The Russia Investigation: An Update

Since I wrote about Net Neutrality, there have been a few developments in the Russia Investigation.

Firstly, a New York Times article last week alleged that the F.B.I Russia Inquiry was not started as a result of a dossier compiled by ex-British spy Christopher Steele. Instead, the New York Times reported that former Trump aide, George Papadopoulos, had set off a chain of events that kickstarted the F.B.I. investigation.

The report goes that Papadopoulos was visiting a London bar with an Australian diplomat. During this meeting, Papadopoulos revealed to the diplomat that he knew that the Kremlin held political dirt in the form of emails that would be damaging to the Clinton campaign. The Australian diplomat relayed this information to the Australian Intelligence community and it then was given to the F.B.I. The New York Times says that this was the action that started the F.B.I investigation into Russian collusion.

This is a big revelation because it dispels the argument that the dossier created by Christopher Steele caused the F.B.I. to begin the Russia Investigation. And Trump, along with multiple Republicans, were attempting to discredit the dossier, claiming that the Clinton campaign paid for it. But now we know that an incident at a bar with George Papadopoulos and an Australian diplomat started the investigation, not the dossier.

Secondly, new information has come out about President Trump’s attempts to obstruct the Russia investigation. The New York Times reported that President Trump became increasingly angry with Attorney General Jeff Sessions when Sessions decided to recuse himself in all matters related to Russian Collusion.

But before Sessions recused himself, White House Counsel Don McGahn (reportedly under orders of President Trump) lobbied Sessions to not recuse himself. The Times reports that President Trump believes the Attorney General’s job is to protect the President and by recusing himself, Jeff Sessions is not showing loyalty to the President. But in reality, the Attorney General’s duty is to represent the United States Government in legal matters, not the President.

Third, a new book by Michael Wolff, a journalist and author, outlines many odd and disturbing occurrences that relate to Russian collusion, the Trump campaign, and the administration. The book is called Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House. It alleges Steve Bannon, former Chief Strategist in the White House of saying about the Trump Tower meeting with Russian officials:

Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad s***, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately. – Steven K. Bannon

In response, President Trump said,

Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my Presidency. When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind. Now that he is on his own, Steve is learning that winning isn’t as easy as I make it look. Steve had very little to do with our historic victory, which was delivered by the forgotten men and women of this country. – President Donald Trump

The book also alleges President Trump of being a germaphobe and eating at McDonalds to avoid the risk of being poisoned. It also alleges that the President’s campaign did not expect the President to win. The President’s lawyers attempted to prevent Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House from being released, but did not prevail. It has already sold out.

In other news:

• Anti-government protests in Iran are attempting to give Iranians more rights.
• The President’s agenda for 2018 consists of but is not limited to: Infrastructure, DACA, “The Wall”, and more attempts to roll back the ACA.
• President Trump disbanded the Voter Fraud commission led by Kris Kobach.