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A federal judge sentenced Alex van der Zwaan (center) to 30 days in jail for lying to investigators about conversations he had with Rick Gates. This is the first prison sentence handed down in the Mueller case.
A federal judge sentenced Alex van der Zwaan (center) to 30 days in prison for lying to investigators about conversations he had had with Rick Gates. This is the first prison sentence handed down … more
Rick Gates, a long-time protégé and junior partner of Donald Trump presidential campaign chair Paul Manafort, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and lying to investigators.
Paul Manafort and Richard Gates were charged with 12 counts of indictment, including money laundering, violation of the law on the registration of foreign agents, conspiracy against the United States and non-declaration to the American government
lessPaul Manafort and Richard Gates were charged with 12 counts of indictment, including money laundering. money, the violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the conspiracy against the United States and the defect of
. .. moreThe Office of the Special Attorney Robert Mueller has charged thirteen Russians and three Russian entities with a complicated conspiracy to ingest in the election US presidential election of 2016. Yevgeny Prigozhin, managing director of Concord Catering, was seen among the 13 people indicted after the sixth meeting of the High-Level Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council. Others include: Mikhail Ivanovich Bystrov, Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik, Aleksandr Yuryevna Krylova, Anna Vladislavovna Bogacheva, Sergei Pavlovich Polozov, Maria Anatolyevna Bovda, Robert Sergeyevich Bovda, Dzheykhoun Nasimi Ogly, Vadim Vladimirovich Podkopayev, Gleb Igorevich Vasilchenko, Irina Viktorovna Kaverzina and Vladimir Venkov .
lessThe Office of the Special Advocate Robert Mueller accused thirteen Russians and three Russian entities of a complicated conspiracy aimed at interfering in the US presidential election of 2016. Among the 13
… moreJanuary 2018
Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned for hours in the Russian investigation of the special advisor, according to the Justice Ministry, while prosecutors were getting closer to a possible interview with President Donald Trump. in contacts between Russia and his 2016 campaign. The interview with Sessions in January made him the highest official of the Trump administration, and the first Cabinet member, known to have submitted questions. He came as special advocate Robert Mueller to investigate whether Trump's actions in the office, including the dismissal of FBI director James Comey, constitute inappropriate efforts to thwart the FBI's investigation.
lessJanuary 2018
Attorney General Jeff Sessions was questioned for hours in the Russian investigation of the special advisor, according to the Justice Department, while the prosecutors […] more
The same day, former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was called to testify in camera for the House investigation, the New York Times reported that & # 39; He was assigned by Mueller to testify before a grand jury.
lessThe same day, Trump's former advisor Steve Bannon was called to testify in camera for the House investigation, the New York Times reported that he had been assigned by Mueller to testify
… moreOn January 8, the Washington Post reported that Mueller had spoken with Trump's lawyer, indicating that he would likely seek to question the president as part of his investigation. Later, at a press conference with the Norwegian Prime Minister, President Tump told a reporter that an interview was not necessary because "there is no collusion ".
lessFormer National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty on Friday to the FBI, becoming the first Trump White House official to face criminal charges and admit his guilt until his death. Now. lawyer Robert Mueller. Flynn has also agreed to cooperate with the Mueller probe, which focuses on Russian interference in the 2016 election and the possible coordination between Russia and Donald Trump's campaign to send the film. Republican businessman at the White House.
Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI on Friday, becoming the first Trump White House official to face criminal charges and to admit guilt [1945-1969]. .. more
Papadopoulos pleads guilty to making false statements to the FBI, under an apparent agreement of cooperation with Mueller's investigation. Mueller files 12 criminal charges against Manafort and Gates.
lessPapadopoulos pleads guilty to making false statements to the FBI, under an apparent agreement of cooperation with the investigation of Mueller. Mueller Class 12 Criminal Charges Against
… moreAugust 2017: Mueller Eliminates Criminal Grand Jury in Washington, DC
August 2017: Mueller embodies a grand criminal jury in Washington, DC
July 2017: FBI agents raided former Trump campaign president Paul Manafort in Alexandria, Virginia. Papadopoulos arrested by the FBI at Dulles International Airport.
July 2017: FBI agents raided the home of former Trump President Paul Manafort in Alexandria, Virginia. Papadopoulos arrested by the FBI at Dulles International Airport
June 2017: Manafort files documents with the Department of Justice disclosing retroactively under the Foreign Agents Registration Act that his company received more than $ 17 million for the Government of Ukraine between 2012 and 2014. The Washington Post reports that Mueller is investigating Trump for obstruction of justice.
May 2017: Trump turns on Comey. Robert Mueller, former director of the FBI, is appointed special advisor to take over from the investigation.
May 2017: Trump shoots at Comey. Former FBI director Robert Mueller is appointed special advisor to take over the investigation.
January 2017: FBI Director James Comey, who oversaw the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, informs Trump of the contents of the non-paper. verified containing salacious allegations about him and his campaign. Trump inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Papadopoulos questioned by the FBI about his contacts with the Russians.
January 2017: FBI Director James Comey, who oversaw the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election , informs Trump of the contents of the unverified record which contains
.. Read moreNovember 2016: Donald Trump wins the presidential election.
November 2016: Donald Trump wins the presidential election.
The New York Times reports that the name of Manafort appears on a secret list of payments made by the Yanukovych regime. Manafort resigns from Donald Trump's campaign the day after the Associated Press reports that he has failed to register as a foreign agent after staging a secret lobbying campaign in the United States. United on behalf of the Ukrainian Party of Regions.
lessThe New York Times reports that the name Manafort appears on a secret list of payments made by the Yanukovych regime. Manafort resigns from Trump campaign the day after reports from the Associated Press
… moreJuly 2016: Trump becomes the Republican candidate for the presidency of the party congress in Cleveland, Ohio. The FBI is investigating the Russian government's attempt to influence the election, including whether members of the Trump campaign are involved.
July 2016: Trump becomes the Republican candidate for the presidency of the party congress in Cleveland, Ohio. The FBI opens an investigation into the Russian government's attempt to influence elections, including
June 2016: Manafort attends a meeting at Trump Tower in New York with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya (above), who promised to provide information detrimental to Trump's campaign on Clinton . Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner are also in the meeting. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says his website will publish a batch of Clinton emails.
minusJune 2016: Manafort attends a meeting at Trump Tower in New York with Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya (above), who has promised to provide detrimental information on Clinton. Donald
… moreMay 2016: Manafort promoted campaign president and chief strategist, taking command of the Trump campaign.
April 2016: Papadopoulos meets a Russian national who, according to him, offered "dirt" to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, including thousands of e-mails. Papadopoulos sends emails to other members of the Trump campaign about the Russian offer of dirt on Clinton and offers Trump to meet Putin. The Democratic National Committee is becoming aware of the scope of the intrusion of several months into its messaging systems by US intelligence agencies hackers later linked to the Russian government.
minusApril 2016: Papadopoulos meets a Russian national who, according to him, has offered "dirt" to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, including thousands of e-mails. Papadopoulos emails from other members of Trump
… moreMarch 2016: Manafort joins Trump's campaign as a volunteer consultant. George Papadopoulos is one of five foreign policy advisers in the Trump campaign, and meets with people associated with the Russian government amidst discussions to arrange a meeting between Trump and Putin.
minusMarch 2016: Manafort joins Trump's campaign as a volunteer consultant. George Papadopoulos is named among the five foreign policy advisers of the Trump campaign, and meets people associated with Russia
… moreSeptember 2015: The FBI contacts the computer service of the Democratic National Committee , warning that at least one of his computers has been compromised by Russian hackers. A technician scans the system but finds no evidence of intrusion.
minusSeptember 2015: The FBI contacts the IT support service of the Democratic National Committee, warning that at least one of its computers has been compromised by hackers Russian. A technician scans the system but
… moreJune 2015: New York real estate billionaire Donald J. Trump announces his candidacy for the post of president of the United States as a republican.
June 2015: New York real estate billionaire Donald J. Trump announces his candidacy for the post of Republican for the American president.
February 2014: After months of fierce clashes between protesters and police across Ukraine, Yanukovych flees Ukraine and goes into exile in Russia. The US government later opens an investigation into the foreign lobbying and political work of Manafort.
minusFebruary 2014: After months of violent clashes between protesters and police across Ukraine, Yanukovych flees Ukraine and goes into exile in Russia. The US government later opens an investigation into Manafort
… moreFebruary 2010: With the help of his Russian bosses and his American political consultants, Yanukovych is elected President of Ukraine.
February 2010: With the help of his Russian bosses and his American political consultants, Yanukovych is elected President of Ukraine.
2006: Paul Manafort and Rick Gates (left) start working as consultants for the Party of Regions, a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine led by Victor Yanukovych, the country's former prime minister . Manafort is a veteran Republican political officer who has worked on the US presidential campaigns of Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bob Dole.
WASHINGTON – Une société russe accusée par l'avocat spécial Robert Mueller III de participer à une opération en ligne pour perturber la campagne présidentielle de 2016 en partie sur une décision de Brett Kavanaugh, candidat à la Cour suprême, d'argumenter que l'accusation devrait être rejetée.
La décision de Kavanaugh de 2011, pour un panel de trois juges, portait sur le rôle que les étrangers pouvaient jouer aux États-Unis. elections. Il a maintenu une loi fédérale qui stipule que les étrangers temporairement dans le pays ne peuvent pas donner de l'argent aux candidats, contribuer aux partis et groupes politiques, ou dépenser de l'argent en défendant les intérêts des candidats. Mais il n'a pas exclu de laisser les étrangers dépenser de l'argent pour des campagnes de plaidoyer indépendantes.
Kavanaugh "s'est démené pour limiter la décision", a déclaré Daniel Petalas, avocat à Washington et ancien conseiller général par intérim de la Commission électorale fédérale. 19659157] Une requête déposée par la société russe cette semaine cite à plusieurs reprises la décision de Kavanaugh, portant une nouvelle attention à ses décisions sur les lois et règlements de financement de campagne pendant son mandat à la Cour d'appel du district de Columbia. ont analysé son travail, il semble s'adapter confortablement au sein de la majorité conservatrice de la haute cour, qui a constaté que les restrictions sur les dépenses liées à la campagne sont en conflit avec la garantie de la liberté d'expression du Premier Amendement. Cet argument était à la base de l'affaire Citoyens Unis de 2010, qui permettait aux entreprises et autres organisations de dépenser des sommes illimitées pour des activités politiques indépendantes.
Dans le cas de la décision nationale étrangère, Kavanaugh a déclaré que le gouvernement devait prouver des restrictions de la loi avant de demander des accusations criminelles. Il a ajouté que l'interdiction n'incluait pas les dépenses étrangères pour «défendre les intérêts et s'exprimer sur les questions de politique publique».
La Cour suprême a confirmé la décision en 2012 dans une ordonnance d'une phrase, sans dissidence une audience. L'administration Obama avait demandé que l'opinion soit confirmée, arguant dans un mémoire que la loi fédérale était étroitement adaptée pour respecter les droits de parole des étrangers.
Ni la loi en question ni aucune autre disposition de la loi fédérale n'interdit aux ressortissants étrangers de s'exprimer. sur les questions de politique publique », a écrit le solliciteur général, Donald Verrilli. "La loi laisse donc ouverte … un large éventail d'activités expressives, allant de la contribution à des groupes de discussion, à la création de sites web de plaidoyer, au financement de la publicité télévisée de masse."
l'Université de Californie à Irvine, créer "potentiellement une énorme faille pour les publicités étrangères et non divulguées sur les élections fédérales."
La décision de Kavanaugh a été adoptée par Concord Management and Consulting, l'un des 16 individus ou sociétés russes accusés par un grand jury in February in connection with allegedly taking part in an "information warfare" campaign aimed at swaying American voters.
The indictment alleged that Concord paid $1.25 million a month to the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency for projects such as setting up rallies for President Donald Trump or various advocacy groups in the United States, creating Twitter and Facebook accounts to spread false information and "to interfere in U.S. political and electoral processes without detection of their Russian affiliation." The company was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Concord is alleged to be controlled by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, a Russian catering magnate known as "Putin's chef" for his longtime association with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is the only one of those charged to have responded to the indictments.
In Concord's motion to dismiss the charge, its attorneys frequently cited Kavanaugh and his 2011 decision in Bluman v. Federal Election Commission.
The lawyers noted that Kavanaugh distinguished between explicitly political ads – those that urge the public to vote for or against a candidate – and "issue ads".
"Foreign nationals are not barred from issue advocacy through political speech such as what is described in the indictment – they are only precluded from willfully making expenditures that expressly advocate the election or defeat of a particular candidate," wrote Washington lawyers Eric Dubelier and Katherine Seikaly, who are defending the company, citing the Bluman decision.
It is the second issue related to Mueller's investigation that is sure to receive attention at Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing. He said in a 2009 law review article that presidents should not be distracted by civil lawsuits and criminal investigations and that Congress might be "wise" to provide such protection until they are no longer in office.
Like Justice Neil Gorsuch, who also was a Trump nominee, Kavanaugh appears to fit the mold of Justice Antonin Scalia, who joined the court's conservatives – Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito Jr. – as skeptics of the constitutionality of many campaign finance restrictions.
"Based on his opinions and public statements, as a Supreme Court justice Kavanaugh would almost certainly be a reliable vote to overturn campaign finance restrictions in the Scalia/Alito/Roberts mold," said Andrew Herman, a Washington lawyer who practices campaign finance law.
Even before the Supreme Court decided Citizens United, Kavanaugh wrote for his court in a 2009 case called Emily's List v. FEC, ruling against regulations tha t required independent nonprofit organizations to comply with federal contribution limits.
The rules "do not pass muster under the Supreme Court's First Amendment precedents," Kavanaugh wrote. "The regulations are not closely drawn to serve a cognizable anticorruption interest. Donations to and spending by a non-profit cannot corrupt a candidate or officeholder."
A year later, he affirmed rules limiting how much money can flow to political parties – noting that Supreme Court precedent gave him no choice.
In Republican National Committee v. FEC in 2010, Kavanaugh wrote for a three-judge panel in upholding contribution limits on federal candidates and parties. He cited the Supreme Court's rulings that such limitations are warranted because of the potential for corruption or the appearance of corruption.
In the wake of Citizens United and the advent of super PACs, the RNC said the restrictions left political parties hamstrung.
The RNC position was logical, Kavanaugh agreed. "As a lower court, however, we do not believe we possess authority to clarify or refine [Supreme Court precedent] in the fashion advocated by the RNC, or to otherwise get ahead of the Supreme Court," he wrote.
Hasen said a big question will be whether Kavanaugh would be skeptical of restrictions on contributions to political parties and candidates on the high court. "I think that we don't know," he said.
The Bluman ruling is likely to receive outsize attention in Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings because it is now being cited in an active case about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.
As a test case, its facts were rather benign. Benjamin Bluman and Asenath Steiman were foreign nationals living legally and temporarily in the United States.
Bluman, a Canadian, said he wanted to contribute to Democrats running for office, and print and distribute fliers in Central Park supporting President Barack Obama's reelection. Steiman, a dual citizen of Canada and Israel, said she wanted to contribute to Obama's eventual Republican opponent and to an independent organization that supports conservative candidates.
Bluman and Steiman said the federal ban on those activities was unconstitutional.
But Kavanaugh and his fellow judges on the panel said the Supreme Court had made it clear that the government may exclude foreign nationals from activities "intimately related to the process of democratic self-government," quoting a precedent. Contributing to a political party and spending money to advocate for or against a specific candidate are easily included, he wrote.
But he also articulated "three important limits."
He said the ban might not be applicable to permanent legal residents. Nor should the ruling be read to support bans on foreign nationals spending money to express their views on issues, as opposed to advocating for the election or defeat of specific candidates.
He said that to bring criminal prosecutions, the government must show that the defendant acted willfully in defiance of the law. "There are many aliens in this country who no doubt are unaware of the statutory ban on foreign expenditures, in particular," he wrote.
Herman said Kavanaugh's carve-outs show "that he is both being a careful jurist but also indicating to Congress that he would be more skeptical of the types of restrictions referenced in that paragraph. For example, permanent residents' First Amendment rights might take precedence over more general security concerns."
Hasen said that Kavanaugh's decision provides a road map of how he might decide such an issue – finding it improper for a foreign national to finance an ad that says, "Vote against Hillary," for example, but not one that says, "Hillary is Satan."
—
The Washington Post's Tom Jackman contributed to this report.
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