Issues: Russian Interference

FBI’s Manafort Raid Required Probable Cause And Other Important Context For Today’s Trump Russia Bombshell

The FBI would have needed to show probable cause or  – “information sufficient to warrant a prudent person’s belief … evidence of a crime or contraband would be found” to obtain the warrant to raid Manafort’s home, per the Oxford Companion to American Law.

Here are five other things to keep in mind while reading about this bombshell from the Washington Post:

1.  In 2015, things were not looking great for Manafort’s finances. He reportedly owed millions debt to a close friend of Putin.

2.  Shortly after Donald Trump announces his campaign, Manafort volunteers to work for Donald Trump ‘s campaign for free and was eventually hired in March of 2016.

3.  Trump’s positions on Russia – and the Republican Party platform – start to change in Putin’s favor shortly after Manafort takes a formal role in the campaign.

4. Manafort is part of a meeting literally billed as being […]

Read more after the jump.

What Just Happened

​Here’s what we learned about the ongoing Russia scandal in the last hour: 

1. WSJ: Special Counsel Robert Mueller impaneled a grand jury in Washington DC. Legal experts agree this will help Mueller subpoena records and testimony from witnesses. 

“Special Counsel Robert Mueller has impaneled a grand jury in Washington to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, a sign that his inquiry is growing in intensity and entering a new phase, according to two people familiar with the matter. The grand jury, which began its work in recent weeks, is a sign that Mr. Mueller’s inquiry is ramping up and that it will likely continue for months. Mr. Mueller is investigating Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election and whether President Donald Trump’s campaign or associates colluded with the Kremlin as part of that effort. […] Grand juries are powerful investigative tools that allow prosecutors to subpoena documents, put witnesses under […]

Read more after the jump.

WATCH: 6 Times Trump’s Lawyer Misled Americans About The President’s Role In The Donald Jr. Cover Up

The President’s lawyer was asked SIX times – and lied every time – about Donald Trump’s knowledge of his son’s meeting with a Russian lawyer who promised the Trump campaign dirt about Hillary Clinton in 2016. Last night we learned that not only was Trump aware of the meetings well before the White House suggested, but that Trump was also leading the effort to cover-up and lie to the public about Junior’s role in the scandal.

“Donald Trump is the most corrupt, untrustworthy President we’ve ever known,” said Shripal Shah, Vice President of American Bridge. “His personal involvement in the cover-up of his son’s potentially criminal behavior, and his legal team’s subsequent lies about what the President knew and when, is just the latest proof point.”
Jay Sekulow: “Got To Be Clear, The President Wasn’t Aware Of The Meeting, Did Not Participate In The Meeting, Did Not Attend The Meeting And Was Only Made […]

Read more after the jump.

Bridge Project Highlights Jeff Sessions’ Ties to Russia in New Episode of Web Series

Ahead of the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russian interference in European elections, Bridge Project is releasing a new digital ad in its ongoing web series that outlines the numerous ties between officials in Donald Trump’s inner circle and Russian oligarchs, gangsters, alleged spy-masters, and Vladimir Putin.

Attorney General and Trump confidante Jeff Sessions is the focus of the newest episode, which chronicles his transformation from leading Russia hawk in the Senate to lying under oath about multiple secret meetings he had with the Russianambassador in 2016.

Watch the ad here.

“Jeff Sessions suddenly abandoned his decades-old hawkish views on Russia when he joined Donald Trump’s campaign and wound up Attorney General. The looming question now is finding out what he told the Russian ambassador during their secret meetings in 2016 that was so bad he tried to cover it up by lying under oath,” said American Bridge Rapid Response Director Emily Aden. “This scandal has engulfed the President and those closest to him and […]

Read more after the jump.

Bridge Project Highlights Jared Kushner’s Ties to Russia in New Episode of Web Series

Ahead of former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony today, Bridge Project is releasing a new digital ad in its ongoing web series that outlines the numerous ties between officials in Donald Trump’s inner circle and Russian oligarchs, gangsters, alleged spy-masters, and Vladimir Putin. This episode focuses on Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law and the Secretary of Everything.

Watch the ad here.

Jared Kushner is the first current member of the White House staff reported to be a focus of the FBI’s investigation. Kushner also has failed to disclose meetings with the Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and the chief of the state owned Vnesheconombank, who was handpicked by Vladimir Putin. He even suggested setting up a private line of communication between the Trump transition team and Russia.

“Jared Kushner is one of the most influential people in Trump’s orbit and coincidentally is also right in the thick of this scandal,” said […]

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NEW BRIDGE PROJECT DIGITAL CAMPAIGN: Trump’s Nixonian Abuses of Power

Following Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey, a move that experts have called an unprecedented abuse of power and an obvious attempt to obstruct justice, Bridge Project is releasing a new digital ad highlighting the dangerous Nixonian ways of Donald Trump. The 60-second digital ad highlights how Trump may have created a constitutional crisis, even bigger than Watergate, driven by the fact that the White House under Trump is operating as if they are above the law. The campaign will run on  social media channels over the next week.
“Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey has created a constitutional crisis that is bigger than Watergate,” said American Bridge President Jessica Mackler. “This unprecedented abuse of power and attempt to obstruct justice only furthers the need for a truly independent investigation even clearer. The American people deserve accountability, transparency and the truth about the Trump campaign’s ties to Russian hackers […]

Read more after the jump.

Bridge Project to Re-Air Russia Investigation Ads Against Heller and Flake

Following Donald Trump’s reckless firing of FBI Director James Comey, putting the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia in jeopardy, American Bridge is re-airing its ads against Sen. Dean Heller and Sen. Jeff Flake.

The 15-second digital ads condemn Heller and Flake’s refusal to call for a independent commission to investigate Trump and his associates’ ties to Russia. The ads will air on YouTube and other social media over the next week.

Statement by American Bridge President Jessica Mackler:

“What exactly are Dean Heller and Jeff Flake waiting for? It is long past time for Senator Heller and Senator Flake to support an independent commission to investigate Donald Trump’s ties to Russia.

“This unprecedented interference by Trump into the FBI’s Russia investigation makes the need for a truly independent investigation even clearer. Republicans like Dean Heller and Jeff Flake who stay silent now are guilty of moral […]

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NEW: Bridge Project Launches Latest Episode in Web Series Highlighting Connections Between Trump and Russia

Episode Four Focuses on Michael Flynn, Will Be Promoted in Key Congressional Districts and Nationally 

Today, Bridge Project is launching a new episode in it’s ongoing web series that outlines the numerous ties between officials in Donald Trump’s inner circle and Russian oligarchs, gangsters, alleged spy-masters, and Vladimir Putin. The episode focuses on disgraced former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and will be promoted nationally as well as in the districts of Rep. Martha McSally (AZ-02), Rep. John Katko (NY-24), and Rep. Will Hurd (TX-23) to complement a new American Bridge radio campaign that was launched earlier today.  The new radio ads demand Congressional Republicans join calls for an independent commission investigating Trump’s potential collusion with Russian hackers who tilted the 2016 election in his favor.

Watch the new video here.

The digital product notes that before joining the Trump campaign, Flynn was paid $40,000 to speak and attend […]

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American Bridge Releases Radio Ads on Trump’s Dangerous Ties to Russia

Ads Target Republicans Who Refuse to Support An Independent Investigation

Today, American Bridge 21st Century released radio ads against three vulnerable Republican members of Congress, focusing on Trump’s dangerous ties to Russia.

The 60-second spots will run for the next seven days against Rep. Martha McSally (AZ-02), Rep. John Katko (NY-24), and Rep. Will Hurd (TX-23).

With new revelations in the growing scandal surfacing weekly, the American people deserve the kind of answers that can only come from a truly independent investigation operating free of politics. That’s why Americans overwhelmingly support creating an independent commission to investigate Trump’s ties to Russia. But Republicans in Congress are standing in the way, instead putting their party ahead of the country.

Statement by American Bridge President Jessica Mackler:

“The country overwhelmingly wants an independent commission investigating the growing scandal surrounding Donald Trump’s ties to Russia and we’re going to […]

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The Russia Connection Web Series: Roger Stone

Today, Bridge Project is launching a new web series that outlines the numerous direct ties between officials in Donald Trump’s inner circle and Russian oligarchs, gangsters, alleged spy-masters, and Vladimir Putin. For this week’s inaugural episode, Bridge Project focuses on former Trump campaign aide Roger Stone.

As a former Trump campaign official, Roger Stone admitted to being in contact with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and the infamous hacker Guccifer 2.0, both who are believed to be connected to the Russian government, while they were engaged in cyber attacks on the U.S. Stone’s contacts are the most explicit connections between Trump’s inner circle and the hackers, and the FBI is currently investigating ‘intercepted communications and financial transactions’ between Stone and Russian officials.

“We’re going to make sure the public is fully briefed on Donald Trump and Roger Stone’s ties to Russia and the national security ramifications. Russia’s potential influence over our president puts us […]

Read more after the jump.