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Meeting with Intelligence Community
Chiefs of the IC meet with Trump two weeks before the inauguration. Here we see the emergence of a divide; the chiefs inform Trump that it’s possible Russia interfered. Trump sees this as an assault on his legitimacy/power/worth of being there. After the meeting ends, FBI Director James Comey pulls president aside to inform him about a salacious dossier. Trump sees this as a threat not as a heads-up; taken as a shake-down, blackmail. Comey writes a memo directly following. Fear about a leak. -
Leak of the Dossier
Reported by Buzzfeed & CNN. In response, Trump came out angry in a press conference, denying everything and combatting the press heavily. He now views intelligence agencies as the enemy for allowing such a leak. -
Oval Office Press Conference
Comey situates himself as far from Trump as possible, even blending in with a navy suit against blue curtains.
Trump singles out Comey and makes him walk across the room. goes for hug and whispers in Comey's ear
"He's become more famous than me." – Trump to audience -
Interview with Michael Flynn
The new Trump administration is rocked by 2 FBI agents entering the White House to interview Flynn about Russia. Flynn lies about Kislyak, which is a federal crime. -
Dinner with Comey
After hearing from McGahn, Trump calls Comey for a 1-on-1 dinner.
They had relatively pleasant conversation, but Trump asked for loyalty multiple times, to which Comey tried to play off, but not affirm/deny.
Trump: “I need loyalty”
Comey: “You’ll always get the truth from me” -
Yates and the Interview
The interview with Flynn is shared with Justice Department/Yates, who confirms that it places the White House in a spot of vulnerability, possible blackmail.
Passes to Don McGahn, and then to Trump. -
Washington Post Leak
Washington Post breaks a story that publically details the fact that Flynn and Kislyak had communication, and that Trump was implicated.
Trump claims ignorance, but Yates says that White House was warned about the interaction compromise and failed to take action.
All of Washington’s establishment tell Trump that Flynn needs to go. -
Trump’s Meeting with Advisors
As meeting ends, Trump clears the room of everyone minus Comey.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions lingers by but then goes (suspicious). Trump tells Comey that he wanted to talk about Flynn; “I hope you can let this go.” Trump starts toeing the line.
Comey leaves shake and goes to his car to start writing about what happened. -
Comey Testifies
Comey confirms that the FBI is investigating the link between Russia and the 2016 campaign, but can't give details or evidence
Signals the end of 'Jim Comey’ to Trump.
The testimony and news of investigation puts everyone near Trump under a grey cloud and add tension.
Jared Kushner now under scrutiny. -
Bedminster Retreat
No adults in the room and Trump resolves to fire Comey. He writes a scathing letter meant for Comey, but Don McGahn and Steve Bannon advise him against it
They talk to Rod Rosenstein and Sessions to find a reason to fire Comey, settling on his statement on Clinton's emails in 2016. -
James Comey Fired
Bodyguard sent to FBI Headquarters, but Comey was not there. Instead, the news broke to him via the TVs behind him, at a speech in Los Angeles.
Everyone in the FBI was deeply upset and troubled; comparisons drawn to Saturday Night Massacre under Nixon.
Trump claims that the Rosenstein Memo is basis: because of Hillary’s emails and how Comey was too hard on her -
Meeting with Russian Officials
The day after Comey was fired, Trump meets with Russian diplomats. Trump, with no other American in the room, are essentially celebrating.
A photographer in attendance; photos used with Russian media as propaganda. -
NBC Interview
NBC News interviews Trump about Comey.
Calls Comey a ‘showboat’ and a ‘grandstander’.
Trump undermines the case that the White House had been trying to make by saying that he was premeditated on firing Comey before even walking into the meeting with Sessions and Rosenstein.
––"Oh, I was gonna fire regardless of recommendation." -
Special Council Appointed
Comey leaks to the New York Times, knowing the probability of calling a special counsel.
At the decision of Rosenstein, there was to be a special counsel.
Muller is named as prosecutor in the investigation on Russian interference.
Behind the scenes, Trump unleashes anger on Sessions, who threatens to quit and storms out.
McGahn tells Priebus, who runs to Sessions and drags him back into the White House to talk with Bannon and Pence in hopes of talking him off the ledge. -
New York Times Report
Trump claimed the meeting was about Adoption
In setting up the meeting, offer read ‘Russian government support for Trump’s campaign'; promising dirt on Hillary Clinton
Donald Trump Jr. responds with “I love it”
White House worried about adding to obstruction of justice case. -
Raid on Michael Cohen’s Office
Trump sees this as a personal attack and a threat.
He threatens journalists, and even swears.
Shows that he cleaned up Stormy Daniels problem
Cohen is now a target.
Trump brings in Giuliani. -
Pete Strzok Testimonial
Strzok testifies on text messages with mistress:
Miss.: “OMG what an idiot”
Struck: “No, no we’ll stop it”
Tried to paint him as corrupted, but maintained that his personal views did not affect his work.
Gohmert personified fed-up conservatives and unleashes an ad hominem attack on Struck about his affair and moral character. -
Meeting with Queen
Split-Screen with Rosenstein's announcement that they had found 11 GRU staff (down to the office where they sat).
30-page indictment & almost irrefutable evidence on interference.
Statement of DoJ independence -
Helsinki with Putin
"Putin pleads very strongly"
Little concern about the indictments made by the FBI.
Trump doesn’t stick to the script.
“Who do you believe” - Putin says it wasn’t them
“Why would they”
Calls Strzok a disgrace to FBI. Calls the investigation a witch hunt.
All efforts to corral him failed
Fallout: McCain, Corker, and other conservative strategists call it a disaster (midterms) -
"I am a part of the resistance”
New York Times anonymous article.
Claims that White House staff works to stop Trump's whims.
Brings into question 25th amendment & Rod Rosenstein. -
Jeff Sessions Resigns
Jeff Sessions’ resigns post as Attorney General, writes “as per your request,” indicating that he was asked to do so.
Whittaker is assigned as Temporary Attorney General. -
Manafort and Muller
Manafort found to have breached the deal with Muller that gave him immunity in the investigation in return for information. -
Cohen Sentencing
Michael Cohen is sentenced to 3 years in federal prison. -
Butina Guilty
Maria Butina pleads guilty to engaging in a conspiracy against the US. She admitted to acting under the direction of Alexander Torshin, a Russian official. -
Is this investigation a proper use of Congressional power or a political witchhunt?
I believe the investigation is proper, since the possibility of collusion is a threat to democratic processes and America's sovereignty. The US has a turbulent history with what was formerly the USSR, and now Russia, so there it's reasonable to at least be suspicious. It is congress' right and duty to bring upon investigations, and I think this one is more than appropriate -
Is there enough evidence to suggest Russian interference in the election or collusion with the Trump campaign? What should we do next?
As it stands, I can't say with absolute certainty that the Russians interfered. However, the events in this timeline point to something at least, in layman's terms, a bit sketchy. I think the investigation should continue, however. When there is concrete evidence, then charges must be brought, and it is important
