Russiagate Timeline 2018

Russiagate

January 2018

January 8, 2018: “Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has posted the entire transcript of the August 2017 testimony by Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson.” The Hill

Russian spy chiefs met in Washington with CIA director to discuss counterterrorism Washington Post Shane Harris January 31  “CIA Director Mike Pompeo…Sergey Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service or SVR, and Alexander Bortnikov, who runs the FSB”

Chiefs Of Three Russian Intelligence Agencies Travel To Washington RadioFreeEuropeRadioLiberty January 31, 2018 Mike Eckel  “But the presence of the two other chiefs — Aleksandr Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Colonel General Igor Korobov, chief of Russian General Staff’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) — was not previously known. U.S. intelligence agencies have accused the FSB — considered Russia’s main domestic intelligence agency — and the GRU — the Russian military’s intelligence arm — of being behind the hacking of U.S. political parties and activists. The chamber’s Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, pointed out that Naryshkin had been hit with a travel ban by the United States in 2014in connection with Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea.”

 

January 18, 2018: Secretary Mnuchin Travels to Pennsylvania with President Trump, Highlights Benefits of Tax Reform  H&K Equipment Company

January 29, 2018: NBC News: Andrew McCabe resigns as FBI deputy director

January 31, 2018:Steve Bannon scheduled to Testify before the House Intelligence Committee

February 2018

“As part of the scrutiny of Kushner’s discussions with Turks, federal investigators have reached out to Turkish nationals for information on Kushner through the FBI’s legal attache office in Ankara, according to two people familiar with the matter. Separately, Qatari government officials visiting the U.S. in late January and early February considered turning over to Mueller what they believe is evidence of efforts by their country’s Persian Gulf neighbors in coordination with Kushner to hurt their country, four people familiar with the matter said. The Qatari officials decided against cooperating with Mueller for now out of fear it would further strain the country’s relations with the White House, these people said.” Mueller team asking if Kushner foreign business ties influenced Trump policy NBC by Carol E. Lee, Julia Ainsley and Robert Windrem /

February 2, 2018:The NUNES MEMO

Trump administration’s consumer protection bureau drops lawsuit into lender [Golden Valley Lending] alleged to charge 950% interest CNBC 

February 16, 2018: Mueller Issues indictment against 13 Russian Nationalswith working for the Russian Internet Research Agency to foment discord in the US. CNN

February 23, 2018 Treasury Announces Largest North Korean Sanctions Package Targeting 56 Shipping and Trading Companies and Vessels to Further Isolate Rogue Regime. Fuel and Coal Transportation

March 2018

March 19, 2018: Saudi Crown Prince MBS began 2-week tour of the US “Kushner, who visited Mohammed last fall in Riyadh, is expected to attend several dinners with the crown prince, along with other U.S. and Saudi officials.” Retail politics, ruthless crackdowns and youthful drive: As Saudi Crown prince woos U.S., a reputation precedes him Washington Post

Secretary Mnuchin Leads U.S. Delegation to G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina

April 2018

April 6, 2018 Treasury Designates Russian Oligarchs, Officials, and Entities in Response to Worldwide Malign Activity

April 9, 2018 

May 2018

Oliver North named new president of the NRA CBS News

June 2018

JUNE 12, 2018: Senate Judiciary hearing: RYAN GOODMAN PROFESSOR OF LAW, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW AND CO-EDITOR- IN-CHIEF OF JUST SECURITY CONCERNING ELECTION INTERFERENCE: ENSURING LAW ENFORCEMENT IS EQUIPPED TO TARGET THOSE SEEKING TO DO HARM BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY UNITED STATES SENATE

June 28, 2018 Mulvaney-led U.S. CFPB slashes payday lender penalty: sources Reuters 

 

July 2018

On July 4, 2018: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) called a whistleblower’s brother, OSU champion wrestler Adam DiSabato.  Jordan cried and begged him to go against his brother after a July 3rd NBC News story accusing Jordan of allowing it to happen. Video: @riotwomenn

July 16, 2018: THE HELSINKI SUMMIT

Putin’s Notes, displayed in the photo say: “Interference” “Mueller” “Agreement 199X” “Ukraine” “New Ideas…to develop…Nordstream …transit…” “Arbitrage in…Syria joint humanitarian operations with the goal of creating conditions for the return of refugees”

26 U.S. Code § 148 – Arbitrage (a)Arbitrage bond definedFor purposes of section 103, the term “arbitrage bond” means any bond issued as part of an issue any portion of the proceeds of which are reasonably expected (at the time of issuance of the bond) to be used directly or indirectly—(1)to acquire higher yielding investments, or (2)to replace funds which were used directly or indirectly to acquire higher yielding investments. For purposes of this subsection, a bond shall be treated as an arbitrage bond if the issuer intentionally uses any portion of the proceeds of the issue of which such bond is a part in a manner described in paragraph (1) or (2). Cornell Law

By popular demand, I am expounding upon my original posting, deciphering Putin’s summit notes he was showing off at the #HelsinkiSummit. ©️@MaddowBlog @maddow pic.twitter.com/CUEyf4haCM

July 22, 2018: Glenn Greenwald, founder  of The Intercept deleted 27,626 Tweets.   Socialblade.com

 

August 2018

August 1, 2018: Magnitsky Act Sanctions were levied August 1, 2018. Sanctioned, were “Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu…Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for nearly two decades, was arrested later that year and charged with complicity in the attempt to overthrow Erdogan’s government. Tens of thousands of Turks were arrested on similar charges…Trump, who met with Erdogan last month at a NATO summit in Brussels, believed he had made a deal with the Turkish leader that included releasing Brunson in exchange for a Turkish woman being held in Israel on terrorism charges. Although the woman was released and deported to Istanbul, the Turkish court hearing Brunson’s case agreed last week only to allow him to leave prison for house arrest while his trial continued…Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who serves on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said in a statement: “The president is not acting alone…According to the Treasury Department, Wednesday’s sanctions were imposed in accordance with an executive order Trump signed in December pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Act, a human rights measure Congress passed in 2016.” U.S. sanctions two Turkish officials over detention of American pastor By Karen DeYoung and Felicia Sonmez Washington Post

September 2018

September 12, 2018: White House reviews incident involving Epoch Times photographer handing a folder to Trump Washington Post

September 13, 2018: Yanukovych trial for his treason scheduled to begin in London for attacking Ukraine and trying to alter its borders. 

Russia-Ukraine $3 Bln Battle Back in London Court “British judges, unwilling to play diplomat, are this week set to rule on an appeal by Ukraine that it must repay part of a $3 billion bond in default. The Court of Appeal will rule on the case after Russia won an early verdict last spring in a lower court.British judges, unwilling to play diplomat, are this week set to rule on an appeal by Ukraine that it must repay part of a $3 billion bond in default. The Court of Appeal will rule on the case after Russia won an early verdict last spring in a lower court.” Moscow Times 


“A top U.S. Republican lawmaker has called for more to be done to punish Russia for its “aggressive acts” in Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere, as pressure grows in Congress to move more forcefully against Moscow.

The September 13 comments by Representative Ed Royce (Republican-California) came one day after President Donald Trump’s administration unveiled new measures aimed at strengthening election security, ahead of midterm congressional elections in November.” RFERL

President met with U.S. Special Representative “President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker.The interlocutors discussed the situation in the Donbas. During the meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of extending sanctions policy against Russia until complete de-occupation of the Ukrainian territory. Petro Poroshenko thanked for strengthening defense capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and emphasized the importance of continuing close cooperation in the field of security and defense. The interlocutors also discussed energy security, in particular in the context of the Nord Stream 2.”

September 14, 2018: Ukraine to send nearly 300 special forces troops to Azov, Black Seas – Chief border guard UNIAN

October 2018

October 2, 2018: Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey

October 12, 2016: U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson leaves Turkey after being detained for 2 years On Oct. 12, a Turkish court ordered the release of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was accused of associating with plotters of a 2016 coup attempt. (Allie Caren/The Washington Post) By Erin Cunningham. .  “The pastor, who led a small evangelical congregation in the city of Izmir…U.S. officials said Thursday that the two governments had negotiated an agreement that would see Brunson released in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions on two senior Turkish cabinet ministers — penalties imposed to gain leverage in the Brunson case.”

November 2018

Ukrainian Ex-President Yanukovych Reportedly Injured Ahead Of Kyiv Court Hearing “A lawyer for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych says that the ex-leader will not be able to make a final statement to a Kyiv court in his treason trial because of an injury he reportedly sustained on November 16. Ukrainian attorney Oleksandr Horoshynskyy said on November 18 that Yanukovych received emergency treatment at a Moscow hospital on November 16 for suspected injuries to his spine and one of his knees…Sources told Komsomolskaya Pravda that Yanukovych’s injuries were thought to have been sustained during a tennis game. Dozens of people were killed when Yanukovych’s government attempted to clamp down on the pro-European Union protests known as the Euromaidan.” RadioFreeEuropeRadioLiberty

 November 19, 2018 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin attend ceremony in Istanbul to mark completion of TurkStream’s offshore section.

November 24, 2018: “Ukraine Marks Holodomor Anniversary, U.S. Blasts Russia’s ‘Ongoing Aggression’ Ukraine has marked the 85th anniversary of the Stalin-era famine, known as the Holodomor, in which [30] millions of people died of starvation.  Since fighting broke out between government forces and Russia-backed fighters in April 2014, more than 10,000 people have died and more than 1 million have fled their homes.” RFERL

November 25, 2018: The US awoke to reports of Russia attacking 3 Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait, connecting the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea and between Crimea and Russia. Tension escalates after Russia seizes Ukraine naval ships BBC

of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of : “Today’s dangerous events in the Azov Sea testify that a new front of (Russian) aggression is open. Ukraine calling now for emergency meeting of (United Nations Security Council).” Kyiv Post on Twitter

“Yanukovych is also the subject of two criminal cases filed against Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, in Virginia and the District of Columbia.” WhoWhatWhy Gina Bradbury

November 26, 2018: George Papadopoulos reported to jail.

December 19, 2018 US Treasury removed sanctions because Oleg Deripaska reduced ownership of EN+ Group PLC, which wholly owns JSC EuroSibEnergo (ESE), and owns United Co. Rusal PLC

New Sanctions on Internet Research Agency’s “Project Lakhta”: Treasury Targets Russian Operatives over Election Interference, World Anti-Doping Agency Hacking, and Other Malign Activities US Treasury

“The anti-lynching bill, introduced in June by the Senate’s three black members — Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.— applies to lynchings motivated by a victim’s “actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.” In a statement released shortly after the bill’s unanimous Senate passage on Dec. 19, Booker called it “an emotional and historic day.” “For over a century, members of Congress have attempted to pass some version of a bill that would recognize lynching for what it is: a bias-motivated act of terror. And for more than a century, and more than 200 attempts, this body has failed,” Booker stated. ‘We have righted that wrong and taken corrective action that recognizes this stain on our country’s history.'” NBC News

December 20, 2018: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis’ resignation letter is an absolutely stunning rejection of Trumpism.  The Letter