*Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Interference With the 2016 Presidential Election and Related Matters* (May 17, 2017)
(a) Robert S. Mueller III is appointed to serve as Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice
(b) The Special Counsel 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 (full order)...
Official DOJ Special Counsel (site with all documents and details): https://www.justice.gov/sco
*Indictments*
| U.S. v. George Papadopoulos |
George Papadopoulos, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, 2017, to making false statements to FBI agents, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001. The case was unsealed on Oct. 30, 2017.
Role: member of foreign policy advisory panel
Status: cooperating witness (plea agreement)
Statement of the Offense: https://www.justice.gov/file/1007346/download
- 'Claimed that his interactions with an overseas professor [Joseph Mifsud - MIA], who defendant understood to have substantial connections to Russian government officials, occurred before defendant became a foreign policy advisor to the Campaign.'
- '... professor had told him about the Russians possessing "dirt" on then-candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of "thousands of emails," but stated multiple times that he learned that information prior to joining the Campaign.'
- '... further told investigating agents that the professor was "a nothing"... In truth and in fact, however, defendant understood that the professor had substantial connections to Russian government officials (and had met with some of those officials in Moscow immediately prior to telling defendant about the "thousands of emails" and, over a period of months, defendant repeatedly sought to use the professor's Russian connections in an effort to arrange a meeting between the Campaign and Russian government officials.'
More (links):
- Timeline of communications (Wheeler)
| U.S. v. Michael T. Flynn |
Lieutenant General Michael T. Flynn (Ret.), of Alexandria, Va., pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2017, to making false statements to FBI agents, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Role: campaign adviser; surrogate; senior member of presidential transition team; National Security Advisor
Status: cooperating witness (plea agreement)
Statement of the Offense: https://www.justice.gov/file/1015126/download
- '... falsely stated that he did not ask Russia's Ambassador to the United States [Sergey Kislyak] to refrain from escalating the situation in response to sanctions that the United States had imposed against Russia.'
- '... falsely stated that he did not remember a follow-up conversation in which the Russian Ambassador stated that Russia had chosen to moderate its response to those sanctions as a result of Flynn's request.'
- 'In truth and in fact, however, Flynn then and there knew that the following had occurred:
On or about December 28, 2016, then-President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13757, which was to take effect the following day. The executive order announced sanctions against Russia in response to that government's actions intended to interfere with the 2016 presidential election...'
- Flynn calls Russian ambassador, tells him to chill about the sanctions and only respond in a reciprocal manner. Putin relases a statement the next day indicating they would not take action. Russian ambassador calls Flynn next day and confirms they chose not to retaliate in response to Flynn's request.
-Also charged with making false statements regarding 'Request that Foreign Officials Vote Against or Delay a United Nations Security Council Resolution' & 'contacts with foreign governments' regarding FARA filing related to Flynn Intel Group, Inc.
More (links):
