In light of all the recent and somewhat astonishing developments regarding the investigation of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia, I thought it would be useful to remind everyone why this matters so much, and what the investigators will be looking at. Below is a diary I compiled and published back in March, when it seemed like nothing was happening at all:
This is a timeline of critical events relevant to the ongoing scandal regarding ties between the Trump Administration and Russia, with sources. The post is long but details, context and especially timing are important. Key dates and players are listed in bold. If anyone has any any additional details you think I should include, please message me and I will provide an update. Feel free to share this timeline. Also, read this analysis: NewYorker
BACKGROUND: SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA
2/22/14 Ukraine’s parliament votes to oust Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian president of Ukraine. WaPo Yanukovych was driven from power as a result of protests in Kiev. AP Yanukovych had been elected with the help of American campaign consultant Paul Manafort, who worked for him from 2006 until 2012. WaPo
3/17/14 Russia announces the annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine. CNN
3/20/14 The U.S. announces sanctions against Russia. NYT
4/7/14 Senator Mitch McConnell urges the Obama administration to arm Ukraine to defend against Russian aggression. Examiner Later that month, 19 Republican senators sponsor a bill to deliver arms to Ukraine. DailyBeast
9/12/14 The U.S. intensifies sanctions against Russia, including specific sanctions against Gazprom and Rosneft, its two largest oil and gas companies. Reuters
12/16/14 The sanctions prompt a severe financial crisis in Russia and a collapse in the value of the ruble. Bloomberg This caused a recession that continued through the end of 2016. WorldBank
REPUBLICANS PRESS PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ARM UKRAINE
2/11/15 Seventeen Republican Senators, including Jeff Sessions, co-sponsor a bill to provide Ukraine with lethal military aid, in addition to the sanctions already imposed. Senate
3/26/15 Jeff Sessions gives an interview warning about Russian aggression and voicing his support for Ukraine. RCP
6/11/15 The Senate passes a bill requiring the Obama administration “to arm Ukraine with antiarmor systems, mortars, grenade launchers and ammunition to aid in its fight against Russian-backed separatists.” NYT
6/16/15 Donald Trump announces his candidacy for president. ABC
7/?/15 A group associated with the Russian FSB penetrates DNC servers. NYT
11/26/15 President Obama signs the National Defense Authorization Act. WH Though not widely reported, the bill includes $3OOM in lethal aid for Ukraine. UNIAN The Heritage Foundation considered this “an important step in pushing the Obama Administration to stand with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.” HERITAGE
12/10/15 Retired general Michael Flynn attends a dinner in Moscow celebrating the 10th anniversary of Russia Today, a state-owned English language news channel. Politico Flynn was photographed seated next to Vladimir Putin at dinner: Tribune Flynn was paid $40,000 for his appearance. DailyNews
TRUMP ASSEMBLES HIS FOREIGN POLICY TEAM
2/26/16 Michael Flynn is identified as a national security adviser to Donald Trump. Reuters
3/3/16 Donald Trump announces that Jeff Sessions will lead his national
security advisory committee. NYT
3/17/16 At an event hosted by the American Council for Capital Formation, Jeff Sessions abandons his hawkish stance on Russia, saying: “I think an argument can be made there is no reason for the U.S. and Russia to be at this loggerheads. Somehow, someway we ought to be able to break that logjam.” WaPo
3/21/16 Donald Trump gives an interview to the Washington Post in which he questions the need for NATO and names his five foreign policy advisers, including J.D. Gordon and, as Trump describes him, “Carter Page PhD.” WaPo A transcript of the interview is here: WaPo Page was a relatively unknown investment banker with no real foreign policy experience. Politico However, as reported at the time, Page did have deep connections to Gazprom. Bloomberg The previous year Page had written a blog post criticizing sanctions against Russia over “the so-called annexation of Crimea” and claiming that the sanctions were more unjust than the police shootings which were prompting protests in America. GPJ How and why Page was selected by the Trump campaign is unknown. Reuters
3/24/16 Michael Flynn gives an interview to Russia Today calling for closer cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. RT
3/28/16 Paul Manafort joins the Trump campaign as convention manager. NYT
3/?/16 A group associated with Russian military intelligence hacks the DNC. NYT
5/19/16 Paul Manafort becomes the Trump campaign chairman. WaPo
THE CRUX OF THE MATTER
6/14/16 The DNC hack is reported by the Washington Post. WaPo
6/20/16 The first report of the Steele Dossier is written. It was periodically updated through 12/13/16 and you can read the complete report here: Steele It alleges that the Trump campaign has been compromised by Russian intelligence. The report and its periodic updates were provided to the FBI. MotherJones Among other things, the Steele Dossier identified Russian intelligence as the source of the DNC hack and alleged that Paul Manafort was coordinating with the Russians using Carter Page as an intermediary. It specifically alleged that the Trump campaign had agreed to “sideline Russian intervention in Ukraine as a campaign issue and to raise US/Nato defence commitments in the Baltics and Eastern Europe to defect attention away from Ukraine.” It also alleged that Trump associates had been offered “the brokerage of up to a 19 percent (privatized) stake in Rosneft” if sanctions against Russia were lifted.
7/7/16 Carter Page gives a speech in Moscow praising Russia’s foreign policy approach and criticizing the U.S. and it allies for “their often hypocritical focus on ideas such as democratization, inequality, corruption and regime change.” Bloomberg You can watch the speech here: YouTube the speech was given the same day that Secretary of State John Kerry appeared in Kiev to criticize the Russian annexation of Crimea. Telegraph
7/12/16 In their only change to the RNC platform, the Trump campaign forces the deletion of a provision calling on the US to arm Ukraine, a policy the Republicans had been pushing for since 2014. WaPo
7/18/16 Jeff Sessions meets with the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at the RNC. VOX So do Carter Page and J.D. Gordon. USA
7/20/16 In an interview with the NYT, Donald Trump challenges the U.S. commitment to defend its NATO allies against an attack. NYT
7/21/16 Michael Flynn gives an interview to the state-owned Sputnik News criticizing U.S. policy toward Russia and calling for the development of “personal relationships” between the countries. Sputnik
7/22/16 Wikileaks releases the first batch of hacked DNC emails. WaPo
7/25/16 The FBI announces that it is investigating the DNC hack. ABC
7/27/16 At a press conference, Donald Trump says in regard to the DNC hack: “Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” CNBC
DENIALS BEGIN
7/31/16 Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort expressly denies that the Trump campaign had any role in changing the language of the Republican Party's platform on Ukraine. NBC Donald Trump gives an interview that same day suggesting that the U.S. should accept Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Fortune Jeff Sessions also gives an interview that same day saying: “This whole problem with Russia is really disastrous for America, for Russia and for the world. Donald Trump is right.” WaPo
8/14/16 Paul Manafort is alleged to have received $12.7 in cash payments from the pro-Russian government of the former president of Ukraine. NYT
8/20/16 Paul Manafort resigns as Trump campaign manager. CNN
8/21/16 Trump adviser Roger Stone predicts the release by Wikileaks of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta’s hacked emails. Twitter Stone later admits that he was “briefed in advance” about Wikileaks’ publication of hacked emails. Guardian
9/5/16 President Obama meets with Putin at the G20 summit in China and warns him of consequences for Russian hacking. NYT
9/7/16 At a joint campaign forum devoted to national security issues, Donald Trump praises Putin and says: “I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Putin. And I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Russia.” NBC
9/8/16 Jeff Sessions meets with the Russian ambassador again. NYT That same day Donald Trump gives an interview to Russia Today denying that Russia is trying to influence the election, saying: “It’s probably unlikely. Maybe the Democrats are putting that out, who knows?” RT The Trump campaign later claimed that he was unaware the interview would air on RT. HuffPo
9/23/16 Reports emerge that Carter Page is being investigated by the FBI. Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller said Page “has no role” with the campaign, adding: “We are not aware of any of his activities, past or present.” Miller did not respond when asked why Trump had previously described Page as one of his advisers. Yahoo Kellyanne Conway also denies that Page is acting on behalf of the campaign. CNN
9/26/16 Carter Page announces a “leave of absence” from the Trump campaign. WaPo
10/7/16 Wikileaks releases hacked emails from John Podesta one hour after the release of Donald Trump’s infamous Access Hollywood tape. Politifact
THE TRANSITION TO POWER
11/17/16 Michael Flynn is offered the job of National Security Adviser. WaPo
12/7/16 Russia closes the sale of a 19.5% interest in Rosneft for $11B. Bloomberg The sale was financed by a series of “non-recourse” loans from Russian lenders and the identity of the ultimate purchasers is unknown. Reuters The purchase was directed through a series of offshore corporations in the Cayman Islands where ownership is kept secret by law. CaymanCompass
12/10/16 Russia and OPEC make an agreement to reduce oil production in order to increase oil prices. NYT
12/?/16 Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn meet with the Russian Ambassador at Trump Tower in New York. UPI
12/20/16 A leaked memo describing the incoming Trump administration’s top defense priorities does not include Russia among them. FP
12/26/16 Oleg Erovinkin, the reputed source for the Steele Dossier, is found dead in the back of his car. KC Star He is one of at least 6 Russian officials found dead since November. Independent
12/29/16 President Obama announces new sanctions against Russia for its conduct during the election and expels 35 Russian diplomats from the US. NYT That same day, Michael Flynn discussed the new sanctions with the Russian Ambassador during five telephone calls. Telegraph
12/30/16 Putin announces that he will not retaliate against the US for the new sanctions and expulsions. CNBC Donald Trump tweets: “Great move on delay (by V. Putin). I always knew he was very smart!” WaPo
1/6/17 The CIA and Director of National Intelligence release a joint report concluding that the Russian government attempted to influence the 2016 election through covert activity. The declassified version of the report can be read here: DNI
1/10/17 The Steele Dossier is published by Buzzfeed. DocumentCloud During his senate confirmation hearing that same day, Jeff Sessions denies any contact with Russians during the campaign. WaPo
1/12/17 The Washington Post reports that Michael Flynn discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador. WaPo
THE UNRAVELLING BEGINS
1/26/17 Acting Attorney General Sally Yates informs the White House counsel that Flynn lied to the FBI about the nature of his calls with the Russian Ambassador and is vulnerable to blackmail. USA
2/8/17 Michael Flynn denies discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador in an interview with the Washington Post. WaPo This is one of at least 20 denials of contact with Russians issued by the Trump campaign. USA
2/13/17 Michael Flynn resigns as national security adviser. WaPo A week before his resignation, Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen had delivered to him a secret plan to lift sanctions against Russia. NYT
2/16/17 At a press conference, President Trump says “nobody I know of talked to Russia” during his campaign. Politifact
2/23/17 Reports emerge that Paul Manafort was the subject of blackmail attempts during his time as Trump campaign manager. Politico
3/3/17 Jeff Sessions recuses himself from any investigation of Russian ties to the Trump campaign. CNN
3/3/17 JD Gordon admits that he directed the change to the RNC platform on Ukraine, after previously having denied involvement. BusinessInsider
Read More