Although still in his first term in office, Donald Trump’s presidency has been so tumultuous and unorthodox that people forget – or simply cannot keep track of what has occurred since he became president.
Let’s start by looking at why the Trump campaign is under federal investigation:
- Link – Mueller requested phone records about Air Force One statement – POLITICO
- In late 2016, US intelligence agencies concluded with “high confidence” that Russia was interfering to help Donald Trump get elected president.
- On the campaign trail, Trump often repeated what turned out to be false talking points about Hillary Clinton that came from the Russian news media.
- Trump campaign manager, Paul Manafort spent years working for Vladimir Putin to install pro-Russian politicians in countries like Ukraine before volunteering to work for Trump for free.
- Manafort gave analytical polling data to a suspected Russian agent which could help Russia target their interference in the election.
- During the campaign, Trump lied about his Moscow business dealings.
- Trump’s campaign adviser, Michael Flynn, spoke to the Russian Ambassador about lifting US sanctions and then lied about it.
- Flynn later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in the Russia investigation.
- Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner met with the Russian ambassador in December and did not disclose his contacts with Russia on his application for security clearance.
- Trump ordered National Security officials to give Kushner the clearance anyway
- Jared Kushner, Manafort and Don Jr met with a Russian Lawyer specifically to get dirt on Hillary Clinton – and then lied about it.
- A month after the meeting with the Russian lawyer, Trump publicly asked Russia to reveal any information to hurt Hillary Clinton and help him win the election.
- Trump adviser Carter Page had dozens of contacts with Russia that Russian intelligence tried to recruit him.
- Trump got the Republican National Committee to remove their harsh criticism of Russia from the Republican Party platform
- Trump admitted he fired the FBI Director to impede the Russia investigation.
- Trump’s Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, lied to Congress about his ties to Russia.
- Sessions illegally falsified information about his contacts with Russia on his Justice Department security application.
- Trump’s first Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, had huge conflicts of interest and stood to make a fortune if sanctions against Russia are lifted.
- Trump adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the campaign’s ties to Russia.
