This is a timeline of major events in 2017 related to the investigations into [[links between Trump associates and Russian officials|links between associates]] of [[Donald Trump]] and Russian officials that are suspected of being inappropriate, relating to the [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]. Following the [[timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]] and the [[Timeline of post-election transition following Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|post-election transition]], this article begins with [[Donald Trump]] and [[Mike Pence]] being sworn into office on January 20, 2017. The investigations continued in [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (January–June 2018)|the first]] and [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (July–December 2018)|second halves of 2018]], [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019–2020)|2019, and 2020]].
This is a timeline of major events in the first half of 2017 related to the investigations into [[links between Trump associates and Russian officials|links between associates]] of [[Donald Trump]] and Russian officials that are suspected of being inappropriate, relating to the [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]. Following the [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections (before July 2016)|timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections before]] and [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections (July 2016–election day)|after July 2016 up until election day November 8]] and the [[Timeline of post-election transition following Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|post-election transition]], this article begins with [[Donald Trump]] and [[Mike Pence]] being sworn into office on January 20, 2017. The investigations continued in [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (January–June 2018)|the first]] and [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (July–December 2018)|second halves of 2018]], [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019–2020)|2019, and 2020]].
== Relevant individuals and organizations ==
== Relevant individuals and organizations ==
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* '''June 30''': On the ''[[Lawfare (blog)|Lawfare]]'' blog, British security consultant Matt Tait claims that he had a series of conversations with Peter Smith in 2016, concerning Hillary Clinton's emails, an unnamed [[dark web]] contact, and a new Delaware company called KLS Research.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Chait |url= http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/now-we-have-a-roadmap-to-trump-campaigns-russia-collusion.html |title=Now We Have a Roadmap to the Trump Campaign's Collusion with Russia |work=[[New York Magazine]] |date=July 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Matt |last=Tait |url=https://lawfareblog.com/time-i-got-recruited-collude-russians |title=The Time I Got Recruited to Collude with the Russians |website=[[Lawfare]] |date=June 30, 2017}}</ref> Tait is interviewed by Mueller shortly thereafter.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/mueller-trump-russia-matt-tait-michael-flynn-investigation-2017-10?r=US&IR=T |title=Mueller has interviewed the cybersecurity expert who said he was 'recruited to collude with the Russians' |date=October 16, 2017 |work=[[Business Insider]]|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref>
* '''June 30''': On the ''[[Lawfare (blog)|Lawfare]]'' blog, British security consultant Matt Tait claims that he had a series of conversations with Peter Smith in 2016, concerning Hillary Clinton's emails, an unnamed [[dark web]] contact, and a new Delaware company called KLS Research.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Chait |url= http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/07/now-we-have-a-roadmap-to-trump-campaigns-russia-collusion.html |title=Now We Have a Roadmap to the Trump Campaign's Collusion with Russia |work=[[New York Magazine]] |date=July 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Matt |last=Tait |url=https://lawfareblog.com/time-i-got-recruited-collude-russians |title=The Time I Got Recruited to Collude with the Russians |website=[[Lawfare]] |date=June 30, 2017}}</ref> Tait is interviewed by Mueller shortly thereafter.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/mueller-trump-russia-matt-tait-michael-flynn-investigation-2017-10?r=US&IR=T |title=Mueller has interviewed the cybersecurity expert who said he was 'recruited to collude with the Russians' |date=October 16, 2017 |work=[[Business Insider]]|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref>
==July–December 2017==
=== July ===
{{further|Draft:Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (July–December 2017)}}
* '''July''':
* Nunes staffers [[Kash Patel]] and Doug Presly travel to London and try to contact Steele without informing the U.S. Embassy or the British government of their trip. They find Steele at his lawyer's office, but the lawyer refuses to let them meet with Steele.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/04/trump-steele-dossier-russia-241299 |title=Hunt for Trump dossier author inflames Russia probe |date=August 4, 2017 |publisher=Politico|last=Watkins|first=Ali}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/07/donald-trump-russia-dossier-christopher-steele-devin-nunes |title=Secretive search for man behind Trump dossier reveals tension in Russia inquiry |date=August 8, 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian|last=Borger|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Borger}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-russia-investigation-dossier-christopher-steele-us-robert-mueller-us-election-senate-a7970821.html |title=Trump-Russia investigators close in on sources named in explosive dossier |date=September 27, 2017 |newspaper=The Independent|last=Sengupta|first=Kim}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Devin Nunes's Curious Trip to London|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/devin-nuness-curious-trip-to-london/568699/|website=[[The Atlantic]]|date=August 28, 2018|access-date=September 4, 2018|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref>
* On [[CNN Tonight with Don Lemon]], Whitaker, whom Trump will appoint acting AG in November 2018, says, "So I could see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced with a recess appointment, and that attorney general doesn't fire Bob Mueller, but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigation grinds to almost a halt."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/08/politics/what-does-sessions-firing-mean-for-mueller/index.html |title=What Sessions' firing means for the Mueller investigation |author=Kara Scannell |date=November 8, 2018 |website=CNN |publisher= |access-date=21 November 2018 |quote=}}</ref>
* '''Early July''':
** In response to queries from ''Politico'' about assertions made by [[Peter W. Smith]] in November 2016, WikiLeaks denies it has been in possession of [[Hillary Clinton email controversy|Clinton's deleted 30,000 emails]] since February 2016. WikiLeaks also declines to say whether Smith was in contact with the group.<ref name=GOPResearcherWhoSoughtPolitico20170711>{{cite web|title=GOP Researcher Who Sought Clinton Emails Had Alt-Right Help|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/07/11/gop-researcher-who-sought-clinton-emails-had-alt-right-help-215359|website=[[Politico]]|date=July 11, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2018|last=Schreckinger|first=Ben}}</ref>
** Trump asks White House staff secretary [[Rob Porter]] to find out whether Associate Attorney General [[Rachel Brand]] would be interested in taking over responsibility for the Mueller investigation and eventually replacing Sessions as Attorney General. Porter ignores Trump's request because he is concerned about the implications of being involved in ending the investigation or firing Mueller.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=107-108}}
* '''July 7''':
** During a two-hour meeting with Trump at the [[2017 G20 Hamburg summit]], Putin denies interfering in the 2016 US election. Trump conducts a second meeting with Putin some hours later, with no US aides. The second meeting is undisclosed by the White House until July 18, following news reports.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/18/politics/trump-putin-g20/index.html |title=Trump, Putin met for nearly an hour in second G20 meeting |date=July 19, 2017 |work=CNN|last1=Watkins|first1=Eli|last2=Diamond|first2=Jeremy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/07/trump-putin-meeting-dominates-g20-as-russia-denies-interfering-in-us-election |title=Trump-Putin meeting dominates G20 as Russia denies interfering in US election |date=July 7, 2017 |work=The Guardian|last1=Wintour|first1=Patrick|last2=Asthana|first2=Anushka|author-link1=Patrick Wintour|author-link2=Anushka Asthana}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.sky.com/story/trump-and-putin-had-secret-second-meeting-at-g20-10953490 |title=Trump and Putin had 'secret' second chat at G20 |date=July 20, 2017 |work=Sky News|last=Marris|first=Sharon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world-0/us-politics/trump-putin-meeting-russia-us-g20-undisclosed-white-house-confirms-a7848061.html |title=Trump held secret hour-long meeting with Putin at G20 with only Russian translator present |date=July 18, 2017 |work=[[The Independent]]|last=Cockburn|first=Harry}}</ref> Trump takes his translator's notes and orders the translator not to discuss the meeting with other administration officials.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump has concealed details of his face-to-face encounters with Putin from senior officials in administration|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-has-concealed-details-of-his-face-to-face-encounters-with-putin-from-senior-officials-in-administration/2019/01/12/65f6686c-1434-11e9-b6ad-9cfd62dbb0a8_story.html|website=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 12, 2019|access-date=January 12, 2019|last=Miller|first=Greg}}</ref> Concerns about violations of the [[Presidential Records Act]] are [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)#June|later raised]].
** Hicks and White House communications advisor Josh Raffel learn that ''The New York Times'' is working on a story about the Trump Tower meeting.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=101}}
* '''July 8''':
** Returning from Germany aboard [[Air Force One]], Trump preemptively [[Dictation (exercise)|dictates]] a misleading statement on behalf of Trump Jr., claiming that the [[Trump campaign–Russian meetings#Trump Tower meeting, June 9, 2016|Veselnitskaya meeting on June 9, 2016]] concerned child adoption.<ref name=TrumpDictated20170731>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-dictated-sons-misleading-statement-on-meeting-with-russian-lawyer/2017/07/31/04c94f96-73ae-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html |title=Trump dictated son's misleading statement on meeting with Russian lawyer |date=July 31, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|last1=Parker|first1=Ashley|author-link1=Ashley Parker|last2=Leonnig|first2=Carol D.|author-link2=Carol D. Leonnig|last3=Rucker|first3=Philip|author-link3=Philip Rucker|last4=Hamburger|first4=Tom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/president-trump-personally-dictated-statement-on-russia-meeting-according-to-reports/news-story/5ac00e228e5a394857b71c68654770a7 |title=President Trump 'personally dictated' statement on Russia meeting, according to reports |date=August 2, 2017 |work=News.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-dictated-sons-misleading-statement-on-meeting-with-russian-lawyer-20170801-gxmqi2.html |title=Donald Trump dictated son's misleading statement on meeting with Russian lawyer |date=August 1, 2017 |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|last1=Parker|first1=Ashley|author-link1=Ashley Parker|last2=Leonnig|first2=Carol D.|author-link2=Carol D. Leonnig|last3=Rucker|first3=Philip|author-link3=Philip Rucker|last4=Hamburger|first4=Tom}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=101-103}}
** Without permission from Trump, Trump's legal team spokesman [[Mark Corallo]] works with [[Circa News]] to publish a story<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russian lawyer who got inside Donald Trump’s inner circle had been denied US visa |url=https://www.circa.com/story/2017/07/09/politics/russian-lawyer-who-got-inside-donald-trumps-inner-circle-had-been-denied-us-visa |website=[[Circa News]] |date=July 9, 2017 |access-date=December 18, 2019 |last1=Solomon |first1=John |author-link1=John Solomon (political commentator) |archive-date=June 9, 2017 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709185740/https://www.circa.com/story/2017/07/09/politics/russian-lawyer-who-got-inside-donald-trumps-inner-circle-had-been-denied-us-visa |last2=Carter |first2=Sara A.}}</ref> about the Trump Tower meeting that casts it as possibly being part of "a broader election opposition effort to smear [Trump] by creating the impression he and his family had extensive ties to Russia as the Kremlin was interfering in the 2016 election."{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=103-104}}
* '''July 9''':
** ''The New York Times'' first reports that Trump Jr., Kushner and Manafort [[Veselnitskaya meeting|met Veselnitskaya at Trump Tower]] on June 9, 2016.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/09/us/politics/trump-russia-kushner-manafort.html |title=Trump's Son Met With Russian Lawyer After Being Promised Damaging Information on Clinton |last=Apuzzo |first=Jo Becker, Matt |date=July 9, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 9, 2017 |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-10/trump-s-son-met-with-russian-who-offered-information-on-clinton |title=Trump's Son May Fall Into Russia Investigation Over Meeting |date=July 10, 2017 |work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=July 11, 2017|last1=Pettypiece|first1=Shannon|last2=Niquette|first2=Mark|last3=Jacobs|first3=Jennifer|author-link1=Shannon Pettypiece}}</ref> In response to the report, Goldstone sends Emin Agalarov a text message stating that he kept Emin's father out of the story, and warns that it could blow up.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=121}} The ''Circa News'' story is published an hour later.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=103-104}}
** Trump and Hicks chastise Corallo for his participation in the ''Circa News'' story.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=104}}
** President Trump says he and Putin "discussed forming an impenetrable cyber security unit so that election hacking, and many other negative things, will be guarded and safe." Trump later says he does not think this will happen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40552571 |title=Donald Trump backtracks on Russia joint cybersecurity unit |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=July 10, 2017 |website=bbc.com |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=November 12, 2017}}</ref>
* '''July 10'''
** Trump, Hicks, and Corallo have a conference call to discuss the handling of the Veselnitskaya meeting revelations. Corallo says the statement drafted on [[Air Force One]] will backfire because the original emails will eventually come out. Hicks responds the emails "will never get out." Corallo resigns shortly thereafter, reportedly due to concerns over possible obstruction of justice.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mueller Zeros In on Story Put Together About Trump Tower Meeting|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/us/politics/trump-russia-hope-hicks-mueller.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=March 27, 2018|last1=Becker|first1=Jo|last2=Mazzetti|first2=Mark|last3=Apuzzo|first3=Matt|last4=Haberman|first4=Maggie}}</ref>
** [[Trump Organisation|Trump Organization]] lawyers email Rob Goldstone and two others a prepared statement drafted in Goldstone's name to use as a response to inquires about the [[Trump Tower meeting]]. The statement supports Trump Jr.'s account of the meeting.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Panel Reveals Details From Trump Tower Meeting Probe|url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/05/23/world/europe/16reuters-usa-trump-russia.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 23, 2018|access-date=May 28, 2018|agency=[[Reuters]]|last1=Zengerle|first1=Patricia|last2=Freifeld|first2=Karen|last3=Landay|first3=Jonathan|last4=Heavey|first4=Susan|editor-last1=Orlofsky|editor-first1=Steve|editor-last2=Brown|editor-first2=Tom}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=122}} Goldstone responds with his own version of the statement that says he was acting on behalf of Emin Agalarov and that the meeting was about DNC funding from Russia, but never uses either statement.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=122}}
** Of the [[Trump Tower meeting]], Whitaker says, "But if you have somebody that you trust that is saying you need to meet with this individual because they have information about your opponent, you would take that meeting. There is no suggestion that at the time Donald Trump Jr. knew..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1707/10/cnr.07.html |title=Trump's Son Changes Story on Russia Meeting; White House Briefing. Aired 3-3:30p ET (THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.) |website=CNN.com |publisher= |access-date=21 November 2018 |quote=}}</ref>
* '''July 10–18''': Further details about the Veselnitskaya meeting emerge in the press.<ref name=Akhmetshin>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/dceed1008d8f45afb314aca65797762a |title=Russian-American lobbyist says he was in Trump son's meeting |publisher=Associated Press |date=July 14, 2017 |accessdate=July 14, 2017 |last=Butler |first=Desmond}}</ref><ref name="Helderman_Hamburger_7/18/2017">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/eighth-person-in-trump-tower-meeting-is-identified/2017/07/18/e971234a-6bce-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html |title=Eighth person in Trump Tower meeting is identified |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |date=July 18, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=December 6, 2017 |last2=Hamburger |first2=Tom |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=translator>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/anatoli-samochornov-translator-donald-trump-jr-meeting/ |title=Translator in Trump Jr. meeting identified as ex-State Dept. contractor |work=CBS News |access-date=July 16, 2017 |language=en|date=July 14, 2017}}</ref> Sekulow repeatedly denies that Trump was involved in drafting Trump Jr's statement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trump lawyer: President was aware of 'nothing' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/12/politics/jay-sekulow-trump-lawyer-trump-jr-emails-russia-new-day-cnntv/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |date=July 12, 2017 |access-date=December 19, 2019 |last=Wright |first=David}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=104-105}}
* '''July 11''': Trump Jr. tweets his emails about the Trump Tower meeting before ''The New York Times'' publishes them minutes later.<ref name=NYTDJTLoveIt>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/us/politics/trump-russia-email-clinton.html |title=Russian Dirt on Clinton? 'I Love It,' Donald Trump Jr. Said |first=Jo|last=Becker|last2=Goldman | first2=Adam |last3=Apuzzo |first3=Matt |date=July 11, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 11, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/11/us/politics/document-Donaldtrumpjr.html |title=Donald Trump Jr. Responds on Twitter |date=July 11, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 11, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* '''July 12''':
** Two Democratic Party donors and a former party staff member file an invasion of privacy lawsuit against Trump’s campaign and Stone.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/us/politics/trump-campaign-and-adviser-are-sued-over-leaked-emails.html |title=Democrats Sue Trump Campaign Over Leaked Emails Tied to Russia |last=Savage |first=Charlie |date=July 12, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 13, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** [[Efforts to impeach Donald Trump#July 2017|Articles of Impeachment against President Trump]] are formally filed in the House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-resolution/438?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22impeach%22%5D%7D&r=1 |title=H.Res.438 – Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= |publisher=[[Congress.gov]] |access-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref>
** Speaking on Fox News, Pence's spokesman Marc Lotter repeatedly refuses to clarify whether or not Pence met with Russian representatives.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/711731/why-wont-mike-pences-press-secretary-confirm-vice-president-met-russians |title=Why won't Mike Pence's press secretary confirm if the vice president met with Russians? |work=[[The Week]] |date=July 13, 2017|last=Lange|first=Jeva}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Pence Spokesman Squirms On Russia Question | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNcnAGwZs4|publisher=MSNBC|date=July 12, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2018|via=YouTube|type=video}}</ref>
** Rohrabacher removes a photo of himself and Nigel Farage from Facebook after a journalist posts it on Twitter.<ref name=DeletedPhotoFarageRohrabacherPoliticalScrapbook20170712 /><ref name=PhotoFarageRohrabacherTweet20170712 />
** ''CNN'' reports that multiple DNC officials and former Clinton campaign officials deny working with Ukraine to find dirt on Trump and his associates. DNC research director Lauren Dillon says, "I've been director of research at the DNC for four years and had zero contact with foreign governments." The denials are in response to claims by White House officials that [[Alexandra Chalupa]] worked with the Ukrainian embassy to smear Manafort.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/12/politics/dnc-ukraine-trump-material/index.html |title=DNC denies working with Ukrainian government, but contractor floated anti-Trump material |last=Merica |first=Dan |date=July 12, 2017 |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews translator Anatoli Samochornov for the first of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=117, 119}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=99}}
** Mueller's team interviews security expert Eric York for the first of three times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=63}}<ref name=HillRussiaInvestigatorsCNN20171016 />
* '''July 13''':
** Mueller's team interviews Samochornov for the second of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=117-118, 123}}
** Mueller's team interviews security expert Eric York for the second of three times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=63}}<ref name=HillRussiaInvestigatorsCNN20171016 />
* '''July 14''': [[Brad Parscale]], the digital media director of Trump's campaign, issues a statement stating "I am unaware of any Russian involvement in the digital and data operation of the 2016 Trump presidential campaign" after accepting an invitation to testify before the House Intelligence Committee.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/14/politics/brad-parscale-house-intelligence-committee-testify/index.html |title=Brad Parscale accepts invite to House intel committee, denies any collusion |work=CNN |date=July 14, 2017|last=LoBianco|first=Tom}}</ref>
* '''July 17''': Mueller's team interviews former Acting Assistant Attorney General [[Mary McCord]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=26, 30-31}}
[[File:Michael Cohen search warrants publicly released on 2019-03-19.pdf|thumb|Michael Cohen search warrants]]
* '''July 18''': Mueller obtains a search warrant for Michael Cohen's [[Gmail]] account.<ref name="MuellerSoughtMichaelCohen-WaPo20190319">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/mueller-began-investigating-michael-cohens-phone-and-digital-data-months-before-fbi-raid-warrants-show/2019/03/19/9e936cc2-49b5-11e9-b79a-961983b7e0cd_story.html |title=Mueller sought Michael Cohen's emails months before FBI raid, warrants show |last=Barrett |first=Devlin |date=March 19, 2019 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=March 19, 2019 |last2=Zapotosky |first2=Matt |last3=Helderman |first3=Rosalind S.}}</ref><ref name=MuellerSespectedTrumpLawyer-TheGaurdian20190319 />
* '''July 19''':
**''The New York Times'' reports on offshore transactions and [[shell companies]] linked to Manafort's work in Ukraine and investments with a Russian oligarch.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/us/politics/paul-manafort-russia-trump.html |title=Manafort Was in Debt to Pro-Russia Interests, Cyprus Records Show |work=[[The New York Times]] |last=McIntire |first=Mike |date=July 19, 2017 |access-date=July 20, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The New York Times'' reports on sources claiming that [[Deutsche Bank]] is cooperating with federal investigators about Trump accounts.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/business/big-german-bank-key-to-trumps-finances-faces-new-scrutiny.html |title=Big German Bank, Key to Trump's Finances, Faces New Scrutiny |last=Silver-greenberg |first=Ben Protess, Jessica |date=July 19, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 20, 2017 |last2=Drucker |first2=Jesse |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** Trump follows-up with Lewandowski about the June 19 public statement he dictated for Sessions to read. Trump tells Lewandowski to inform Sessions that he will be fired if he doesn't meet with Lewandowski. After the meeting, Lewandowski passes the statement to Dearborn and asks him to deliver it to Sessions. Feeling uncomfortable about being the messenger, Dearborn ignores the request and does not deliver the message.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=92-93}}
** Trump, in an unscheduled interview with ''The New York Times'', blasts Sessions for recusing himself without telling Trump in advance of his nomination to be Attorney General.<ref name=ExcerptFromTherNYT20170719 /><ref name=CitingRecusalTrumpNYT20170720 /> Trump then threatens Mueller's job if the investigation expands to his personal finances.<ref name=ExcerptFromTherNYT20170719>{{Cite web |title=Excerpts From The Times's Interview With Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/us/politics/trump-interview-transcript.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 19, 2017 |access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name=CitingRecusalTrumpNYT20170720>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/19/us/politics/trump-interview-sessions-russia.html |title=Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn't Have Hired Sessions |last2=Schmidt |first=Peter|last=Baker|first2=Michael S.|authorlink2=Michael S. Schmidt |date=July 19, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 20, 2017 |last3=Haberman |first3=Maggie |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He tells the ''Times'' that he "didn't know about the [Trump Tower] meeting" at the time and adds, "As I've said—most other people, you know, when they call up and say, 'By the way, we have information on your opponent,' I think most politicians—I was just with a lot of people, they said, ... 'Who wouldn't have taken a meeting like that?'"<ref name=ExcerptFromTherNYT20170719 />{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=105}} Hicks repeatedly tries to stop the interview to no avail.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=93}}
** The UK's [[National Cyber Security Centre (United Kingdom)|National Cyber Security Centre]] (NCSC) says it has never certified Kaspersky Lab's security software, an admission that comes just a week after the Trump administration booted the firm from two of its approved suppliers lists.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3014093/ncsc-says-it-has-never-certified-kasperskys-security-software |title=NCSC says it 'never certified' Kaspersky's security software|last=Burton|first=Graeme|date=July 19, 2017|work=The Enquirer|access-date=November 23, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
{{anchor|20170720}}
* '''July 20''':
** ''[[Bloomberg News]]'' reports that Mueller is investigating Trump's business transactions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/07/20/trump-set-a-red-line-for-robert-mueller-and-now-mueller-has-reportedly-crossed-it/ |title=Trump set a red line for Robert Mueller. And now Mueller has reportedly crossed it. |date=July 20, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Blake|first=Aaron}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports Trump is asking his attorneys about his ability to pardon himself and other key aides and family members.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-lawyers-seek-to-undercut-muellers-russia-investigation/2017/07/20/232ebf2c-6d71-11e7-b9e2-2056e768a7e5_story.html |title=Trump team seeks to control, block Mueller's Russia investigation |last4=Hamburger |first4=Tom |work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 24, 2018|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|author-link1=Carol D. Leonnig|last2=Parker|first2=Ashley|author-link2=Ashley Parker|first3=Ashley|last3=Parker}}</ref>
** Paul Behrends is removed from his position as staff director for a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee chaired by Rohrabacher. The move comes after news reports about Behrends's and Rohrbacher's [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections#April–June 2016|trip to Moscow in April 2016]].<ref name=BehrendsFiredTheAlantic20170720>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/top-rohrabacher-aide-fired-after-russia-revelations/534288/|title=A Top Rohrabacher Aide Is Ousted After Russia Revelations|website=[[The Atlantic]]|date=July 20, 2017|access-date=July 12, 2018|last=Gray|first=Rosie}}</ref>
** Senator [[Chuck Grassley]] sends the Justice Department a letter calling for an investigation into alleged coordination between Chalupa and the Ukrainian government to interfere in the 2016 election. He cites the [[Timeline of post-election transition following Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections#20170111|January 11]] ''Politico'' report on alleged Ukrainian interference as evidence.<ref name="TheGOPTheoryThatWaPo-20191008">{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/08/gop-theory-that-ukraine-set-up-trump/ |title=The GOP theory that Ukraine 'set up' Trump |last=Kessler |first=Glenn |authorlink=Glenn Kessler (journalist) |date=October 8, 2019 |website=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=October 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-raises-further-concerns-over-foreign-agent-registration |title=Grassley Raises Further Concerns over Foreign Agent Registration |last=Grassley |first=Charles E. |authorlink=Charles Grassley |date=September 30, 2017 |website=[[United States Senate]] |access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Yates's top deputy Matthew S. Axelrod.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=30}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/05/business/dealbook/matthew-axelrod-justice-dept-linklaters-law-firm.html |title=Former Deputy at the Justice Dept. Joins Linklaters Law Firm |last=Olson |first=Elizabeth |date=March 5, 2017 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref>
* '''July 21''':
** ''The Washington Post'' reports Sessions discussed Trump campaign-related matters with Kislyak.<ref name=SessionsKislyakDiscussionsWapo20170721>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/sessions-discussed-trump-campaign-related-matters-with-russian-ambassador-us-intelligence-intercepts-show/2017/07/21/3e704692-6e44-11e7-9c15-177740635e83_story.html |title=Sessions discussed Trump campaign-related matters with Russian ambassador, U.S. intelligence intercepts show |last=Nakashima |first=Ellen |last2=Miller |first2=Greg |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=July 21, 2017 |access-date=July 21, 2017}}</ref>
** The Senate Judiciary Committee requests all communications between Trump Jr. and a group of people, including Jill Stein. She publicly describes the notion that she communicated with Trump Jr. as "an obvious smear designed to generate a fake news feeding frenzy".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/343292-jill-stein-looped-into-widening-investigation-of-russia-and-trump-jr |title=Jill Stein looped into widening investigation of Russia and Trump Jr. connections |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=July 22, 2017|last=Cohn|first=Alicia}}</ref>
** [[John M. Dowd]] replaces Marc Kasowitz at the head of Trump's legal team, following personal threats made by Kasowitz.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-lawyer-marc-kasowitz-reduced-role-article-1.3343960 |title=Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz taking reduced White House role amid legal team shake up |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=July 21, 2017|last=Cullen|first=Terence}}</ref> Legal spokesman Mark Corallo resigns.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40678397 |title=Trump legal team spokesman Mark Corallo resigns amid 'shake-up' |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=July 21, 2017}}</ref> [[Michael Wolff (journalist)|Michael Wolff]] later reports that Corallo had been instructed not to speak to the press or to answer his telephone, and that he privately stated his belief that the Air Force One meeting on July 8, 2017 represented likely [[obstruction of justice]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/03/the-wildest-claims-about-trump-from-michael-wolffs-fire-and-fury.html |title=10 wild claims about Trump's White House from the upcoming book 'Fire and Fury' |date=January 3, 2018 |publisher=CNBC|last=Wilkie|first=Christina}}</ref>
** A complaint is filed against [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[Dana Rohrabacher]] with the [[Office of Foreign Assets Control]] alleging violations of [[Magnitsky Act]] sanctions.<ref name=RohrabacherComplaint20170721>{{cite web|title=Notice of Apparent Violations of Magnitsky Act Sanctions by U.S. Persons Providing Services to SDN Viktor Grin|url=http://russian-untouchables.com/docs/OFAC%20complaint%20filed_Redacted.pdf|date=July 21, 2017|author=Hermitage Capital Management|publisher=Russian Untouchables|access-date=March 19, 2018|author-link=Hermitage Capital Management}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rep. Dana Rohrabacher accused of violating Russian sanctions by backer of Russian sanctions law|url=http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-complaint-filed-over-rohrabacher-s-2016-1501179754-htmlstory.html|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=March 19, 2018|last=Wire|first=Sarah D.}}</ref> In April 2016, Rohrabacher received a document directly from [[Prosecutor General of Russia|Russian Deputy Prosecutor]] Viktor Grin, an individual under sanctions, and used it in attempts to weaken the [[Magnitsky Act]].<ref name="RohrabacherDirectionFromMoscowDB20170719">{{cite web|title=GOP Lawmaker Got Direction From Moscow, Took It Back to D.C.|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-lawmaker-got-direction-from-moscow-took-it-back-to-dc|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=July 19, 2017|access-date=March 19, 2018|last=Hines|first=Nico}}</ref> The allegation is that the work Rohrabacher performed was a "service" provided to Grin in violation of the sanctions against Grin.<ref name=RohrabacherComplaint20170721 />
** Priebus calls Hunt in the evening to discuss whether Sessions will be fired or resign in the wake of the ''Washington Post'' article. Hunt tells him that Sessions has no intentions of resigning. She points out that Trump will still be under investigation without Sessions.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=94-95}}
* '''July 22''':
** Trump asserts "complete power" to [[List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump|pardon anyone]] in relation to the Russia investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/us/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions.html |title=Trump Says He Has 'Complete Power' to Pardon |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Peter |last=Baker |date=July 22, 2017 |access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref>
** Trump orders Priebus to tell Sessions that he has "no choice" and "must immediately resign." Priebus then calls McGahn for advice. McGahn tells him to ignore Trump's order, and the two discuss the possibility of resigining instead of carrying out Trump's order to fire Sessions. When Trump follows-up with Priebus in the afternoon, Priebus tells him he will get Sessions to resign. Trmp follows-up again. Priebus convinces him to hold off on the resignation because Rosenstien and Associate Attorney General [[Rachel Brand]] would also resign and Trump would probably never get another Attorney General confirmed by Congress.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=95-96}}
* '''July 24''': After a closed-door meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee, Kushner issues a statement denying any collusion with Russian officials.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-idUSKBN1A90CF |title=Jared Kushner details Russia contacts, denies collusion |agency=[[Reuters]] |first1=Jeff |last1=Mason |first2=Patricia |last2=Zengerle |date=July 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Siegel">{{cite news |last=Siegel |first=Benjamin |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jared-kushner-set-face-questions-russia-probe-day/story?id=48833151 |title=Jared Kushner faced second day of questioning on the Hill in Russia probe |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=July 25, 2017 |accessdate=August 16, 2017}}</ref>
* '''July 25''':
** Kushner meets with the House Intelligence Committee in a closed-door meeting.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-kushner-idUSKBN1AA2BU |title=Kushner interviewed by House intelligence panel |date=July 25, 2017 |agency=[[Reuters]]|access-date=August 9, 2017|last1=Becker|first1=Amanda|last2=Walsh|first2=Eric}}</ref><ref name="Siegel"/>
** Manafort meets with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee and turns over contemporaneous notes of the June 9, 2016 meeting.<ref name=WP090817/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/25/paul-manafort-trump-campaign-chair-russia-senate |title=Ex-Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort tells Senate panel of Russia meeting |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=July 26, 2017|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
** In an Oval Office interview with ''The Wall Street Journal''{{'}}s [[Gerard Baker]], Trump states that there was "nobody on the campaign that saw anybody from Russia".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/01/trump-wall-street-journal-interview-full-transcript-241214 |title=Full transcript: Trump's Wall Street Journal interview |work=[[Politico]] |date=August 1, 2017|last1=Dawsey|first1=Josh|last2=Gold|first2=Hadas}}</ref>
* '''July 26''': The FBI conducts a predawn raid on Manafort's home, seizing documents and electronic devices.<ref name="WP090817"/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/could-paul-manafort-bring-down-the-whole-trump-family/ |title=Could Paul Manafort Bring Down the Whole Trump Family? |work=[[The Nation]] |date=August 14, 2017|last=Dreyfuss|first=Bob|author-link=Robert Dreyfuss}}</ref> The raid happens on the day Manafort was scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/08/10/trump-says-he-was-surprised-by-fbi-raid-of-manaforts-home-which-sent-a-very-strong-signal/ |title=Trump says he was surprised by FBI raid of Manafort's home, which sent a 'very strong signal' |work=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 10, 2017|last1=Wagner|first1=John|last2=Hamburger|first2=Tom|date=August 10, 2017}}</ref>
* '''July 27''': Papadopoulos is arrested upon arrival at [[Washington Dulles International Airport]].<ref name=cnbc-20171030 />
* '''July 28''': Trump indicates his intention to sign the bill passed by overwhelming veto-proof majorities in both houses of Congress taking the sanctions in place against Russia out of the president's control.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/30/us/politics/putins-bet-on-a-trump-presidency-backfires-spectacularly.html |title=Putin's Bet on a Trump Presidency Backfires Spectacularly |last=Sanger |first=David E. |date=July 30, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 31, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/28/us/trump-to-sign-russia-sanctions-bill-white-house-says.html |title=Trump to Sign Russia Sanctions Bill, White House Says |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=July 28, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 31, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* '''July 30''': Putin, responding to sanctions, orders a cut in U.S. diplomatic staff by 755, and bars U.S. officials from entering a warehouse in Moscow used by the [[Embassy of the United States, Moscow|United States Embassy]] and to a site along the [[Moskva River|Moscow River]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/28/world/europe/us-russia-sanctions.html |title=Russia Seizes 2 U.S. Properties and Orders Embassy to Cut Staff |last=Macfarquhar |first=Neil |date=July 28, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 31, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* '''July 31''': ''The Washington Post'' reports that Trump personally dictated a statement for Donald Trump Jr. stating that the Veselnitskaya meeting “primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children”.<ref name=TrumpDictated20170731 />
* '''Late July''': Mueller removes senior FBI investigator [[Peter Strzok]] from his team following the discovery of private texts exchanged with FBI lawyer Lisa Page during the Clinton investigation and the election campaign. According to ''The Washington Post'', the texts contain pro-Clinton comments, are critical of Congress and the media, and call Trump an "idiot" and a "loathsome human".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/special-counsels-russia-probe-loses-top-fbi-investigator/story?id=49249486 |title=Special counsel's Russia probe loses top FBI investigator |date=August 16, 2017 |publisher=[[ABC News]]|last=Levine|first=Mike}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/02/us/politics/mueller-removed-top-fbi-agent-over-possible-anti-trump-texts.html |title=Mueller Removed Top F.B.I. Agent Over Possible Anti-Trump Texts |date=December 2, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|last1=Schmidt|first1=Michael S.|author-link1=Michael S. Schmidt|last2=Apuzzo|first2=Matt|author-link2=Matt Apuzzo|last3=Goldman|first3=Adam|author-link3=Adam Goldman}}</ref><ref name=wapo-20171212>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-texts-reveal-anti-trump-pro-clinton-comments/2017/12/12/e0685f80-dfa4-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html |title=FBI texts reveal anti-Trump, pro-Clinton comments |date=December 12, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Barrett|first=Devlin}}</ref>
=== August ===
* '''August 1'''
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that Rod Wheeler has filed a lawsuit claiming the Trump White House was directly involved in the publication of a ''Fox News'' story about the [[murder of Seth Rich#conspiracy theories|Seth Rich conspiracy theory]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=August 1, 2017 |title=A timeline of the explosive lawsuit alleging a White House link in the Seth Rich conspiracy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/08/01/a-timeline-of-the-explosive-lawsuit-alleging-a-white-house-link-in-the-seth-rich-conspiracy/ |work=[[The Washington Post]] |location=|access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>
** [[White House Press Secretary]] [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] comments<ref>{{Cite web |title=White House Daily Briefing |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?432014-1/white-house-president-dictate-sons-russia-meeting-statement |website=[[C-SPAN]] |date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=December 19, 2019 |last=Sanders |first=Sarah Huckabee |author-link=Sarah Huckabee Sanders}}</ref> on ''[[The Washington Post]]'' article from the day before claiming Trump dictated the response about the [[Trump Tower meeting]]. She clarifies that Trump "certainly didn't dictate, ... but he weighed in, offered suggestion, like any father would do, based on the limited information that he had."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Louis |title=Sanders: Trump 'weighed in' on initial statement about son's Russia meeting |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/01/trump-sanders-son-russia-statement-241209 |work=[[Politico]] |accessdate=August 1, 2017|last2=Samuelsohn|first2=Darren|date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=105}}
* '''August 2''':
** Trump signs the [[Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act]] (CAATSA), legislation limiting his ability to ease sanctions against Russia. He describes the bill as "flawed" and "unconstitutional".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/371333-state-dept-tells-congress-no-additional-russia-sanctions-necessary-at |title=Trump declines to implement new Russia sanctions |author=Olivia Beavers |date=January 29, 2018 |website=[[Thehill.com]] |access-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=August 2, 2017 |title=Trump signs Russia sanctions bill he blasts as 'clearly unconstitutional' |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-trump-signs-russia-sanctions-bill/story?id=48985465 |publisher=ABC News|last=Stracqualursi|first=Veronica}}</ref>
** The Trump campaign turns over about 20,000 pages of documents to the Senate Intelligence Committee, as demanded by Feinstein and Grassley.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-08/trump-campaign-turns-over-thousands-of-documents-in-russia-probe |title=Trump Campaign Turns Over Thousands of Documents in Russia Probe |date=August 8, 2017 |work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=August 9, 2017|last=Dennis|first=Steven T.}}</ref>
** [[Christopher A. Wray]] is sworn in as the new [[Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI director]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement by Attorney General Sessions on the Swearing in of FBI Director Chris Wray|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/statement-attorney-general-sessions-swearing-fbi-director-chris-wray|website=The United States Department of Justice|author=Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs|date=August 2, 2017|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref>
** Rosenstein authorizes Mueller to investigate allegations that Manafort, Page, and Papadopoulos "committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials with respect to the Russian government's efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election," payments Manafort received from Ukrainian politicians, and loans he received from a bank CEO to secure a position in the Trump administration.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mueller authorized by DOJ to investigate alleged Manafort collusion with Russian government|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/03/politics/mueller-manafort-rosenstein-memo/index.html|website=[[CNN]]|date=April 3, 2018|access-date=June 29, 2018|last=Polantz|first=Katelyn}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=11-12}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=D-2}} He further authorizes Mueller to investigate allegations that Papadopoulos was an unregistered agent of the government of Israel, that Flynn was an unregistered agent of the government of Turkey, and other allegations involving Flynn and Trump.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=11-12}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=D-1}}
* '''August 3''':
** ''The Wall Street Journal'' and ''The Washington Post'' report that Mueller has convened a [[grand jury]] in the [[District of Columbia District Court]] exclusively for his Russia probe.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/special-counsel-mueller-impanels-washington-grand-jury-in-russia-probe-1501788287 |title=Special Counsel Robert Mueller Impanels Washington Grand Jury in Russia Probe |last=Wilber |first=Del Quentin |date=August 3, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=August 3, 2017 |last2=Tau |first2=Byron |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/special-counsel-mueller-using-grand-jury-in-federal-court-in-washington-as-part-of-russia-investigation/2017/08/03/1585da56-7887-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story.html |title=Special Counsel Mueller using grand jury in federal court in Washington as part of Russia investigation |last=Leonnig |first=Carol D. |date=August 3, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=December 6, 2017 |last2=Horwitz |first2=Sari |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Zapotosky |first3=Matt}}</ref>
** Flynn reveals a brief advisory role with Cambridge Analytica, the data mining and analysis firm that worked with Trump’s campaign, and the sponsoring [[Robert Mercer (businessman)|Mercer family]] in an amended public financial filing. Flynn also discloses income from the Trump transition team.<ref name=FlynnDetailsPayAP20170804>{{Cite news |url= https://www.apnews.com/a250d1088af44a3b8b55275dc97de608 |title=APNewsBreak: Flynn details tie to data firm, transition pay |work=[[AP News]]|access-date=April 11, 2018 |language=en-US| last1=Day|first1=Chad|last2=Braun|first2=Stephen|archive-date=August 4, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170804184829/https://www.apnews.com/a250d1088af44a3b8b55275dc97de608|via=[[Internet Archive]]|date=August 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name=FlynnAmmendedDisclosure20170122>{{cite web|title=Michael Flynn amended public financial disclosure|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3913715-Michael-Flynn-amended-public-financial-disclosure.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806183152/https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3913715-Michael-Flynn-amended-public-financial-disclosure.html|archive-date=August 6, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2018|date=January 22, 2017|last=Flynn|first=Michael|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
** Newsweek publishes an interview with [[Jill Stein]] in which she describes as "fake news" all suggestion of wrongdoing or collusion in relation to members of the Trump campaign and the visit to Moscow during which she was photographed with Putin and Flynn.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Russia Investigation: Jill Stein Explains Her Relationship to Putin, Trump and Hillary Clinton |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/russia-investigation-jill-stein-explains-115002063.html |date=August 3, 2017 |magazine=Newsweek|via=Yahoo! News|last=Nazaryan|first=Alexander}}</ref>
** Senators [[Lindsey Graham]] (R-SC), [[Richard Blumenthal]] (D-CT), [[Thom Tillis]] (R-NC) and [[Chris Coons]] (D-DE) unveil legislation designed to prevent Trump from firing Mueller.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/08/03/gop_senators_introduce_bills_to_protect_special_counsel_134668.html |title=GOP Senators Introduce Bills to Protect Special Counsel|website=RealClearPolitics|access-date=August 4, 2017|last=Arkin|first=James|date=August 3, 2017}}</ref>
* '''August 4''': ''[[CNN]]'' reports that some of Mueller's investigators bought [[liability insurance]] to protect themselves against possible lawsuits from some of the people under investigation.<ref>{{cite web|title=One year into the FBI's Russia investigation, Mueller is on the Trump money trail|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/03/politics/mueller-investigation-russia-trump-one-year-financial-ties/index.html|website=[[CNN]]|date=August 4, 2017|access-date=June 15, 2018|last1=Perez|first1=Evan|last2=Brown|first2=Pamela|author-link2=Pamela Brown (journalist)|last3=Prokupecz|first3=Shimon|last4=Cohen|first4=Marshall}}</ref>
* '''August 5''': Kislyak denies any inappropriate contact with Flynn, and says he will not agree to testify before Congress or a grand jury.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-trump-kislyak-flynn-relations-collusion/28660358.html |title=Russia's Kislyak Denies Inappropriate Contacts With Trump Adviser |date=August 5, 2017 |publisher=Radio Free Europe}}</ref>
* '''August 6''': Rosenstein confirms that Mueller is authorized to investigate any crime exposed by his inquiry.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/rosenstein-special-counsel-mueller-can-investigate-any-crimes-he-uncovers-in-russia-probe/2017/08/06/2209365a-7aae-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_rosenstein-1213pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory |title=Rosenstein: Special counsel Mueller can investigate any crimes he uncovers in Russia probe |date=August 6, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|last1=Snell|first1=Kelsey|last2=Wagner|first2=John}}</ref>
{{anchor|20170807}}
* '''August 7''': Mueller's team interviews Gordon for the first of four times through [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)#20190214|February 14, 2019]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=86, 126}}
* '''August 8''': Mueller's team obtains a search warrant for Cohen's [[iCloud|Apple iCloud]] account.<ref name=MuellerSespectedTrumpLawyer-TheGaurdian20190319>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/19/mueller-cohen-emails-trump-russia-special-documents |title=Mueller suspected Trump lawyer may have been acting as foreign agent |last=Swaine |first=Jon |date=March 19, 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=March 19, 2019}}</ref>
* '''August 9''':
** ''The Washington Post'' reports on the July 26 FBI raid at Manafort's home.<ref name=WP090817>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbi-conducted-predawn-raid-of-former-trump-campaign-chairman-manaforts-home/2017/08/09/5879fa9c-7c45-11e7-9d08-b79f191668ed_story.html |title=FBI conducted predawn raid of former Trump campaign chairman Manafort's home |work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 9, 2017|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|author-link1=Carol D. Leonnig|last2=Hamburger|first2=Tom|last3=Helderman|first3=Rosalind S.|date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> According to ''The New York Times'', Mueller ordered the search for tax documents and foreign banking records.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/us/politics/paul-manafort-home-search-mueller.html |title=Manafort's Home Searched as Part of Mueller Inquiry |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S.|authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt |date=August 9, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 9, 2017 |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** Conservative watchdog organization [[Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust]] (FACT) files a complaint with the [[Federal Election Commission]] alleging that DNC consultant Chalupa improperly sought intelligence on Manafort from Ukrainian officials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/345892-watchdog-files-fec-complaint-of-dnc-work-with-ukraine |title=Watchdog files complaint alleging DNC worked with Ukraine |last=Easly |first=Jonathan |date=August 9, 2017 |website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> Chalupa briefed the DNC on Manafort on [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections#20160330|March 30, 2016]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ukrainian efforts to sabotage Trump backfire |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/ukraine-sabotage-trump-backfire-233446 |website=[[Politico]] |date=January 11, 2017|access-date=March 6, 2018 |last1=Vogel |first1=Kenneth P. |last2=Stern |first2=David}}</ref>
* '''August 11''':
** [[Rinat Akhmetshin]] gives sworn testimony for two hours to Mueller's grand jury.<ref>{{cite news| title=Russian-American lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin appeared before Robert Mueller's grand jury|url= https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/russian-american-lobbyist-rinat-akhmetshin-appeared-before-robert-muellers-grand-jury/article/2633042|work=[[The Washington Examiner]]|date=August 30, 2017|access-date=March 27, 2018|last=Chaitin| first=Daniel}}</ref>
** The Senate Intelligence Committee asks [[Sigal Mandelker]], the [[Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence]], to provide any "suspicious" or "derogatory" transaction records reported by banks involving Maria Butina, Alexander Torshin, Paul Erickson, Investing With Dignity, or Bridges LLC. Erickson owns Investing With Dignity and jointly owns Bridges LLC with Butina. The committee sends a follow-up request on December 7 complaining that it hasn't received a response.<ref name=SenateIntelAsksForButinaFinancialDocsBuzzfeedNews20180716>{{cite web|title=Senate Intel Had Asked For Financial Documents On The Russian Gun Rights Activist|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/emmaloop/senate-committee-was-probing-alleged-russian-agents|website=[[Buzzfeed News]]|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=July 17, 2018|last1=Loop|first1=Emma|last2=Leopold|first2=Jason|author-link2=Jason Leopold}}</ref>
* '''August 14''':
** Pence says he "never witnessed" and was "not aware" of any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pence-not-aware-of-any-russian-collusion-with-trump-campaign/ |title=Pence "not aware" of any Russian collusion with Trump campaign |date=August 14, 2017 |work=CBS News|last=Tillett|first=Emily}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' first reports on Papadopoulos's repeated attempts to arrange campaign meetings with the Russian leadership, which Manafort is said to have refused.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-campaign-emails-show-aides-repeated-efforts-to-set-up-russia-meetings/2017/08/14/54d08da6-7dc2-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html |title=Trump campaign emails show aide's repeated efforts to set up Russia meetings |date=August 14, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last1=Hamburger|first1=Tom|last2=Leonnig|first2=Carol D.|author-link2=Carol D. Leonnig|last3=Helderman|first3=Rosalind S.}}</ref>
** Thousands of people participate in the "Protest Trump and ideology of hate at Trump Tower!" protest outside [[Trump Tower]] in New York City. The protest was organized by the "Resisters" group on Facebook, one of the "bad actor" groups identified by Facebook in July 2018 as possibly belonging to the IRA.<ref>{{cite web|title=President's Return to NYC|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170814/midtown/trump-tower-donald-trump-protests|website=[[DNAInfo]]|date=August 15, 2017|access-date=August 2, 2018|last1=Fractenberg|first1=Ben|last2=Hobbs|first2=Allegra|last3=Fisher|first3=Janon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803044442/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170814/midtown/trump-tower-donald-trump-protests/|archive-date=August 3, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=ShadowyFacebbokAccountTheHill20180801 />
* '''August 15''':
** [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[Dana Rohrabacher]] and [[Charles C. Johnson]] visit [[Julian Assange]] in [[London]] at the [[Embassy of Ecuador, London|Ecuadorian embassy]]. Johnson arranged the meeting. Afterward, Rohrabacher claims to have evidence showing Russia didn't [[Democratic National Committee cyber attacks|hack the DNC]].<ref name=TwoRussianGunLovers20180308 /><ref name=AltRightFigureAssangeMeetingYahooNews20170818>{{cite web|title='Alt-right' figure who set up Assange meeting refuses to cooperate with Senate intel probe|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/alt-right-figure-set-assange-meeting-refuses-cooperate-senate-intel-probe-172020121.html|website=[[Yahoo! News]]|date=August 18, 2017|access-date=August 13, 2018|last=Isikoff|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Isikoff}}</ref>
** U.S. District Judge [[Ursula Mancusi Ungaro]] denies an attempt by Christopher Steele to avoid being [[Deposition (law)|deposed]] for the Gubarev libel suit against ''BuzzFeed''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Judge denies Trump dossier author's bid to scuttle deposition|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/08/15/judge-denies-trump-spy-libel-241667|website=[[Politico]]|date=August 15, 2017|access-date=August 20, 2018|last=Gerstein|first=Josh}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aleksej Gubarev, XBT Hodings S.A., and Webzilla, Inc. v. BuzzFeed, Inc. and Ben Smith – Order|url=https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000015d-e7b7-d6a8-ad7f-efbf7d1f0000|format=PDF|via=[[Politico]]|last=Ungaro|first=Ursula|date=August 15, 2017|access-date=August 21, 2018|author-link=Ursula Mancusi Ungaro}}</ref><ref name=GubrevBuzzFeedRequestForInternationalJudicialAssistance20170810 />
** Mueller's team interviews former Acting Attorney General [[Sally Yates]] for the first of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=30-32}}
* '''August 16''': Ukrainian Member of Parliament [[Andrii Derkach]] files a request with the Ukrainian prosecutor general to open a criminal investigation into whether Ukrainian government officials interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He alleges that government officials revealed the presence of Manafort's name in the "black ledger" in a deliberate attempt to help Clinton win the election.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-mp-derkach-seeks-probe-of-ukraine-hillary-clinton-ties/ |title=Ukrainian MP seeks probe of Ukraine-Clinton ties |last=Stern |first=David |date=August 16, 2017 |website=[[Politico]] |access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref>
* '''August 17''': Mueller's team interviews McCabe for the first of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=30, 35-37, 45, 52}}
* '''August 18''':
** ''Yahoo! News'' reports that Charles C. Johnson refused a request from the Senate Intelligence Committee for documents related to his involvement with Peter W. Smiths's effort to locate [[Hillary Clinton email controversy|Clinton's deleted emails]].<ref name=AltRightFigureAssangeMeetingYahooNews20170818 />
** Josua Caplan writes in the ''[[Gateway Pundit]]'' that the [[mainstream media]] is ignoring the alleged Ukraine-Clinton collusion scandal. The article adds fuel to the Ukraine-Clinton-CrowdStrike conspiracy theory.<ref name=TheyReadTheHeadlineVanityFair20191010 />
{{anchor|20170822}}
[[File:Simpson-transcript-redacted.pdf|thumb|August 22, 2017 [[Fusion GPS]] Testimony Transcript of [[Glenn R. Simpson]]]]
* '''August 22''':
** Steele names to the FBI sources for the information in his [[Trump–Russia dossier]].<ref name=nypost-20170822>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/christopher-steele-tells-fbi-sources-trump-dossier-report-article-1.3433372 |title=Christopher Steele tells FBI sources for Trump 'dossier': report |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=August 22, 2017 |access-date=August 23, 2017|last=Brennan|first=Christopher}}</ref>
** Fusion GPS founder [[Glenn R. Simpson]], who hired Steele to compile the dossier, speaks privately with the Senate Judiciary Committee and hands over more than 40,000 documents.<ref name=nypost-20170822 /> Simpson tells the Committee that Steele knew that the FBI had an informant in Trump's campaign, and that the FBI's own information substantiated the details of Steele's research. Simpson also states that Steele broke off relations with the FBI shortly after October 31, 2016 due to his concerns that Trump's associates were manipulating the FBI. Simpson's attorney Josh Levy states during the meeting that a person has been killed as a result of the Steele dossier's publication.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/09/somebodys-already-been-killed-because-trump-dossier-fusion-gps-rep-revealed.html |title='Somebody's already been killed' because of Trump dossier, Fusion GPS rep revealed |date=January 9, 2018 |publisher=Fox News|last=Pappas|first=Alex}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/01/09/what-didnt-republicans-want-you-to-see-in-the-fusion-gps-transcript/ |title=What didn't Republicans want you to see in the Fusion GPS transcript? |date=January 9, 2018 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Rubin|first=Jennifer|author-link=Jennifer Rubin (journalist)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fusion-gps-founder-trump-campaign-source-backed-up-claims-in-dossier/ar-BBIaXD4 |title=Fusion GPS founder: Trump campaign source backed up claims in dossier |date=January 9, 2018 |newspaper=The Hill|via=MSN|last1=Easly|first1=Jonathan|last2=Williams|first2=Katie Bo}}</ref><ref name="auto5">{{Cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/fusion-gps-author-of-trump-russia-dossier-thought-trump-was-being-blackmailed-by-russia/ar-BBIaIda |title=Fusion GPS: Author of Trump-Russia dossier thought Trump 'was being blackmailed' by Russia |date=January 9, 2018 |publisher=Business Insider Australia|via=MSN|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews former [[GCHQ]] security expert Matt Tait.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=63}}
* '''August 23''':
** The FBI requests from the [[General Services Administration]] (GSA) copies of communications by nine members of Trump's team, according to Trump transition lawyer Kory Langhofer. A further request is made on August 30.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/russia-probe-trump-allies-say-mueller-unlawfully-obtained-thousands-of-emails/story-jVtduzJP2ZE1XIcwYv0HZO.html |title=Russia probe: Trump allies say Mueller unlawfully obtained thousands of emails |date=December 17, 2017 |work=The Hindustan Times|author=HT Correspondent}}</ref>
** Chairman Grassley confirms that the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on the question of releasing the transcript of the August 22 Fusion GPS testimony.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/347785-senate-judiciary-to-vote-on-whether-to-release-dossier-guys-testimony |title=Senate committee to vote on releasing Fusion GPS testimony |date=August 24, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill|last=Manchester|first=Julia}}</ref> A vote is never scheduled; Feinstein will unilaterally publish the transcript on January 9, 2018.<ref name="auto5"/>
** The Internet Research Agency's @TEN_GOP Twitter account is closed.<ref name=CampaignRussianPropogandaDailyBeast20171018 />
* '''August 24''':
** ''The New York Times'' reports that Akhmetshin had stronger ties to the Russian government and Kremlin-backed oligarchs than previously known.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/21/us/rinat-akhmetshin-russia-trump-meeting.html |title=Lobbyist at Trump Campaign Meeting Has a Web of Russian Connections |last2=Kirkpatrick |first=Sharon|last=Lafraniere| first2=David D. |date=August 21, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 25, 2017 |last3=Vogel |first3=Kenneth P. |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** The House Intelligence Committee issues subpoenas to the FBI and the DoJ for documents relating to the Trump dossier. They were not complied with by the September 1 deadline; the deadline is extended to September 14.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/house-committee-subpoenas-fbi-justice-over-trump-dossier/article/2633466 |title=House committee subpoenas FBI, Justice over Trump dossier |work=[[The Washington Examiner]] |date=September 5, 2017|last=York|first=Byron|author-link=Byron York}}</ref>
* '''August 25''': ''The Washington Post'' and NBC report that Mueller has issued subpoenas to several lobbying firms connected to Flynn and Manafort, including Mercury Public Affairs and SGR LLC.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/washington-lobbying-firms-receive-subpoenas-as-part-of-russia-probe/2017/08/25/55e547de-89c2-11e7-a50f-e0d4e6ec070a_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_muellerprobe-1159pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory |title=Washington lobbying firms receive subpoenas as part of Russia probe |date=August 25, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|author-link1=Carol D. Leonnig|last2=Hamburger|first2=Tom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-seeks-grand-jury-testimony-pr-execs-who-worked-manafort-n796066 |title=Mueller Seeks Grand Jury Testimony from PR Execs Who Worked With Manafort |date=August 25, 2017 |work=NBC News|last1=Dilanian|first1=Ken|last2=Lee|first2=Carol E.|last3=Winter|first3=Tom}}</ref>
* '''Late August''': [[Fancy Bear]] launches a [[Spoofing attack|Spoofing]]/[[phishing attack]] on Senator [[Claire McCaskill]]'s 2018 reelection campaign.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russian Hackers' New Target: a Vulnerable Democratic Senator|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-hackers-new-target-a-vulnerable-democratic-senator|website=[[Daily Beast]]|date=July 26, 2018|access-date=July 26, 2018|last1=Desiderio|first1=Andrew|last2=Poulsen|first2=Kevin|author-link2=Kevin Poulsen}}</ref>
* '''August 27''': ''The Washington Post'' reports that the Trump Organization was actively pursuing plans to develop [[Trump Tower Moscow]] during the Presidential campaign in 2015–16, though Trump did not mention it publicly at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump's business sought deal on a Trump Tower in Moscow while he ran for president|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-business-sought-deal-on-a-trump-tower-in-moscow-while-he-ran-for-president/2017/08/27/d6e95114-8b65-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html|website=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 27, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2019|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|author-link1=Carol D. Leonnig|last2=Hamburger|first2=Tom|last3=Helderman|first3=Rosalind S.}}</ref>
* '''August 28''': Cohen's legal team submits a written statement to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. The statement is the basis for Cohen's [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)#Senate perjury plea|2018 guilty plea]] for lying to Congress.<ref name=TheEventsThatLedWapo20181129>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/11/29/events-that-lead-trumps-abandoned-moscow-deal-michael-cohens-latest-plea-agreement/|title=The events that led to Trump's abandoned Moscow deal and Michael Cohen's latest plea agreement|website=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 29, 2018|access-date=December 2, 2018|last=Bump|first=Phillip}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Rosalind S. |last1=Helderman |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michael-cohen-trumps-former-lawyer-pleads-guilty-to-lying-to-congress/2018/11/29/5fac986a-f3e0-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html |title=Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 29, 2018|accessdate=November 29, 2018|last2=Zapotsky|first2=Matt|last3=Barrett|first3=Devlin|last4=Wagner|first4=John|last5=Hamburger|first5=Tom|last6=Troianovski|first6=Anton}}</ref>
{{anchor|20170829}}
* '''August 29''':
** CNN reports that Mueller has subpoenaed Manafort's former attorney [[Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld|Melissa Laurenza]] and spokesman Jason Maloni.<ref name=cnn-20170830>{{cite news |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/30/politics/russia-peskov-trump-lawyer-email/index.html |title=Trump Jr. to testify in private before Senate Judiciary Committee: report |date=August 30, 2017 |publisher=[[CNN]]|last1=Dougherty|first1=Jill| last2=Mortensen|first2=Antonia|last3=Smith-Spark|first3=Laura}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Goldstone the first of two times through [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (January–June 2018)#20180208|February 8, 2018]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=123}}
** Mueller's team interviews Gordon the second of four times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=86, 123–127}}
** Mueller's team interviews McFarland the first of three times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=29}}
* '''August 30''':
** ''Politico'' reports that Mueller has arranged with [[New York Attorney General]] [[Eric Schneiderman]] to set up an alternative method of charging people in the case, in case Trump were to use his [[Federal pardons in the United States|pardon power]] to stymie the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/30/manafort-mueller-probe-attorney-general-242191 |title=Mueller teams up with New York attorney general in Manafort probe |work=Politico |access-date=August 31, 2017|last=Dawsey|first=Josh}}</ref>
** Hundred of people attend "The People's Protest. Springfield against Trump" protest near the Loren Cook Co. in [[Springfield, Missouri]], where Trump gives a speech. The protest was organized by the "Resisters" group on Facebook, one of the "bad actor" groups identified by Facebook in July 2018 as possibly belonging to the IRA. In July 2018, [[Indivisible movement|Indivisible St. Louis]] tells ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' they were already planning the protest when they were contacted by "Resisters" on Facebook.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Trump scene in Springfield: Fans, foes and a glass eye that says 'Trump'|url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article170241117.html|website=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=August 30, 2017|access-date=August 2, 2018|last1=Lowry|first1=Bryan|last2=Hancock|first2=Jason}}</ref><ref name=ShadowyFacebbokAccountTheHill20180801 />
* '''August 31''':
** ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' reports that Mueller has enlisted the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]]'s Criminal Investigations Unit to investigate Trump's tax returns.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-mueller-enlists-the-irs-for-his-trump-russia-investigation |title=Exclusive: Mueller Enlists the IRS for His Trump-Russia Investigation |last=Woodruff |first=Betsy |date=August 31, 2017 |website=The Daily Beast|access-date=September 1, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The Wall Street Journal'' reports that, over the past months, Trump's lawyers have been making their case to Mueller that Trump should not be charged with obstruction of justice.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-attorneys-lay-out-arguments-against-obstruction-of-justice-probe-to-mueller-1504207495 |title=Trump Attorneys Lay Out Arguments Against Obstruction-of-Justice Probe to Mueller |last=Nicholas |first=Peter |date=September 1, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 1, 2017 |last2=Orden |first2=Erica |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |last3=Sonne |first3=Paul}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Alamanda Gribbin, a U.S. embassy control officer in Moscow who saw the document passed to Rohrabacher in [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections#20160401-03|April 2016]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=113}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/russian-anti-sanctions-campaign-turned-to-california-congressman/534102/ |title=Russian Anti-Sanctions Campaign Turned to California Congressman |last=Gray |first=Rosie |authorlink=Rosie Gray |date=July 18, 2017 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Stephen Miller for the first of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=54, 64-66, 68}}
=== September ===
* '''September 1''': The GSA submits a [[flash drive]] to Mueller's team containing tens of thousands of communications by 13 senior members of Trump's transition team, including Kushner, from the official governmental Presidential Transition Team [[domain name|domain]], "ptt.gov".<ref name=latimes-20171217 /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.axios.com/scoop-mueller-obtains-tens-of-thousands-of-trump-transition-emails-1513456551-428f0b7a-b50e-4d9e-8bc4-9869f93c2845.html |title=Mueller obtains "tens of thousands" of Trump transition emails |date=December 17, 2017 |publisher=Axios}}</ref>
* '''September 6''': Facebook admits selling advertisements to Russian companies seeking to reach U.S. voters.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/facebook-says-it-sold-political-ads-to-russian-company-during-2016-election/2017/09/06/32f01fd2-931e-11e7-89fa-bb822a46da5b_story.html |title=Russian firm tied to pro-Kremlin propaganda advertised on Facebook during election |last=Leonnig |first=Carol D. |date=September 6, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=December 6, 2017 |last2=Hamburger |first2=Tom |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Helderman |first3=Rosalind S.}}</ref> Hundreds of accounts were reportedly tied to the Internet Research Agency.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/technology/facebook-russian-political-ads.html |title=Fake Russian Facebook Accounts Bought $100,000 in Political Ads |last=Goel |first=Vindu |date=September 6, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 6, 2017 |last2=Shane |first2=Scott |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=TheAgencyNYT20150602>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/magazine/the-agency.html |title=The Agency |last=Chen |first=Adrian |date=June 2, 2015 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 6, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Facebook pledges full cooperation with Mueller's investigation, and begins to provide details on purchases from Russia, including identities of the people involved.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/06/facebook-gave-special-counsel-robert-mueller-data-on-russian-ads-report-says.html |title=Facebook gave special counsel Robert Mueller data on Russian ads, report says |last=Castillo |first=Michelle |date=September 6, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2017}}</ref>
* '''September 7''':
** Trump Jr. testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee that he met with a group of Russians in Trump Tower in June 2016 in order to seek damaging information about Hillary Clinton, but that no such information was forthcoming.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-report/trumps-son-says-met-russian-lawyer-for-damaging-information-on-clinton-idUSKCN1BI2B0 |title=Trump's son says met Russian lawyer for damaging information on Clinton |work=[[Reuters]] |date=September 7, 2017|last1=Zengerle|first1=Patricia|last2=Freifield|first2=Karen}}</ref> His testimony conflicts with Cohen's November 2018 version of events regarding negotiations of a prospective Trump Tower in Moscow.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/30/672188201/trump-jr-s-2017-testimony-conflicts-with-cohen-s-account-of-russian-talks |title=Cohen's Account Of Russia Talks Raises Questions About Trump Jr. 2017 Testimony |author=Philip Ewing |date=November 30, 2018 |website=NPR.org |publisher= |access-date=November 30, 2018 |quote=}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Gordon the third of four times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=125, 127}}
* '''September 8''': Mueller names to the White House six current and former aides he expects to question in Russia probe: Hicks, Spicer, Priebus, McGahn, Josh Raffel of the [[Office of American Innovation]], and James Burnham.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leonnig |first=Carol D. |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |last3=Parker |first3=Ashley |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/spicer-priebus-hicks-among-six-current-and-former-trump-aides-mueller-has-expressed-interest-in-interviewing-for-russia-probe/2017/09/08/3b32779e-949a-11e7-aace-04b862b2b3f3_story.html |title=Mueller gives White House names of 6 aides he expects to question in Russia probe |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 8, 2017 |accessdate=September 11, 2017}}</ref>
* '''September 9''': Thousand of people participate in the "We Stand with DREAMers! Support DACA!" rally in New York City.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thousands gather in Midtown to protest Trump's DACA decision|url=https://nypost.com/2017/09/09/thousands-gather-in-midtown-to-protest-trumps-daca-decision/|website=[[New York Post]]|date=September 9, 2017|access-date=August 1, 2018|last=Narizhnaya|first=Khristina}}</ref> The rally was organized by the "Resisters" group on Facebook, one of the "bad actor" groups identified by Facebook in July 2018 as possibly belonging to the IRA.<ref name=ShadowyFacebbokAccountTheHill20180801>{{cite web|title=Shadowy Facebook account led to real-life Trump protests|url=http://thehill.com/policy/technology/400010-shadowy-facebook-activities-led-to-real-life-trump-protests|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=August 1, 2018|access-date=August 1, 2018|last=Breland|first=Ali}}</ref>
* '''September 11''': ''The Daily Beast'' reports that Russia used Facebook events to organize anti-immigrant rallies on U.S. soil.<ref name=RussiaFacebookOrganizeDailyBeast20170912>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-russia-used-facebook-events-to-organize-anti-immigrant-rallies-on-us-soil |title=Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil |last3=Ackerman|author-link3=Spencer Ackerman |first2=Ben|last2=Collins|first1=Kevin|last1=Poulsen|first3=Spencer|date=September 12, 2017|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>
* '''September 12''':
** Yahoo! News reports the FBI has begun a [[Foreign Agents Registration Act]] (FARA) violation investigation against the [[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik]] news agency.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/sputnik-russian-news-agency-investigation-fbi-090024231.html |title=Sputnik, the Russian news agency, is under investigation by the FBI|access-date=September 14, 2017 |language=en-US|last1=Walker|first1=Hunter|author-link1=Hunter Walker|last2=Isikoff|first2=Michael|author-link2=Michael Isikoff|publisher=Yahoo News|date=September 11, 2017}}</ref>
** Trump's lawyer John Dowd announces that the Trump campaign has started giving documents to Mueller.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Trump Campaign Has Begun Turning Over Documents to Mueller|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-the-trump-campaign-has-begun-turning-over-documents-to-mueller|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=September 12, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2019|last=Woodruff|first=Betsy}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews [[James Carafano]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=86}}
* '''September 13''':
** The United States bans use of [[Kaspersky Lab]] software in federal agencies amid concerns of Russian espionage.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-to-ban-use-of-kaspersky-software-in-federal-agencies-amid-concerns-of-russian-espionage/2017/09/13/36b717d0-989e-11e7-82e4-f1076f6d6152_story.html |title=U.S. bans use of Kaspersky software in federal agencies amid concerns of Russian espionage |last=Nakashima |first=Ellen |date=September 13, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=September 13, 2017 |last2=Gillum |first2=Jack |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** Flynn's son, Michael G. Flynn, is named as a subject of Mueller's investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mike-flynn-s-son-subject-federal-russia-probe-n800741 |title=Mike Flynn's son is subject of federal Russia investigation |work=NBC News|access-date=September 13, 2017 |language=en|last1=Lee|first1=Carol E.|last2=Ainsley|first2=Julia|last3=Dilanian|first3=Ken|date=September 13, 2017}}</ref>
** CNN reports that the DoJ is preventing Senate investigators from interviewing two top FBI officials who could provide firsthand testimony about Comey's firing.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/13/politics/fbi-official-interview-request-denied-justice-department/index.html |title=DOJ declines Senate request to interview FBI officials |last=Raju |first=Manu|author-link=Manu Raju|work=CNN|access-date=September 13, 2017|date=September 13, 2017}}</ref>
** ''Bloomberg'' reports that Mueller has a “red-hot” focus on Russia’s effort to influence U.S. voters on Facebook.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-13/mueller-probe-is-said-to-have-red-hot-focus-on-social-media |title=Mueller Probe Has 'Red-Hot' Focus on Social Media, Officials Say |date=September 13, 2017 |work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=September 14, 2017|last=Strohm|first=Chris}}</ref>
** The DoJ asks a company that supplies services to the US affiliate of [[RT (TV network)|Russia Today]] (RT) to register as a foreign agent.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rt.com/usa/402923-rt-foreign-agent-doj |title=US DOJ uses WWII-era legislation to demand that RT supplier register as a 'foreign agent' |work=RT International|access-date=September 14, 2017 |language=en-US|date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>
** Facebook states that a 225,000-member anti-immigrant group that attempted to organize anti-Clinton rallies in Texas during the 2016 presidential campaign was "likely operated out of Russia".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://amp.businessinsider.com/facebook-group-russia-texas-anti-immigrant-rallies-2017-9 |title=Shuttered Facebook group that organized anti-Clinton, anti-immigrant rallies across Texas was linked to Russia |work=Business Insider|access-date=September 14, 2017 |language=en-US|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|date=September 13, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The Wall Street Journal'' reports that Flynn promoted a multi-billion-dollar Middle Eastern Russian-backed nuclear-plant project while working in the White House.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/flynn-promoted-nuclear-plant-project-while-in-white-house-1505328226 |title=Flynn Promoted Nuclear-Plant Project While in White House |last=Stewart |first=Christopher S. |date=September 13, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 14, 2017 |last2=Barry |first2=Rob |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |last3=Harris |first3=Shane}}</ref>
* '''September 14''':
** Page files suit against [[Yahoo]] and ''[[The Huffington Post]]'', alleging defamation in a September 2016 news article about his connections to Russia.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2017/09/14/ex-trump-aide-carter-page-sues-yahoo-huffpost-for-defamation/ |title=Ex-Trump aide Carter Page sues Yahoo, HuffPost for defamation |work=The New York Post |date=September 14, 2017|last1=DeGregory|first1=Priscilla|last2=Fredericks|first2=Bob}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews James (Jim) Hoskins, a national security advisor to the Trump campaign.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=86}}<ref name=NSAC>{{Cite web |website=donaldjtrump.com |url=https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/NS_Bios.pdf |title=Trump Campaign Announces National Security Advisory Council |access-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206193655/https://assets.donaldjtrump.com/NS_Bios.pdf |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
* '''September 15''':
** In response to a warrant, Facebook gives Mueller copies of advertisements and account information related to the Russian advertisement purchases beyond what it gave Congress in the previous week.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-gave-special-counsel-robert-mueller-more-details-on-russian-ad-buys-than-congress-1505514552 |title=Facebook Gave Special Counsel Robert Mueller More Details on Russian Ad Buys Than Congress |last=Seetharaman |first=Deepa |date=September 15, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 15, 2017 |last2=Tau |first2=Byron |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |last3=Harris |first3=Shane}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/15/media/facebook-mueller-ads/index.html |title=Facebook handed Russia-linked ads over to Mueller under search warrant |last=Byers |first=Dylan |work=CNNMoney|access-date=September 19, 2017|date=September 17, 2017}}</ref>
** According to ''The Wall Street Journal'', Representative [[Dana Rohrabacher]] (CA-R) contacts the White House this week about brokering a deal that would end Assange’s legal troubles in exchange for evidence that Russia was not the source of hacked emails WikiLeaks published during the 2016 presidential campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-congressman-sought-trump-deal-on-wikileaks-russia-1505509918 |title=GOP Congressman Sought Trump Deal on WikiLeaks, Russia |last=Tau |first=Byron |date=September 15, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 15, 2017 |last2=Nicholas |first2=Peter |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |last3=Hughes |first3=Siobhan}}</ref>
** Manafort's spokesman Jason Maloni testifies before Mueller's federal grand jury.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/15/jason-maloni-testify-grand-jury-242771 |title=Manafort's spokesman spends two-and-a-half hours testifying before grand jury |work=Politico |access-date=September 16, 2017|last=Gerstein|first=Josh|date=September 15, 2017}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Yates for the second of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=33}}
* '''September 17''': The Senate Intelligence Committee seeks further information about Russian links to Facebook as concerns rise about the role that social media networks played in the 2016 presidential election and Russian interference.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2ad99d24-9bc4-11e7-8cd4-932067fbf946 |title=US Senate investigators train sights on Facebook |website=Financial Times|access-date=September 18, 2017|last1=Weaver|first1=Courtney|last2=Hook|first2=Leslie|date=September 17, 2017}}</ref>
* '''September 18''':
** Mueller notifies Manafort that he is a target of the investigation and will be indicted.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/us/politics/mueller-russia-investigation.html |title=With a Picked Lock and a Threatened Indictment, Mueller's Inquiry Sets a Tone |last=LaFraniere |first=Sharon |date=September 18, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 18, 2017 |last2=Apuzzo |first2=Matt |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Goldman |first3=Adam}}</ref>
** CNN reports that US investigators had been wiretapping Manafort under secret court orders before the election campaign, at least since 2014. The government surveillance continued into early 2017, including a period when Manafort was known to talk to Trump.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/18/politics/paul-manafort-government-wiretapped-fisa-russians/index.html |title=US government wiretapped Trump campaign chair |publisher=[[CNN]] |first1=Pamela |last1=Brown |first2=Evan |last2=Perez |first3=Shimon |last3=Prokupecz |date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2017}}</ref>
** Flynn launches his legal defense fund to raise money to cover his expected legal bills of over $1 million. The fund attracts attention because it is structured as a [[United States trust law|trust]], which will allow it to keep its donors confidential. While the fund's website says no foreign donations will be accepted, its lack of disclosure requirements means there is no way for anyone to verify whether any foreign donations are ever received.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Flynn Prepping for a $1 Million Legal Tab|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/michael-flynn-prepping-for-a-dollar1-million-legal-tab|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2019|last1=Markay|first1=Lachlan|last2=Woodruff|first2=Betsy|last3=Stein|first3=Sam}}</ref>
* '''September 19''':
** A private Senate Intelligence Committee interview with Michael Cohen is disbanded when it is learned that Cohen has shared his prepared statement with the media. Senators Burr and Warner condemn Cohen's action and announce that he will be recalled to testify publicly on October 25.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/09/19/team-trumps-latest-defense-in-mueller-probe-trump-is-the-victim-here/ |title=Team Trump's latest defense in Mueller probe: Trump is the victim here |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 19, 2017|last=Posner|first=Sarah|author-link=Sarah Posner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/michael-cohen-trumps-lawyer-confidant-senate-investigators/story?id=49945844 |title=Senate investigators postpone meeting with Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen |work=ABC News |date=September 19, 2017|last1=Ross|first1=Brian|author-link1=Brian Ross (journalist)|last2=Mosk|first2=Matthew}}</ref>
** Congressional investigators say Facebook is withholding information that may demonstrate the nature of Russian election interference.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/facebooks-openness-on-russia-questioned-by-congressional-investigators/2017/09/18/060e1ee4-9c90-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html |title=Facebook's openness on Russia questioned by congressional investigators |last=Leonnig |first=Carol D. |date=September 18, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=September 19, 2017 |last2=Dwoskin |first2=Elizabeth |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Timberg |first3=Craig}}</ref>
** CNN reports that Mueller's Manafort investigation covers 11 years of activity.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/19/politics/mueller-manafort-pressure-decade-investigation/index.html |title=Mueller team's Manafort focus spans 11 years |publisher=[[CNN]] |first1=Evan |last1=Perez |first2=Shimon |last2=Prokupecz |date=September 19, 2017 |access-date=September 20, 2017}}</ref>
** Reports emerge that Trump is using campaign and Republican National Committee (RNC) funds to pay legal bills from the Russia probe.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-lawyers-exclusive/exclusive-trump-using-campaign-rnc-funds-to-pay-legal-bills-from-russia-probe-idUSKCN1BU2OS |title=Trump using campaign, RNC funds to pay legal bills from Russia probe: sources |date=September 19, 2017 |work=Reuters|access-date=September 20, 2017|last1=Freifeld|first1=Karen|last2=Gibson|first2=Gigner}}</ref>
** During a Senate confirmation, [[Jon Huntsman Jr.|Jon Huntsman]], Trump’s pick for ambassador to Russia, says there is no doubt Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/huntsman-says-theres-no-doubt-russia-meddled-in-election-1505846852 |title=Huntsman Says There's No Doubt Russia Meddled in Election |last=Sonne |first=Paul |date=September 19, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 20, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
** CBS News independently confirms that the [[Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act|FISA]] warrant surveillance of Manafort occurred during the 2016 presidential campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paul-manafort-surveillance-during-2016-campaign/ |title=Surveillance of Paul Manafort occurred during 2016 campaign|access-date=September 20, 2017 |language=en|date=September 19, 2017|last=Pegues|first=Jeff|website=CBS News}}</ref>
** Trump responds to a tweet from @10_gop, the "backup" account for the now-closed IRA account @TEN_GOP, saying, "THANK YOU for your support Miami! My team just shared photos from your TRUMP SIGN WAVING DAY, yesterday! I love you- and there is no question - TOGETHER, WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" The response is to an @10_gop tweet that simply reads "we love you Mr. President."<ref name="AllTheTimesTrumpBusinessInsider-20190418">{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-report-russia-trump-campaign-shared-russia-false-info-2019-4 |title=All the times Trump campaign figures shared false information sponsored by Russia that were included in the Mueller report |last=Panetta |first=Grace |date=April 18, 2019 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=April 22, 2019}}</ref><ref name="MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I">{{Cite web |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Report_On_The_Investigation_Into_Russian_Interference_In_The_2016_Presidential_Election.pdf |title=Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election Volume I |last=Muller III |first=Robert S. |authorlink=Robert Mueller |date=March 2019 |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>{{rp|34}}
** Mueller's team interviews Sater for the first of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=69}}
* '''September 20''':
** Mueller seeks White House documents related to Trump’s actions as President, including records and emails concerning matters including Comey's dismissal and the warning that Flynn was under investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/us/politics/mueller-trump-russia.html |title=Mueller Seeks White House Documents Related to Trump's Actions as President |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S.|authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt |date=September 20, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 20, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-casts-broad-net-in-requesting-extensive-records-from-trump-white-house/2017/09/20/3c5cfbe2-9e2e-11e7-8ea1-ed975285475e_story.html |title=Mueller casts broad net in requesting extensive records from Trump White House |last=Leonnig |first=Carol D. |date=September 20, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 20, 2017 |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that less than two weeks before Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination, Manafort offered to provide briefings to Russian billionaire [[Oleg Deripaska]], who is close to Putin.<ref name=ManafortPrivateBriefings20170920>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/manafort-offered-to-give-russian-billionaire-private-briefings-on-2016-campaign/2017/09/20/399bba1a-9d48-11e7-8ea1-ed975285475e_story.html |title=Manafort offered to give Russian billionaire 'private briefings' on 2016 campaign |last=Hamburger |first=Tom |date=September 20, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 20, 2017 |last2=Helderman |first2=Rosalind S. |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Leonnig |first3=Carol D. |last4=Entous |first4=Adam}}</ref>
** ''The Daily Beast'' reports on emerging evidence that numerous pro-Trump and anti-Clinton Facebook and Twitter activist accounts, including "Being Patriotic" and "march_for_trump", were run by Russian propagandists.<ref name=Russians17TrumpRalliesDailyBeast20170920>{{cite web |title=Exclusive: Russians Appear to Use Facebook to Push Trump Rallies in 17 U.S. Cities |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/russians-appear-to-use-facebook-to-push-pro-trump-flash-mobs-in-florida |website=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=September 20, 2017|access-date=March 15, 2018 |last1=Collins |first1=Ben |last2=Resnick |first2=Gideon |last3=Poulsen |first3=Kevin |last4=Ackerman |first4=Spencer|author-link4=Spencer Ackerman}}</ref>
* '''September 21''': Facebook hands information on more than 3,000 Russia-linked advertisements to the Senate and House Intelligence Committees.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/technology/facebook-russian-ads.html |title=Facebook to Turn Over Russian-Linked Ads to Congress |last=Shane |first=Scott |date=September 21, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 21, 2017 |last2=Isaac |first2=Mike |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* '''September 22''':
** Trump and Kremlin spokesman [[Dmitry Peskov]] issue separate denials that Russia purchased advertising space on Facebook.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/sep/22/donald-trump-and-putin-spox-deny-russia-bought-pol/ |title=Donald Trump, Putin spokesman deny Russia bought political Facebook ads |date=September 22, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Times]]|last=Blake|first=Andrew}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/politics/trump-russia-hoax-facebook-ads.html |title=Trump Dismisses 'Russia Hoax' as Facebook Turns Over Ads Tied to Campaign |date=September 22, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|last=Sullivan|first=Eileen|author-link1=Eileen Sullivan}}</ref>
** Mueller requests phone records about the Trump Jr. statement on the Veselnitskaya meeting that was reportedly prepared aboard Air Force One.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/21/robert-mueller-trump-russians-air-force-one-statement-242984 |title=Mueller requested phone records about Air Force One statement |work=Politico |access-date=September 22, 2017|date=September 21, 2017|last=Dawsey|first=Josh}}</ref>
** The [[Department of Homeland Security]] notifies election officials in 21 states that hackers targeted their systems last year; of those, only Illinois reported a successful breach.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/22/us-government-notifies-21-states-of-election-hacking.html |title=US government notifies 21 states of election hacking |agency=AP |date=September 22, 2017 |work=CNBC|access-date=September 22, 2017|archive-date=September 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928071330/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/22/us-government-notifies-21-states-of-election-hacking.html|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
** Grassley asks the FBI whether it warned the Trump campaign in 2016 that Manafort was under federal surveillance while working for the campaign. Grassley compares the situation to the warning the McCain presidential campaign purportedly received in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last1=King|first1=John|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|author-link2=Manu Raju|author-link1=John King (journalist)|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/21/politics/chuck-grassley-fbi-letter/index.html|title=Grassley asks FBI if it warned Trump about Manafort|website=[[CNN]]|date=September 22, 2017}}</ref>
* '''September 24''': ''The Washington Post'' reports that then-President Obama warned Facebook chief executive [[Mark Zuckerberg]] over the potential electoral impact of fake news on Facebook, an idea Zuckerberg had dismissed as “crazy”.<ref name=ObamaZuckerbergWarningWapo20170924>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-tried-to-give-zuckerberg-a-wake-up-call-over-fake-news-on-facebook/2017/09/24/15d19b12-ddac-4ad5-ac6e-ef909e1c1284_story.html |title=Obama tried to give Zuckerberg a wake-up call over fake news on Facebook |last=Entous |first=Adam |date=September 24, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=September 25, 2017 |last2=Dwoskin |first2=Elizabeth |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Timberg |first3=Craig}}</ref>
* '''September 25''':
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that "Russian operatives used Facebook ads to exploit divisions over black political activism and Muslims."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/russian-operatives-used-facebook-ads-to-exploit-divisions-over-black-political-activism-and-muslims/2017/09/25/4a011242-a21b-11e7-ade1-76d061d56efa_story.html |title=Russian operatives used Facebook ads to exploit divisions over black political activism and Muslims |first1=Adam |last1=Entous |first2=Craig |last2=Timberg |first3=Elizabeth |last3=Dwoskin |date=September 25, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=September 25, 2017}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews [[Miss Universe Organization]] head Paula Shugart.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=111}}<ref name=HowAMusicPublicistMotherJones20170710>{{Cite web |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/07/how-a-music-publicist-connected-trumps-inner-circle-to-a-russian-lawyer-peddling-clinton-dirt/ |title=How a Music Publicist Connected Trump’s Inner Circle to a Russian Lawyer Peddling Clinton Dirt |website=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=November 4, 2019 |last=Corn |first=David |author-link=David Corn}}</ref>
[[File:Roger Stone interview by the House Intelligence Committee 2017-09-26.pdf|thumb|Transcript of Roger Stone's interview by the House Intelligence Committee.]]
* '''September 26''':
** Stone speaks to a closed session of the House Intelligence Committee. He denies all allegations of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign and describes the inquiry as politically motivated.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/26/roger-stone-donald-trump-russia-investigation-house-committee |title=Roger Stone: Trump adviser denies Russia collusion during 2016 election |date=September 26, 2017 |work=The Guardian|last=Borger|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Borger}}</ref>
** CNN reports that the [[IRS]] is sharing information with Mueller.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/26/politics/special-counsel-irs-russia-probe-information-sharing/index.html |title=Special counsel gets IRS info in Russia probe |last1=Raju|first1=Manu|first2=Pamela|last2=Brown|first3=Evan|last3=Perez|work=CNN|access-date=September 26, 2017|author-link1=Manu Raju|author-link2=Pamela Brown (journalist)|date=September 26, 2017}}</ref>
** ''Politico'' reports that approximately $150,000 worth of Russian-funded Facebook advertisements promoted candidates Trump, [[Bernie Sanders|Sanders]] and [[Jill Stein|Stein]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/26/facebook-russia-trump-sanders-stein-243172 |title=Russian-funded Facebook ads backed Stein, Sanders and Trump |date=September 26, 2017 |work=Politico|last=Dawsey|first=Josh}}</ref>
** Senator [[Richard Blumenthal]] tells ''Politico'' that [[criminal charges]] against Flynn and Manafort are virtually certain.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/26/indictments-michael-flynn-paul-manafort-richard-blumenthal-says-243158 |title=Blumenthal: '99 percent sure' of Russia indictments |work=Politico |access-date=September 27, 2017|last=Samuelsohn|first=Darren|date=September 26, 2017}}</ref>
** ''ABC News'' reports Mueller is investigating the timing of $2 million in political contributions from [[Leonard Blavatnik]], [[Simon Kukes]], and Andrew Intrater to funds controlled by Trump. All three are associates of Russian oligarch [[Viktor Vekselberg]]. Balavatnik is also an associate of Oleg Deripaska.<ref>{{cite web|title=Special counsel probing flow of Russian-American money to Trump political funds|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/investigators-follow-flow-money-trump-wealthy-donors-russian/story?id=50100024|website=[[ABC News]]|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=June 27, 2018|last1=Ross|first1=Brian|author-link1=Brian Ross (journalist)|last2=Mosk|first2=Matthew|last3=Meek|first3=James Gordon|last4=Hosenball|first4=Alex|last5=Park|first5=Cho}}</ref>
** The Trump inaugural committee pledges to donate $3 million to the [[American Red Cross]], [[Samaritan's Purse]], and the [[Salvation Army]] to help with hurricane relief.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump's Inaugural Committee to Donate $3 Million to Hurricane Relief|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/politics/trump-inaugural-committee-donations-hurricanes.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 27, 2017|access-date=December 14, 2018|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|author-link=Maggie Haberman}}</ref> In January 2018, the committee refuses to say whether it actually donated the money.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump's Inaugural Committee Still Won't Say How It Spent $107 Million|url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/01/trump-inaugural-panel-wont-say-how-it-spent-usd107-million.html|website=[[New York Magazine]]|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=December 14, 2018|last=Levitz|first=Eric}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews McCabe for the second of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=67, 69-70}}
* '''September 27''':
** Senator [[Mark Warner]]'s office states that [[Reddit]] is of interest to the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/policy/technology/352584-warner-sees-reddit-as-potential-target-for-russian-influence |title=Warner sees Reddit as potential target for Russian influence |work=The Hill |date=September 27, 2017|last=Breland|first=Ali}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/27/trump-russia-investigation-reddit |title=Trump-Russia investigation may target Reddit posts, says senator's aide |work=The Guardian |date=September 27, 2017|last=Lartey|first=Jamiles}}</ref>
** CNN reports that one of the Facebook campaign-time ads bought by Russians referenced [[Black Lives Matter]] and was targeted to reach audiences in Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/27/media/facebook-black-lives-matter-targeting/index.html |title=Exclusive: Russian-bought Black Lives Matter ad on Facebook targeted Baltimore and Ferguson |last=Byers |first=Dylan |work=CNNMoney|access-date=July 24, 2018|date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>
** Facebook says it took down "tens of thousands" of fake accounts created by Russians before [[German federal election, 2017|the German election]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/27/technology/business/facebook-german-elections-fake-accounts/index.html |title=Facebook says it took down 'tens of thousands' of fake accounts before German election |last=Larson |first=Selena |work=CNNMoney|access-date=September 27, 2017|date=September 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/story/facebooks-crackdown-ahead-of-german-election-shows-its-learning/ |title=Facebook's Crackdown Ahead of German Election Shows It's Learning |work=WIRED|access-date=September 27, 2017 |language=en-US|date=September 27, 2017|last=Lapowsky|first=Issie}}</ref>
** The Senate Intelligence Committee invites Facebook, Twitter and Google parent company [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]] to testify.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/27/media/senate-intel-facebook-twitter-alphabet/index.html |title=Senate Intel asks Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet to public hearing |last=Herb |first=Dylan Byers and Jeremy |work=CNNMoney|access-date=September 27, 2017|date=September 27, 2017}}</ref>
** Zuckerberg says he regrets having dismissed election concerns,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/27/mark-zuckerberg-says-facebook-impact-on-2016-election-went-beyond-ads.html |title=Mark Zuckerberg responds to Trump, regrets he dismissed election concerns |last=Shinal |first=John |date=September 27, 2017 |work=CNBC|access-date=September 27, 2017}}</ref> among reports of his lack of sensitivity to warnings of Russian [[Internet troll|trolls]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/zuckerberg-blew-off-warnings-of-russian-trolls-in-2015 |title=Zuckerberg Blew Off Russian Troll Warnings Before the Attack on America |work=[[The Daily Beast]] |first1=Katie |last1=Zavadski |first2=Ben |last2=Collins |date=September 27, 2017 |access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The Daily Beast'' reports that Russians impersonated American Muslims to create chaos on Facebook and Instagram.<ref name=RussiansImpersonatedMuslims20170927>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-russians-impersonated-real-american-muslims-to-stir-chaos-on-facebook-and-instagram |title=Exclusive: Russians Impersonated Real American Muslims to Stir Chaos on Facebook and Instagram |last3=Ackerman|author-link3=Spencer Ackerman|first1=Ben|last1=Collins|first2=Kevin|last2=Poulsen|first3=Spencer|date=September 27, 2017|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>
** ''BuzzFeed'' files a motion to compel depositions from James Comey and James Clapper to aid in their defense against the libel suit filed by Aleksej Gubarev. BuzzFeed is seeking information on how seriously the government treated the Steele dossier.<ref>{{cite web|title=Is the Steele Dossier About to Have Its Moment of Truth?|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/09/florida-court-the-dossier-buzzfeed|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|last=Pompeo|first=Joe|date=September 27, 2017|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref>
* '''September 28''':
** Twitter announces that it identified 201 non-[[Twitter bot|bot]] accounts tied to the IRA.<ref name=TwitterHasTurnedOverDailyBeast20171120>{{cite web|title=Twitter Has Turned Over Zero New Russian Troll Accounts to Congress|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/twitter-has-turned-over-zero-new-russian-troll-accounts-to-congress|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=November 20, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2018|last1=Ackerman|first1=Spencer|author-link1=Spencer Ackerman|last2=Collins|first2=Ben|last3=Woodruff|first3=Betsy}}</ref>
** Democrats rebuke Twitter for its "frankly inadequate" response to Russian meddling.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/28/twitter-congress-russian-election-interference |title=Democrats rebuke Twitter for 'frankly inadequate' response to Russian meddling |last=Gambino |first=Lauren |date=September 28, 2017 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref>
** [[Mother Jones (magazine)|''Mother Jones'']] writes that "fake news on Twitter flooded [[swing states]] that helped Trump win."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/09/fake-news-including-from-russian-sources-saturated-battleground-states-trump-barely-won/ |title=Fake news on Twitter—including from Russia—flooded swing states that helped Trump win |work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]|access-date=September 29, 2017 |language=en-US |date=September 28, 2017|last=Clifton|first=Denise|quote=Millions of tweets were flying furiously in the final days leading up to the 2016 US presidential election.}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews [[Keith Kellogg]], the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] chief of staff. He is the first White House staffer to be interviewed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Special counsel investigators start questioning White House staffers|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/29/special-counsel-investigators-start-questioning-white-house-staffers.html|website=[[Fox News]]|date=September 29, 2017|access-date=March 27, 2018|last=Herridge|first=Catherine}}</ref>
=== October ===
* '''October 1'''
** Facebook announces that it will send Congress thousands of ads bought by Russian operatives.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/10/01/facebook-will-send-thousands-of-ads-bought-by-russian-operatives-to-congress-on-monday/ |title=Facebook will send thousands of ads bought by Russian operatives to Congress on Monday |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |date=October 1, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 2, 2017 |last2=Entous |first2=Adam |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** First CAATSA deadline missed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/29/politics/trump-russia-sanctions/index.html |title=US names Russian oligarchs in 'Putin list' but imposes no new sanctions |authors=Nicole Gaouette and Donna Borak |date=January 30, 2018 |website=CNN |access-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
* '''October 2''':
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that Russian Facebook ads showed a black woman firing a rifle, amid efforts to stoke racial strife.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/russian-facebook-ads-showed-a-black-woman-firing-a-rifle-amid-efforts-to-stoke-racial-strife/2017/10/02/e4e78312-a785-11e7-b3aa-c0e2e1d41e38_story.html |title=Russian Facebook ads showed a black woman firing a rifle, amid efforts to stoke racial strife |last=Entous |first=Adam |date=October 2, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 2, 2017 |last2=Timberg |first2=Craig |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Dwoskin |first3=Elizabeth}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that the Russians used similar methods to corporate America by using a Facebook tool to ID and influence voters.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/russians-took-a-page-from-corporate-america-by-using-facebook-tool-to-id-and-influence-voters/2017/10/02/681e40d8-a7c5-11e7-850e-2bdd1236be5d_story.html |title=Russians took a page from corporate America by using Facebook tool to ID and influence voters |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |date=October 2, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 3, 2017 |last2=Timberg |first2=Craig |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Entous |first3=Adam}}</ref>
** Facebook announces 10 million Americans saw advertisements purchased by Russian intelligence officers in the 2016 election influence campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://mashable.com/2017/10/02/facebook-russia-ads-10-million/ |title=Facebook says 10 million people saw ads bought by Russia |last=Bell |first=Karissa |work=Mashable|access-date=October 2, 2017 |date=October 2, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
* '''October 3''':
** CNN reports Russian-linked Facebook ads targeted [[United States presidential election in Michigan, 2016|Michigan]] and [[United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2016|Wisconsin]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/03/politics/russian-facebook-ads-michigan-wisconsin/index.html |title=Exclusive: Russian-linked Facebook ads targeted Michigan, Wisconsin |first1=Manu|last1=Raju|author-link1=Manu Raju|first2=Dylan|last2=Byers|author-link2=Dylan Byers|first3=Dana|last3=Bash|author-link3=Dana Bash|work=CNN|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that the Senate Intelligence Committee is expected to largely endorse intel report on Russian meddling and sound the alarm about next election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senators-expected-to-largely-endorse-intel-report-on-russian-meddling-sound-alarm-about-next-election/2017/10/03/b61d5c32-a893-11e7-b3aa-c0e2e1d41e38_story.html |title=Senators expected to largely endorse intel report on Russian meddling, sound alarm about next election |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=October 3, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 4, 2017 |last2=Miller |first2=Greg |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Clovis.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=82, 127}}
* '''October 4''':
** [[Mikhail Fridman]], [[Petr Aven]], and [[German Khan]] file a libel suit against Fusion GPS and Glenn Simpson in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. They allege Simpson and Fusion GPS recklessly distributed the Steele dossier to the media and damaged their reputations when "defamatory statements" about them in the dossier were published. All three are owners of [[Alfa-Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|title=3 Russians named in Trump dossier sue Fusion GPS for libel|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/10/04/trump-dossier-fusion-gps-russians-lawsuit-fridman-aven-khan-243461|website=[[Politico]]|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=August 20, 2018|last=Gerstein|first=Josh}}</ref>
** Senator Burr announces the Senate Intelligence Committee will not release the Russian social media ads in their possession and calls on Facebook and Twitter to release the ads themselves.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Challenges Facebook, Twitter, Google to Release Russian Ads|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/senate-challenges-facebook-twitter-google-to-release-russian-ads|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=January 7, 2019|last1=Ackerman|first1=Spencer|author-link1=Spencer Ackerman|last2=Desiderio|first2=Andrew}}</ref>
* '''October 5''': [[File:Statement of the offense.filed.pdf|thumb|George Papadopoulos statement of the offense]]
** Papadopoulos pleads guilty to giving false testimony to the FBI about meetings he had with Mifsud in March 2016.<ref name=cnbc-20171030>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/ex-trump-adviser-papadopolous-pleaded-guilty-to-lying-to-fbi-agents.html |title=Ex-Trump advisor George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents, authorities reveal |work=CNBC |date=October 30, 2017|last1=Wang|first1=Christine|last2=Wilkie|first2=Christina}}</ref> A court transcript of the secret plea hearing shows that federal prosecutors described the Papadopoulos case as just a "small part" of Mueller's investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/prosecutors-say-george-papadopoulos-plea-small-part-mueller-russian-probe-n816056 |title=Prosecutors say Papadopoulos plea is only 'small part' of Russia probe |publisher=[[NBC News]]|access-date=November 3, 2017 |language=en|last1=Connor|first1=Tracy|last2=Winter|first2=Tom|date=October 31, 2017|last3=Williams|first3=Pete|author-link3=Pete Williams (journalist)}}</ref> Those documents "represent the first concrete evidence that ... Trump was personally told about ties between a campaign adviser and Russian officials."<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/us/politics/trump-jeff-sessions-russia.html |title=Trump and Sessions Denied Knowing About Russian Contacts. Records Suggest Otherwise. |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S.|authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt |date=November 2, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 3, 2017 |last2=Apuzzo |first2=Matt |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Shane |first3=Scott}}</ref> In [[commons:File:Statement of the offense.filed.pdf|the statement of the offense]], [[Sam Clovis]] as the "Campaign Supervisor",<ref name=WhosWhoInTheWaPo20171102>{{cite web|title=Who's who in the George Papadopoulos court documents|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whos-who-in-the-george-papadopoulos-court-documents/2017/10/30/e131158c-bdb3-11e7-97d9-bdab5a0ab381_story.html|website=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2018|last1=Helderman|first1=Rosalind S.|first2=David|last2=Filipov|last3=Adam|first3=Karla|last4=Hamburger|first4=Tom|last5=Costa|first5=Robert|author-link5=Robert Costa (journalist)}}</ref> [[Corey Lewandowski]] as "High-Ranking Campaign Official",<ref name=WhosWhoInTheWaPo20171102 /> Paul Manafort as "another high-ranking campaign official",<ref name=WhosWhoInTheWaPo20171102 /> Rick Gates as "another campaign official",<ref name=WhosWhoInTheWaPo20171102 /> [[Walid Phares]] as "Another Foreign Policy Advisor",<ref name=WhosWhoInTheWaPo20171102 /> [[Joseph Mifsud]] as "The Professor",<ref name=WhosWhoInTheWaPo20171102 /> [[Ivan Timofeev]] as "Russian MFA Connection",<ref>{{cite web|title='Unprofessional' Papadopoulos couldn't deliver on promises, his Russian contact says|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/07/politics/george-papadopoulos-ivan-timofeev-russia-investigation/index.html|website=[[CNN]]|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018|last=Cohen|first=Marshall}}</ref> Olga Vinogradova as "Female Russian National",<ref>{{cite web|title=Mysterious Putin 'niece' has a name|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/09/putin-niece-olga-vinogradova-george-papadopoulos-russia-probe-244758|website=[[Politico]]|date=November 9, 2017|access-date=September 19, 2018|last1=Watkins|first1=Ali|author-link1=Ali Watkins|last2=Meyer|first2=Josh|author-link2=Josh Meyer|last3=O'Leary|first3=Naomi}}</ref> and Steve Bannon as "Senior Policy Advisor".<ref>{{cite web|title=New emails show George Papadopoulos communicated with Michael Flynn and Steve Bannon during Trump's 2016 campaign|url=https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/03/23/new-emails-show-george-papadopoulos-communicated-with-michael-flynn-and-steve-bannon-during-trumps-2016-campaign/23394123/|website=[[Aol.]]|date=May 23, 2018|access-date=September 19, 2018|last1=Sheth|first=Sonam|agency=Business Insider}}</ref>
** CNN reports that Mueller's investigators met with Steele.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/05/politics/special-counsel-russia-dossier-christopher-steele/index.html |title=Mueller's team met with Russia dossier author |publisher=[[CNN]] |first1=Pamela |last1=Brown |first2=Evan |last2=Perez |first3=Shimon |last3=Prokupecz |date=October 5, 2017 |access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>
** Mueller subpoenas Papadopoulos's girlfriend, Simona Mangiante.<ref>{{cite web|title=The boss, the boyfriend and the FBI: the Italian woman in the eye of the Trump-Russia inquiry|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/18/simona-mangiante-trump-russia-joseph-mifsud-george-papadopoulos|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=July 9, 2018|last1=Harding|first1=Luke|last2=Kirchgaessner|first2=Stephanie|author-link1=Luke Harding}}</ref>
* '''October 5''': ''The Daily Beast'' reports that staffers for the Senate Judiciary Committee say the committee is not investigating Russian meddling, despite press releases from committee chairman [[Chuck Grassley]] implying such an investigation is under way.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exclusive: Senate 'Russia Probe' Is Not Investigating Russia|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/senate-russia-probe-is-not-really-investigating-russia-staffers-say|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=October 6, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2019|last=Woodruff|first=Betsy}}</ref>
* '''October 9''':
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that Google uncovered Russian-bought ads on [[YouTube]], [[Gmail]] and other [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]]-owned platforms aimed at influencing the 2016 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/10/09/google-uncovers-russian-bought-ads-on-youtube-gmail-and-other-platforms/ |title=Google uncovers Russian-bought ads on YouTube, Gmail and other platforms |last=Dwoskin |first=Elizabeth |date=October 9, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 9, 2017 |last2=Entous |first2=Adam |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Timberg |first3=Craig}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' and ABC News report on correspondence indicating that Veselnitskaya's intended topic for her June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower was the [[Magnitsky Act]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-jrs-meeting-russian-lawyer-set-focus-us/story?id=50369976 |title=Trump Jr.'s meeting with Russian lawyer was set to focus on US sanctions law, emails show |date=October 9, 2017 |work=ABC News|last=Santucci|first=John}}</ref>
** ''The Daily Beast'' reports that Russia recruited YouTubers to publicly criticize Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-recruited-youtubers-to-bash-racist-btch-hillary-clinton-over-rap-beats |title=Russia Recruited YouTubers to Bash 'Racist B*tch' Hillary Clinton Over Rap Beats |last3=Ackerman|author-link3=Spencer Ackerman|first1=Ben|last1=Collins|first2=Gideon|last2=Resnick|first3=Spencer|date=October 9, 2017|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=October 10, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The Wall Street Journal'' reports that Facebook removed mention of Russia from an April report on election influence.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-cut-russia-out-of-april-report-on-election-influence-1507253503 |title=Facebook Cut Russia Out of April Report on Election Influence |last=McMillan |first=Robert |date=October 6, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 10, 2017 |last2=Harris |first2=Shane |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
** ''Recode'' reports that [[Microsoft]] is reviewing its records for signs of Russian interference during the election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.recode.net/2017/10/9/16450320/microsoft-2016-presidential-election-russia-bing-investigation |title=Microsoft is reviewing its records for signs of potential Russian meddling during the 2016 election |work=Recode|access-date=October 10, 2017|date=October 9, 2017|last=Romm|first=Tony}}</ref>
* '''October 10''':
** Nunes issues subpoenas to [[Fusion GPS]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nunes-issues-subpoenas-to-fusion-gps/ |title=After recusing himself from Russia investigation, Nunes subpoenaed firm behind Trump dossier|access-date=October 11, 2017 |language=en|website=CBS News|date=October 11, 2017|last1=Reynolds|first1=Catherine|last2=Cronkite|first2=Walt}}</ref> Fusion GPS lawyers deny the request on October 16.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia/firm-behind-trump-dossier-declines-to-respond-to-house-panels-subpoena-idUSKBN1CL2CK |title=Firm behind Trump dossier declines to respond to House panel's subpoena |date=October 16, 2017 |work=Reuters|last=Hosenball|first=Mark}}</ref>
** Page informs the Senate Intelligence Committee that he will not cooperate with their inquiry, citing the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/carter-page-pleads-fifth-russia-080756369.html |title=Carter Page Pleads Fifth in Russia Probe |date=October 11, 2017 |work=Newsweek|via=Yahoo News|agency=Reuters}}</ref>
** A report published by the [[Brookings Institution]] alleges that Trump "likely obstructed justice" by dismissing Comey.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/10/trump-likely-obstructed-justice-in-comey-firing-could-be-impeached-brookings-institute-says.html |title=Trump 'likely obstructed justice' in Comey firing, could be impeached, Brookings Institution says |date=October 10, 2017 |work=CNBC|last=Cox|first=Jeff}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/tank-trump-obstructed-justice-firing-comey-article-1.3553451 |title=Trump 'likely obstructed justice,' could be impeached for firing Comey |date=October 10, 2017 |work=New York Daily News|last=Cullen|first=Terence |access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>
* '''October 11''': ''The Daily Beast'' reports that the House Intelligence Committee is looking at Cambridge Analytica's work for the Trump campaign as part of its investigation. The company is in the process of turning over documents to the committee.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-probe-now-investigating-cambridge-analytica-trumps-psychographic-data-gurus |title=Russia Probe Now Investigating Cambridge Analytica, Trump's 'Psychographic' Data Gurus|access-date=October 11, 2017 |language=en|website=The Daily Beast|last1=Woodruff|first1=Betsy|last2=Ackerman|first2=Spencer|author-link2=Spencer Ackerman|date=October 11, 2017}}</ref>
* '''October 12''': Senators [[John McCain]] (R-AZ) and [[Ben Cardin]] (D-MD) state that, despite an [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections#October 2017|October 1]] deadline, the White House has still not acted to identify Kremlin-linked targets for sanctions under [[CAATSA]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-russia-policy-f56bb386-aed1-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98-20171011-story.html |title=Leading lawmakers wonder why Trump Is dragging feet on Russia sanctions |first=Emily|last=Tamkin|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=October 13, 2017 |language=en-US|date=October 11, 2017}}</ref>
* '''October 13''':
** Mueller's investigators interview Trump's former Chief of Staff [[Reince Priebus]] for the entire day.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/reince-priebus-former-trump-chief-of-staff-interviewed-by-mueller-team/2017/10/13/fbbe6c66-b060-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html |title=Reince Priebus, former Trump chief of staff, interviewed by Mueller team |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 13, 2017|last=Helderman|first=Rosalind S.}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=23-24, 29, 32-33, 35, 37, 39-40, 44-45, 59, 64-66, 68-69, 80}} He is interviewd an additional two times in 2018.<ref name="MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II" />
** ''Politico'' reports that [[Twitter]] deleted data potentially crucial to Russia probes.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/13/twitter-russia-data-deleted-investigation-243730 |title=Twitter deleted data potentially crucial to Russia probes |work=Politico |access-date=October 13, 2017|date=October 13, 2017|last=Meyer|first=Josh}}</ref>
** Facebook takes down data and thousands of posts, obscuring the reach of Russian disinformation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/10/12/facebook-takes-down-data-and-thousands-of-posts-obscuring-reach-of-russian-disinformation/ |title=Facebook takes down data and thousands of posts, obscuring reach of Russian disinformation |last=Timberg |first=Craig |date=October 12, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 13, 2017 |last2=Dwoskin |first2=Elizabeth |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** NBC News reports on the transfer of $26 million from [[Oleg Deripaska]]'s firm, Oguster Management Ltd, to Yiakora Ventures Ltd, a company linked to Manafort.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/manafort-had-60m-relationship-russian-oligarch-n810541 |title=Manafort Had $60 Million Relationship With a Russian Oligarch |work=NBC News |date=October 13, 2017|last1=Petropoulos|first1=Aggelos|last2=Engel|first2=Richard|author-link2=Richard Engel}}</ref>
** VTB Bank Chairman [[Andrey L. Kostin]] describes as "fake news" all purported connection between Felix Sater and plans for a Trump Tower in Moscow.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/us/politics/andrey-kostin-felix-sater.html |title=Russian Banker Denies Role in Planned Trump Building in Moscow |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 13, 2017|last=Schmidt|first=Michael S.|author-link=Michael S. Schmidt}}</ref><ref name=harding-20171121>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2017/12/29/donald-trump-russia-secret-deutsche-bank-753780.html |title=Is Donald Trump's Dark Russian Secret Hiding in Deutsche Bank's Vaults? |work=[[Newsweek]] |first=Luke |last=Harding |author-link=Luke Harding |date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref>
** ''The Guardian'' reports that Barbara Leeden, a longtime staffer for Senator [[Chuck Grassley]] on the [[Senate Judiciary Committee]] and wife of close Flynn associate and [[Iran–Contra affair]] figure [[Michael Leeden]], conducted an independent search for Clinton's missing emails beginning in December 2015. Grassley's spokesperson distances the senator from Leeden and tells ''The Guardian'' that Leeden is not part of the Judiciary Committee's investigation team.<ref name="FlynnAllySoughtHelpTheGuardian-20171013">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/13/michael-flynn-clinton-email-investigation-russia-dark-web |title=Flynn ally sought help from 'dark web' in covert Clinton email investigation |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=October 13, 2017 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref>
* '''Mid October''': Mueller issues a first subpoena to the Trump campaign, which is voluntarily cooperating with his inquiry.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/politics/mueller-subpoenaed-trump-campaign-for-russia-documents-report/ar-BBF42Ny |title=Mueller subpoenaed Trump campaign for Russia documents: report |date=October 17, 2017 |via=MSN|work=The Hill|last=Carter|first=Brandon}}</ref>
* '''October 16''':
** Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump rejects the suggestion that he intends to dismiss Mueller.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/16/trump-russia-probe-fatigue-243829 |title=Trump on Russia probe: 'The American public is sick of it' |work=Politico |date=October 16, 2017|last1=Lima|first1=Cristiano}}</ref>
** Trump meets privately with Sessions and urges him to investigate Clinton.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=109}}
* '''October 17''':
** The Senate Intelligence Committee subpoenas Page.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-subpoenas-former-trump-adviser-carter-page-n811551 |title=Senate Subpoenas Former Trump Adviser Carter Page |date=October 16, 2017 |work=NBC News|last1=Sotomayer|first1=Marianna|last2=Hunt|first2=Kasie|author-link2=Kasie Hunt}}</ref>
** ''Business Insider'' reports that Mueller has interviewed former [[GCHQ]] security specialist Matt Tait, who says he was "recruited to collude with the Russians" as part of [[Peter W. Smith|Peter W. Smith's]] effort to locate Clinton's missing State Department emails.
** ''The Guardian'' reports that Russian trolls posing as Americans paid US activists to help fund protests during the 2016 election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/russian-troll-factory-activists-protests-us-election |title=Russian troll factory paid US activists to help fund protests during election |work=[[The Guardian]] |last=Walker |first=Shaun |date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Spicer for much of the day.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/17/sean-spicer-mueller-russia-probe-243882 |title=Spicer interviewed by Mueller's team |work=[[Politico]] |date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=October 18, 2017|last1=Karni|first1=Annie}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=23, 35, 69-71}}
** U.S. District Court Judge [[Ellen Huvelle]] tosses out Deripaska's libel suit against the Associated Press (AP). Huvelle rules Deripaska failed to show the AP knowingly misstated facts when it omitted some information about him from a story. Huvelle also denies a motion by the AP to recover its attorney costs. The suit was over an AP story about Deripaska's business dealings with Manafort. Both the AP and Deripaska [[Appellate procedure in the United States|file appeals]] for the two rulings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Judge tosses libel lawsuit against AP by Russian oligarch tied to Manafort|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/17/russia-libel-suit-manafort-243892|website=[[Politico]]|date=October 17, 2017|access-date=July 3, 2018|last=Gerstein|first=Josh}}</ref><ref name=DeripaskaDropsAPSuitPolitico20171206>{{cite web|title=Russian oligarch Deripaska drops libel suit against Associated Press|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/12/06/oleg-deripaska-libel-suit-associated-press-283767|website=[[Politico]]|date=December 6, 2017|access-date=July 3, 2018|last=Gerstein|first=Josh}}</ref>
* '''October 18''':
** Fusion GPS partners Peter Fritsch and Thomas Catán appear before the House Intelligence Committee and invoke their [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment rights]] against self-incrimination. Fritsch and Catán had both informed the committee when they received their subpoenas that they planned to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights and not testify. Regardless, Nunes took the unusual move of forcing them to appear even though the standard practice is to forego a hearing when witnesses indicate in advance that they will refuse to testify. The subpoena itself was also unusual in that it was signed only by Nunes. It is unclear whether other committee Republicans agreed to or knew of the subpoena being issued, and committee Democrats first learned of the subpoena from media reports.<ref name=DevinNunesWenRogueDailyBeast20171021>{{cite web|title=Devin Nunes Went Rogue to Find Out Who Paid for Trump-Russia Dossier, Firm Claims|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fusion-gps-claims-devin-nunes-went-rogue-to-find-out-who-paid-for-steele-dossier|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=October 21, 2017|access-date=January 7, 2019|last1=Miller|first1=Justin|last2=Ackerman|first2=Spencer|author-link2=Spencer Ackerman}}</ref>
** Deutsche Bank receives a subpoena issued unilaterally by Nunes for all of Fusion GPS's bank records dating back to 2015.<ref name=DevinNunesWenRogueDailyBeast20171021 />
** Mueller's team interviews Spicer for the second of two days.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=23}}
* '''October 19''':
** ''The Daily Beast'' reports that Conway, Trump Jr. and Parscale pushed messages from an account operated from Russia’s "troll farm", including allegations of voter fraud a week before Election Day.<ref name=CampaignRussianPropogandaDailyBeast20171018>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-campaign-staffers-pushed-russian-propaganda-days-before-the-election |title=Trump Campaign Staffers Pushed Russian Propaganda Days Before the Election |last3=Ackerman|author-link3=Spencer Ackerman |first4=Betsy|last4=Woodruff|first1=Ben|last1=Collins|first2=Kevin|last2=Poulsen|first3=Spencer|date=October 18, 2017|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=October 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/michael-flynn-nicki-minaj-shared-content-from-this-tennessee-gop-account-but-it-wasnt-real-it-was-russian/2017/10/18/8b92fcda-b435-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html |title=Michael Flynn, Nicki Minaj shared content from this Tennessee GOP account. But it wasn't real. It was Russian. |last=Timberg |first=Craig |date=October 18, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 19, 2017 |last2=Dwoskin |first2=Elizabeth |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Entous |first3=Adam}}</ref>
** Trump asks whether Russia, the FBI, or Democrats paid for the Steele dossier.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/19/trump-who-paid-for-dossier-243938?lo=ap_b1 |title=Trump questions if Russia, FBI or Democrats paid for dossier |work=Politico |access-date=October 19, 2017|last=Nelson|first=Louis|date=October 19, 2017}}</ref>
** Senators [[Mark Warner]] and [[Amy Klobuchar]] introduce the [[Honest Ads Act]], which would require digital platforms such as Facebook and Google to publicly archive advertisements with election content. McCain co-sponsors the legislation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/19/legislation-would-require-facebook-google-to-publicly-archive-ads.html |title=A new bill would require Facebook and Google to publicly archive ads purchased around elections |last=Salinas |first=Sara |date=October 19, 2017 |work=CNBC|access-date=October 19, 2017}}</ref>
** [[U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations]] [[Nikki Haley]] says that Russian online interference in American elections is “warfare” and spreading misinformation is the country’s “new weapon of choice.”<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/politics/nikki-haley-russia-warfare/index.html |title=Nikki Haley: Russian cyberinterference is 'warfare' |first=Maegan|last=Vazquez|work=CNN|access-date=October 19, 2017|date=October 19, 2017}}</ref>
** According to ''The Washington Post'', Pompeo "distorts intelligence community’s findings on Russian interference".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-director-distorts-intelligence-communitys-findings-on-russian-interference/2017/10/19/d7f8e05e-b4ed-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html |title=CIA director distorts intelligence community's findings on Russian interference |last=Miller |first=Greg |date=October 19, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 20, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* '''October 20''':
** ''The Guardian'' reports that Russian billionaire [[Dmitry Rybolovlev]], who bought Florida property from Trump in 2008, is under investigation in Monaco for breach of privacy related to his art dealings.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/russian-scrutinised-for-ties-to-trump-investigated-in-monaco |title=Russian scrutinised for ties to Trump investigated in Monaco |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=October 19, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=October 20, 2017 |last2=Harding |first2=Luke |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** CNN reports that Senate investigators spoke with Russians present at the June 2016 meeting with Trump Jr.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/20/politics/senate-russia-trump-tower-meeting/index.html |title=Senate investigators spoke with Russians present at Trump Tower meeting |author-link1=Manu Raju|last1=Raju|first1=Manu|first2=Jeremy|last2=Herb |publisher=CNN|access-date=October 21, 2017|date=October 20, 2017}}</ref>
** Fusion GPS files suit in federal court in an attempt to block a subpoena issued unilaterally by Nunes for the firm's bank records.<ref name=DevinNunesWenRogueDailyBeast20171021 />
* '''October 21''': In an interview with ''New York Times'' columnist [[Maureen Dowd]], former President [[Jimmy Carter]] says, “I don't think there's any evidence that what the Russians did changed enough votes, or any votes."<ref>{{cite web|last=Chavez|first=Nicole|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/22/politics/jimmy-carter-new-york-times-interview/index.html|title=Jimmy Carter interview: Five memorable lines|website=[[CNN]]|date=October 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author-link=Maureen Dowd|first=Maureen|last=Dowd|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/opinion/sunday/jimmy-carter-lusts-trump-posting.html|title=Jimmy Carter Lusts for a Trump Posting|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 21, 2017}}</ref>
* '''October 23''':
** [[NBC News]] reports that [[Tony Podesta]] and the [[Podesta Group]] are now subjects in Mueller‘s investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-now-investigating-democratic-lobbyist-tony-podesta-n812776 |title=Mueller now investigating Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta |work=NBC News|access-date=October 23, 2017 |language=en|last1=Winter|first1=Tom|last2=Ainsley|first2=Julia|date=October 23, 2017}}</ref>
** [[Kaspersky Lab]], the Moscow-based cybersecurity firm whose software U.S. officials suspect helped the Russian government spy on Americans, promises to make its source code available for an independent review.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-cybersecurity-firm-kaspersky-to-make-source-code-available-for-review-1508756502 |title=Russia's Kaspersky to Allow Outside Review of Its Cybersecurity Software |last=Strumpf |first=Dan |date=October 23, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 23, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
** ''The Daily Beast'' reports that Greenfloid LLC, a tiny web hosting company registered to Sergey Kashyrin and two others, hosted IRA propaganda websites DoNotShoot.Us, BlackMattersUS.com and others on servers in a [[Staten Island]] neighborhood. Greenfloid is listed as the North American subsidiary of ITL, a hosting company based in [[Kharkiv, Ukraine]], registered to Dmitry Deineka. Deineka gave conflicting answers when questioned by ''The Daily Beast'' about the IRA websites.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exclusive: Russian Propaganda Traced Back to Staten Island, New York|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-propaganda-hosted-by-man-on-staten-island-new-york|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=October 23, 2017|access-date=January 7, 2019|last1=Zavadski|first1=Katie|last2=Ackerman|first2=Spencer|author-link2=Spencer Ackerman|last3=Collins|first3=Ben|last4=Poulsen|first4=Kevin|author-link4=Kevin Poulsen}}</ref>
* '''October 24''':
** Fusion GPS asks a federal judge in Washington for a restraining order to block the House Intelligence Committee from obtaining the firm's bank records, arguing that turning over the records would violate the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] and poses an "existential threat" to the company.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/24/trump-dossier-russia-investigations-senate-house-244108 |title=Dossier fight could be first legal test for Hill Russia probes |work=Politico |access-date=October 24, 2017|date=October 24, 2017|first=Josh|last=Gerstein}}</ref>
** Twitter plans to make political ads more transparent amid Russia revelations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/24/twitter-transparency-political-ads-russia-us-election-trump |title=Twitter plans to make political ads more transparent amid Russia revelations |last=Solon |first=Olivia |date=October 24, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=October 25, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that the Clinton campaign and DNC were among the parties who paid for research that led to the Steele dossier.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/clinton-campaign-dnc-paid-for-research-that-led-to-russia-dossier/2017/10/24/226fabf0-b8e4-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html |title=Clinton campaign, DNC paid for research that led to Russia dossier |last=Entous |first=Adam |date=October 24, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 25, 2017 |last2=Barrett |first2=Devlin |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Helderman |first3=Rosalind S.}}</ref>
** Brad Pascale and Cohen testify back-to-back before the House Intelligence Committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Republicans on House's Trump-Russia Probe Not That Interested in Trump or Russia|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-on-houses-trump-russia-probe-not-that-interested-in-trump-or-russia|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=October 24, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2019|last1=Woodruff|first1=Betsy|last2=Ackerman|first2=Spencer|author-link2=Spencer Ackerman}}</ref>
* '''October 25''':
** The head of Cambridge Analytica says he asked Assange for help finding Clinton’s 33,000 deleted emails.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-data-guru-i-tried-to-team-up-with-julian-assange |title=Trump Data Guru: I Tried to Team Up With Julian Assange |last=Woodruff |first=Betsy |date=October 25, 2017 |work=The Daily Beast|access-date=October 25, 2017}}</ref> Assange confirms the request and says he rejected the offer.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=JulianAssange |author-link=Julian Assange|first=Julian|last=Assange |number=923226553428987904 |date=October 25, 2017 |title=I can confirm an approach by Cambridge Analytica [prior to November last year] and can confirm that it was rejected by WikiLeaks.}}</ref>
** Feinstein and Grassley break ways in the Russia investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/10/the-senate-judiciary-committees-russia-probe-just-blew-up/ |title=Another congressional probe into the Trump-Russia scandal just blew up |work=Mother Jones|access-date=October 26, 2017 |language=en-US|date=October 24, 2017|last=Friedman|first=Dan}}</ref>
** Kaspersky Lab discloses that its software has uncovered secret code from the [[Equation Group]] on an [[NSA]] analyst's home computer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/82d15536-b9aa-11e7-9bfb-4a9c83ffa852 |title=Kaspersky admits its software discovered secret code |last=Kuchler |first=Hannah |date=October 25, 2017 |website=Financial Times|access-date=October 25, 2017}}</ref>
** Cohen appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee. In 2018, Cohen pleads guilty to perjury for lies he tells the committee.<ref name=TheEventsThatLedWapo20181129/>
** Mueller's team interviews Trump campaign staffer Matt Miller.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=126}}
* '''October 26''':
** Twitter says it will no longer accept advertising from accounts owned by Russian-backed news outlets [[RT (TV network)|RT]] and [[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-twitter/twitter-to-off-board-ads-from-two-russian-media-outlets-idUSKBN1CV2FG |title=Twitter bans ads from two Russian media outlets, cites election meddling |last=Ingram |first=David |date=October 26, 2017 |work=Reuters|access-date=October 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/twitter-overstated-number-of-users-for-three-years-1509015657 |title=Twitter Overstated Number of Users for Three Years |last=Wells |first=Georgia |date=October 26, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 26, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-is-banning-all-ads-from-russian-news-agencies-rt-and-sputnik-2017-10 |title=Twitter is banning all ads from Russian news agencies RT and Sputnik effective immediately |author=Natasha Bertrand |date=October 26, 2017 |website=[[Business Insider]] |access-date=October 26, 2017}}</ref> Twitter vows to give away the $1.9 million already earned from them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blog.twitter.com/official/en_us/topics/company/2017/Announcement-RT-and-Sputnik-Advertising.html |title=Announcement: RT and Sputnik Advertising|access-date=October 26, 2017|date=October 28, 2017|author=Twitter Public Policy|website=Twitter}}</ref>
** [[RT (TV network)|RT]] reports that Twitter pushed RT for a large ad buy for the 2016 US election, but the channel declined the offer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rt.com/op-edge/407858-rt-twitter-us-election/ |title=Revealed: How Twitter pushed RT to spend big on 2016 US election |website=RT International |language=en-US|access-date=October 26, 2017|date=October 26, 2017}}</ref>
** House Speaker [[Paul Ryan]] says that the FBI plans to hand over documents related to the Trump dossier.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/paul-ryan-says-fbi-plans-to-provide-documents-related-to-russia-dossier-1509035862 |title=Paul Ryan Says FBI Plans to Provide Documents Related to Russia Dossier |last=Tau |first=Byron |date=October 26, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 26, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
* '''October 27''':
** Feinstein sends five letters to key players, including one asking Facebook and Twitter for copies of advertising that Russian buyers aimed at the U.S.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/27/feinstein-russia-inquiries-facebook-twitter-244247 |title=Feinstein sends Russia inquiries to White House, Facebook, Twitter |work=Politico |access-date=October 27, 2017|date=October 27, 2017|last=Schor|first=Elana}}</ref>
** ''The New York Times'' reports that ''[[The Washington Free Beacon]]'', a conservative website funded by a major Republican donor, initially retained Fusion GPS to conduct opposition research on Trump.<ref name=FusionGPSDreeBeacon20171027>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/27/us/politics/trump-dossier-paul-singer.html |title=Conservative Website First Funded Anti-Trump Research by Firm That Later Produced Dossier |last1=Vogel |first1=Kenneth P. |date=October 27, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=October 27, 2017 |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews former CIA Director [[R. James Woolsey Jr.|James Woolsey]] about Flynn.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/robert-muellers-team-interviewed-former-cia-director-james-woolsey-about-mike-flynn/article/2638867 |title=Robert Mueller's team interviewed former CIA Director James Woolsey about Mike Flynn |last=Correll |first=Diana Stancy |work=Washington Examiner|access-date=October 28, 2017 |language=en|date=October 27, 2017}}</ref>
** The [[Director of National Intelligence|ODNI]] states that the dossier itself played no role in the coordinated intelligence assessment that Russia interfered in the U.S. election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://lawfareblog.com/irrelevance-trump-dossier |title=The (Ir)relevance of the Trump "Dossier" |date=October 26, 2017 |work=Lawfare|access-date=October 28, 2017 |language=en|last=Litt|first=Robert}}</ref>
** A federal grand jury in Washington, DC approves the first charges in Mueller‘s investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/27/politics/first-charges-mueller-investigation/index.html |title=First charges filed in Mueller investigation |first1=Pamela |last1=Brown |first2=Evan |last2=Perez |first3=Shimon |last3=Prokupecz |work=[[CNN]] |date=October 27, 2017 |access-date=October 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-trump-russia-charges/first-charges-filed-in-russia-probe-led-by-u-s-special-counsel-source-idUKKBN1CX00T |title=First charges filed in Russia probe led by U.S. Special Counsel – source |last1=Hosenball |first1=Mark |work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=October 28, 2017 |language=en-GB|date=October 27, 2017|last2=Layne|first2=Nathan|last3=Zarghman|first3=Mohammad|last4=Beech|first4=Eric|editor-last1=Murray|editor-first1=Kierran|editor-last2=Macfie|editor-first2=Nick}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/robert-mueller-sealed-indictment/544292/ |title=Mueller Reportedly Files Charges in Russia Investigation |last1=Serwer |first1=Adam|first2=Matt|last2=Ford|work=The Atlantic|access-date=October 28, 2017 |language=en-US|date=October 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/first-charges-filed-in-russia-probe-led-by-special-counsel-robert-mueller-1509161000 |title=First Charges Filed in Russia Probe Led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller |last=Viswanatha |first=Aruna |date=October 28, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 28, 2017 |last2=Wilber |first2=Del Quentin |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
* '''October 28''': Reports further clarify that the charges returned by the grand jury under seal are "related to meddling in the US presidential election."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a9f36410-bba8-11e7-b8a3-38a6e068f464 |title=First charges filed in US special counsel's Russia investigation |date=October 28, 2017 |website=Financial Times|agency=Reuters|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
* '''October 29''': Mueller seizes three of Manafort's bank accounts.<ref name=MuellerSeizedAccountsPolitico20180405>{{Cite news|url= https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/05/manafort-mueller-moves-to-seize-bank-accounts-505307|title=Mueller moved to seize bank accounts in Manafort probe|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=April 8, 2018|date=April 5, 2018|last=Gerstein|first=Josh}}</ref>
* '''October 30''':
** Manafort and Gates surrender themselves to the FBI after both are indicted on 12 federal charges brought by Mueller, including [[conspiracy against the United States]] and [[Money Laundering Control Act|money laundering]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/30/us/politics/paul-manafort-indicted.html |title=Paul Manafort, Who Once Ran Trump Campaign, Surrenders to F.B.I. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 30, 2017|last1=Apuzzo|first1=Matt|author-link1=Matt Apuzzo|last2=Goldman|first2=Adam|author-link2=Adam Goldman|last3=Schmidt|first3=Michael D.|author-link3=Michael S. Schmidt |last4=Rosenberg|first4=Matthew|author-link4=Matthew Rosenberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/30/trump-ex-campaign-chairman-told-surrender-federal-authorities/ |title=Paul Manafort charged: Trump ex-campaign chairman indicted for conspiracy against the US in probe over Russia links |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=October 30, 2017|last=Riley-Smith|first=Ben}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41804740 |title=Ex-Trump aide 'faces charges over Russia' |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=October 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/Robert-Mueller-Russia-Investigation-Indictment-454045243.html |title=Ex-Trump Campaign Chief Manafort, Deputy Indicted on Conspiracy Against the US Charges in Russia Probe |publisher=[[NBC Los Angeles]] |date=October 30, 2017|last1=Tucker|first1=Eric|last2=Day|first2=Chad|last3=Klein|first3=Asher}}</ref> Appearing in court a few hours later, Manafort and Gates plead not guilty.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/manafort-and-former-business-partner-asked-to-surrender-in-connection-with-special-counsel-probe/2017/10/30/6fe051f0-bd67-11e7-959c-fe2b598d8c00_story.html |title=Three former Trump campaign officials charged by special counsel |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 30, 2017|last1=Zaptosky|first=Matt|last2=Helderman|first2=Rosalind S.|last3=Leonnig|first3=Carol D.|author-link3=Carol D. Leonnig|last4=Hsu|first4=Spencer S.}}</ref> Manafort is released to home confinement on a $10,000,000 bond, the terms of which will change on November 30. Gates is released to home confinement on a $5,000,000 bond. They are required to surrender all passports and submit to in-home monitoring.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/30/paul-manafort-court-not-guilty-plea-charges |title=Paul Manafort in court: a not guilty plea, $10m bond – and no sign of repentance |last=Smith |first=David |date=October 30, 2017 |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=October 30, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** Mueller announces that Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to making false testimony to the FBI.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/30/paul-manafort-rick-gates-indicted-by-federal-grand-jury-in-russia-probe.html |title=Paul Manafort, Rick Gates indicted by federal grand jury in Russia probe |website=Fox News |date=October 30, 2017|last=Singman|first=Brooke}}</ref> According to [[commons:File:Statement of the offense.filed.pdf|unsealed court documents]], Papadopoulos met a Kremlin-linked professor, later identified by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' as [[Joseph Mifsud]] of the [[University of Stirling]]'s politics department.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/31/joseph-mifsud-professor-trump-russia-inquiry-kremlin |title=Joseph Mifsud: more questions than answers about mystery professor linked to Russia |work=The Guardian |date=October 31, 2017|last1=Kirchgaessner|first1=Stephanie|last2=Phipps|first2=Claire|last3=Rawlinson|first3=Kevin}}</ref> Mifsud told Papadopoulos that Moscow had damaging information on Clinton in the form of “thousands of emails”.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/30/us/politics/george-papadopoulos-russia.html |title=Trump Campaign Adviser Met With Russian to Discuss 'Dirt' on Clinton |last=Apuzzo |first=Matt |date=October 30, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 30, 2017 |last2=Schmidt |first2=Michael S.|authorlink2=Michael S. Schmidt |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-campaign-adviser-pleaded-guilty-to-lying-about-russian-contacts/2017/10/30/d525e712-bd7d-11e7-97d9-bdab5a0ab381_story.html |title=Trump campaign adviser pleaded guilty to lying about Russian contacts |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |date=October 30, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=October 30, 2017 |last2=Leonnig |first2=Carol D. |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-trump-foreign-policy-adviser-to-plead-guilty-to-lying-to-fbi-1509374354 |title=Former Trump Foreign Policy Adviser Pleads Guilty to Lying to FBI |last=Viswanatha |first=Aruna |date=October 30, 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=October 30, 2017 |last2=Wilber |first2=Del Quentin |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/putins-niece-catfished-george-papadopoulos-offered-kremlin-meeting |title='Putin's Niece' Catfished Trump Aide, Offered Kremlin Meeting |last=Weill |first=Kelly |date=October 30, 2017 |work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=October 30, 2017}}</ref>
** A lawyer for Trump campaign co-chairman [[Sam Clovis]] states that Clovis was "being polite", following reports that he encouraged Papadopoulos to meet with Russian officials.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-campaign-adviser-pleaded-guilty-to-lying-about-russian-contacts/2017/10/30/d525e712-bd7d-11e7-97d9-bdab5a0ab381_story.html |title=Top campaign officials knew of Trump adviser's outreach to Russia |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 30, 2017|last1=Helderman|first1=Rosalind S.|last2=Hamburger|first2=Tom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/10/31/sam-cloviss-really-bad-excuse-for-greenlighting-a-trump-campaign-meeting-with-russians/ |title=Sam Clovis's really bad excuse for greenlighting a Trump campaign meeting with Russians |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 31, 2017|last=Blake|first=Aaron}}</ref>
** New disclosures provided to Congress by digital social media companies indicate that during the campaign Russian agents placed 1,000 videos on YouTube, 131,000 messages on Twitter, and, via 170 accounts,120,000 posts on Instagram.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/30/technology/facebook-google-russia.html |title=Russian Influence Reached 126 Million Through Facebook Alone |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 30, 2017|last1=Issac|first1=Mike|first2=Daisuke|last2=Wakabayashi}}</ref> 80,000 Russia-linked posts on Facebook were viewed by up to 126 million people.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/30/facebook-russian-planted-posts-244340 |title=Facebook: Up to 126 million people saw Russian-planted posts |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=October 30, 2017|last1=Scola|first1=Nancy|last2=Gold|first2=Ashley|date=October 30, 2017}}</ref>
** Mifsud tells ''The Daily Beast'' that he isn't the professor mentioned in Papadopoulos's statement of the facts, and that he doesn't know anyone in the Russian government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Professor Denies Evidence He Shopped Kremlin 'Dirt' on Hillary to Trump Campaign|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/professor-denies-evidence-he-shopped-kremlin-dirt-on-hillary-to-trump-campaign|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=October 30, 2017|access-date=January 5, 2019|last1=Ackerman|first1=Spencer|author-link=Spencer Ackerman|last2=Hines|first2=Nico|last3=Zavadski|first3=Katie}}</ref>
* '''October 31''':
** Trump calls Papadopoulos a "low-level" advisor and a "liar".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/31/us/politics/trump-manafort-papadopoulos-mueller.html |title=Trump Belittles 'Low Level' Adviser Who Tried to Connect With Russia |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=October 31, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 31, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** The Kremlin dismisses as “baseless” and “ludicrous” the notion that charges leveled by Mueller against three former Trump campaign officials constitute possible meddling by Russia in U.S. political affairs.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kremlin-attempts-to-tie-us-investigations-to-russia-baseless-and-ludicrous/2017/10/31/90a8b972-be2a-11e7-af84-d3e2ee4b2af1_story.html |title=Kremlin: Attempts to tie U.S. investigations to Russia 'baseless' and 'ludicrous' |last=Filipov |first=David |date=October 31, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=October 31, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** The Ukrainian government says it warned Facebook and U.S. officials years ago that Russia was conducting disinformation campaigns on its platform.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c63d76d4-bd1e-11e7-b8a3-38a6e068f464 |title=Ukraine says it warned Facebook of Russia fake news in 2015 |last=Kuchler |first=Hannah |last2=Olearchyk |first2=Roman |date=October 31, 2017 |website=Financial Times|access-date=October 31, 2017}}</ref>
** ''Politico'' reports that Sam Clovis, President Trump’s nominee to be the Agriculture Department’s chief scientist, has been “a fully cooperative witness” in the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation of Russian interference.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/31/sam-clovis-senate-russia-investigation-244370 |title=Clovis said to be 'cooperative witness' in Senate Russia probe |work=Politico |access-date=November 1, 2017|last1=Boudreau|first1=Catherine|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|date=October 31, 2017}}</ref>
** Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that Mueller’s probe brought down Papadopoulos only thanks to White House cooperation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/31/trump-robert-mueller-indictments-response-244361 |title=White House wants credit for Papadopoulos arrest |work=Politico |access-date=November 1, 2017|date=October 31, 2017|last1=Nussbaum|first1=Matthew|last2=Nelson|first2=Louis}}</ref>
** Facebook reports to Congress that the Russians succeeded in organizing a "Miners for Trump" rally.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/81b19fc0-be7e-11e7-b8a3-38a6e068f464 |title=Facebook says Moscow sought to sow doubt over Trump win |last1=Kuchler |first1=Hannah |last2=Jopson|first2=Barney|date=October 31, 2017 |website=Financial Times|access-date=November 1, 2017|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
=== November ===
* '''November''':
** Mueller's prosecutors interview Kushner.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/us/politics/mueller-jared-kushner-russia.html |title=Mueller's Prosecutors Are Said to Have Interviewed Jared Kushner on Russia Meeting |date=November 29, 2017 |work=The New Tork Times|last=Apuzzo|first=Matt|author-link=Matt Apuzzo}}</ref>
** The private equity firm [[Apollo Global Management]] gives [[Jared Kushner]] a $185 million loan. The loan is considered suspicious because Apollo's founder, [[Joshua Harris (businessman)|Joshua Harris]], met several times with Kushner at the [[White House]] to discuss, among other things, a possible job in the administration. Also, the largest investor in Apollo's real estate trust, the Apollo-controlled entity that made the loan, is the [[Qatari government]]'s [[Qatar Investment Authority]]. Kushner's company had previously tried to get a $500 million loan from the head of Qatar Investment Authority.<ref name=KushnerLoansNYT20189228 /> The [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]] drops an ongoing inquiry into Apollo in December.<ref name=ApolloSECCBSNews20180302>{{Cite news |url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sec-drops-probe-after-company-gives-loan-to-jared-kushners-family-firm/ |title=SEC dropped probe shortly after company gave loan to Jared Kushner's family firm: AP|access-date=March 29, 2018 |language=en |last1=Abdollah|first1=Tami|last2=Burke|first2=Garance|last3=Farrar|first3=Jennifer|date=March 2, 2018|publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>
** Mueller's team obtains search warrants for two additional Cohen email accounts.<ref name=MuellerSespectedTrumpLawyer-TheGaurdian20190319 />
* '''November 1''':
** The House Intelligence Committee releases a small sample of the ads a Russian [[Internet troll|troll farm]] purchased on Facebook during and after the U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/01/media/russian-facebook-ads-release-house-intelligence-committee/index.html |title=Seen any of these before? You may have been targeted by Russian ads on Facebook |last=O'Sullivan |first=Donie |work=CNNMoney|access-date=November 2, 2017|date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>
** Twitter tells the Senate Intelligence Committee that it has found 2,752 IRA accounts and 36,746 Russia-linked bot accounts involved in election-related [[Twitter#Format|retweets]].<ref name=TwitterHasTurnedOverDailyBeast20171120 />
** Mueller's team interviews Jared Kushner for the first of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=160, 168}}
[[File:Carter Page transcript of testimony before the House Intelligence Committee.pdf|thumb|Transcript of Carter Page's testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on November 2, 2017.]]
* '''November 2''':
** Page testifies to the House Intelligence Committee for seven hours. He confirms that he met Russian government officials during his July 2016 trip to Moscow,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/us/politics/trump-campaign-page-russian.html |title=Trump Campaign Adviser Met With Russian Officials in 2016 |last=Mazzetti |first=Mark |date=November 3, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 4, 2017 |last2=Goldman |first2=Adam |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and contradicts Attorney General Sessions's testimony to the Senate in July that he did not know that Page had traveled to Russia during the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/11/03/ex-trump-advisers-testimony-about-russia-trip-contradicts-sessions.html |title=Ex-Trump adviser Carter Page contradicts Sessions in testimony about Russia trip |publisher=Fox News |date=November 2, 2017|author1=Fox News|author-link1=Fox News|last2=Pergman|first2=Chad}}</ref> Page also tells the Committee that he had briefed Hicks, Gordon and Lewandowski about the trip.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-intelligence-committee-releases-carter-pages-testimony/ |title=House Intelligence Committee releases Carter Page's testimony|publisher=[[CBS News]] |date=November 6, 2017|author1=CBS|author2=Associated Press}}</ref> Page invokes his [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]] right against [[self-incrimination]] when asked by Committee members why he withheld documents requested by the committee.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Kyle Cheney |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/02/carter-page-russia-probe-documents-244483 |title=Lawmakers: Carter Page withholding documents from their Russia probe |work=Politico |date=November 2, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The Wall Street Journal'' reports that the DoJ has identified more than six Russian government officials involved in hacking the DNC's servers, and were considering bringing charges against them.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-consider-bringing-charges-in-dnc-hacking-case-1509618203 |title=U.S. Prosecutors Consider Charging Russian Officials in DNC Hacking Case |last=Viswanatha |first=Aruna |date=November 2, 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=November 3, 2017 |last2=Wilber |first2=Del Quentin |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
** Kushner's team turns over documents to Mueller.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/02/politics/jared-kushner-robert-mueller-documents-russia-investigation/index.html |title=Jared Kushner's team turned over documents to special counsel in Russia investigation |first1=Pamela |last1=Brown |first2=Evan |last2=Perez |first3=Shimon |last3=Prokupecz |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=November 3, 2017}}</ref>
* '''November 3''': Mueller's team interviews Burnham.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=31, 33, 55, 69}}
* '''November 5''':
** NBC News reports that federal investigators have gathered enough evidence to bring charges in their investigation of Flynn and his son.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-has-enough-evidence-bring-charges-flynn-investigation-n817666 |title=Mueller has enough evidence to bring charges in Flynn investigation |last=Ainsley |first=Julia |date=November 5, 2017 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=November 5, 2017 |last2=Lee |first2=Carol E. |language=en |last3=Dilanian |first3=Ken}}</ref>
** Ryan vows that Congress shall not interfere with Mueller's investigations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/05/ryan-interfere-mueller-russia-probe-244564 |title=Ryan pledges Congress won't 'interfere' with Mueller Russia probe |work=Politico |access-date=November 6, 2017|date=November 5, 2017|last=Lima|first=Cristiano}}</ref>
** ''The New York Times'' reports that [[Wilbur Ross]], after becoming Commerce Secretary, did not disclose his retained investments in a shipping firm he once controlled that has significant business ties to a Russian oligarch subject to American [[Sanctions (law)|sanctions]] and Putin’s son-in-law, [[Kirill Shamalov]].<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/05/world/wilbur-ross-russia.html |title=Commerce Secretary's Offshore Ties to Putin 'Cronies' |last=McIntire |first=Mike |date=November 5, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 5, 2017 |last2=Chavkin |first2=Sasha |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Hamilton |first3=Martha M.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/05/trump-paradise-papers-finance-244577 |title='Paradise Papers' documents touch Trump administration |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=November 6, 2017|date=November 15, 2017|last=Griffiths|first=Brent D.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/wilbur-ross-didnt-disclose-business-ties-to-putin-inner-circle-1509920742 |title=Wilbur Ross Didn't Disclose Business Ties to Putin Inner Circle |last=Ballhaus |first=Rebecca |date=November 5, 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=November 6, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.ft.com/content/cc374bf4-c265-11e7-a1d2-6786f39ef675 |title=Ross linked to stake in shipping group with Russia investment |last=Jopson |first=Barney |date=November 5, 2017 |work=[[Financial Times]]|access-date=November 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/05/trump-commerce-secretary-wilbur-ross-business-links-putin-family-paradise-papers |title=Trump commerce secretary's business links with Putin family laid out in leaked files |last=Swaine |first=Jon |date=November 5, 2017 |work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=November 6, 2017 |last2=Harding |first2=Luke |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* '''November 6''':
** An analysis of Twitter data shows Kremlin-backed online support for Trump began immediately after he started his campaign.<ref name=wsj-20170611>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-twitter-support-for-trump-began-right-after-he-started-campaign-1509964380 |title=Russian Twitter Support for Trump Began Right After He Started Campaign |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |last1=Maremont |first1=Mark |last2=Barry |first2=Rob |date=November 6, 2017 |access-date=November 6, 2017}}</ref>
** Veselnitskaya says that Trump Jr. indicated that a law targeting Russia could be reexamined if his father won the election, and asked her for written evidence that illegal proceeds went to Clinton’s campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-06/trump-jr-said-anti-russia-law-may-be-reviewed-moscow-lawyer-says |title=Trump Jr. Hinted at Review of Anti-Russia Law, Moscow Lawyer Says |date=November 6, 2017 |work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=November 7, 2017|last1=Reznik|first1=Inrina|last2=Meyer|first2=Henry}}</ref>
** ''[[BuzzFeed]]'' subpoenas the DNC for information related to the DNC hack as part of its efforts to defend itself against an ongoing [[libel suit]] connected to its publication of the [[Steele dossier]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/11/06/dnc-subpoenaed-in-dossier-lawsuit-steele-trump-russia/ |title=DNC Subpoenaed in 'Dossier' Lawsuit |website=Foreign Policy|access-date=November 7, 2017|date=November 6, 2017|last1=Winter|first1=Jana|last2=Groll|first2=Elias|author-link1=Jana Winter}}</ref>
** Ross says there is “nothing whatsoever improper” about the relationship between an international shipping company he holds significant investments in and a Russian energy company whose owners include a Putin family member and an oligarch, [[Gennady Timchenko]], subject to U.S. sanctions.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/06/wilbur-ross-russia-sibur-navigator-relationship-244592 |title=Wilbur Ross: Accusations that I failed to disclose Russia-linked investments are 'evil' |work=Politico |access-date=November 7, 2017|date=November 6, 2017|last=Nelson|first=Louis}}</ref>
** ''Politico'' reports Wendy Teramoto served as a part-time adviser to Ross while maintaining her board seat at the energy shipping company, Navigator, with a Kremlin-linked client.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/06/wilbur-ross-commerce-navigator-aide-russia-244608 |title=Ross aide served on Navigator's board while working at Commerce |work=Politico |access-date=November 7, 2017|date=November 6, 2017|last1=Woellert|first1=Lorraine|last2=Cook|first2=Nancy|last3=Restuccia|first3=Andrew}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews [[Annie Donaldson]] for the first time.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=49–55, 68–70, 73}}
* '''November 7''':
** [[Corey Lewandowski]] says that his "memory has been refreshed" of his email exchange with Page in which Page requested his permission to travel to Moscow.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/08/corey-lewandowski-carter-page-email-244689 |title=Lewandowski: 'My memory has been refreshed' on Carter Page Moscow trip |work=Politico |access-date=November 9, 2017|last=Lima|first=Crisiano|date=November 8, 2017}}</ref>
** The House Intelligence Committee privately interviews [[Keith Schiller]], Trump's longtime bodyguard and, until September 20, his [[Oval Office Operations]] director. Schiller testifies that he believes Russians offered to send five women to Trump's hotel room during their [[Timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections#Before Trump's candidacy|2013 trip to Moscow for the Miss Universe pageant]], but that he did not think Trump met with the women.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-bodyguard-testifies-russian-offered-trump-women-was-turned-down-n819386 |title=Trump Bodyguard Keith Schiller Testifies Russian Offered Trump Women, Was Turned Down |last=Dilanian |first=Ken |last2=Allen |first2=Jonathan |date=November 9, 2017 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/09/politics/keith-schiller-russian-offer-women-2013-moscow/index.html |title=Aide nixed offer of Russian women for Trump |publisher=CNN |author-link1=Manu Raju|first=Manu|last1=Raju|first2=Jeremy|last2=Herb|access-date=November 9, 2017|date=November 10, 2017}}</ref> "One source noted that Schiller testified he eventually left Trump's hotel room door and could not say for sure what happened during the remainder of the night."<ref name="Dilanian_Allen_11/9/2017">{{cite web |last1=Dilanian |first1=Ken |last2=Allen |first2=Jonathan |date=November 9, 2017 |title=Trump Bodyguard Keith Schiller Testifies Russian Offered Trump Women, Was Turned Down |website=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-bodyguard-testifies-russian-offered-trump-women-was-turned-down-n819386 |accessdate=February 28, 2018}}</ref>
* '''November 8''':
** ''[[The Intercept]]'' reports that Pompeo met in late October with discredited former U.S. intelligence official [[William Binney (U.S. intelligence official)|William Binney]], who has become an advocate for a disputed theory that the theft of the DNC emails was an inside job rather than a hack by Russian intelligence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://theintercept.com/2017/11/07/dnc-hack-trump-cia-director-william-binney-nsa/ |title=CIA Director Met Advocate of Disputed DNC Hack Theory — at Trump's Request |last=Campbell |first=Duncan |last2=Risen |first2=James |date=November 7, 2017 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref>
** Simpson agrees to be interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/08/fusion-gps-glenn-simpson-trump-dossier-244703 |title=Fusion GPS founder agrees to interview with House intel panel in Trump dossier probe |work=Politico |access-date=November 9, 2017|date=November 8, 2018|last1=Gerstein|first1=Josh|last2=Cheney|first2=Kyle}}</ref>
** Congressional investigators have interviewed former Trump aides about the campaign’s push to remove proposed language calling for giving weapons to Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/08/republicans-russia-platform-fight-244672 |title=Russia investigators probe 2016 GOP platform fight |work=Politico |access-date=November 9, 2017|date=November 8, 2017|last=Meyer|first=Josh}}</ref>
** Senate Democrats have been privately investigating Russia’s Europe meddling without Republican help.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/senate-dems-have-been-privately-investigating-russias-europe-meddling-without-republican-help |title=Senate Dems Have Been Privately Investigating Russia's Europe Meddling Without Republican Help |first1=Betsy|last1=Woodruff|first2=Sam|last2=Stein|date=November 8, 2017|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=November 9, 2017}}</ref>
<!-- * '''November 9''':
** Putin asserts that disqualifications of Russian athletes from the Olympics by the [[International Olympic Committee]] was a result of an American conspiracy.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/putin-says-olympic-disqualifications-are-sign-of-us-meddling-in-russias-elections/2017/11/09/86775174-c556-11e7-9922-4151f5ca6168_story.html |title=Putin says Olympic disqualifications are sign of U.S. meddling in Russia’s elections |last=Filipov |first=David |date=November 9, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=November 9, 2017 |last2=Payne |first2=Marissa |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name="Ruiz">Rebecca R. Ruiz, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/sports/russia-olympics-doping.html Putin Sees U.S. Conspiracy After Olympic Doping Ban on 4 Russians], ''New York Times'' (November 9, 2017).</ref> The athletes were disqualified after a [[Doping in Russia|vast Russian state-sponsored doping scheme]] was [[McLaren Report]]; the Olympic officials who made the decision to disqualify the athletes were Swiss and Spanish, not American.<ref name="Ruiz"/> -->
* '''November 10''':
** As reported in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', [[Kathleen Hall Jamieson]] determines, through her analysis, Russians could plausibly have affected the outcome of the 2016 election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/11/10/could-russian-trolls-have-helped-elect-donald-trump |title=Could Russian trolls have helped elect Donald Trump? The reach and messaging of Russian Web content could plausibly have affected the outcome. |author=Kathleen Hall Jamieson |authorlink=Kathleen Hall Jamieson |date=November 10, 2017 |website=WashingtonPost.com |publisher= |access-date=27 September 2018 |quote=}}</ref>
** Russia plans new measures to restrict U.S. media working in Russia after RT said it was pressured into registering as a foreign agent in America.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/moscow-plans-new-restrictions-on-us-media-working-in-russia/2017/11/10/2174d81a-c5fa-11e7-a441-3a768c8586f1_story.html |title=Russia says it will retaliate after RT 'forced' to register as foreign agent |last=Filipov |first=David |date=November 10, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=November 10, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/10/russia-us-media-rt |title=Russia plans retaliation against US media as row over RT escalates |last=Bennetts |first=Marc |date=November 10, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=November 10, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** NBC News reports that Mueller's investigators are questioning witnesses about an alleged September 20, 2016, meeting between Flynn and [[Dana Rohrabacher]], a staunch advocate of pro-Russia policies.<ref name=MuellerFlynnRohrabacherNBC20171110>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-probing-pre-election-flynn-meeting-pro-russia-congressman-n819676 |title=Mueller probing pre-election Flynn meeting with pro-Russia congressman |publisher=NBC News|date=November 10, 2017 |language=en|access-date=April 4, 2018|last=Ainsley|first=Julia}}</ref>
** ''CNN'' reports that Mifsud has been missing for a week since he was last seen at his residence at [[Link Campus University]] in Rome.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/08/politics/joseph-mifsud-trump-russia-investigation/index.html |title=Academic at heart of Clinton 'dirt' claim vanishes, leaving trail of questions |last=Lister |first=Tim |last2=Robertson |first2=Nic |authorlink2=Nic Robertson |date=November 10, 2017 |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> His whereabouts remain unknown until [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (2019)#October|October 1, 2019]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/world/europe/mike-pompeo-italy-joseph-mifsud.html |title=First Barr, Now Pompeo: Italy Is Hub of Impeachment Intrigue for Trump Officials |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=October 2, 2019 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref>
* '''November 11''': Despite the unified assessment of the U.S. intelligence community, Trump says he took Putin at his word when Putin again denied directing an election influence campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/11/politics/mike-pompeo-cia-donald-trump-white-house-russia-meddling/index.html |title=CIA director stands by intel community assessment Russia meddled in election |first1=Daniella|last1=Diaz|last2=Liptak|first2=Kevin|last3=Merica|first3=Dan |publisher=CNN|access-date=November 12, 2017|date=November 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/11/trump-russia-putin-people-will-die-244801 |title=Trump careens off script on Russia after Putin meeting |work=Politico |access-date=November 12, 2017|date=November 11, 2017|last1=Restuccia|first1=Andrew|last2=Cook|first2=Nancy}}</ref> Trump later says he sides with the U.S. intelligence agencies.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-asia-usa-russia/trump-sides-with-u-s-intelligence-agencies-on-russian-meddling-idUSKBN1DC031 |title=Trump sides with U.S. intelligence agencies on Russian meddling |agency=Reuters|access-date=November 11, 2017 |language=en|date=November 11, 2017|last1=Holland|first1=Steve|last2=Landay|first2=Jonathan|editor-last1=Tostevin|editor-first1=Matthew|editor-last2=Fernandez|editor-first2=Clarence}}</ref> Brennan and Clapper comment that Trump is being "played" by Putin, and accuse him of being "susceptible to foreign leaders who stroke his ego."<ref>{{cite web|first1=John|last1=Wagner|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/11/12/former-u-s-intelligence-officials-trump-being-played-by-putin/|title=Former U.S. intelligence officials: Trump being 'played' by Putin|date=November 12, 2017|website=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>
* '''November 12''':
** British spymasters fear that [[Kaspersky Lab]] anti-virus software given away for free by [[Barclays]] to more than 2,000,000 customers may be an intelligence-gathering tool for the Russian government.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/37b7b91c-c79e-11e7-ab18-7a9fb7d6163e |title=UK spymasters raise suspicions over Kaspersky software's Russia links |website=Financial Times |date=November 12, 2017 |access-date=November 13, 2017|last1=Jones|first1=Sam|last2=Arnold|first2=Martin}}</ref>
** Lawyers for Alexsej Gubarev, who owns the Dallas-based web hosting firm Webzilla, are seeking to force Steele to provide testimony in Gubarev's case against ''BuzzFeed'' and its editor, Ben Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/11/11/russian-billionaire-british-spy-trump-dossier/ |title=Russian Billionaire Files Application Seeking Testimony of British Spy Behind Trump Dossier |website=Foreign Policy|access-date=November 13, 2017|date=November 11, 2017|last=Winter|first=Jana|author-link=Jana Winter|last2=Groll|first2=Elias}}</ref>
* '''November 13''':
** RT registers with the DoJ as a foreign agent under [[Foreign Agents Registration Act|FARA]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/russian-tv-network-registers-as-foreign-agent-in-u-s/ |title=Russian TV network registers as foreign agent in U.S. |author1=CBS|author2=Associated Press|date=November 13, 2017 |work=CBS News|access-date=December 6, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
** ''[[The Atlantic]]'' reports that WikiLeaks asked Trump Jr. for his cooperation in sharing its work, in contesting the results of the election, and in arranging for Assange to be Australia’s ambassador to the United States. ''The Atlantic'' also reports that Trump Jr. contemporaneously informed Bannon, Conway, Parscale and Kushner that he was in touch with WikiLeaks, and that Kushner informed Hicks.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/11/the-secret-correspondence-between-donald-trump-jr-and-wikileaks/545738/ |title=The Secret Correspondence Between Donald Trump Jr. and WikiLeaks|date=November 13, 2017 |last=Ioffe |first=Julia |author-link=Julia Ioffe|work=The Atlantic|access-date=November 14, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/13/donald-trump-jr-wikileaks-244862?lo=ap_b2 |title=Donald Trump Jr. confirms communicating with WikiLeaks |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=November 14, 2017|last1=Griffiths|first1=Brent D.|date=November 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/13/donald-trump-jr-communicated-with-wikileaks-during-final-stages-of-election |title=Donald Trump Jr communicated with WikiLeaks during final stages of election |last=Pilkington |first=Ed |date=November 14, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=November 14, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Pence denies any knowledge of WikiLeaks contacts.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/13/pence-trump-wikileaks-russia-244863?lo=ap_b1 |title=Pence denies knowing about Trump Jr. WikiLeaks contacts |work=Politico |access-date=November 14, 2017|date=November 13, 2017|last=Nussbaum|first=Matthew}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews van der Zwaan.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=134}}
[[File:House-Intel-Glenn-Simpson-Transcript.pdf|thumb|November 14, 2017 – House Intelligence Committee Transcript by [[Glenn R. Simpson]]]]
* '''November 14''':
** Simpson speaks for six hours with the House Intelligence Committee. He states that his research suggests that Trump was involved with [[Italian mafia]] figures early in his career and became associated with the [[Russian mafia]] in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/explosive-allegations-latest-testimony-trump-072948928.html |title=Here are some explosive allegations from the latest testimony on the Trump dossier |date=January 19, 2018 |publisher=[[CNBC]]|via=[[Yahoo! Finance]]|last=Calia |first=Mike}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2018-01-18/trump-had-ties-to-russian-mob-figures-fusion-gps-founder-testifies |title=Trump Had Ties to Russian Mob Figures: Testimony |date=January 18, 2018 |publisher=U.S. News|last=Neuhauser|first=Alan}}</ref> He describes evidence of Russian criminals buying Trump properties. He refers to a number of deaths and arrests following the publication of the Steele dossier.<ref name="auto6">{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/01/18/house-panel-releases-glenn-simpson-testimony-transcript.html |title=House panel releases Glenn Simpson testimony transcript |date=January 18, 2018 |publisher=Fox News|last1=Chamberlain|first1=Samuel|last2=Singman|first2=Brooke|last3=Pappas|first3=Alex|author4=Associated Press}}</ref> Simpson also asserts that [[Nigel Farage]] may have given Assange data on a [[flash drive]] at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/19/trump-russia-inquiry-is-told-nigel-farage-may-have-given-julian-assange-data |title=Trump-Russia inquiry is told Nigel Farage may have given Julian Assange data |date=January 19, 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian|last=Kirchgaessner|first=Stephanie}}</ref> The testimony transcript will be released on January 18, 2018.
** ''Buzzfeed'' reports that the FBI is scrutinizing more than 60 money transfers from the Russian foreign ministry to its embassies across the globe. Most of the transactions, which moved through [[Citibank]] accounts and totaled more than $380,000, contained a memo line reading "to finance election campaign of 2016".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/secret-finding-60-russian-payments-to-finance-election |title=Secret Finding: 60 Russian Payments "To Finance Election Campaign Of 2016" |work=BuzzFeed|access-date=November 14, 2017 |language=en|date=November 14, 2017|last1=Leopold|first1=Jason|last2=Cormier|first2=Anthony|author-link2=Anthony Cormier|last3=Garrison|first3=Jessica}}</ref>
** ''The New York Times'' reports that [[Rex Tillerson]] hired a Russian company with a KGB link to Putin to guard the [[Embassy of the United States, Moscow|United States Embassy in Moscow]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/14/world/europe/embassy-moscow-kgb.html |title=U.S. Hires Company With K.G.B. Link to Guard Moscow Embassy |last=Higgins |first=Andrew |date=November 14, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 15, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/360298-us-contracts-company-of-former-kgb-boss-as-security-for-moscow |title=State Department hires security company with KGB ties |last=Delk |first=Josh |date=November 14, 2017 |work=TheHill|access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41947030 |title=US to use Russia firm founded by KGB spy |date=November 10, 2017 |work=BBC News|access-date=November 15, 2017 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Akhmetshin.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=118}}
* '''November 15''':
** The [[State Duma|Russian Parliament]] votes unanimously for a new law about media “foreign agents”, in retaliation for being forced to register ''RT'' as a propaganda outlet.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/15/russia-to-register-international-media-as-foreign-agents |title=Russian parliament votes for law that could list CNN as 'foreign agent' |last=Walker |first=Shaun |date=November 15, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=November 15, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** Steele says he believes his dossier is "70–90% accurate" and that his FBI contacts greeted his intelligence report with "shock and horror".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/15/christopher-steele-trump-russia-dossier-accurate |title=Christopher Steele believes his dossier on Trump-Russia is 70–90% accurate |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=November 15, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=November 16, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that Kushner received and forwarded emails about WikiLeaks and a “Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite” that he kept from Senate Judiciary Committee investigators.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-judiciary-panel-kushner-had-contacts-about-wikileaks-russian-overtures-he-did-not-disclose/2017/11/16/402586b4-cb05-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html |title=Senate Judiciary panel: Kushner had contacts about WikiLeaks, Russian overtures he did not disclose |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=November 16, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref>
** ''The Wall Street Journal'' reports that Mueller subpoenaed Trump campaign officials for Russia-related documents.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/special-counsel-mueller-issued-subpoena-for-russia-related-documents-from-trump-campaign-officials-1510875492 |title=Special Counsel Mueller Issued Subpoena for Russia-Related Documents From Trump Campaign Officials |last=Ballhaus |first=Rebecca |date=November 17, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 17, 2017 |last2=Nicholas |first2=Peter |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
** Guardian Faber publishes [[Luke Harding]]'s ''Collusion: How Russia Helped Trump Win the White House'', which details a network of connections originating in the 1980s between Trump and the Kremlin.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/27/opinion/trump-patriot-russia.html |title=Odds Are, Russia Owns Trump |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 27, 2017|last=Goldberg|first=Michelle}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Flynn for the first of 11 times through [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (January–June 2018)#20180504|May 4, 2018]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=145, 168–169}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=24}}
** Mueller's team interviews Kaveladze.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=67, 111, 114, 117, 120}}
* '''November 17''':
** CNN reports that Kushner told congressional Russia investigators in July that he did not communicate with WikiLeaks, and did not recall anyone on the Trump campaign who had.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/17/politics/jared-kushner-july-testimony-did-not-recall-campaign-wikileaks-contact/index.html |title=Kushner didn't recall WikiLeaks contact |first=Jeremy|last=Herb|first2=Evan|last2=Perez |work=CNN|access-date=November 18, 2017|date=November 18, 2017}}</ref>
** [[Congressional aides]] say they may have answers on the pro-Russia GOP platform change.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/17/gop-platform-change-ukraine-russia-congressional-aides-paul-ryan-247665 |title=Congressional aides may have answers on pro-Russia GOP platform change |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=November 18, 2017|date=November 17, 2017|last=Cheney|first=Kyle|last2=Watkins|first2=Ali}}</ref>
** The ''Wall Street Journal'' reports that the [[U.S. Department of Defense]], and more specifically the Flynn-run [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], flagged [[Kaspersky Lab]] as a potential threat as early as 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-flagged-russian-firm-kaspersky-as-potential-threat-in-2004-1510957459 |title=U.S. Flagged Russian Firm Kaspersky as Potential Threat as Early as 2004 |last=Sonne |first=Paul |date=November 17, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>
** ''Politico'' reports that Papadopoulos claimed in a Greek newspaper last year that Trump telephoned him to discuss his new position as a foreign policy adviser to his presidential campaign, and that the two had at least one personal introductory meeting that the White House has not acknowledged.<ref name=PapadopoulosTrumpPhoneCallPolitico20171117>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/17/george-papadopoulos-trump-greece-russia-245668 |title=Papadopoulos claimed Trump phone call and larger campaign role |work=Politico |access-date=November 17, 2017|date=November 17, 2017|last=Meyer|first=Josh|last2=Cheney|first2=Kyle}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Flynn for the second of 11 times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=168–172}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=25–26, 29, 37–38}}
* '''November 20''': Mueller's team interviews Flynn for the third of 11 times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=149, 170, 172}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=25, 29}}
* '''November 21''':
** The ''Wall Street Journal'' reports that Mueller’s investigators are asking questions about Kushner’s interactions with foreign leaders during the presidential transition, including his involvement in a dispute at the United Nations in December.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/special-counsel-mueller-probes-jared-kushners-contact-with-foreign-leaders-1511306515 |title=Special Counsel Mueller Probes Jared Kushner's Contacts With Foreign Leaders |last=Nicholas |first=Peter |date=November 21, 2017 |work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 22, 2017 |last2=Viswanatha |first2=Aruna |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |last3=Ballhaus |first3=Rebecca}}</ref>
** The ''New York Times'' reports that Rohrabacher has come under Mueller's and the Senate Intelligence Committee's scrutiny in recent months for his "close ties to the Kremlin".<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/us/politics/dana-rohrabacher-putin-trump-kremlin-under-fire.html |title=He's a Member of Congress. The Kremlin Likes Him So Much It Gave Him a Code Name. |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |date=November 21, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 22, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews White House Office of Legal Counsel attorney Uttman Dhillon.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=33, 54, 59, 65–70, 73}}
** Mueller's team interviews Flynn for the fourth of 11 times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=172}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=29, 36}}
{{anchor|20171122}}
* '''November 22''':
** Flynn withdraws from his joint defense agreement with Trump.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|p=121}}
** Trump attorney [[John M. Dowd]] leaves a voicemail for Flynn's lawyer Rob Kelner discouraging Flynn from cooperating.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/31/politics/michael-flynn-john-dowd-voicemail/index.html |title=Transcript released of Flynn voicemail from Trump lawyer showing possible attempt to obstruct |author=Katelyn Polantz |date=May 31, 2019 |website=CNN |publisher= |access-date=3 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/listen-trump-lawyer-john-dowds-voicemail-to-michael-flynns-attorney-released |title=LISTEN: Trump Lawyer John Dowd's Voicemail to Michael Flynn's Attorney Released |author=Julia Arciga |date=June 6, 2019 |website=thedailybeast.com |publisher= |access-date=July 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/robert-mueller-s-congressional-testimony-matters-here-s-why-ncna1024901 |title=Robert Mueller's congressional testimony matters. Here's why. |author=Mimi Rocah |date=June 29, 2019 |website=nbcnews.com |publisher= |access-date=July 3, 2019}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=121–122}}
** Mueller's team interviews security expert Eric York for the third of three times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=63}}
** Mueller's team interviews McFarland the second of three times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=169}}
* '''November 23''': It is reported that Flynn's lawyers have notified Trump’s legal team in recent days that they will no longer discuss Mueller’s investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/politics/flynn-mueller-russia-trump.html |title=A Split From Trump Indicates That Flynn Is Moving to Cooperate With Mueller |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S.|authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt |date=November 23, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 24, 2017 |last2=Apuzzo |first2=Matt |last3=Haberman |first3=Maggie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/24/michael-flynn-breaks-ties-trump-lawyers-russia-investigation |title=Michael Flynn breaks ties with Trump lawyers over Russia investigation – reports |last=Smith |first=David |date=November 24, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=November 24, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/23/politics/michael-flynn-donald-trump-robert-mueller-new-york-times/index.html |title=Flynn's lawyers no longer sharing information with Trump's legal team |publisher=[[CNN]] |first=Sophie|last=Tatum|first2=Evan| last2=Perez |last3=Sciutto|first3=Jim |last4=Polantz|first4=Katelyn |last5=Cohen|first5=Marshall |access-date=November 24, 2017 |date=November 24, 2017}}</ref>
* '''November 27''': The House Intelligence Committee subpoenas [[Randy Credico]], a longtime associate of Stone.<ref>{{cite web|title=Russia Investigators Subpoena a Comedian. No, Seriously.|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-investigators-subpoena-a-comedian-no-seriously|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=November 29, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2018|last=Woodruff|first=Betsy}}</ref> Credico replies by asserting his [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|right to remain silent]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Alleged Trump-Assange Backchannel: 'There Was No Backchannel'|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/alleged-trump-assange-backchannel-there-was-no-backchannel|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=February 19, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2019|last=Woodruff|first=Betsy}}</ref>
* '''Late November''':
** Maria Butina and Paul Erickson attend a post-Thanksgiving barbecue at Representative [[Mark Sanford]]'s family farm in South Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Mark Sanford met Maria Butina|url=http://www.wtva.com/content/national/488745621.html|website=[[WTVA]]|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=July 26, 2018|publisher=CNN Wire}}</ref>
** Adam Waldman visits Assange twice.<ref name=USLobbyistForRussianGuardian20180620 />
* '''November 28''': Mueller's team interviews Dearborn for the first time.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=126}}
* '''November 29''':
** Mueller's team interviews Eisenberg.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=32–33, 36–37, 65–66, 69}}
** Mueller's team interviews Flynn for the fifth of 11 times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=62, 64}}
[[File:Testimony of Erik Prince to the House Intelligence Committee 2017-11-30.pdf|thumb|Transcript of Erik Prince's testimony to the House Intelligence Committee]]
* '''November 30''':
** Sessions testifies at a private meeting of the House Intelligence Committee. According to Schiff, Sessions refuses to say whether Trump asked him to hinder the Russia investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jeff-sessions-trump-russia-investigation-refuse-say-hinder-adam-schiff-a8085676.html |title=Jeff Sessions refused to say whether Trump asked him to hinder Russia investigation, says member of House Intelligence Committee |date=November 30, 2017 |work=The Independent|last1=Shugerman|first1=Emily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/jeff-sessions-wont-say-if-trump-told-him-to-hinder-russia-probe-congressman-20171130-gzwf77.html |title=Jeff Sessions won't say if Trump told him to hinder Russia probe: congressman |date=November 30, 2017 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|last1=Lynch|first1=Sarah N.|last2=Zengerle|first2=Patricia|agency=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>
** The ''New York Times'' reports that Trump pressed Republicans [[Roy Blunt]] (R-MO), [[Richard Burr]] (R-NC), and Senate Majority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] (R-KY) to end the Senate's Russia inquiry.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/us/politics/trump-russia-senate-intel.html |title=Trump Pressed Top Republicans to End Senate Russia Inquiry |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=November 30, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 1, 2017 |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Burns |first3=Alexander}}</ref>
** Stone confirms that his intermediary with Assange during the election was radio host [[Randy Credico]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/nov/30/randy-credico-link-between-wikileaks-roger-stone/ |title=Roger Stone reveals identity of WikiLeaks go-between: Randy Credico, NYC radio host |date=November 30, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Times]]|last=Blake|first=Andrew}}</ref>
** Prince testifies before a closed-door hearing of the House Intelligence Committee. Afterwards, he demands an apology from Schiff for "wasting all of our time, for wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on a meaningless fishing expedition."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/362692-erik-prince-testifies-before-house-intelligence-committee|title=Erik Prince testifies before House Intelligence Committee|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2019|last=Williams|first=Katie Bo}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews McGahn for the first of six times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=31-33, 37, 49-50, 59}}
=== December ===
* '''December''':
** The SEC drops an inquiry into how [[Apollo Global Management]] reported financial results. The inquiry had been ongoing since the [[Obama administration]]. This is considered suspicious because it comes one month after Apollo gave [[Jared Kushner]] a $185 million loan, and months after Apollo's founder, [[Joshua Harris (businessman)|Joshua Harris]], met with Kushner to discuss a possible job in the administration.<ref name=KushnerLoansNYT20189228 /><ref name=ApolloSECCBSNews20180302 />
** Butina declines a request to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee because of lack of support from Republican members.<ref name=SenateIntelAsksForButinaFinancialDocsBuzzfeedNews20180716 />
* '''Early December''': Trump becomes furious about news reports that Mueller has issued subpoenas to Deutsche Bank for records related to Trump, telling advisers he wants Mueller's investigation shut down. Trump backs off after Mueller's office tells his lawyers the reports are erroneous.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/10/us/politics/trump-sought-to-fire-mueller-in-december.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 10, 2018|access-date=July 5, 2018|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|author-link1=Maggie Haberman|last2=Schmidt|first2=Michael S.|author-link2=Michael S. Schmidt}}</ref>
* '''December 1'''[[File:Flynn statement of offense.pdf|thumb|Flynn statement of offense]]
** Flynn pleads guilty in federal court to giving false testimony to the FBI about his contacts with Kislyak.<ref name="guilty"/> As part of Flynn’s negotiations, his son, Michael G. Flynn, is not expected to be charged.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/michael-flynn-charged-with-making-false-statement-to-the-fbi/2017/12/01/e03a6c48-d6a2-11e7-9461-ba77d604373d_story.html |title=Michael Flynn pleads guilty to lying to the FBI |last=Leonnig |first=Carol D. |date=December 1, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=December 1, 2017 |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |last3=Barrett |first3=Devlin |last4=Zapotosky |first4=Matt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/us/politics/flynn-russia-sanctions.html |title=Documents Reveal New Details on What Trump Team Knew About Flynn's Calls With Russia's Ambassador |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S. |authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt|date=December 1, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 1, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In [[commons:File:Flynn statement of offense.pdf|the statement of the offense]], [[K.T. McFarland]] is identified as "PTT official",<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Flynn pleads guilty to false-statements charge in Russia probe|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/01/michael-flynn-charged-in-special-counsels-russia-investigation.html|website=[[Fox News]]|date=December 1, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2018|last1=Berger|first1=Judson|first2=Catherine|last2=Herridge|author-link2=Catherine Herridge|first3=Jake|last3=Gibson|first4=Brooke|last4=Singman|first5=John|last5=Roberts|author-link5=John Roberts (journalist)}}</ref> and [[Sergey Kislyak]] as "Russian Ambassador".<ref name="guilty"/>
** ''Bloomberg'' reporter [[Eli Lake]] speculates in an [[opinion piece]] that Kushner is the person mentioned in Flynn's plea documents who is said to have ordered Flynn to contact Russia.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-12-01/kushner-is-said-to-have-ordered-flynn-to-contact-russia |title=Kushner Is Said to Have Ordered Flynn to Contact Russia|date=December 1, 2017|publisher=[[Bloomberg LP]]|access-date=December 1, 2017|last=Lake|first=Eli|editor-last=Gray|editor-first= Philip}}</ref>
** ABC News reports Flynn is prepared to testify that Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians, in the context of plans to defeat [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/analysis-michael-flynns-guilty-plea-opens-doors-closes/story?id=51515178 |title=ANALYSIS: Michael Flynn's guilty plea opens more doors than it closes |date=December 1, 2017 |publisher=[[ABC News]]|access-date=December 1, 2017|last=Klein|first=Rick}}</ref>
** ABC News suspends news correspondent [[Brian Ross (journalist)|Brian Ross]] for 4 weeks for wrongly reporting that it was candidate Trump rather than President-elect Trump who had directed Flynn to contact the Russian government.<ref>{{cite web|first=Phil|last=McCausland|website=[[NBC News]]|title=ABC News reporter Brian Ross suspended for 'serious error' in Flynn reporting|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/abc-news-reporter-brian-ross-suspended-serious-error-flynn-reporting-n825966|date=December 2, 2017}}</ref>
** Trump's lawyer [[Ty Cobb (attorney)|Ty Cobb]] says that Flynn's plea "clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion" to the Russia investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-flynn-russia-statement-investigation-lawyer-ty-cobb-prompt-end-latest-a8087476.html |title=Donald Trump's lawyer says Michael Flynn's guilty plea 'clears the way for a prompt conclusion' to Russia probe |newspaper=The Independent |date=December 1, 2017|last=Sampathkumar|first=Mythili}}</ref>
* '''December 2''':
** ''The New York Times'' reports that even as the White House portrayed Flynn as a renegade who had acted independently in his discussions with a Russian official, emails among top transition officials provided or described suggest otherwise.<ref name="McFarlandFlynnKislyakEmailsNYT20171202"/>
** Trump admits to knowing that Flynn lied to the FBI in his tweet: “I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/02/politics/trump-tweet-flynn-firing-fbi-reaction/index.html |title=Critics react to Trump's tweet on firing Flynn |publisher=[[CNN]] |first=Daniella|last=Diaz|access-date=December 3, 2017|date=December 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Trump Tweets He Knew Flynn Lied to FBI When He Asked Comey to 'Let Flynn Go'|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-tweets-he-knew-flynn-lied-to-fbi-when-he-asked-comey-to-let-flynn-go|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=December 2, 2017|access-date=January 5, 2019|last=Ackerman|first=Spencer|author-link=Spencer Ackerman}}</ref>
* '''December 3''':
** Feinstein says on ''[[Meet the Press]]'' that her group is "putting together of a case of obstruction of justice" against Trump.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/03/dianne-feinstein-says-senate-probing-obstruction-of-justice-vs-trump.html |title=CA Dem. Dianne Feinstein: Senate's Russia probe is building a case for obstructing justice: NBC |last=David |first=Javier E. |date=December 3, 2017 |work=CNBC|access-date=December 3, 2017}}</ref>
** Trump's personal lawyer, [[John M. Dowd]], says that he wrote the December 2 tweet on the @realDonaldTrump Twitter account about Flynn's firing.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/03/politics/flynn-firing-dowd-tweet/index.html |title=Lawyer says he wrote @realDonaldTrump tweet about firing Flynn |publisher=CNN |first=Maegan|last=Vazquez |first2=Gloria|last2=Borger|access-date=December 3, 2017|date=December 3, 2017|author-link2=Gloria Borger|last3=Diamond|first3=Jeremy|first4=Daniella|last4=Diaz}}</ref> Dowd also says Trump knew in January 2017 that Flynn had likely lied to the FBI.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lawyer-says-president-knew-flynn-had-given-fbi-the-same-account-he-gave-to-vice-president/2017/12/03/5c59a620-d849-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumpobstruct-1115pm:homepage/story |title=Trump lawyer says president knew Flynn had given FBI the same account he gave to vice president |date=December 3, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|author-link1=Carol D. Leonnig|last2=Wagner|first2=John|author-link2=John Wagner|last3=Nakashima|first3=Ellen|last4=Horwitz|first4=Sari|author-link4=Sari Horwitz|last5=Helderman|first5=Rosalind S.|last6=Dawsey|first6=Josh}}</ref>
** Trump calls the FBI a biased institution whose reputation for fairness is “in tatters”.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/us/politics/trump-fbi-tatters.html |title=Trump, Defending Himself After Flynn Guilty Plea, Says F.B.I. Is in 'Tatters' |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=December 3, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 4, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
* '''December 4''':
** Trump says he “feels badly” for Flynn, and claims that Clinton “lied many times” to the agency without consequences.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/04/doesnt-make-sense-incredulity-trumps-lawyer-john-dowd-take-blame-for-flynn-tweet |title='I feel badly for General Flynn': Trump sympathizes with disgraced former aide |last=York |first=David Smith Martin Pengelly in New |date=December 4, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=December 4, 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
** An email sent during the transition by Trump’s former deputy national security adviser, [[K. T. McFarland]], appears to contradict the testimony she gave to Congress over the summer. The email shows McFarland knew about Flynn's December 29, 2016, call with Kislyak, while her written testimony says she had no knowledge of it at the time.<ref name=McFarlandEmailProblemNYT20171204>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/04/us/politics/kt-mcfarland-flynn-russia-emails-congressional-testimony.html |title=McFarland Contradicted Herself on Russia Contacts, Congressional Testimony Shows |last=Schmidt |first=Michael S. |authorlink=Michael S. Schmidt|date=December 4, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 4, 2017 |last2=LaFraniere |first2=Sharon |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** Prosecutors say that Manafort worked on an [[op-ed]] with Ukrainian journalist [[Oleg Voloshyn]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ukrainian-pundit-says-paul-manafort-did-not-ghostwrite-his-pro-manafort-opinion-piece/2017/12/05/25f6f8de-da16-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html |title=Ukrainian pundit says Paul Manafort did not 'ghostwrite' his pro-Manafort opinion piece |last=Helderman |first=Rosalind S. |date=December 5, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=December 8, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> an associate with ties to Russian intelligence, while out on bail; a court filing requests that the judge revoke Manafort's [[Bail bond|bond]] agreement.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/04/politics/manafort-bail-russian-intelligence/index.html |title=Manafort worked on op-ed with Russian while out on bail, prosecutors say |last=Polantz |first=Katelyn|work=CNN|access-date=December 4, 2017|date=December 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-manafort-bail-trump-russia-2017-12 |title=Mueller just abruptly reversed course on his bail agreement with Manafort |work=Business Insider|access-date=December 4, 2017 |language=en|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|date=December 4, 2017}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Denman for a second and final time.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=125–127}}
* '''December 5''':
** Reports indicate that Mueller has subpoenaed [[Deutsche Bank]] for data on accounts held by Trump and his family,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://global.handelsblatt.com/finance/muellers-trump-russia-investigation-engulfs-deutsche-bank-861185 |title=Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation engulfs Deutsche |date=December 5, 2017 |work=Handelsblatt Global Edition|access-date=December 5, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=DeutscheBankRecordsBloomberg20171205 /> prompting denials by Trump's lawyers [[Jay Sekulow]] and [[John M. Dowd|John Dowd]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-deutsche-bank/trump-lawyer-denies-deutsche-bank-got-subpoena-on-trump-accounts-idUSKBN1DZ0XN |title=Trump lawyer denies Deutsche Bank got subpoena on Trump accounts |agency=[[Reuters]] |first1=Arno |last1=Schuetze |first2=Karen |last2=Freifeld |date=December 5, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name=DeutscheBankRecordsBloomberg20171205>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-05/deutsche-bank-said-to-be-subpoenaed-by-mueller |title=Deutsche Bank Records Said to Be Subpoenaed by Mueller |agency=Bloomberg |date=December 5, 2017|last=Arons|first=Steven}}</ref> Subsequent reports on December 6 indicate that only information on Trump's associates has been subpoenaed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/05/donald-trump-bank-records-handed-over-robert-mueller?CMP=share_btn_tw |title=Deutsche Bank hands bank records of Trump affiliates to Robert Mueller |agency=The Guardian |date=December 5, 2017|last=Kirchgaessner|first=Stephanie}}</ref>
** Cambridge Analytica's [[Alexander Nix]] and Trump's longtime assistant Rhona Graff are scheduled to be interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee about the connections between Trump and the Kremlin.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/congress-to-grill-trumps-data-guru-and-assistant |title=Congress to Grill Trump's Data Guru and His Longtime Assistant |last=Woodruff |first=Betsy |date=December 5, 2017 |work=The Daily Beast|access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>
** Democrats place a hold on McFarland's nomination as [[United States Ambassador to Singapore|ambassador to Singapore]] until she answers their questions about her knowledge of communications between Flynn and Kislyak.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/05/politics/kt-mcfarland-nomination-held/index.html |title=Democrats place hold on McFarland nomination |first1=Manu|last1=Raju|author-link1=Manu Raju|first2=Jeremy|last2=Herb|work=CNN|access-date=December 5, 2017|date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>
** Deripaska and the Associated Press (AP) agree to drop their [[appeals]] of rulings in Deripaska's libel suit against the AP. In October, Judge Ellen Huvelle dismissed the suit and denied the AP's request to recover attorney's fees.<ref name=DeripaskaDropsAPSuitPolitico20171206 />
* '''December 6''':
** An unnamed "whistleblower" claims that Flynn told a former business associate that economic sanctions against Russia would be “ripped up” as one of the Trump administration’s first acts.<ref name=FlynnRippedUpSanctionsNYT20171206>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/us/politics/michael-flynn-russia-sanctions-ripped-up-whistleblower.html |title=Flynn Said Russian Sanctions Would be 'Ripped Up,' Whistle-Blower Says |last=Mazzetti |first=Mark |date=December 6, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 6, 2017 |last2=Schmidt |first2=Michael S.|authorlink2=Michael S. Schmidt |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
** Trump Jr. testifies to the House Intelligence Committee in private. He refuses to answer questions about conversations with his father, based on attorney-client privilege.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/06/donald-trump-jr-russia-investigation-congress |title=Trump Jr refused to discuss talks he had with father, Russia investigator says |work=[[The Guardian]]|agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> Trump Jr. says he communicated with Hicks, not his father, about the response to his [[Veselnitskaya meeting]].<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/donald-trump-jr-trump-tower-response/index.html |title=Trump Jr. says he communicated with Hope Hicks about Trump Tower response |first=Manu|last=Raju|first2=Jeremy|last2=Herb |publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=December 6, 2017|date=December 6, 2017|author-link1=Manu Raju}}</ref>
** New Jersey Governor [[Chris Christie]] says he was ousted as head of Trump’s transition team due in part to his opposition to hiring Flynn as National Security Adviser.<ref name=ChristieFiredOverFlynnPolitico20171206>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2017/12/06/christie-warning-about-flynn-among-reasons-i-was-fired-from-trump-transition-136432?lo=ap_f1 |title=Christie: Warning about Flynn among reasons I was fired from Trump transition |work=Politico PRO|access-date=December 6, 2017|date=December 6, 2017|last=Hutchins|first=Ryan}}</ref>
** Rosenstein confirms that he is satisfied thus far with Mueller's work.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/republicans-hammer-mueller-fbi-as-russia-investigation-intensifies/2017/12/06/4a6097ca-dabb-11e7-b1a8-62589434a581_story.html |title=Republicans hammer Mueller, FBI as Russia investigation intensifies |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 6, 2017|last1=Barrett|first1=Devlin|last2=Sullivan|first2=Sean}}</ref>
** The U.S. House of Representatives dismisses [[Al Green (politician)|Al Green]]'s resolution to impeach Trump, with 58 members requesting a vote and 364 refusing it.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/12/06/house-democratic-leaders-oppose-texas-lawmakers-trump-impeachment-effort/ |title=House votes to kill Texas lawmaker's Trump impeachment effort |work=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Mike |last=DeBonis |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref>
** Trump again urges Sessions to unrecuse himself and investigate Clinton. Sessions responds that he will operate under the law.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=109-110}}
{{anchor|20171207}}
* '''December 7''':
** Mueller's team interviews White House Communications Director [[Hope Hicks]] over two days.<ref name=nyt-20171208>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/us/politics/hope-hicks-russia-trump-fbi.html |title=F.B.I. Warned Hope Hicks About Emails From Russian Operatives |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 8, 2017|last1=Goldman|first1=Adam|author-link1=Adam Goldman|last2=Apuzzo|first2=Matt|author-link2=Matt Apuzzo}}</ref>{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=115, 145}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=21, 32, 44, 51, 59, 71, 79, 94, 100–103}} She is interviewed again on [[Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (January–June 2018)#20180313|March 13, 2018]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=23, 94, 99-104, 108, 114–115, 123}}
** During testimony to Congress, Director [[Christopher A. Wray]] defends the FBI from Trump's criticism of December 3.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42270553 |title=Russia-Trump: FBI chief Wray defends agency |work=BBC News |date=December 7, 2017}}</ref>
** The [[United States House Committee on Ethics|House Ethics Committee]] clears Nunes of misconduct in relation to the matter of his proximity to the White House and accusations that he inappropriately disclosed classified information.<ref name=newsweek-20171221-nunes>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/nunes-fbi-justice-trump-dossier-755320 |title=Trump-Russia Dossier: Republicans, Devin Nunes, Want Dirt on FBI and Justice to Discredit Salacious Report |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=December 21, 2017|last=Price|first=Greg}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/us/politics/devin-nunes-is-cleared-of-wrongdoing-for-disclosing-monitoring-of-trump-aides.html |title=Devin Nunes Cleared of Misconduct Over Disclosing Monitoring of Trump Aides |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 7, 2017|last=Schmidt|first=Michael S.|author-link1=Michael S. Schmidt}}</ref> It is unclear how thorough the ethics investigation was since the [[United States House Committee on Ethics|Ethics Committee]] relied upon outside intelligence experts to review the material instead of comparing the material to Nunes's public statements themselves.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Circumscribed Ethics Investigation Into Devin Nunes|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/devin-nunes-controversy/551792/|website=[[The Atlantic]]|date=January 2018|access-date=March 20, 2018|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref>
* '''December 8''': Representative [[Matt Gaetz]] discusses Mueller's investigation with Trump aboard Air Force One en route to Florida. Representative [[Ron DeSantis]] is also aboard.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/mueller-attacks-trump-russia-matt-gaetz-jim-jordan-2017-12?r=US&IR=T |title=A trio of House Republicans lobbing attacks on Mueller have been in touch with the White House |work=Business Insider |date=December 21, 2017|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref>
* '''December 12''':
** Trump's lawyers call for an investigation into the FBI's and the DoJ's alleged conflicts of interest associated with the work of Fusion GPS on the Steele dossier.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/12/12/trumps-lawyer-calls-for-a-special-counsel-investigation-of-alleged-corruption-at-fbi-and-justice-department/ |title=Trump's lawyer calls for a special counsel investigation of alleged corruption at FBI and Justice Department |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 12, 2017|last=Rucker|first=Philip|author-link1=Philip Rucker}}</ref>
** The DoJ shows journalists private text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page exhibiting anti-Trump and pro-Clinton sentiments.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/peter-strzok-page-texts-mueller-russia-trump-2017-12?r=US&IR=T |title=In 'highly unusual' move, DOJ secretly invited reporters to view texts sent by ousted FBI agents |work=Business Insider |date=December 13, 2017|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref><ref name=wapo-20171212 /><ref name=cbs-20171213>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rod-rosenstein-tells-congress-he-hasnt-seen-good-cause-to-fire-robert-mueller/ |title=Rod Rosenstein tells Congress he hasn't seen "good cause" to fire Robert Mueller |date=December 13, 2017 |publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews [[Thomas Barrack]].{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=134}}
** Mueller's team interviews McGahn for the second of six times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=35, 50-55, 59-60, 62, 65-71, 73}}
* '''December 13''':
** At a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rosenstein states that he has seen no cause to dismiss Mueller, and confirms that Mueller is working within the boundaries of his brief. Rosenstein further states that Strzok's dismissal was appropriate and timely, and he contradicts Trump's claim that Mueller's investigation is a "witch hunt".<ref name=cbs-20171213 />
** Trump Jr. meets with the US Senate Intelligence Committee.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/13/donald-trump-jr-testifies-to-us-senate-committee-in-russia-investigation |title=Donald Trump Jr testifies to US Senate committee in Russia investigation |date=December 13, 2017 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|agency=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Akhmetshin associate Ed Lieberman.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=116}}<ref name=ALobbyistAtTheBuzzFeedNews20190417>{{Cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmaloop/trump-tower-meeting-russian-lobbyist-akhmetshin-suspicious-p |title=A Lobbyist At The Trump Tower Meeting Received Half A Million Dollars In Suspicious Payments |website=[[BuzzFeed News]] |last1=Loop |first1=Emma |last2=Cormier |first2=Anthony |last3=Leopold |first3=Jason |last4=Kozyreva |first4=Tanya |last5=Templeton |first5=John |author-link2=Anthony Cormier |author-link3=Jason Leopold |date=April 17, 2019 |access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref>
* '''December 14''':
** ''The Wall Street Journal'' reports on the interview of [[Cambridge Analytica]] chief executive Alexander Nix by the House Intelligence Committee, stating that Mueller requested documents from the firm before or during October 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mueller-team-requested-documents-from-data-firm-that-worked-for-trump-campaign-report/article/2643587 |title=Mueller team requested documents from data firm that worked for Trump campaign: Report |last=Correll |first=Diana Stancy |work=Washington Examiner|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/house-intel-committee-questions-head-trump-data-firm-article-1.3699327 |title=House Intel Committee questions head of Trump data firm |work=[[NY Daily News]]|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en|last=Honan|first=Katie|date=December 17, 2017}}</ref> In undercover videos released by the British [[Channel 4]] in March, Nix described his testimony. According to Nix, the Republicans on the committee asked only three questions and that portion of the interview lasted only five minutes, while the Democrats asked questions for two hours.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-20/cambridge-analytica-used-disappearing-emails-in-campaign-report| title=Cambridge Analytica Boasted of Disappearing Emails in Campaigns|date=March 20, 2018|publisher=[[Bloomberg LP]]|last=Lanxon|first=Nate|author-link=Nate Lanxon}}</ref> This description of the nature of the testimony was confirmed by [[Adam Schiff]], who said "my (Republican) colleagues had a habit of asking three questions: Did you conspire, did you collude, did you coordinate with Russians? And if the answer was no, they were pretty much done". Schiff also said the Republicans rejected requests that Nix be brought back before the committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/cambridge-analytica-ceo-alexander-nix-suspended-amid-hidden-camera-expose-n858406|title=Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix suspended amid hidden-camera expose|website=[[NBC News]]|date=March 20, 2018|access-date=September 4, 2018|last=Edelman|first=Adam}}</ref>
** At his annual news conference, Putin describes allegations of election interference as invented by Trump's political opponents, and states that contacts between Trump's associates and Russian officials before the election were appropriate.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42349906 |title=Putin: Trump opponents harm US with 'invented' Russia scandal |date=December 14, 2017 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports in detail on Trump's associates' efforts to avoid the subject of Russia, to preclude Trump's "rages".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/world/national-security/donald-trump-pursues-vladimir-putin-russian-election-hacking/ |title=Doubting the intelligence, Trump pursues Putin and leaves a Russian threat unchecked|website=The Washington Post|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=September 4, 2018|last1=Miller|first1=Greg|last2=Jaffe|first2=Greg|last3=Rucker|first3=Philip|author-link3=Philip Rucker|first4=Adam|last4=Entous|first5=Ellen|last5=Nakashima|first6=Julie|last6=Tate}}</ref>
** In the second of two interviews, Stephen Miller tells Mueller's team that he does not remember Clovis or Papadopoulos telling him that Russia had dirt on Clinton or possessed copies of her emails.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=93}}
** Mueller's team interviews McGahn for the third of six times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=44, 52, 78-81, 85, 87-88, 95-96, 108, 123}}
* '''December 15''':
** Answering questions from reporters, Trump reiterates his description of Russian collusion as a "hoax" and declines to comment on a possible pardon of Flynn.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/15/donald-trump-chats-vladimir-putin-third-time-six-weeks-internal/ |title=Donald Trump chats to Vladimir Putin for third time in six weeks, as internal battles over Russia policy are exposed |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |first=Ben |last=Riley-smith |date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> Trump declares that his own innocence is now "proven".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/15/donald-trump-worst-enemies-admit-no-russia-collusion/ |title=Donald Trump: My worst enemies admit there was no Russia collusion |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=December 15, 2017|type=video}}</ref>
** Inspector General [[Michael E. Horowitz]] states that he did not authorize the release to the press of the Strzok/Page text messages.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/doj-inspector-general-wasnt-informed-before-fbi-agent-texts-released-2017-12?r=US&IR=T |title=DOJ inspector general says department did not consult him before releasing FBI agents' texts |work=Business Insider |date=December 16, 2017|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that Strzok and Page were using the text messages as a cover story for an [[extramarital affair]] between them.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-officials-text-message-about-hillary-clinton-said-to-be-a-cover-story-for-romantic-affair/2017/12/15/23205bee-e1b6-11e7-bbd0-9dfb2e37492a_story.html |title=FBI officials' text message about Hillary Clinton said to be a cover story for romantic affair |last=Barrett |first=Devlin |date=December 15, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews Sater for the second of two times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|p=72, 77}}
* '''December 16''':
** Kory Langhofer, a lawyer for ''[[Trump for America]]'', sends Congress a letter alleging that Mueller's acquisition, via the GSA, of tens of thousands of emails sent and received by 13 senior Trump transition team members is unlawful. The communications derive from the official Presidential Transition Team domain, ptt.gov.<ref name=latimes-20171217>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/sns-bc-us--trump-russia-transition-emails-20171217-story.html |title=Special counsel obtains thousands of Trump transition emails |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 18, 2017 |access-date=December 19, 2017|archive-date=December 22, 2017|last1=Braun|first1=Stephen|last2=Day|first2=Chad|author-link1=Stephen Braun|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104904/http://www.latimes.com/sns-bc-us--trump-russia-transition-emails-20171217-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.axios.com/new-trump-officials-demand-mueller-return-thousands-of-emails-2518147669.html |title=Trump: "My people are very upset" about Mueller obtaining emails |date=December 17, 2017 |work=Axios|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en|last=Allen|first=Mike|author-link=Michael Allen (journalist)}}</ref><ref name=wapo-20171216>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-unlawfully-obtained-emails-trump-transition-team-says/2017/12/16/6162f350-e2cc-11e7-8679-a9728984779c_story.html |title=Trump criticizes how Mueller obtained transition emails, says no plans to fire special counsel |last1=Gearan |first1=Anne |last2=Rucker |first2=Philip |date=December 17, 2017 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>
** Trump escalates his criticism of the FBI over its Russia investigation, saying, "It's a shame what's happened with the FBI ... It's a very sad thing to watch."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/donald-trump-lashes-out-at-fbi-role-in-russia-probe-20171215-h05qrv.html |title=Donald Trump lashes out at FBI role in Russia probe |last=Tackett |first=Michael |date=December 17, 2017 |work=The Age|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''December 17''':
** Responding to Langhofer's accusation of December 16, GSA Deputy Counsel Lenny Loewentritt states that Trump's transition team was explicitly advised that all material passing through government equipment would be subject to monitoring and would not be held back from law enforcement officers.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/the-trump-campaign-claims-a-federal-office-illegally-turned |title=Key Officials Push Back Against Trump Campaign's Claim A Federal Office Illegally Turned Over Emails To Special Counsel |work=[[BuzzFeed News]]|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en|date=December 17, 2017|last=Geidner|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Geidner}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/mueller-trump-emails-dispute-2017-12?r=US&IR=T |title=A conflict is brewing between Mueller and Trump's transition team over 'tens of thousands' of emails he obtained |work=Business Insider|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en|last=Sheth|first=Sonam|date=December 17, 2017}}</ref>
** Mueller's spokesman Peter Carr rejects Langhofer's claims, stating that the Trump transition emails were acquired appropriately through the criminal investigation process.<ref name=wapo-20171216 />
** White House Director of Legislative Affairs [[Marc Short]] states there has been "no conversation" in the White House concerning any potential dismissal of Mueller.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/marc-short-no-conversation-in-white-house-about-firing-robert-mueller/article/2643766 |title=Marc Short: 'No conversation' in White House about firing Robert Mueller |last=Scarry |first=Eddie |work=Washington Examiner|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> Trump shortly thereafter confirms that he is not considering dismissing Mueller.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42388021 |title=Trump denies he plans to fire Mueller |date=December 18, 2017 |work=BBC News|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* '''December 18''':
** NBC News reports that the FBI warned Trump after his nomination at the [[2016 RNC]] on July 19, 2016, that foreign adversaries, including Russia, would probably try to spy on and infiltrate his campaign.<ref name=FBIWarnsTrumpNBC20171217>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-warned-trump-2016-russians-would-try-infiltrate-his-campaign-n830596 |title=FBI told Trump Russians would try to infiltrate his campaign |work=NBC News|access-date=December 18, 2017 |language=en|date=December 18, 2017|last1=Dilanian|first1=Ken|last2=Ainsley|first2=Julia|last3=Lee|first3=Carol E.}}</ref>
** ''The Washington Post'' reports that the Senate Intelligence Committee is looking at Jill Stein's presidential campaign for potential “collusion with the Russians.”<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-intel-committee-investigating-jill-stein-campaign-for-collusion-with-the-russians/2017/12/18/ea7f3f1a-e44b-11e7-833f-155031558ff4_story.html |title=Senate intel committee investigating Jill Stein campaign for 'collusion with the Russians' |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=December 18, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=December 19, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** The House Intelligence Committee interviews [[Rob Goldstone]] and [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/17/politics/house-intelligence-goldstone-wasserman-schultz/index.html |title=House panel to interview Goldstone on Monday |last=Herb |first=Jeremy |date=December 17, 2017 |work=CNN|access-date=December 19, 2017 |last2=Raju |first2=Manu}}</ref>
* '''December 19''':
** FBI Deputy Director [[Andrew McCabe]] testifies in private to the House Intelligence Committee about Russian election interference.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/19/fbi-s-mccabe-faces-gop-calls-for-ouster-ahead-closed-door-testimony.html |title=FBI's McCabe faces GOP calls for ouster, ahead of closed-door testimony |work=Fox News |date=December 19, 2017|last=Chakraborty|first=Barnini}}</ref>
** ''[[Gizmodo]]'' reports that the Trump transition team discussed Flynn's use of [[Signal (software)|Signal]] to encrypt conversations, according to GSA emails under [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|FOIA]].<ref name=FlynnSignalGizmodo20171219>{{Cite news |url=https://gizmodo.com/trump-transition-team-discussed-michael-flynn-using-sig-1821429655 |title=Trump Transition Team Discussed Michael Flynn Using Signal to Encrypt Conversations, Emails Show |last=Cameron |first=Dell |work=Gizmodo|access-date=December 20, 2017 |language=en-US|date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>
** Senator John McCain's former staffer [[David J. Kramer]] testifies before the House Intelligence Committee in a closed-door session about his role in bringing the Steele dossier to the FBI.<ref name=TrumpLawyerMichaelCohenDailyBeast20180306>{{cite web|title=Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen Received Inside Info From Russia Probe|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-received-inside-info-from-russia-probe|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=March 6, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2019|last1=Woodruff|first1=Betsy|last2=Ackerman|first2=Spencer|author-link2=Spencer Ackerman}}</ref>
* '''December 20''':
** [[Mark Warner]] delivers a speech to the Senate warning Trump of "immediate and significant consequences" should he attempt to dismiss Mueller or to pardon those involved in the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/20/senate-dem-mark-warner-warns-trump-significant-consequences-if-mueller-fired.html |title=Senate Dem Mark Warner warns Trump of 'significant consequences' if Mueller fired |work=Fox News |date=December 20, 2017|last=Pappas|first=Alex}}</ref>
** ''[[Foreign Policy (magazine)|Foreign Policy]]'' reports that records submitted to Mueller's team indicate that McGahn researched federal law related both to the [[Logan Act]] and making false statements to investigators in the early days of Trump's presidency and that he may have warned Trump that Flynn was in potential violation.<ref name=McGahnKnewFlynnBrokeLawFP20171220>{{Cite news |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/12/20/white-house-counsel-knew-in-january-flynn-probably-violated-the-law/ |title=White House Counsel Knew in January Flynn Probably Violated the Law |work=Foreign Policy |date=December 20, 2017|last=Waas|first=Murray |authorlink=Murray Waas}}</ref>
** Reports emerge that a group headed by Nunes has spent several weeks compiling a report on alleged "corruption and conspiracy in the upper ranks of federal law enforcement".<ref name=newsweek-20171221-nunes />
** In private testimony before the House Intelligence Committee this week, McCabe tells lawmakers that Comey informed him of conversations he had with Trump soon after they happened.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/21/politics/andrew-mccabe-congress-testimony/index.html |title=Top FBI official grilled on Comey, Clinton |last=Raju |first=Manu |date=December 22, 2017 |work=CNN|access-date=December 22, 2017 |last2=Herb |first2=Jeremy|author-link1=Manu Raju}}</ref>
** Felix Sater is interviewed in New York by Congressional staff.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-partner-with-mob-ties-interviewed-out-of-range-of-democrats-1122891843739 |title=Trump partner with mob ties interviewed out of range of Democrats |work=MSNBC |date=December 22, 2017|series=[[The Rachel Maddow Show]]}}</ref>
* '''December 22''':
** ''The New York Times'' reports that federal prosecutors in the [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York|Eastern District of New York]] have sought records from [[Deutsche Bank]] about entities associated with Kushner's family businesses.<ref name=KushnerDeutscheBankRecordsNYT20171222>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/22/business/kushner-deutsche-bank-subpoena.html |title=Prosecutors Said to Seek Kushner Records From Deutsche Bank |last=Protess |first=Ben |date=December 22, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 23, 2017 |last2=Silver-Greenberg |first2=Jessica |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Enrich |first3=David}}</ref> The prosecutors are examining a $285 million loan Deutsche Bank made one month before Election Day to lease [[229 West 43rd Street]], the former New York Times building in [[Times Square]].<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/prosecutors-examine-loan-made-to-kushner-cos-before-election-1514003541 |title=Prosecutors Examine Loan Made to Kushner Cos. Before Election |last=Orden |first=Erica |date=December 23, 2017 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=December 23, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
** Journalist [[David Corn]], the first to report the existence of the Steele dossier, denies that FBI General Counsel [[James A. Baker (government attorney)|James Baker]] was his source, following Baker's reassignment.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/22/trump-dossier-fbi-james-baker-david-corn-mother-jones-316157 |title=Top FBI official linked to reporter who broke Trump dossier story |work=[[Politico]] |date=December 22, 2017|last1=Cheney|first1=Kyle|last2=Bade|first2=Rachael}}</ref>
** Mueller's team interviews McFarland the final of three times.{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-I|pp=142, 169-172}}{{r|MUELLER-REPORT-VOL-II|pp=25-26, 29, 42-44, 121}}
* '''December 23''': Kramer's lawyer, Larry Robbins, sends a letter to the House Intelligence Committee informing them they have a leak. He tells them that after his client testified before the committee on December 19, Cohen's lawyer Stephen Ryan contacted Robbins because someone from the House told him that Kramer has information that could help Cohen. Robbins says he declined Ryan's request for help.<ref name=TrumpLawyerMichaelCohenDailyBeast20180306 /><ref name=ClashWithWitnessShowsCNN20180209>{{cite web|title=Clash with witness shows Nunes' drive to discredit dossier|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/08/politics/devin-nunes-tactics-dossier-russia-investigation/index.html|website=[[CNN]]|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2019|last1=Raju|first1=Manu|author-link1=Manu Raju|last2=Herb|first2=Jeremy}}</ref>
* '''December 24''': The ''Guardian'' reports that the FBI has asked the [[Central Bank of Cyprus]] for financial information about the defunct [[FBME Bank]], which was used by wealthy Russians with political connections and has been accused by the US government of [[money laundering]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/24/fbi-investigates-russian-linked-cyprus-bank-accused-of-money-laundering |title=FBI investigates Russian-linked Cyprus bank accused of money laundering |last=Kirchgaessner |first=Stephanie |date=December 24, 2017 |work=The Guardian|access-date=December 24, 2017 |last2=Farolfi |first2=Sara |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ''Bloomberg'' reports that the Russia-related investigation into FBME was connected to a flow of illegal Russian funds into the New York real estate market.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-16/banned-over-terror-clients-fbme-bank-has-added-woe-u-s-probe |title=Banned Over Terror Clients, FBME Has Added Woe: U.S. Probe |date=December 16, 2017 |work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=December 24, 2017|last1=Berthelsen|first1=Christian|last2=Farrel|first2=Greg}}</ref>
* '''December 27''':
** According to ''The Washington Post'', Trump’s legal team plans to cast Flynn as a "liar seeking to protect himself" if he accuses Trump or his senior aides of any wrongdoing.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-legal-team-readies-attack-on-flynns-credibility/2017/12/27/bc601324-ea78-11e7-b698-91d4e35920a3_story.html |title=Trump legal team readies attack on Flynn's credibility |last=Leonnig |first=Carol D. |date=December 27, 2017 |work=Washington Post|access-date=December 27, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
** Investigative journalist [[Michael Isikoff]] reports that Mueller has begun questioning RNC staffers about the party's digital operation that worked with the Trump campaign to target voters in key swing states.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/mueller-probe-outgrows-witch-hunt-phase-100045988.html |title=Mueller probe outgrows its 'witch hunt' phase |last=Isikoff |first=Michael |work=Yahoo! News|access-date=December 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227114817/https://www.yahoo.com/news/mueller-probe-outgrows-witch-hunt-phase-100045988.html|archive-date=December 27, 2017|url-status=dead |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-questions-rnc-digital-operation-trump-campaign-russia-2017-12 |title=Mueller is reportedly zeroing in on the Trump campaign's data operation — and the RNC |work=Business Insider|access-date=December 28, 2017 |language=en|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|date=December 27, 2017}}</ref>
** Kramer receives a subpoena to make a second appearance before the House Intelligence Committee. Ten minutes later, [[Media bias in the United States#Conservative bias|conservative media]] report that the committee issued a subpoena to Kramer to appear in January.<ref name=ClashWithWitnessShowsCNN20180209 />
* '''December 28''': When questioned about his plans regarding the Mueller probe in a ''New York Times'' interview with [[Michael S. Schmidt]], Trump says, "I have absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/us/politics/trump-interview-excerpts.html |title=Excerpts From Trump's Interview With The Times |author=The New York Times|date=December 28, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 29, 2017 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331|author-link=The New York Times }}</ref>
== 2018 ==
{{Main|Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (January–June 2018)|Timeline of investigations into Trump and Russia (July–December 2018)}}
{{further|Timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump}}
{{further|Timeline of the presidency of Donald Trump}}
This is a list of individuals and organizations that have been involved in the events related to either the election interference that Russia conducted against the 2016 U.S. elections and/or the resulting investigations into suspected inappropriate links between associates of Donald Trump and Russian officials. Seth Abramson estimated more than 400 people could be listed here.[1]: 3
Cambridge Analytica, a now defunct political consulting, data mining, and analysis firm that worked for Trump's campaign; its parent company was SCL Group
Christian Cantor, Israeli diplomat in London
Michael Caputo, former chief of communications in New York for the Trump Campaign, contracted to perform public relations work for Putin in 2000[4]
Internet Research Agency (IRA), a Russian entity charged with coordinating online propaganda efforts, finances managed by Khusyaynova, funded by Prigozhin
Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova, Russian accountant who managed social media troll operation finances (including the IRA) which interfere in 2016 elections and 2018 midterm elections, called "Project Lakhta"
Jessie K. Liu, attorney involved in the Roger Stone case
Paul Manafort, political consultant and former lobbyist for Viktor Yanukovych, campaign manager and chairman of the Trump campaign (June–August 2016), and Trump convention manager (March 2016)
Simona Mangiante, Italian lawyer and wife of George Papadopoulos (since March 2018)[6]
For two days in early January 2017, in a gathering George Nader attended and brokered, Joel Zamel and General Ahmed Al-Assiri met with Michael Flynn and other members of the Trump transition team in New York. Steve Bannon was involved as well. In October 2018, the meeting came under the Mueller investigation's scrutiny.[8]
White House CounselDonald McGahn tells Trump he believes that Flynn had misled the FBI and lied to Vice President Pence, and should be fired.[9]
McGahn researches the Logan Act and federal laws related to lying to federal investigators. Records turned over to the Mueller investigation show McGahn believes Flynn violated one or more of those laws.[10]Susan Rice's email to herself on January 20, 2017.
While seated at Trump's inauguration speech, Flynn texts Alex Copson, chairman of ACU Strategic Partners, that Russian sanctions blocking a private Russian-backed plan to build nuclear plants in the Middle East will now be "ripped up".[12][13][14][15][16] An associate of Copson later denies the allegation.[17]
Sergei Millian, Source D in the Steele dossier, attends VIP inauguration events.[18] He also arranges to meet with Papadopoulos at the Washington, D.C., restaurant Russia House.[19]: 95 [20] Millian brings Moroccan American music producer Aziz Choukri to the meeting. Papadopoulos later claims Choukri accused Millian of working for the FBI, but in a separate interview Choukri denies the accusation occurred.[20]
Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer involved in the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, and Rinat Akhmetshin, another participant in that meeting, attend the Liberty Ball[21] at the Library of Congress hosted by Representative Dana Rohrabacher's campaign committee. Akhmetshin later claims he received tickets from event organizers, but Rohrabacher's office claims the campaign has no record of such an invitation or of ticket purchases by the two.[22] Ukrainian oligarch Serhiy Lyovochkin attends using tickets acquired for him by Sam Patten and Kilimnik.[23][24] Ukrainian lawmaker Serhiy Kivalov attends the event, but refuses later to tell reporters how he obtained the tickets he displayed on Twitter.[23] Ukrainian lawmaker Borislav Bereza attends using tickets he says he received from someone "connected to Illinois."[23] Ticket sales are counted as donations to Rohrabacher's campaign. In July 2018, Rohrabacher spokesman Kenneth Grubbs tells ABC News, "Apparently, there was some party-crashing going on."[21]
Bannon phones Page, and they talk about Russia. According to congressional testimony given by Page in November 2017, Bannon referred to the dossier and asked him to cancel a scheduled television appearance.[28]
January 22: Michael Flynn is sworn in as National Security Advisor.[29]
January 23
Sean Spicer repeats that Flynn did not discuss sanctions with Kislyak in late December.[30] Emails from December show Spicer most likely knew Flynn discussed sanctions with Kislyak on December 29, 2016, and may have known about the purpose of the call in advance.[31]
GCHQ director Robert Hannigan suddenly resigns. The Guardian reports that the resignation may have been over concerns about sharing intelligence with the Trump administration.[32]
Redacted FBI notes on the Flynn interview conducted on January 24, 2017.
January 24:
The FBI interviews Flynn about his conversations with Kislyak.[33] Flynn denies discussing sanctions with Kislyak, which the FBI knows is false.[34]: 30 He conceals the interview, which took place without a lawyer present, from the White House.[35] On December 1, 2017, Flynn will plead guilty to lying during the interview.[36][37]
Comey tells top FBI agents that Trump asked him to stay on as FBI director.[38]
January 25: The House Intelligence Committee announces[39] that it is investigating "any intelligence regarding links between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns" and other topics.[40]
January 26:
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates warns McGahn and White House Counsel's Office attorney James Burnham that Flynn has not been truthful about his contacts with Russia and may be vulnerable to blackmail by Russian intelligence.[41][34]: 31 Afterwards, McGahn asks John Eisenberg look into the possible legal implications of the Flynn-Kislyak interactions and the FBI interview.[34]: 31 Flynn is fired 18 days later, on February 13.[42]
Priebus and McGahn personally tell Trump that Flynn is under criminal investigation.[43]
Dmitriev tells Gerson that Putin is asking for feedback on the reconciliation document and wants Dmitriev to have key U.S. meetings within the next two weeks. He says Putin will speak to Trump by phone on January 28.[19]: 158
Dmitriev tells Nader that Putin emphasized to him that they need to "build this communication channel to avoid bureaucracy."[19]: 158
January 27:
The FBI interviews Papadopoulos at his family's Chicago home about Russian meetings in 2016.[44][45][46] After being cautioned about making false statements, Papadopoulos repeatedly lies to the investigators, telling them he only met Mifsud in February 2016 before he joined the Trump campaign and denying he tried to help Russians set up meetings with the campaign.[47][46] In October 2017 he will plead guilty to making omissions and false statements during the interview.[44][45] Hours after the interview, he applies for the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Department of Energy.[47][46]
Eisenberg informs McGahn that Flynn may have violated the law, but is unlikely to be prosecuted.[34]: 31–32
McGahn has further discussions with Yates about Flynn.[48]
During a private dinner at the White House, Comey gets the impression that Trump wants to "create some sort of patronage relationship." Comey will later testify that Trump requested "loyalty" from him, and that he offered "honesty" instead.[49]
Deripaska's longtime American lobbyist Adam Waldman visits Julian Assange.[50]
January 28: Dmitriev asks Nader whether he can confirm to Putin that Trump may use ideas in his reconciliation document in their phone call later that day. Nader confirms that he and Gerson passed the document on to the Trump team, and that they took it seriously. After the Trump-Putin call, Dmitriev tells Nader "the call went very well" and that Putin wants Dmitriev to continue making public statements on Russian cooperation. Separately, Gerson tells Dmitriev the call went well, and Dmitriev replies that the document "played an important role."[19]: 159
January 29: Trump's lawyers give Mueller a confidential memo and claim that Trump knew only that Flynn had been interviewed by the FBI, and believed Flynn had been cleared.[51][43]
According to later reporting by Michael Wolff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, during a visit to the White House, warns Kushner that UK intelligence services may have had the Trump campaign under surveillance. Blair denies Wolff's claims.[54][55]
Paul Manafort and Rick Gates falsely assert for a second time in writing to the Justice Department that their work for the Ukrainian government did not require registering as foreign agents in the United States. In September 2018, Manafort pleads guilty to lying to the Justice Department about the extent of his work for the Ukrainian government.[56]
Early February: Cohen delivers a pro-Russian Ukrainian peace plan to Flynn while visiting the White House. The plan was developed by Sater and Andrii Artemenko, a Ukrainian politician who said he was encouraged by "top aides" to Putin.[57] The meeting was arranged by Ukrainian-American Alex Oronov, whose daughter is married to Cohen's brother.[58][59] Allen Tactical Security Consultants founder Tommy Allen vetted the peace plan at the request of former congressman Curt Weldon, a longtime friend of Artemenko.[60] Artemenko and Weldon secured funding for promoting the plan from Vekselberg's fund at Columbus Nova.[60]
February 2:
Alexander Torshin and Maria Butina attend the National Prayer Breakfast. Torshin is scheduled to meet privately with Trump beforehand, but the meeting is canceled after a national security aide points out that Torshin is under investigation for organized crime and money laundering.[25] A spokesman for Torshin later says Torshin was officially on vacation at the time, adding, "President Trump has never proposed a meeting to Mr. Torshin."[61]
Eisenberg reviews the underlying information the Justice Department provided on the Flynn-Kislyak phone calls. He discusses it with McGahn, and they decide Flynn is unlikely to be prosecuted, though they do not know what Flynn told the FBI.[34]: 36
February 3:
Russian tech magnate Aleksej Gubarev files a libel suit in London against Christopher Steele and his company, Orbis Business Intelligence. Gubarev claims he was defamed by allegations in the Steele dossier.[70]
Flynn publicly denies that he discussed sanctions with Kislyak in December.[74]
According to Trump's lawyers, Flynn tells McGahn, Priebus, and John Eisenberg in a White House discussion that the FBI had met with Flynn to tell him their investigation was over.[51]
Vnesheconombank (VEB) head Sergey Gorkov's assistant Ivanchenko texts Kushner's assistant Avi Berkowitz to set up a second meeting between Gorkov and Kushner. In March 2018, Berkowitz tells Mueller's team that he ignored the request because of press coverage of the Russia investigation and did not tell Kushner about it.[19]: 163
February 9:
The Washington Post reports that Flynn privately discussed Russian sanctions with Kislyak before Trump took office, which Flynn had previously denied.[74] Flynn's spokesman now says, "[Flynn] couldn't be certain that the topic never came up."[74] The report leads Pence and White House advisors to read the underlying information from the Justice Department.[34]: 37 After speaking to Flynn, Priebus and McGahn conclude that Flynn lied to the FBI and should be terminated.[34]: 37
Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduces a resolution of inquiry in relation to possible crimes relating to Trump's financial dealings or collusion with Russia.[75]
February 10
Trump tells reporters he did not know about Flynn's December discussions of sanctions with Kislyak.[76]
According to Trump's lawyers, Flynn tells McGahn, Priebus, and Pence in a phone call that the FBI had said their investigation was being "closed out."[51]
February 11: Flynn omits his paid trip to the Russia Today 10th anniversary gala on a financial disclosure form.[77]
February 12: Trump asks Flynn if he lied to Pence about his phone calls with Kislyak. Flynn replies that he doesn't think he did, but he may have forgotten some details about the calls.[34]: 37
February 13:
Flynn is dismissed after less than a month in office.[78][79][34]: 38
Appearing on Fox News's Your World with Neil Cavuto hours before Flynn leaves, Nunes says he has confidence in Flynn and thinks he shouldn't resign, adding, "He’s probably the best intelligence officer of his generation."[80]
February 14:
Trump asks Comey, per Comey's testimony to Congress, to drop any investigation of Flynn.[81] The White House later denies the charge.[82] Trump will fire Comey three months later (May 9).[83]
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer states that Trump asked McGahn to determine whether Flynn had broken the law, and that McGahn told the White House that no law had been broken.[84][85][86] He also says no members of the Trump campaign met with Russians during the campaign.[87][86]
The New York Times reports that current and former American officials assert that phone records and intercepts show Trump campaign aides were in repeated contact with senior Russian intelligence officials prior to the election.[88] This is consistent with public statements made by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials on November 10, 2016.[89]
February 15:
In a morning tweet, Trump calls reports of Russian connections to the campaign "non-sense" and says they are part of a coverup by the Clinton campaign.[90] Later that day, speaking at a joint White House news conference with Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, Trump describes Flynn as "a wonderful man", adding, "I think it is very, very unfair what has happened to General Flynn." He says the classified documents used against Flynn were "illegally leaked" as part of a "coverup for a terrible loss that the Democrats had under Hillary Clinton."[91]
Comey asks Sessions to stop direct communications from Trump and to never leave them alone together.[92][93]
McCabe tells Priebus the February 14 New York Times article on Russian contacts[88] is wrong, but refuses to issue a press release.[94]
Judy Woodruff interviews Carter Page on PBS News Hour. In response to a direct question about meetings with Russians, Page denies having any meetings with Russian officials in 2016.[95]
February 16:
The FBI interviews Papadopoulos a second time. In the following days, he deletes the Facebook account he had had since 2005 (containing correspondence concerning Russia), opens a new Facebook account, and changes his telephone number.[96][97]
During a White House press conference,[98] Trump insists Flynn was fired for lying to Pence. He says he did not tell Flynn to discuss sanctions with Kislyak, but "would have directed him because that's his job." Trump also denies having any connections with Russia.[34]: 41–42
February 17
Comey meets privately with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Later the same day, the Committee votes to issue letters asking the White House and several government agencies to preserve communications related to the Committee's Russia investigation.[99] The Committee also issues a letter to Roger Stone asking him to preserve records.[100]
Corey Lewandowski says in an interview with White House correspondent Jonathan Karl on ABC's This Week that he does not know of anyone on the campaign having any contacts with any Russians.[102]
Andrii Artemenko is expelled from the Radical Party amid calls for him to step down from his seat in the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada). The party was outraged by the Ukrainian peace proposal he delivered to Michael Cohen in January.[103]
February 20:
Trump appoints H. R. McMaster to replace Flynn as National Security Adviser.[104]
Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders states during a White House press briefing that "to the best of our knowledge, no contacts took place" between the Trump team and Russia.[105]
Ukrainian prosecutors announce they are investigating Artemenko for treason. They allege he conspired with Russia by promoting a peace plan that would "legitimize" the Russian occupation of Crimea.[103]
February 23: Trump offers to make McFarland the ambassador to Singapore in exchange for an email stating that he did not instruct Flynn to discuss sanctions with Kislyak. She declines after discussing the offer with Eisenberg.[34]: 42–43
February 24:
Asked about links between Trump and Russia, Spicer says that "there are no connections to find out about".[105]
Nigel Farage tells an audience at CPAC that Trump's election and Brexit launched a "great global revolution."[106]
February 25: Farage, Trump, his daughter Ivanka, Kushner, and Florida governor Rick Scott dine together at the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Farage is a last-minute addition.[106]
Manafort meets with Kilimnik in Madrid. When asked about the meeting by Mueller's team, Manafort initially denies meeting Kilimnik while in Madrid, then acknowledges the meeting after being shown evidence of Kilimnik traveling there from Moscow. He claims Kilimnik updated him on the status of Ukraine's criminal investigation into the "black ledger" payments to Manafort.[19]: 143
Citigroup gives Kushner's company a $325 million loan days after Kushner meets with Citigroup's CEOMichael Corbat.[111] Kushner also borrows $75 million from Apollo Global Management and $10 million from Rockwood Capital. In April 2018, lawyers for Apollo tell The Guardian that the money was used by Kushner to buy out real estate positions owned by Invesco Real Estate. The lawyers insist Kushner and Apollo CEO Joshua Harris did not discuss Apollo's loan before it was granted.[112]
Sessions comes under scrutiny after reports that he had contact with Russian government officials during the election campaign, even though he denied it during his confirmation hearings. Democratic representatives ask Sessions to resign his post as United States Attorney General.[114][115][34]: 48
Comey receives an "urgent" call from Trump that Comey views as an attempt to win him over to Trump's side.[116]
Trump asks Sessions to reconsider his recusal from any Russia investigations.[129][34]: 51
March 5:
In a Meet the Press interview, former Director of National IntelligenceJames Clapper states that, while he was in office, the NSA, FBI, and CIA had found no evidence of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.[130] On May 12 he clarifies his statement, saying that he wouldn't have known the contents of an FBI investigation.[131]
The White House Counsel's Office is informed that the FBI is asking for Flynn-related records from the transition period, which indicates that Flynn is still under active investigation.[34]: 51
March 9:
Nigel Farage visits Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Confronted as he leaves, Farage tells BuzzFeed News that "he [can't] remember what he had been doing in the building".[132]
According to the Mueller report, Comey briefs the Gang of Eight in Congress on the FBI's Russia investigation.[133][34]: 52
March 10:
Trump fires 46 U.S. Attorneys, including Preet Bharara, whom Trump had recently told could keep his job.[134] Bharara had been prosecuting a money-laundering case against the Russian company Prevezon. Prevezon's attorney in the case is Natalia Veselnitskaya.[135] The company reaches a financial settlement with the government on May 15, 2017, two days before the trial was scheduled to start.[136]
According to the Mueller report, Burr briefs the White House Counsel's Office on the March 9 "Gang of Eight" meeting with Comey. He tells them that the FBI is targeting 4–5 people, including Flynn, Manafort, Page, and a "Greek Guy" (a possible reference to Papadopolous).[133][34]: 52
The FBI interviews Page again.[19]: 97, 99–100, 102
March 19: Rohrabacher and Farage go fishing off the coast of Newport, California. Rohrabacher posts a photograph of the two on his Facebook page. In July, he removes the photo from Facebook after a journalist posts it on Twitter.[144][145][146]
March 20:
The House Intelligence Committee holds its first public hearing. Comey admits that there is an ongoing FBI investigation into whether there were any links between individuals associated with the Russian government and the Trump campaign and whether they coordinated.[147]
Devin Nunes tells David Corn of Mother Jones that he has never heard of Carter Page or Roger Stone. Corn is so surprised by the apparent lie that he immediately tweets about it.[148] In February, the White House asked Nunes to read and debunk a February 14 New York Times article[88] that mentioned Page and Stone being under investigation.[149] On March 3, Nunes discussed the article in an interview with Evan Onstot on Fresno, California, television station KSEE. He said he would not call the people named in the story to appear before his committee.[150]
The FBI interviews Peter W. Smith associate Jonathan Safron.[152][19]: 65
March 21:
Concerned that Trump will fire Comey, officials at the White House Counsel's Office begin drafting a memo examining whether Trump would need to show cause to justify the firing.[34]: 54
At Trump's urging, McGahn contacts Boente several times to seek his help in getting Comey or the DOJ to publicly state that Trump is not under investigation. McGahn backs off after Boente convinces him that any intervention could undermine the credibility of investigatory conclusions. Boente tells McGahn that Comey's tenure is not sustainable, which McGahn relays back to Trump.[34]: 54–55
March 22:
Nunes announces that he discovered the intelligence community "incidentally collected" the communications of some members of Trump's transition team, potentially including the president himself,[153] and claims that the information was "widely disseminated". It is later confirmed that he learned this from Senior Director for National IntelligenceEzra Cohen-Watnick and Assistant White House Counsel Michael Ellis, formerly counsel to Nunes's committee, during his White House visit on the previous day.[154][155]
Trump asks Coats and Pompeo[34]: 55 to publicly deny any links between the Trump campaign and Russia.[156][34]: 55 Both refuse, saying the requests are inappropriate.[156][34]: 55 Coats later tells staffers that Trump also asked him to get Comey to back off the FBI investigation of Flynn.[157][34]: 55–56
The Associated Press reports that Manafort signed a contract with Deripaska to promote Deripaska's interests beginning in 2006.[158] Both Manafort and a spokesperson for Deripaska acknowledge that Manafort worked for Deripaska in the past, but deny many of the allegations in the Associated Press report.[159]
March 23: Rick Gates, longtime deputy to Manafort and Trump campaign advisor, is forced to leave the pro-Trump nonprofit America First Policies after reports that Manafort sought to further Russian interests.[160]
March 25: Trump calls Coats and complains that the Russia investigations are hampering his Russia policies. Coats tells Trump that the best thing to do is to let the investigations run their course.[34]: 56
March 26: Trump calls Rogers and asks him to publicly refute news stories about Trump and Russia.[156][34]: 56–57 NSA Deputy Director Richard Ledgett, who is on the call, drafts a memo memorializing the request, and both he and Rogers sign it.[34]: 56–57
March 28: Deripaska runs quarter-page ads in The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post saying that he is willing to testify before Congress about his relationship with Manafort. In the ads, he denies having signed "a $10 million contract 'to greatly benefit the Putin Government' with Paul Manafort" or similar contracts with anyone else. The ads explicitly deny the contents of the March 22 report by the Associated Press.[164]
March 29: The FBI interviews John Szobocsan, an associate of Peter W. Smith.[19]: 62-63, 65 [152]
March 30:
Flynn tells the FBI and Congress that he would testify in exchange for immunity from prosecution.[165]
Former FBI special agent Clint Watts testifies as an expert witness before the Senate Intelligence Committee.[166]
Trump calls Comey in the morning.[34]: 57 According to Comey, Trump asks Comey what he can do to lift the "cloud" impairing the Trump presidency.[92][34]: 57–58 Trump tells Comey that he didn't do anything wrong and hopes there is a way for Comey to make that information public.[34]: 58 After the call, Comey tells Boente about the conversation, asks for guidance, and says he is uncomfortable with direct contact from Trump.[34]: 58
The FBI interviews Page a third time.[19]: 96, 100–101
The Senate Intelligence Committee holds its first public hearing in its investigation of Russian influence in U.S. elections.[69]
April 3: Eli Lake reports in Bloomberg View that former National Security Advisor Susan Rice had requested to unmask the identities of members of the Trump campaign and presidential transition in surveillance records.[169]
April 4: BuzzFeed News identifies "Male-1", described in 2015 US government court documents containing evidence of a Russian spy ring attempting to recruit American assets in New York, as Carter Page.[170][171]
April 6: Nunes recuses himself from the House Intelligence Committee investigation.[172] The House Ethics Committee starts an investigation of Nunes's conduct in the month of March.[173]
April 9: The Internet Research Agency's "United Muslims of America" Facebook group posts a meme complaining about the cost of the April 6 missile strike on Syria by the United States. The strike had been made in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack by the Syrian government. The meme asserts the $93 million cost of the strike "could have founded [sic] Meals on Wheels until 2029."[174]
April 11:
Trump calls Comey and asks him to "get out" that Trump is not personally under investigation. Comey refers Trump to Boente, the Acting Deputy Attorney General. It is the last time they speak.[175][34]: 58–59
Under direction from Trump, McGahn asks Boente to issue a statement that Trump is not under investigation. Boente declines because of the potential political ramifications, and refuses to order Comey to do it because that could trigger a Special Counsel investigation.[34]: 59–60
April 19: The White House refuses to fulfill a request from the House Oversight Committee for documents related to Flynn's foreign lobbying.[179]
April 21: The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's office recommends Andrii Artemenko be stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship because he also holds Canadian citizenship. Ukrainian citizens are not allowed to hold dual citizenship.[180] Artemenko is under investigation for treason.[103]
April 23: Trump tells AP White House correspondent Julie Pace in an Oval Office interview that CrowdStrike is a Ukrainian company that the DNC brought in to examine their hacked server after refusing to let the FBI examine it.[181] His claims are from a debunked conspiracy theory that becomes part of a 2019 impeachment inquiry against Trump.[162][182] This appears to be the first time that the conspiracy theory links CrowdStrike with a wealthy Ukrainian owner and asserts that the DNC server may be in Ukraine.[183]
April 25:
Rosenstein is confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 94–6.[184][185]
Chaffetz tells reporters, "I see no data to support the notion that General Flynn complied with the law" regarding the payments he received from the Turkish and Russian governments.[69]
April 29: Trump is interviewed by John Dickerson on Face The Nation. He says, "The concept of Russia with respect to [the Trump campaign] is a total phony story."[186]
May
May 2:
Trump and Putin plan Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's May 10 White House visit.[34]: 71
May 3:
Senator Dianne Feinstein says there is "not yet" any evidence of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.[187]
In a Wall Street Journal interview, Peter Smith, a GOP operative and independent opposition researcher, says he tried to acquire the 33,000 deleted Clinton emails. Smith contacted several hackers who claimed to have data, including some potential Russian operatives. Flynn's son Michael G. Flynn was reportedly involved in the effort. Smith kills himself ten days after the interview.[190][191][192]
May 5
An aide to Sessions asks a member of Congressional staff if they know of any damaging information about Comey, according to January 2018 reporting by The New York Times.[118]
Andrii Artemenko is stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship by order of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.[193]
The Washington Post reports that members of the Trump transition team told Flynn in November 2015 that his phone converstions with Kislyak were likely monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies.[69][194]
The White House confirms Lavrov's May 10 White House visit.[34]: 71
May 7: The Senate Intelligence Committee sends the Trump campaign a letter requesting a "list and description of all meetings" between any individuals affiliated with the Trump campaign and individuals affiliated with the Russian government or Russian business interests between June 16, 2015, and January 20, 2017.[34]: 99
May 8: In an Oval Office meeting, Trump informs Priebus, Kushner, Pence and McGahn of his intent to remove Comey, and gives them copies of the Miller draft. McGahn objects to the letter's angry tone and convenes a separate meeting later that day with Sessions, his chief of staff Jody Hunt, White House Counsel's Office attorney Uttam Dhillon, and Rosenstein, who had previously considered removing Comey from office. Rosenstein is given a copy of Miller's draft and agrees to write a new memo that would support the dismissal, using Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation as the main rationale.[195][34]: 65–68
May 9:
Rosenstein gives Sessions the memo to provide the basis for a recommendation that Comey be dismissed.[196][197][34]: 68 Rosenstein later says Trump ordered him to write the memo.[198]
Spicer tells the press that Trump "has no business in Russia; he has no connections to Russia."[199]
Upset over the negative press coverage about Comey's firing, Trump calls Rosenstein and asks him to tell the press that Comey's firing was his idea. Rosenstein declines, saying it was a bad idea to talk to the press because he would have to tell the truth that it was Trump's idea. Spicer holds an unplanned press conference that evening and tells reporters, "It was all [Rosenstein]. No one from the White House. It was a DOJ decision."[34]: 70
May 10:
Trump holds a meeting in the White House with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kislyak. U.S. reporters are excluded.[200] He tells them he is unconcerned about Russian interference in the 2016 election because the U.S. has interfered in other countries' elections in the past.[201] Trump reportedly tells Lavrov and Kislyak he fired Comey to relieve pressure caused by the investigation.[202]Trump shares classified intelligence about ISIS with Lavrov and Kislyak without first seeking permission from the allied sources who collected the information.[203] It is later confirmed that the intelligence came to Trump from Israel via Mike Pompeo.[204][205]
Pence characterizes the dismissal of Comey as a reactive decision Trump made in response to a recommendation by Sessions and Rosenstein.[206]
May 10–16:
ActingFBI directorAndrew McCabe meets with Rosenstein to discuss Comey's firing. Rosenstein tells McCabe that Trump wanted him to reference Russia in the Comey memo. Rosenstein says he deliberately omitted Russia in the version he gave Sessions on May 9. He gives McCabe a copy of the original draft dismissal letter Stephen Miller wrote for Trump. McCabe documents his conversation with Rosenstein in a memo and later gives Mueller the memo and the draft letter.[207][195][196]
McCabe opens an obstruction of justice investigation.[208]
Rosenstein raises the idea of wearing a wire while speaking with Trump, and exploring whether Cabinet members would invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.[208]
Rosenstein briefs Chairman Burr and the panel's top Democrat, Warner, who were running their own Russia investigation. According to contemporaneous text messages between FBI officials, "Warner conveyed that he wanted (a) special counsel" and Rosenstein "said he took that under advisement."[208]
May 12: Congressman Al Green's Floor Speech on the Impeachment of President Trump
Trump threatens Comey with alleged secret recordings of their conversations.[214]
Two of Trump's lawyers, Sheri A. Dillon and William F. Nelson, say in a letter that the only income Trump has had from Russia are the 2008 sale of Maison de L’Amitie for $95 million to Dmitry Rybolovlev and $12.2 million in payments connected to the Miss Universe 2013 pageant in Moscow. The letter is criticized for covering only a short time period.[215]
May 15: Deripaska sues the Associated Press (AP) for libel. He claims he was defamed by an AP story about his business dealings with Manafort.[216]
May 16: A key Comey memo about his interactions with Trump is leaked to The New York Times, which publishes an article saying that Trump had asked Comey to go easy on Flynn.[208]
May 17:
Rosenstein appoints former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian election interference and related matters.[217]
Trump tells Sessions to submit his resignation for not preventing the special counsel appointment.[34]: 79
Sessions gives Trump his resignation letter. Trump asks Sessions if he wants to stay, and he says yes. Trump ends the meeting but keeps the letter. After the meeting, Bannon and Priebus tell Sessions he should get the letter back because they are concerned Trump could use it as leverage over the DoJ.[34]: 79–80
May 19: Feinstein repeats her statement of May 3 that no evidence of collusion was found, and adds that "there are rumors".[222]
May 22: Flynn refuses to hand over subpoenaed documents to the Senate Intelligence Committee, citing the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.[223]'Russia, Trump Team in Contact, Former CIA Director Tells Congress' video from Voice of America
Trump asks McGahn to call Rosenstein and discuss Mueller's alleged conflicts of interest involving his law firm and his 2011 membership resignation from the Trump National Golf Club. McGahn refuses to make the call, telling Trump that it would look like meddling in the investigation.[34]: 81–82
The House Intelligence Committee hears testimony from former CIA Director Brennan, who states that Russia "brazenly interfered in the 2016 election process" despite U.S. efforts to ward it off.[225]
Mueller's team interviews Rosenstein.[34]: 66–68, 70
May 24:
U.S. media reports that Trump has hired lawyer Marc Kasowitz, his longtime legal counsel, to represent him in any inquiry.[228]
Sessions claims the reason he didn't disclose meetings with Russian officials on his security forms is that the FBI told him not to list foreign officials he met with in connection with "his Senate activities."[229]
The Washington Post reports that Comey's October 2016 decision to reopen the Clinton email investigation was largely based on a probably fake Russian intelligence document. The document discussed a purported email from Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch to Clinton campaign staffer Amanda Renteria in which she promised to go easy on Clinton. Rentaria says she knows a Loretta Lynch who worked for the Clinton campaign during the Whitewater investigation and whom bloggers commonly confuse with the Attorney General.[230]
May 25: The Senate Intelligence Committee unanimously votes to give its Republican chairman Richard Burr, and Democratic vice chairman Mark R. Warner, "blanket authority" to issue subpoenas during their investigation.[231]
May 26:
The Washington Post reports that Kislyak told Moscow that Kushner wanted a secret communications channel with the Kremlin under Russian supervision.[232]
The Senate Intelligence Committee requests that the Trump campaign turn over "all of its emails, documents and phone records" related to Russia. Several months earlier, the committee had asked the campaign committee to preserve records.[233]
The New York Times reports that Deripaska offered to give testimony to congressional intelligence committees in exchange for a grant of full immunity. The committees declined the offer because of concerns that the deal would hamper ongoing criminal investigations.[236]
May 27: The FBI searches Manafort's storage locker for evidence related to the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting. Alexander Trusko, an associate of Manafort with a key to the locker, opens it for the FBI without being shown a search warrant. Trusko signs a consent-to-search form. Upon seeing the locker's contents, the FBI leaves and returns with a warrant. In June 2018, Judge Jackson rejects a motion to suppress evidence found in the locker because Trusko's name is on the lease and he opened the locker voluntarily.[238][239][240][177]
May 30:
Cohen is formally urged to preserve records by the special counsel and the congressional committees.[241][242] Flynn partially agrees to turn over documents in the investigation.[243]
Trump returns Sessions's May 18 resignation letter with the notation "Not accepted."[34]: 80
May 31:
The House Intelligence Committee serves seven subpoenas – including those on Cohen and Flynn – for testimony, personal documents and business records.[245][246]
The FBI and Congressional committees inquire about a possible third encounter between Sessions and Kislyak on April 27, 2016.[247]
The Trump administration offers to reopen the two Russian diplomatic compounds, in New York and Maryland, that the Obama administration locked down on December 29, 2016.[248]
The White House announces that it will no longer take questions relating to Russia-Trump allegations, referring such questions to Trump's lawyers.[249]
According to statements made by Ty Cobb in June 2018, McGahn recuses himself and his entire White House staff from the Russia investigation because of their involvement in Flynn's firing.[253]
June:
Trump orders White House CounselDonald F. McGahn II to fire Mueller. McGahn refuses to relay the order to the Justice Department, saying he would quit. Trump backs down.[254]
The FBI obtains a new FISA warrant for Carter Page to replace the expired warrant from April.[167][168]
Trump inauguration committee chair Tom Barrack tells the AP that "a full and clean external audit has been conducted and completed" of the committee's finances, but refuses to furnish a copy.[255] The committee's finances come under criminal investigation in December 2018.[256]
June 1: Mueller's team interviews Yuval Weber,[19]: 99 the son of New Economic School rector Shlomo Weber.[257]
Goldstone discusses his participation in the June 9, 2016, Trump Tower meeting with Alan Garten, the general counsel to the Trump Organization. He then emails Veselnitskaya's name to Garten.[19]: 121
June 3:
Mueller takes over an earlier probe into Manafort's activities in Ukraine.[259]
The Internet Research Agency's "United Muslims of America" Facebook group organizes the "Make peace, not war!" protest outside Trump Tower in New York City. It is unclear whether anyone attends this protest or instead attends the "March for Truth" affiliated protest held on the same day.[174][260][261]
Coats and Rogers testify to the Senate Intelligence Committee that they never felt pressured by Trump to do anything inappropriate, but decline to answer questions on private conversations with him.[265]
In a prepared written testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee,[266] Comey confirms telling Trump that he was not personally under investigation, and refusing to say this publicly without prior approval from the Attorney General's office.[267] He also states that Trump felt the Russia story was a "cloud" that prevented him from performing his job as president.[267]
The Daily Beast reports that Flynn, while national security advisor, pushed the Pentagon to cooperate with the Russian military in Syria. Such cooperation was banned by Congress in 2015.[268]
Mueller's team interviews 2016 Republican National Convention delegate Diana Denman for the first time.[19]: 125–126
Mueller's team interviews Denis Klimentov, an employee at the New Economic School who attempted to connect Page with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[19]: 99
Mueller's team interviews FBI chief of staff James Rybicki for the first of four times.[34]: 41
Mueller's team informs the White House Counsel's Office that they intend to interview the intelligence community officials Trump asked to push back on the Russia investigation. The notice is given as a courtesy in case the White House wants to invoke executive privilege before the interviews.[34]: 82
June 12:
The Senate Intelligence Committee conducts closed meetings with Rogers and former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson in the Senate's SCIF.[270]
Bannon and Priebus tell Trump's friend Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy during his visit to the White House that Trump is strongly considering firing Mueller.[34]: 82–83 Priebus authorizes Ruddy to go public with the story.[34]: 83 Later in the day, Ruddy tells Judy Woodruff on PBS Newshour that Trump is considering firing Mueller for purported conflicts of interest.[34]: 83 [271] This leads to extensive media reports that Trump is considering dismissing Mueller.[272][273][34]: 83
The U.S. Senate agrees on a new package of sanctions on Russia in retaliation to the election interference. The bill is drafted to prevent Trump from lifting sanctions unilaterally.[275]
Sessions testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee.[276]
Rosenstein testifies to the Senate that he is the only person empowered to dismiss Mueller, and that he sees no reason to do so.[277]
Mueller's team interviews Rybicki for the second of four times.[34]: 72
Aboard Air Force One, Sanders tells the press, "While the president has every right to [fire Mueller], he has no intention to do so."[278] In July 2018, Sanders tells Mueller's team that her statement was dictated by Trump.[34]: 83
Trump's personal attorney contacts Mueller's office about Mueller's possible conflicts of interest, including an asserted personal relationship with Comey.[34]: 83
June 14:
The Washington Post confirms that Mueller is investigating Trump for obstruction of justice, in relation to his dismissal of Comey.[279] This is the first public report that Trump himself is being investigated.[34]: 84
Mueller's team interviews Coats.[34]: 32, 55–57, 82
Mueller's team interviews Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration Edward Gistaro.[34]: 56–57, 82
June 15: Mueller's office informs Rosenstein of Mueller's alleged conflicts of interest raised by Trump's attorney on June 13, and then tells Trump's attorney that the concerns have been forwarded to Rosenstein for the DoJ to take appropriate action.[34]: 82-83
June 16: Trump tweets: "I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt."[280]
June 17: Trump orders McGahn to call Rosenstein and urge him to fire Mueller for alleged conflicts of interest. McGahn ignores the order because he considers the allegations to be "silly" and "not real". After a followup call from Trump, McGahn packs his things and prepares to resign for refusing to carry out Trump's orders.[34]: 85–87
June 18: Trump's lawyer Jay Sekulow states that he has not been notified of any investigation into Trump himself.[281]
June 19:
ABC News contradicts the Post's report of June 14, saying no decision has yet been made on whether to investigate Trump for potential obstruction of justice.[282]
McGahn returns to the White House expecting to be asked to resign for not following Trump's orders over the weekend. He decides to stay after Trump fails to mention the topic.[34]: 87
June 19–20 Trump instructs Lewandowski to tell Sessions to make a public statement saying that he will restrict Mueller's investigation to foreign interference in future elections. Trump dictates the proposed statement to Lewandowski. Lewandowski calls Sessions and schedules a meeting at Lewandowski's office the following evening so that he can deliver the message in person. Sessions cancels the meeting at the last moment due to a scheduling conflict, so Lewandowski locks the dictated statement in his safe.[34]: 90–92
June 20
Speaking about her campaign and party in a Politico interview, Jill Stein says, "I am certainly not aware of any ties whatsoever, financial or otherwise, to the Russian government."[283]
Kushner's lawyers provide an amended SF-86 to the FBI, their third such change, to list the meeting with the Russian lawyer.[286]
Kushner meets with Hicks, Trump, and Ivanka Trump to discuss documents related to the Trump Tower meeting that he gathered to produce for congressional committeess. Trump shuts down the conversation saying he doesn't want to know about it.[34]: 100
June 22: Mueller's team interviews Rybicki for the third of four times.[34]: 41
June 23: The FBI interviews Kushner about his security clearance.[286]
June 27:
Manafort registers retroactively as a foreign agent with the DoJ, showing that his firm received $17.1 million over two years from Yanukovych's Party of Regions.[287]
Goldstone emails Emin Agalarov stating that he was "interviewed by attorneys" about the Trump Tower meeting who were "concerned because it links Don Jr. to officials from Russia—which he has always denied meeting." He reminds Agalarov that he said at the time it was "an awful idea and a terrible meeting." Goldstone sends Kaveladze a screenshot of the email.[19]: 121
Hicks reviews the emails Kushner tried to show Trump on June 21 and is shocked by how bad they look.[34]: 100
June 29: Hicks tells Trump her concerns about the Trump Tower emails. Later in the day, they discuss the Trump Tower meeting with Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Trump said he did not want to know details and tells them not to discuss the emails until after they are given to Congress in a few weeks.[34]: 100–101
June 30: On the Lawfare blog, British security consultant Matt Tait claims that he had a series of conversations with Peter Smith in 2016, concerning Hillary Clinton's emails, an unnamed dark web contact, and a new Delaware company called KLS Research.[288][289] Tait is interviewed by Mueller shortly thereafter.[290]
^Lee, Carol E.; Ainsley, Julia (December 11, 2017). "Focus on Flynn, Trump timeline suggests obstruction is on Mueller's mind". NBC News. Retrieved December 12, 2017. ... inside the White House over a critical 18-day period that began when senior officials were told that National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was susceptible to blackmail by Russia ...
^Cheney, Kyle (February 28, 2017). "House GOP defeats resolution requesting Trump-Russia documents". Politico. Retrieved March 18, 2018. In fact, what we are witnessing is that President Trump's detractors are going through the stages of grief because Hillary Clinton lost and Donald Trump won.
^"How Russian trolls influenced the U.S. election", Vice News, April 3, 2017, retrieved June 4, 2017, his candid testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on March 30 grabbed headlines. He answered questions about how these types of FBI counterintelligence investigations work, Russia's attempts to influence the U.S. election
^ abSavage, Charlie (May 9, 2017). "Deputy Attorney General's Memo Spells Out Case Against Comey". The New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2017. When President Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director on Tuesday, the White House made public a memorandum from Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, recommending the dismissal.
^Sekulow, Jay (June 18, 2017). "Transcript: Jay Sekulow on "Face the Nation," June 18, 2017". Face the Nation (Interview). Interviewed by John Dickerson. CBS News. Retrieved June 19, 2017. SEKULOW: The president is not and has not been under investigation. DICKERSON: How do you know? SEKULOW: Because we've received no notice of investigation. There has been no notification from the special counsel's office that the president is under investigation.
^Thomas, Pierre (June 19, 2017). "Where Things Stand with special counsel Mueller's Russia Probe". ABC News. According to sources familiar with the process ... [a]n assessment of evidence and circumstances will be completed before a final decision is made to launch an investigation of the president of the United States regarding potential obstruction of justice.
Unger, Craig (2018). House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia. Dutton. ISBN978-1524743505.
Watts, Clint (2018). Messing with the Enemy: Surviving in a Social Media World of Hackers, Terrorists, Russians, and Fake News. Harper. ISBN978-0062795984.
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