ABC News is reporting that a group of Russian oligarchs attended a series of “exclusive, invitation only receptions” following Donald Trump’s sparsely-attended inauguration.
These powerful businessmen, who amassed their fortunes following the collapse of the Soviet Union -- including one who has since been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department -- were ushered into events typically reserved for top donors and close political allies and were given unprecedented access to Trump’s inner circle.
The presence of some of these oligarchs was noted by the Washington Post on Inauguration Day, But the ABC report indicates that these Russian party-goers who arrived to do a victory lap around DC, have now come to the attention of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Several of those involved donated at least $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, which collected record amounts of cash, even as Trump was sharply curtailing activities. Which left Trump with hundreds of millions of leftover funds. At least one of these guests of Trump got extraordinarily special treatment—
… at least one oligarch was ushered into Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol for the traditional Inaugural Day luncheon, hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies – an event typically out of reach to donors and even most rank-and-file members of Congress.
This comes on the same day that Donald Trump has incredibly gone back to square one by refusing to even admit that Russia was involved in interference in the 2016 election. In a flashback to 2016, Trump has declared that he believes Russia over the conclusion of US intelligence, including statements made by Mike Pompeo when he was leading the CIA.
Meanwhile, Republicans are spending the morning beating on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray—both of them appointed by Trump—in an effort to protect, not just Trump, but Russian oligarchs and Vladimir Putin.
While Trump again dismissed not just the idea that he conspired with Russia on his campaign, but that Russia was even involved, he continued trying to elaborate a conspiracy of another sort, by making false claims about the relationship between Robert Mueller and former FBI Director James Comey, and suggesting that the two of them had somehow engaged in a conspiracy to instruct FBI Agent Peter Strzok at a time when Mueller was not even in the FBI.
Trump’s willingness to simply make things up as needed was reflected in morning hearings in the House where Republicans demonstrated a willingness to go to any length in attempts to build the impression that the FBI and DOJ can’t be trusted. In fact, the most common tactic of the morning was for Republicans to force Rosenstein to answer some variant of the question “what do you say to Americans who think you’re crooked and hate Trump and that the DOJ can’t be trusted and that the investigation is a witch hunt.” Which, not surprisingly, has turned into a contest for how long Republicans can talk over any reply that Rosenstein provides and simply restate the idea that the investigation can’t be trusted.
Which is exactly the message that Trump wants. And certainly expands the whole idea of who is colluding with Russia.