On 05/17/2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller as Special Council. Mueller was to investigate any possible collusion between the Trump presidential campaign or other Americans and the Russian government regarding the 2016 elections. The investigation was not limited to that issue and any crimes discovered while investigating were also subject to prosecution and/or being turned over to the Justice Department or state prosecutors.
A partial list of second quarter 2018 news about the investigation. The Mueller team remains remarkably tight-lipped about their activities. Most information comes from public court filings.
- 4/3 - Alex van der Zwaan, a Dutch lawyer associated with Manafort and Gates, is sentenced to 30 days in jail for lying to the FBI and destroying evidence.
- Mueller produces memo showing that Deputy Attorney General Rodney J. Rosenstein authorized Mueller to pursue allegations that Manafort colluded with Russia in 2016.
- 4/9 - The FBI executed a search warrant at Michael Cohen's office, home, and hotel room. They seize documents related to Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, The National Enquirer, and possible bank and wire fraud. The search warrants were based on evidence provided by Mueller's team although the investigation is by the US Attorney Office for the Southern District of New York.
- A federal judge dismissed Manafort’s DC civil suit against Mueller’s authority.
- Michael Cohen's business partner, Evgeny Naumovich Freidman, known as the taxi king, agrees to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for a plea deal.
- 6/4 - Mueller accuses Manafort of witness tampering.
- 6/8 - Mueller files witness tampering charges against Manafort and Russian Konstantin Kilimnik.
- 6/15 - Manafort's $10 million bail is revoked he must now go to jail until his trial in September.
- Speaking of $10 million, new evidence shows Manafort had a $10 M loan from a Russian oligarch. Cozy
- 6/26 - A federal judge in Virginia ruled that Mueller's tax and bank fraud case against Manafort can proceed.
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- 6/1 - Summit with North Korea on 6/12 back on again.
- Trump uninvites the Philadelphia Eagles to the White House. Most players weren't going to attend anyway.
- EPA staff members performed personal tasks for Scott Pruitt including planning vacations, finding DC housing, and purchasing a mattress. More swampy behavior by Pruitt.
- 6/4 - Mueller accuses Manafort of witness tampering.
- 6/8 - Mueller files witness tampering charges against Paul Manafort and Russian Konstantin Kilimnik.
- President Trump dictated Donald Trump Jr.'s response to the New York Times article concerning the Trump Tower meeting with Russians. First, it was denied, then changed to fatherly advice, now full authorship. One of those accounts may be the truth, but maybe not. The content of the response was a lie.
- Mexico imposes tariffs on about $3 billion of US goods including whiskey, pork, and several agricultural products.
- House Speaker Paul Ryan says no evidence FBI spied on Trump campaign.
- Trump refuses to sign the G7 resolution that he previously agreed to. Seems to be because he didn't like a statement by Trudeau. Calls the Canadian Prime Minister "dishonest and weak".
- AG Jeff Sessions rules domestic or gang violence is not grounds for asylum.
- Trump lies daily that the separation of children from their parents at the border is because of a Democrat law. There is no such law, it is a Trump administration policy. He also admits that it is part of his strategy to get the wall funded.
- Ivanka and Jared Kushner had outside income of at least $82 million in 2017. Ivanka made $3.9 million from Trump International Hotel in DC. Her company also recently got 13 Chinese trademarks. Swampy & conflicty.
- 6/14 - The New York Attorney General sues the Donald J. Trump Foundation, Donald, Don Jr., Eric, and Ivanka.
- 6/15 - Paul Manafort's bail is revoked. He must now go to jail until trial.
- 6/15 - Trump imposes tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese goods. China retaliates in kind on agriculture, auto, and energy goods.
- Trump flip-flops on supporting insurance coverage for preexisting conditions.
- 6/17 - Roger Stone now admits to meeting with a Russian national in May 2016.
- 6/20 - Trump signs an executive order to change his policy to separate immigrant children from their parents. A policy that he said was not a policy but a law. One that could not be reversed by an executive order.
- Michael Cohen resigns as deputy chair of the RNC finance committee.
- 6/22 - EU tariffs on $3.2 billion of US goods go into effect.
- 6/25 - Harley-Davidson to shift some production to Europe to avoid tariffs.
- 6/25 - Federal Judge in Virginia says that the Manafort bank and tax fraud case can proceed.
- 6/27 - GOP House fails again to pass an immigration bill despite Trump's support for the bill. No money for the Wall.
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