Слово Сенату

[tijd]

This is honestly one of the craziest news days of the entire Trump administration.
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 17, 2018

As the woman who uniquely tracks this, I can say this is the most active day of news since the election of 2016. Flooding out and none of it for Trump. He has it coming from all ends now.
- Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) May 17, 2018

Вчерашний день - накануне годовщины расследования Мюллера - был богат на новости. Отметим пока только то, что происходило в Сенате.

1. Юридическая комиссия опубликовала полный набор материалов из расследования печально известной встречи в Trump Tower 9 июня 2016.
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/releases/materials-from-inquiry-into-circumstances-surrounding-trump-tower-meeting

Про встречу все более-менее понятно, но до сих пор нет прямых доказательств того, что Трамп старший был в курсе. Только косвенные свидетельства, включая его активное участие в попытке скрыть информацию и помешать расследованию.

On the day he arranged the meeting the now-infamous Trump Tower meeting in June 2016, Trump Jr. placed two calls to blocked numbers. After the meeting ended without the promised dirt, Trump Jr. placed another call to a blocked number.
When asked if his father used a blocked number on any phone, Trump Jr. told the committee: “I don’t know.” Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, on the other hand, testified that Trump’s “primary residence has a blocked [phone] line.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-jr-called-blocked-number-before-and-after-trump-tower-meeting-with-russians

Дайэн Файнстайн опубликовала промежуточный отчет o расследовании:

- The Trump campaign was willing to accept Russia’s assistance.
- Top campaign officials Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner accepted the offer of incriminating information on the campaign’s opponent from a hostile foreign government.
- These Trump campaign officials did not report the offer of Russian assistance to proper authorities.
- Top campaign officials made clear their frustration that more damaging information was not produced at the June 9 meeting in Trump Tower.
- Donald Trump Jr. and the White House misled the public about the June 9 meeting with Russians and other campaign contacts with Russia.
- Several significant questions remain unanswered about this meeting and the numerous other contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian associates.
https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=C8EACEDF-48F4-4783-B42B-6685F12C94FE

Click to view

2. В той же комиссии прошли публичные слушания на тему "Cambridge Analytica and the Future of Data Privacy". Показания давал Christopher Wylie, подтвердив свои предыдущие сообщения.

In short, Cambridge Analytica (1) used Russian researchers to gather its data, (2) openly shared information on “rumour campaigns” and “attitudinal inoculation” with FSB-linked Russian companies and executives, (3) pitched Russian-led profiling projects to its other clients, (4) contracted people who worked for pro-Russian parties in Eastern Europe with suspected Russian intelligence operatives, (5) referenced the use of former Russian intelligence agents in internal documents, and (6) went as far as to test Americans’ views on Vladimir Putin’s leadership.
https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/05-16-18%20Wylie%20Testimony.pdf

Накануне стало известно, что Cambridge Analytica расследует ФБР, возможно отдельно от Мюллера.

The Justice Department and the F.B.I. are investigating Cambridge Analytica, the now-defunct political data firm, and have sought to question former employees and banks that handled its business, according to an American official and other people familiar with the inquiry.
Prosecutors have questioned potential witnesses in recent weeks, telling them that there is an open investigation into Cambridge Analytica - which worked on President Trump’s election and other Republican campaigns in 2016 - and “associated U.S. persons.” But the prosecutors provided few other details, and the inquiry appears to be in its early stages, with investigators seeking an overview of the company and its business practices.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/15/us/cambridge-analytica-federal-investigation.html



3. В комиссии по разведке прошло закрытое заседание, с участием бывших руководителей разведки из администрации Обамы. По результатам заседания руководители комиссии выступили с заявлением, подтвердив вывод разведки о том, что российское вмешательство в выборы проводилось по личному указанию Путина и с целью помощи Трампу.

“After a thorough review, our staff concluded that the ICA conclusions were accurate and on point. The Russian effort was extensive, sophisticated, and ordered by President Putin himself for the purpose of helping Donald Trump and hurting Hillary Clinton. In order to protect our democracy from future threats, we must understand what happened in 2016. And while our Committee’s investigation remains ongoing, one thing is already abundantly clear - we have to do a better job in the future if we want to protect our elections from foreign interference.”
https://www.burr.senate.gov/press/releases/senate-intel-completes-review-of-intelligence-community-assessment-on-russian-activities-in-the-2016-us-elections

На фоне позорного поведения республиканских коллег из Палаты представителей, комиссия Сената выглядит достойно и поддерживает межпартийное сотрудничество. В рамках этого сотрудничества Марк Уорнер согласился поддержать кандидатуру Джины Хаспел на пост директора ЦРУ.

“I acknowledge that this has been a difficult decision. There are valid questions that have been raised regarding the Acting Director’s record, and I have been frank with Ms. Haspel that I wish she had been more open with the American public during this process. However, in both our one-on-one meetings and in classified session before the Committee, I found Acting Director Haspel to be more forthcoming regarding her views on the interrogation program, which is why I asked her to memorialize those comments in writing. I also take to heart the strong support Ms. Haspel has among rank-and-file members of the intelligence community and from intelligence community leaders who served under President Obama.
I’m going to support Gina Haspel’s nomination to be Director of the CIA. I also respect my colleagues who have made a different decision.
If she is confirmed, the Senate Intelligence Committee will continue to conduct thorough and vigorous oversight over the nation’s intelligence agencies.”
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/5/statement-on-the-nomination-of-gina-haspel-to-be-cia-director

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4. В комиссии по ассигнованиям бюджета прошли слушания о бюджете ФБР с участием назначенного Трампом директора Кристофера Рэя.
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/hearing-to-review-the-fy2019-budget-request-for-the-federal-bureau-of-investigation

Поставленный в тупик вопросами демократов, Рэй был вынужден согласиться, что расследование Рашагейта - не "охота за ведьмами".

During the FBI head’s testimony in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Rep. Patrick Leahy, (D-VT), asked Wray about a statement he made during his confirmation hearing months ago referring to Trump’s insistence that the Russian probe was a witch hunt.
“You said at your confirmation hearing that the Russia investigation was not a witch hunt…Is that still your opinion?” Leahy asked.
Wray replied simply, “Yes.”
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/fbi-head-christopher-wray-russia-probe-not-a-witch-hunt/

Между тем в верном Твиттере Трамп употребил выражение "witch hunt" 45 раз, "no collusion" - 28 раз.

Congratulations America, we are now into the second year of the greatest Witch Hunt in American History...and there is still No Collusion and No Obstruction. The only Collusion was that done by Democrats who were unable to win an Election despite the spending of far more money!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 17, 2018