ADAM B. SCHIFF, CALIFORNIA CHAIRMAN ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS DEVIN NUNES, CALIFORNIA TIMOTHY BERGREEN, STAFF DIRECTOR RANKING MEMBER (202) 225?7690 ALLEN SOUZA, MINORITV STAFF DIRECTOR iBermanmt ?>elett Committee an ?ute?igmte 01%. 31301152 of Representatives April 30, 2019 VIA U.S. AND ELECTRONIC MAIL The Honorable William P. Barr Attorney General of the United States United States Department of Justice 950 Avenue, NW. Washington, DC. 20530 Dear Attorney General Barr: Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, March 2019 Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election (the ?Report?) strongly indicates that Erik Prince knowingly and willfully provided materially false testimony to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (the ?Committee?) in connection with the Committee?s duly authorized investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. political process. By this letter, we refer this matter to the Department to consider whether criminal charges should be brought for a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1001(a)(2) and Mr. Prince testi?ed before the Committee on November 30, 2017, and the Committee released his transcript publicly on December 6, 2017. The Special Counsel?s Of?ce interviewed George Nader on multiple occasions after Mr. Prince?s Committee testimony, including on January 19, 22 and 23, 2018. The Special Counsel?s Of?ce also interviewed Mr. Prince after his appearance before the Committee, and the Report cites interviews the Of?ce conducted with Mr. Prince on April 4 and May 3, 2018. As the Report makes clear, evidence obtained by the Special Counsel, including statements provided to the Special Counsel by both Mr. Prince and Mr. Nader, differs materially from Mr. Prince?s testimony, under oath, before the Committee on November 30, 2017. The Report reveals that Mr. Prince?s testimony before the Committee was replete with manifest and substantial falsehoods that materially impaired the Committee?s investigation. In particular, Mr. Prince?s testimony about his January 11, 2017 meeting in the Seychelles with Kirill Dmitriev, the following material respects:1 chief executive of?cer of Russia?s sovereign wealth fund, differs from the Report in the Committee Testimony Report, The Seychelles meeting with Mr. Dmitriev was a chance encounter suggested by representatives from the United Arab Emirates once Mr. Prince was in the Seychelles. Mr. Prince made no mention of George Nader, thereby concealing from the Committee Mr. Nader?s involvement. Approximately one week prior to the Seychelles meeting, Mr. Nader proposed to Mr. Prince, in a face-to-face meeting in New York, that Mr. Prince meet Mr. Dmitriev. In addition, Mr. Nader sent background information about Mr. Dmitriev to Mr. Prince. Mr. Prince met Mr. Dmitriev once, at the hotel bar, for a maximum of 30 minutes. Mr. Prince testi?ed that Mr. Dmitriev?s wife may also have been present, but he did not mention Mr. Nader. Mr. Prince and Mr. Dmitriev met twice. The ?rst meeting was 30-45 minutes at Mr. Nader?s villa with Mr. Nader present; the second meeting, held at Mr. Prince?s urging at a hotel restaurant, related to Libya. Mr. Prince and Mr. Dmitriev did not discuss opening a channel of communication between the United States and Russia. At the ?rst meeting, Mr. Prince promised Mr. Dmitriev that he would report back to Steve Bannon about their conversation and Mr. Bannon or someone from the Transition Team would follow up if there was interest in continuing the discussion. Mr. Prince and Mr. Dmitriev only discussed trade matters, oil and commodity prices, and how the United States and Russia should work together to defeat Islamic terrorism. At the second meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Dmitriev that the United States could not accept Russian involvement in Libya.2 Mr. Prince was not acting as a representative of Donald Trump at the Seychelles meeting. Prior to accepting the meeting with Mr. Dmitriev, Mr. Prince told Mr. Nader that he would have to check with Transition Team of?cials. At the ?rst meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Dmitriev that he provided policy papers to 1 The enclosed appendix provides excerpts from Mr. Prince?s Committee transcript that contradict the Report. 2 Most of the information about the ?rst meeting remains heavily redacted due to grand jury material, and the Committee has been unable to evaluate this information for the purpose of this referral and other oversight and legislative needs. 2 Report L. Committee testimony. . Mr. Bannon and promised that he would report back to Mr. Bannon. When requesting the second meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Nader that he had checked with his ?associates back home? and needed to convey a message to 'Mr. Dmitriev. After the meetings, Mr. Prince told Mr. Nader that he would inform Mr. Bannon about meeting With Mr. Dmitriev. After the meetings, Mr. Prince briefed Mr. Bannon about meeting with Mr. Dmitriev.3 6 Mr. Prince did not tell Mr. Bannon, the After the meetings, Mr. Prince briefed Mr. Trump Organization, or the Transition Bannon about meeting with Mr. Dmitriev. Team about meeting with Mr. Dmitriev. The aforementioned false statements were material to the Committee?s investigation. They impaired the Committee?s understanding of Russia?s attempts to contact and in?uence the incoming Trump Administration, concealed Mr. Nader?s role as an intermediary, and stymied the Committee?s ability to request relevant documents and testimony from Mr. Prince, Mr. Nader, Mr. Bannon, and other individuals who may have information about the Seychelles meeting(s), among other matters of interest to the Committee. As a result, Mr. Prince?s false statements hindered the Committee?s ability to fully understand and examine foreign efforts to undermine our political process and national security, develop appropriate legislative and policy remedies to counter future malign in?uence operations targeting campaigns and presidential transitions, and inform the American public, as appropriate. We therefore refer this matter to you and request that you investigate whether there is suf?cient admissible evidence to prove that Mr. Prince made materially false, ?ctitious, and fraudulent statements and representations to Congress, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a) and 3 According to the Report, Mr. Bannon denied ever talking to Mr. Prince about Mr. Dmitriev. Report at 156 (describing con?icting accounts provided by Mr. Bannon and Mr. Prince). 3 Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Adam B. Schiff Chairman Enclosures: Appendix Excerpts of Interview Transcript and Report Transcript of Erik Prince?s Interview before the Committee (November 30, 2017) APPENDIX Excerpts of Interview Transcript and Report The excerpts below from Erik Prince’s interview transcript and the Report establish that Mr. Prince provided materially false testimony to the Committee during his interview on November 30, 2017. (1) Seychelles Meeting With Kirill Dmitriev Was Not A Chance Encounter, But Rather Was Orchestrated By Erik Prince And George Nader During his interview with the Committee, Mr. Prince repeatedly and falsely stated that the meeting with Kirill Dmitriev was a chance encounter, suggested by representatives from the United Arab Emirates at the conclusion of their business meeting in the Seychelles on January 11, 2017. Mr. Prince made no mention of George Nader, thereby concealing from the Committee Mr. Nader’s involvement. The Report makes clear that in fact, Mr. Prince and Mr. Nader arranged the meeting with Mr. Dmitriev in advance of January 11, 2017. Specifically, Mr. Nader told Mr. Prince in New York on January 3, 2017 that the Russians were looking to “build a link” with the incoming Trump Administration and suggested that Mr. Prince and Mr. Dmitriev meet. Mr. Nader then sent Mr. Prince an internet link to a Wikipedia entry about Mr. Dmitriev, Mr. Dmitriev’s two-page biography, and a list of Mr. Dmitriev’s positive quotes about Donald Trump. *** Committee Testimony *** Tr. at 7: 1 Tr29: nu. nuuntv: so you were oomg tnis 1n your own capac1ty, your business, to meet with him? MR. PRINCE: The Emiratis I'd just net with previously said, there's an interesting any from Russia you should meet if you have any business in the connodity space, which I do. I look at linerals and oil and gas. He said, you should meet hiedrink. And, at the end, one of the entourage says, ?Hey. by the way. there's this Russian guy that we've dealt with in the past. He's here also to see someone from the Enirati delegation. And you should meet hil. He'd he an interesting guy for you to know, since you're doing a lot in the oil and gas and mineral space.? 50, as I recall, I met him, this same guy I talked about, Kirill Dmitriev. Met him down in the bar? after dinner, and we talked for 36 linutes over a beer, and that was it. MR. PRINCE: Hell. let's just say when you're running a country, a very successful, affluent country, there's a lot of people waiting to see or to meet with leadership. So, you know, whether they do business with Russia or China or Europe or whatever, they have very good relationships with a lot of other countries, so it not a surprise that other leaders, other people from other countries would've been waiting to see or having met with any of that leadership. MR. SCHIFF: So none of the UAE delegation, including the Prince, gave you any reason to believe that part of the reason they wanted you to come to Seychelles was to meet Hr. Dmitriev? HR. PRINCE: Hot at all. NO. Tr. at 30: Tr. at 56-57: m. PRINCE: Like I said, there was no formal introduction. It's not like I was at a meeting and they invited this Russian guy to the meeting. It Has a matter of, "Hey, while you're here, there's a Russian guy that we've done sale business with in the past, and it'd be interesting for you to leet him." So that's why I net hil down in the bar after dinner, with no other Eelratis present. MR. PRINCE: Like they mentioned to use: Hey, this guy, this Russian guy that deals in coulodities in emerging urkets would be a useful guy for you to meet potentially for stuff in the future. So, yes. And that's -- and I would imagine they mentioned the sale thing NCLASSIFIED 5?7 that. you know, this guy Erik who deals in emerging markets and looks for ninerals and oil and gas in remote places. So that's why they -- I guess that's uhv they arr-anneal that meeting. *** Report *** Report at 151: Report at 152: (2) Mr. Prince Met Mr. Dmitriev Not Once, But Twice On January 11, 2017 During his interview with the Committee, Mr. Prince falsely stated that he had only one meeting with Mr. Dmitriev, at a hotel bar, which lasted no more than 30 minutes. Mr. Prince testified that Mr. Dmitriev’s wife may also have been present, but he did not mention Mr. Nader. In contrast, according to the Report, Mr. Prince met with Mr. Dmitriev and Mr. Nader twice on January 11, 2017. The initial meeting took place at Mr. Nader’s villa, with Mr. Nader present, and lasted approximately 30-45 minutes. The second meeting between Mr. Prince, Mr. Dmitriev, and Mr. Nader was held at a restaurant within the hotel property; the meeting was brief, and was requested by Mr. Prince after learning that a Russian aircraft carrier had sailed to Libya. 4 Tr39: Committee Testimony The meeting ended after a maximum of 39 minutes. I've had no communications or dealings with him or any of his colleagues before or after that encounter last January. That?s really all there is to say about that meeting. MR. PRINCE: The Emiratis i'd Just met with previou51y saia, there's an interesting guy from you should meet if you have any business in the commodity space, which I do. I look at minerals and oil and gas. He said, you should meet himdrink. And, at the end, one of the entourage says, ?Hey, by the way, there's this Russian guy that we've dealt with in the past. He's here also to see someone frOM'the Emirati delegation. And you should meet him. He'd be an interesting guy for you to know, since you're doing a lot in the oil and gas and mineral space." So, as I recall, I met him, this same guy I talked about, Kirill Dmitriev. Met him down in the bar after dinner, and we talked for 30 minutes over a beer, and that was it. MR. SCHIFF: And was he alone in the bar? MR. PRINCE: I think his wife was there. HR. SCHIFF: So the only two meetings you had while you were there were an hour-long meeting with the Prince and his delegation and an approximately half-an-hour meeting in the bar with Mr. Dmitriev. MR. PRINCE: I think that's the order of it, but I'm not yeah. Something like that. Tr. at 41-42: Report at 153: Report at 154: HR. PRINCE: Again, to characterize it, Congressman, Erik Prince, a private citizen, traveled to the Seychelles to meet with some Emirati people that he'd known For a few years. And while there, they said, ?Oh, there's this Russian guy that's also here to see us. Might be useful for you to meet him. And like I said, I let him for a maximum of 39 minutes, probably much less than that -- because it doesn't take me that long to drink a beer -- in a bar. I had no co-unication with that guy before then and no comnication with hill or any of his NCLASSIFIED 42 NCLASSIFIED affiliates since then. Dmitriev arrived with his wife in the Seychelles on January I 1, 20?. and checked into the tour Seasons Resort where Crown Prince Mohammed and Nader were stayingfm Prince arrived that same Prince and Dmitriev met for the ?rst time that afternoon inNader?s villa. with Nader preacnt'MCI The initial meeting laaed approximately 30-45 A?crwards.Princemmedlohiarwm. MM hadsailedloLiby-a, which Dmitrieva According to Nader. Prince called and said he had checked with his associates back home and needed to convey to that Libya mes "ul'l' Li'lc Nudct mule iu Dmitn'ey that Prince had "received an urgent message that he needs to convey to you immediately." and arrangd for himself, Dmitriev. and Prince to meet at a restaurant on the Four Seasons 1 property. Allheacoondnteetinpl?rhioetold Dmitricv?ratthe United RussianinvolyementinLi Report at 155: (3) Mr. Prince And Mr. Dmitriev Discussed Opening Communications Channel Between The United States And Russia During his interview with the Committee, Mr. Prince falsely stated that he and Mr. Dmitriev did not discuss opening a channel of communications between the United States and Russia. However, the Report reveals that Mr. Prince told Mr. Dmitriev that he would report back to Steve Bannon about their conversation, and that Mr. Bannon or someone else from the Transition Team would follow up if there was interest in continuing the discussion. This is consistent with Mr. Nader’s comments to Mr. Prince on January 3, 2017, when first arranging the meeting with Mr. Dmitriev, that the Russians were looking to “build a link” with someone from the incoming Trump Administration. 7 Tr. at 38-39: Report at 151: Report at 154: Committee Testimony MR. he bring up a uesne to nave a r?emtionsnip wan the Trump administration? MR. PRINCE: ND. INCLASSIFIED 39 NCLASSIFIED MR. SCHIFF: Did you discuss establishing a channel of communications with his country that would be discreet? MR. PRINCE: No. MR.SCHIFF: between the United States and Russia? MR. PRINCE: No. HR.5CHIFF: what you did diSCuss with him? HR. PRINCE: H0. Nader traveled to New York in early January 2017 and had lunchtime and dinner meetings with l-Zrik Prince on January 3. EGITEW Nader and Prince discussed Dmitrievfm? Nader infomcd Prince that the Russians were looking to build a link with the incoming Trump Administration.1?3? he told Prince that Dmitriev had been ushin Nader to introduce him In someone from the meomin Administration .1057 Nader suggested. in light at Prince's re ationship with Transnlon ?l'eam a ten 5. at mum: and Dmitriev meet to discuss issues of mutual mm mm Nader that he needed to thin urt er about itand to eel-t with ?irtinsition Team 0 ts moctmg wt Dmitricv, and that if?terc was interest in eontinuin the discussion Batman or someone else on the Transition Team would do (4) Mr. Prince And Mr. Dmitriev Discussed More Than Trade Matters, Oil And Commodity Prices, And Defeating Islamic Terrorism During his interview with the Committee, Mr. Prince falsely stated that he and Mr. Dmitriev only discussed trade matters, oil and commodity prices, and how the United States and Russia should work together to defeat Islamic terrorism. The Report establishes that during the second meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Dmitriev that the United States could not accept Russian involvement in Libya. Most of the information about the first meeting remains heavily redacted due to grand jury material, and as a result, the subject matter of that meeting is unclear. The Report does clarify, however, that at the first meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Dmitriev that he was looking forward to a new era of cooperation and conflict resolution, he provided policy papers to Mr. Bannon, he would report back to Mr. Bannon about his meeting with Mr. Dmitriev, and the topic of election interference did not come up. *** Committee Testimony *** Tr. at 36-37: 9 Tr. at 37: Report at 153: Report at 154: MR. SCHIFF: what more can you tell us abdut what he said regarding trade or commerce between the United States and Russia? MR. PRINCE: Nothing more than that. Like I said in my letter, I remember telling him that if Franklin Roosevelt could work with Josie:c Stalin to defeat Nazi fascism, certainly the United States could work with Vladimir Putin to defeat Islamic Fascism. MR. SCHIFF: Okay. what else did you discuss? PER. PRINCE: That's all. Prince described the eight ulna A In negatiie terms. an state that he was looking forward in a According to Prince. he told Dmitriev that yearsu t: new era of cooperation and conflict resolution. Bannon was effective it'nnr conventional. and that Prince nwided ulie T5 to 3 pap; topic of Russian interference in the 2016 action d1 not come up.? l?rince added that he would inform Bannon out his meetiug u'nh Dmitriei', an that it'thcre was interest in continuin the discussion. or someone else on the Transitiun Tenn: would do 10 Report at 154: (5) Mr. Prince Was Acting As A Representative of Trump During his interview with the Committee, Mr. Prince falsely stated that he was not acting as a representative of Donald Trump when he met with Mr. Dmitriev in the Seychelles. The Report, however, suggests that Mr. Prince was acting as a representative or conduit to Presidentelect Trump’s transition:      Prior to accepting the meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Nader that he would have to check with Transition Team officals; At the first meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Dmitriev that he provided policy papers to Mr. Bannon and promised Mr. Dmitriev that he would report back to Mr. Bannon, a senior member of the Transition Team who became a senior White House official on January 20, 2017; When requesting the second meeting, Mr. Prince told Mr. Nader that he had checked with his “associates back home” and needed to convey a message to Mr. Dmitriev; After the meetings, Mr. Prince told Mr. Nader that he would inform Mr. Bannon about meeting with Mr. Dmitriev; and After the meetings, Mr. Prince briefed Mr. Bannon about meeting with Mr. Dmitriev. (Mr. Bannon denies ever talking to Mr. Prince about Mr. Dmitriev.) *** Committee Testimony *** Tr. at 5: 11 Tr28: MR. PRINCE: Sure. I supported hie monetarily. I attended some fundraisers. I wrote sale papers on different foreign policy positions and, you know, kicked then up into the adviser-sphere on what should he done on Middle Eastern or African counterterrorisl issues. HR. RODNEY: who did you give those papers to? HR. PRINCE: Normally, I sent them to Steve Bannon. HR. RODNEY: Has the point of that meeting for you to represent the Trump campaign or Mr. Trump in any way? MR. PRINCE: Ho. FIR. RODNEY: So this notion that you were there representing the Trump campaign is not true. MR. PRINCE: That 15 correct. MR. PRINCE: Hell, I have never purported or positioned to having any great access to the administration. was I happy he won? Absolutely. But, you know, I never pursued a staff position there, I never pursued any kind of leadership role. But as a taxpayer and a parent, figuring out ways to end these endless wars that Alerica is involved in, you bet I was -- happy to have anybody hear my voice on that. 12 Tr. at 59-60: Report at 151: Report at 153: Report at 153: You were asked this question about the campaign. Let me 35K tne same question about the transition. In the campaign, you said no UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 60 official role, kind of some unofficial stuff that you detailed. The Trump transition, did you have any official role or unofficial role in the transition team? MR. PRINCE: No. Nader traveled to New York in early January 20] and had lunchtime and dinner meetings with Erik Prince on January.t 3, Nader and Prince discussed Dmitrievdois Nader informed Prince that the Russians were looking to build a link with the incoming Trump Administrationm" he told Prince that Dmitriev had been ushin! Nader to introduce him to someone tom 1 tncomin AdminisnarioW re anons up w: ransitton cent 0 tel we: and Dmitriev meet to discuss inane: of that he neededtothin ttan to wr earn 0 New? Administration'a? Nader wrote to I)mitricv. "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 Educationmc'? According to Nader. Prince had led him to believe that Bannon was aware of Prince's upcoming meeting with Dmiuiev. and Prince IcknOWIedgod that it was Fair for Nader to think that Prince would pass information on to the Transition Team? Bannon. ltoWet-er. told the Of?ce that Prince did not tell him in advance about his meeting with rmee sen erg years 0 9 arm In negative terms, an state that he was looking thm-ard to a new era of cooperation and con?ict nestelution.?M According to Prince. he told Dmitriev that Barman was effective if not eonvemionnl. and that Prime provided policy papers to 13 Report at 154: Report at 154: Report at 155: * NOTE: Mr. Bannon denies ever talking to Mr. Prince about Mr. Dmitriev. (Report at 156.) (6) Mr. Prince Told Mr. Bannon About the Seychelles Meeting During his interview with the Committee, Mr. Prince falsely stated that he did not tell Mr. Bannon, the Trump Organization, or the Transition Team about his meeting with Mr. Dmitriev. The Report reveals that, in fact, on January 12, 2017 and then again several days later, Mr. Prince contacted Mr. Bannon’s personal assistant to set up a meeting with Mr. Bannon. Then, in mid-January, Mr. Prince met Mr. Bannon at Mr. Bannon’s home to discuss, among other topics, Mr. Dmitriev. (Mr. Bannon denies ever talking to Mr. Prince about Mr. Dmitriev. Report at 156.) 14 Committee Testimony Tr. at 40: MR. SCHIFF: Well, you tell me. Did you tell anyone that you had met with the UAE delegation, and did you tell anyone that you had met with Mr. Dmitriev? HR. PRINCE: I don't think so, no. HR. SCHIFF: Did you ever have a subsequent conversation -- HR. PRINCE: There was no reason to be reporting to anyone. I'n -- I own ly own business and run it accordingly. HR. SCHIFF: Did you ever tell Mr. Bannon that you had met with Mr. Dmitriev? HR. PRINCE: NO, I don't think so. MR. SCHIFF: Did you ever tell Hr. Bannon that you had met with the Prince and his delegation? MR. PRINCE: That's possible, but I don't role-bar. There would've been no reason to report to hie who I was meeting and where. Tr. at41: MR. SCHIFF: Did you ever communicate with anyone in The Trump Organization or transition team that you had gone to the Seychelles and had a meeting with the MR. PRINCE: Not that I recall, no. MR. SCHIFF: Did you ever tell anyone with Ihe Trump Organization or transition team that you had had a meeting with Mr. Dmitriev? MR. PRINCE: No, I did not. 15 Tr. at 63-64: Report at 155: Report at 155: Report at 156: HR. HIHES: So just to be clear, two meetings in Trump Tower during the transition with Steve Bannon, neither of which lasted more than 5 or 19 minutes? MR. PRINCE: Correct. MR. HIMES: Did Hr. Bannon make any requests of you in those meetings? HR. PRINCE: He may have asked my opinion on U.5. policy in Afghanistan, why we are failing. Those are the only requests would UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED 64 be questions of: What do you think of this U.S. foreign policy challenge in whatever country it might be? NIL HIMES: Did the topic of Russia ever come up in either of those two meetings? MR. PRINCE: H0. Wadinmgbe?ornla?om?lh?lo On January 12, 2017. Several days later, Prime messaged her agninuking about Hannah's Prim semis: 1' Wi?podiapogodatodl?anuuy 16, 2017, Prinoeelaoheliwedbe pmvidedBannunwilh Amrdhangrinchamooins?uctod 16