, the President tweeted, " Wow, FBI confirms report that James Comey drafted letter exonerating Crooked Hillary Clinton long before investigation was complete. Many people not interviewed, including Clinton herself. Comey stated under oath that he didn't do this-obviously a fix? Where is Justice Dept?,,755 On October 29, 2017, the Pres ident tweeted that there was "ANGER & UNITY" over a " lack of investigation" of Clinton and "the Comey fix," and concluded: "DO SOMETHING! ,,756 On December 6,2017, five days after Flynn pleaded guilty to lying about his contacts with the Russian government, the President asked to speak with Sessions in the Oval Office at the end of a cabinet meeting 757 During that Oval Office meeting, which Porter attended, the President again suggested that Sessions could " unrecuse," which Porter linked to taki ng back supervision of the Russia investigation and directing an investigation Hillary Clinton. 758 According to contemporaneous notes taken by Porter, the President said, "I don't know if you could un-recuse yourself. You ' d be a hero. Not telling yo u to do anything. Dershowitz says POTUS can get involved. Can order AG to investigate. I don ' t want to get involved. I'm not going to get involved. I'm not going to do anything or direct you to do anything. I just want to be treated fairly.,,759 According to Porter's notes, Sessions responded, " We are taking steps; whole new leadership of 152 Porter 5/8/ 18 302, at 10. 753 SC_RRP000024 (Porter 10/ 16117 Notes); see Porter 5/8118 302, at 10. 754 Porter 5/8118 302, at 10. '" @realDonaldTrump 10/ 18/17 (6:21 a.m. ET) Tweet; @realDonaldTrump 10118117(6:27 a.m. ET) Tweet. 756@reaIDonaldTrump 10/29/ 17 (9:53 a.m. ET) Tweet;@reaIDonaldTrump 10129/ 17 (10:02 a.m. ET) Tweet;@reaIDonaldTrump 10/29117 (10 :1 7 a.m. ET) Tweet. 7S7 Porter 4/13118 302, at 5-6; see SC _ RRP000031 (Porter 12/6117 Notes) (" 12:45pm With the President, Gen . Kelly, and Sessions (who I pulled in after the Cabinet meeting)"); SC_RRP000033 (Porter 12/6117 Notes) ("Post-cab inet meeting - POTUS asked me to get AG Sessions. Asked me to stay. Also COS Kelly."). 7S8 Porter 5/8118 302, at 12; Porter 4113118 302, at 5-6. 759 SC_RRP000033 (Porter 12/6117 Notes); see Porter 4/ 13118 302, at 6; Porter 5/8/ 18 302, at 12. 109 U.S. Department of Justice AM:61Iie) '."erk Pleattet II l\1ft) C8RhliA ~1tltelial PI6teetea Ululet PeB . R. Ctiltl. P. 6(e} team. Professionals; will operate according to the law.,,76o Sessions also said, "I never saw anything that was improper," which Porter thought was noteworthy because it did not fit with the previous discussion about Clinton. 761 Porter understood Sessions to be reassuring the President that he was on the President's team 762 At the end of December, the President told the New York Times it was "too bad" that Sessions had recused himself from the Russia investigation 763 When asked whether Holder had been a more loyal Attorney General to President Obama than Sessions was to him , the President said, "I don 't want to get into loyalty, but I will tell you that, I will say this: Holder protected President Obama. Totally protected him. When you look at the things that they did, and Holder protected the president. And I have great respect for that, I'll be honest.,,764 Later in January, the President brought up the idea of replacing Sessions and told Porter that he wanted to "clean house" at the Department of Justice. 765 In a meeting in the White House residence that Porter attended on January 27, 2018, Porter recalled that the President talked about the great attorneys he had in the past with successful win records, such as Roy Cohn and Jay Goldberg, and said that one of hi s biggest failings as President was that he had not surrounded himself with good attorneys, citing Sessions as an example. 766 The President raised Sessions's recusal and brought up and criticized the Special Counsel's investigation 767 Over the next several months, the President continued to criticize Sessions in tweets and media interviews and on several occasions appeared to publicly encourage him to take action in the Russia investigation despite his recusal. 768 On June 5, 2018, for example, the President 760 SC_RRP000033 (Porter 12/6117 Notes); see Porter 4/13/18302, at 6. 761 SC RRP000033 (Porter 12/6/ \7 Notes); Porter 4/ 13118 302, at 6. 762 Porter 4113118 302, at 6-7. 763 Michael S. Schmidt & Michael D. Shear, Trump Says Russia Inquiry Makes Bad", New York Times (Dec. 28, 2017). u.s. "Look Very 76' Michael S. Schmidt & Michael D. Shear, Trump Says Russia Inquiry Makes U.S. "Look Very Bad", New York Times (Dec. 28, 2017). 765 Porter 4113/18302, at 14. 766 Porter 5/8118 302, at 15. Contemporaneous notes Porter took of the conversation state, "Roy Cohn (14-0) / Jay Goldberg (12-0)." SC_RRP000047 (Porter 1127/18 Notes). 767 Porter 5/8118 302, at 15-16. 768 See, e.g., @realDonaldTrump 2/28/18 (9:34 a.m. ET) Tweet ("Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Corney etc. Isn 't the J.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? D1SGRACEFULl "); @reaIDonaldTrump417118 (4:52 p.m. ET) Tweet ("Lawmakers of the House Judi ciary Committee are angrily accusing the Department of Justice of missing the Thursday Deadline for turning over UNREDACTED Documents relating to FISA abuse, FBI, Corney, Lynch, McCabe, Clinton Emails and much more. Slow walking - what is going on? BAD!"); @rea lDonaldTrump 4/22/ 18 (8:22 a.m. ET) Tweet ('''GOP Lawmakers asking Sessions to Investigate Corney and Hillary Clinton.' @FoxNews Good luck with that request!"); @realDonaldTrump 12116118 (3:37 p.m. ET) Tweet 110 U.S. Department of Justice Attefl'te) \Velk Ple6ttet II ~4fJ;) Cel,taift ~4fJ;telial Pt8teeteei Uli6et Fed. R. CI ilii. P. 6(e) tweeted, "The Russian Witch Hunt Hoax continues, all because Jeff Sessions didn't tell me he was going to recuse himself. ... I would have quickly picked someone else. So much time and money wasted, so many lives ruined . . . and Sessions knew better than most that there was No Collusion !,,769 On August I, 2018, the President tweeted that "Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now.'mo On August 23, 2018, the President publicly criticized Sessions in a press interview and suggested that prosecutions at the Department of Justice were politically motivated because Pau l Manafort had been prosecuted but Democrats had not. 771 The President said, "I put in an Attorney General that never took control of the Justice Department, JeffSessions.,,772 That day, Sessions issued a press statement that said, " I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in . ... While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice wi ll not be improperly influenced by political considerations."m The next day, the President tweeted a response: '''Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.' Jeff, this is GREAT, what everyone wants, so look into a ll of the corruption on the ' other side' including deleted Emails, Corney lies & leaks, Mueller conflicts, McCabe, Strzok, Page, Ohr, FISA abuse, Christopher Steele & his phony and corrupt Dossier, the Clinton Foundation, illegal surveillance of Trump campaign, Russian collusion by Oems - and so much more. Open up the papers & documents without redaction? Come on Jeff, you can do it, the country is waiting! ,,774 On November 7,2018, the day after the midterm elections, the President replaced Sessions with Sessions's chief of staff as Acting Attorney General. 775 Analysis In analyzing the President ' s efforts to have Sessions unrecuse himself and regain control of the Russia investigation, the fo llowing considerations and evidence are relevant to the elements of obstruction of justice: a. Obstructive act. To determine if the President' s effOtts to have the Attorney General unrecuse could qualify as an obstructive act, it would be necessary to assess evidence on whether those actions would naturally impede the Russia investigation. That inquiry would take into account the supervisory role that the Attorney General , if unrecused, would play in the Russia investigation. It a lso wou ld have to take into account that the Attorney General's recusal covered ("Jeff Sessions should be ashamed of himself for allowing this total HOAX to get started in the first place!"). 769 @realDonaldTrump 615/ 18 (7:31 a.m. ET) Tweet. 770 @realDonaldTrump 8/ 1118 (9:24 a.m. ET) Tweet. 771 Fox & Friends Interview of President Trump, Fox News (Aug. 23 , 2018). 772 Fox & Friends Interview of President Trump, Fox News (Aug. 23 , 2018). 773 Sessions 8/23118 Press Statement. 774 @realDonaldTrump 8/24118 (6: 17 a.m. ET) Tweet; @ realDonaldTrump 8/24/18 (6:28 a.m. ET) Tweet. 775 @reaIDonaldTrump 11171 18 (2:44 p.m. ET) Tweet. III U.S. Department of Justice At-t8lfley Werk Pleetlet II Pw18:) Cefltftifl ~48terial Pleteetea Uncle) Fea. R. Grim. P. 6Ee) other campaign-related matters. The inquiry would not turn on what Attorney General Sessions would actually do if unrecused, but on whether the efforts to reverse hi s recusal would naturally have had the effect of impeding the Russia investigation. On multiple occasions in 2017, the President spoke with Sessions about reversing his recusal so that he could take over the Russia investigation and begin an investigation and prosecution of Hillary Clinton. For example, in early summer 2017, Sessions recalled the President asking him to unrecuse, but Sessions did not take it as a directive. When the President raised the issue again in December 2017, the President said, as recorded by Porter, "Not telling you to do anything .... I'm not going to get involved . I' m not going to do anything or direct you to do anything. I just want to be treated fairly." The duration of the President' s efforts- which spanned from March 2017 to August 20 18-and the fact that the President repeatedly criticized Sessions in public and in private for failing to tell the President that he would have to recuse is relevant to assessing whether the President's efforts to have Sessions unrecuse could qualify as obstructi ve acts. b. Nexus to an official proceeding. As described above, by mid-June 2017, the ex istence ofa grandjury investigation supervised by the Special Counsel was public knowledge. In addition, in July 2017, a different grand jury supervised by the Special Counsel was empaneled in the District of Co lumbia, and the press reported on the existence of this grand jury in early August 2017. 776 Whether the conduct towards the Attorney General would have a foreseeable impact on those proceed'ings turns on much of the same ev idence discussed above with respect to the obstructive-act element. c. Intent. There is ev idence that at least one purpose of the President's conduct toward Sessions was to have Sessions assume control over the Russia investigation and supervise it in a way that would restrict its scope. By the summer of20 17, the President was aware that the Special Counsel was investigating him personally for obstruction of justice. And in the wake of the disclosures of emails about the June 9 meeting between Russians and senior members of the campaign , see Volume II, Section I1 .G, supra, it was evident that the investigation into the campaign now included the President's son, son-in-law, and former campaign manager. The President had previously and unsuccessfully sought to have Sessions publicly announce that the Special Counsel investigation would be confined to future election interference. Yet Sessions remained recused. In December 2017, shortly after Flynn pleaded guilty, the President spoke to Sessions in the Oval Office with only Porter present and told Sessions that he would be a hero if he unrecused. Porter linked that request to the President's desire that Sessions take back supervision of the Russia investigation and direct an investigati on of Hillary Clinton. The President said in that meeting that he "just want[ed] to be treated fairly, " which could reflect hi s perception that it was unfair that he was being investigated while Hillary Clinton was not. But a principal effect of that act would be to restore supervision of the Russia investigation to the Attorney General-a position that the President frequently suggested should be occupied by someone like Eric Holder and Bobby Kennedy, who the President described as protecting their 776 E.g., Del Quentin Wilbur & Byron Tau, Special Counsel Robert Mueller Impanels Washington Grand Jury in Russia Probe, Wall Street Journal (Aug. 3, 20 17); Carol D. Leonnig et aI., Special Counsel Mueller using grand jury inJederal court in WashinglOn as part oj Russia investigation, Washington Post (Aug. 3, 2017). 112 U.S. Department of Justice At:terHey '.Vefi( Preatlet II ~q8) CSHtaift Pt4atet itti Plsteetee UReter Feel. R. CI ilfl. P. 6~e) presidents . A reasonable inference from those statements and the President's actions is that the President believed that an unrecused Attorney General would playa protective role and could shield the President from the ongoing Russia investigation. I. The President Orders McGahn to Deny that the President Tried to Fire the Special Counsel Overview In late January 2018, the media reported that in June 2017 the President had ordered McGahn to have the Special Counsel fired based on purported conflicts of interest but McGahn had refused, saying he would quit instead. After the story broke, the President, through his personal counsel and two aides, sought to have McGahn deny that he had been directed to remove the Special Counsel. Each time he was approached, McGahn responded that he would not refute the press accounts because they were accurate in reporting on the President's effort to have the Special Counsel removed. The President later personally met with McGahn in the Oval Office with only the Chief of Staff present and tried to get McGahn to say that the President never ordered him to fire the Special Counsel. McGahn refused and insisted his memory of the President's direction to remove the Special Counsel was accurate. In that same meeting, the President challenged McGahn for taking notes of his discuss ions with the President and asked why he had told Special Counsel investigators that he had been directed to have the Special Counsel removed. Evidence I. The Press Reports that the President Tried to Fire the Special Counsel On January 25, 2018, the New York Times reported that in June 2017, the President had ordered McGahn to have the Department of Justice fire the Special Counsel. 777 According to the article, "[ a]mid the first wave of news media reports that Mr. Mueller was examining a poss ible obstruction case, the president began to argue that Mr. Mueller had three conflicts of interest that disqualified him from overseeing the investigation.'>778 The article further reported that "[a]fter receiving the president's order to fire Mr. Mueller, the White House counsel ... refused to ask the Justice Department to dismi ss the special counsel, saying he would quit instead.,,779 The article stated that the president "ultimately backed down after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than carry out the directive.,,78o After the article was published, the President 777 Michael S. Schmidt & Maggie Haberman, Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed OIfWhen White House Counsel Threatened 10 Quit, New York Times (Jan. 25. 2018). 778 Michael S. Schmidt & Maggie Haberman, Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed OIfWhen White House Counsel Threatened to Quit, New York Times (Jan. 25. 2018). 779 Michael S. Schmidt & Maggie Haberman, Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed 0IfWhen White House Counsel Threatened 10 Quit, New York Times (Jan. 25 . 2018). 780 Michael S. Schmidt & Maggie Haberman, Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed OIfWhen White House Counsel Threatened to Quit, New York Times (Jan. 25. 2018). 113 U.S. Department of Justice AM:8Ifte) \'.'8rle Pt8Btlet II p,ta) C8Rtaift ~4atefial Pr8teetea URaer Feel. R. Crim. P. 6(e) dismissed the story when asked about it by reporters, saying, " Fake news, folks . Fake news . A typical New York Times fake story.,,781 The next day, the Washington Post repOited on the same event but added that McGahn had not told the President directly that he intended to resign rather than carry out the directive to have the Special Counsel terminated .'82 In that respect, the Post story clarified the Times story, which could be read to suggest that McGahn had told the President of his intention to quit, causing the President to back down from the order to have the Special Counsel fired. 783 2. The President Seeks to Have McGahn Dispute the Press Reports On January 26, 2018, the President's personal counsel called McGahn's attorney and said that the President wanted McGahn to put out a statement denying that he had been asked to fire the Special Counsel and that he had threatened to quit in protest. 784 McGahn ' s attorney spoke with McGahn about that request and then called the President's personal counsel to relay that McGahn would not make a statement. 785 McGahn's attorney informed the President's personal counsel that the Times story was accurate in reporting that the President wanted the Special Counsel removed .786 Accordingly, McGahn's attorney said, although the article was inaccurate in some other respects, McGahn could not comply with the President's request to dispute the story.787 Hicks recalled relaying to the President that one of his attorneys had spoken to McGahn ' s attorney about the issue.'88 781 Sophie Tatum & Kara Scannell, Trump denies he called for Mueller's firing, CNN (Jan. 26, 2018); Michael S. Schmidt & Maggie Haberman, Trump Ordered Mueller Fired, but Backed Off When White House Counsel Threatened to Quit, New York Times (Jan. 25, 2018). '" The Post article stated, "Despite internal objections, Trump decided to assert that Mueller had unacceptable conflicts of interest and moved to remove him from his position. . . . In response, McGahn said he would not remain at the White House if Trump went through with the move .. .. McGahn did not deliver his resignation threat directly to Trump but was serious about his threat to leave." Rosalind S. Helderman & Josh Dawsey, Trump moved to fire Mueller in June, bringing White House counsel to the brink of leaving, Washington Post (Jan. 26, 2018) . 783 Rosalind S. Helderman & Josh Dawsey, Trump moved to fire Mueller in June, bringing White House counsel to the brink of leaving, Washington Post (Jan. 26, 2018); see McGahn 3/8/17 302, at 3-4 . 784 McGahn 3/ 8/18 302, at 3 (agent note). 785 McGahn 3/8118 302, at 3 (agent note). 786 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 3-4 (agent note). 787 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 4 (agent note). '" Hicks 3113118 302, at 11. Hicks also recalled that the President spoke on the phone that day with Chief of Staff John Kelly and that the President said Kelly told him that McGahn had totally refuted the story and was going to put out a statement. Hicks 3/ 13/1 8 302, at 11. But Kelly said that he did not speak to McGahn when the article came out and did not te11 anyone he had done so. Kelly 8/2118 302, at 1-2. 114 U.S. Department of Justice Af:t6tr'1e) 'Verle PI 86ttet II ~4fl) C811~ail'l ~4aterit:tl P1'8teetea Uflael Fea. R . Grit'" P. 6(e3 Also on January 26, 2017, Hicks recalled that the President asked Sanders to contact McGahn about the story.789 McGahn told Sanders there was no need to respond and indicated that some of the article was accurate.'90 Consistent with that position , McGahn did not correct the Times story. On February 4, 2018, Priebus appeared on Meet the Press and said he had not heard the President say that he wanted the Special Counsel fired .791 After Priebus's appearance, the President called Priebus and said he did a great job on Meet the Press.792 The President also told Priebus that the President had " never said any ofthose things about" the Special Counsel. 793 The next day, on February 5, 2018, the President complained about the Times article to Porter. The President told Porter that the article was " bullshit" and he had not sought to terminate the Special Counsel.'95 The President said that McGahn leaked to the media to make himselflook good .796 The President then directed Porter to tell McGahn to create a record to make clear that the President never directed McGahn to fire the Special Counsel. 797 Porter thought the malter should be handled by the White House communications office, but the President said he wanted McGahn to write a letter to the file "for our records" and wanted something beyond a press statement to demonstrate that the reporting was inaccurate. 798 The President referred to McGahn as a " lying bastard" and said that he wanted a record from him. 799 Porter recalled the President 794 Hicks 3113118 302, at II. Sanders did not recall whether the President asked her to speak to McGahn or if she did it on her own. Sanders 7/23/ 18 302, at 2. 789 790 Sanders 7/23118 302, at 1-2. 791 Meet the Press Interview with Reince Priebus, NBC (Feb . 4, 2018). 792 Priebus 4/3118 302, at 10. 793 Priebus 4/3/ 18 302, at 10. 794 Porter 4/13/ \8302, at \6-\7. Porter did not recall the timing of this discussion with the President. Porter 4/ \3118302, at \7. Evidence indicates it was February 5, 2018. On the back of a pocket card dated February 5, 20\8, P0I1er took notes that are consistent with his description of the discussion : "COS : (I) Letter from OM - Never threatened to quit - DJT never told him to fire M." SC_RRP000053 (Porter Undated Notes). Porter said it was possible he took the notes on a day other than February 5. Porter 4/ 13/1 8 302, at 17. But Porter also said that "COS" referred to matters he wanted to discuss with Chief of Staff Kelly, Porter 4/13/18302, at 17, and Kelly took notes dated February 5, 2018, that state "POTUS Don McGahn letter - Mueller + resigning." WHOOOO\7684 (Kelly 2/5/18 Notes). Kelly said he did not recall what the notes meant, but thought the President may have "mused" abo.ut having McGahn write a letter. Kelly 8/2/ \8 302, at 3. McGahn recalled that Poner spoke with him about the President's request about two weeks after the New York Times story was published, which is consistent with the discussion taking place on or about February 5. McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 4. 795 Porter 4/13/18 302, at 17. 796 Porter 4/13/18 302, at 17. 797 Porter 4/ 13118302, at 17. 798 Porter 4/13/18 302, at 17; Porter 5/8118 302, at 18. 799 Porter 4/13/ \8 302, at \7; Porter 5/8/ \8 302, at 18. 115 U.S. Department of Justice AM:81'fle) Vlerk PI 86ttet II ~{R) C81.taiA ~4tltel ial Pfeteetea Under Fee. R. 61 im. P. 6(e) saying something to the effect of, " Ifhe doesn ' t write a letter, then maybe I' ll have to get rid of him.,,800 Later that day, Porter spoke to McGahn to deliver the President's message. SO I Porter told McGahn that he had to write a letter to dispute that he was ever ordered to terminate the Special Counsel. S02 McGahn shrugged off the request, explaining that the media reports were true. 803 McGahn told Porter that the President had been insistent on firing the Special Counsel and that McGahn had planned to resign rather than carry out the order, although he had not personally told the President he intended to quit. so4 Porter told McGahn that the President suggested that McGahn would be fired ifhe did not write the letter.sos McGahn dismissed the threat, saying that the optics wo uld be terrible if the Pres ident followed through with firing him on that basis Ho6 McGahn said he would not write the letter the President had requested Ho7 Porter said that to his knowledge the issue ofMcGahn's letter never came up with the President again, but Porter did recall telling Kelly about his conversation with McGahn Hos The next day, on February 6, 2018, Kelly scheduled time for McGahn to meet with him and the President in the Oval Office to discuss the Times artic\e Ho9 The morning of the meeting, the President' s personal counsel called ,McGahn ' s attorney and said that the President was going to be speaking with McGahn and McGahn could not resign no matter what happened in the meeting,SlO The President began the Oval Office meeting by telling McGahn that the New York Times story did not " look good" and McGahn needed to correct it Hl1 McGahn recalled the President said, " I never said to fire Mueller. I never said ' fire. ' This story doesn ' t look good. You need to correct this . You' re the White House counsel."Sl2 800 Porter 4/13/18 302, at 17. 80 1 Porter 4/ 13/18302, at 17; McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 4. 802 Porter 4/13/18 302, at 17; McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 4. 803 Porter 4/13/18 302, at 17; McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 4. 804 Porter 4/ 13/18 302, at 17; McGahn 3/8/1 8 302, at 4. '"' POiter 4/13/18 302, at 17; McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 4. 806 Porter 4/13/18302, at 17- 18; McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 4. 807 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 4. 808 Porter 4/13/18 302, at 18. ,o9 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 4; WHOOOOl7685 (Kelly 2/6/ 18 Notes). McGahn recalled that, before the Oval Office meeting, he told Kelly that he was not inclined to fix the article. McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 4. 810 McGahn 3/8/ 18 302, at 5 (agent note); 2/26/19 Email, Counsel for Don McGahn to Special Counsel 's Office (confirming February 6, 2018 date of call from the President's personal counsel) . '" McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 4; Kelly 8/2/ 18302, at 2. 812 McGahn 3/8/18 302, at 4; Kelly 8/2/18 302, at 2. 116 U.S. Department of Justice Att61He) \Ver!{ Pf8fhiet II ~qa) CeAtail't p.4ateriai Pl"eleeteEl UReter Feel. R. Crill