UPDATED: Mueller calls back at least one participant in key meeting with Russians at Trump Tower

[DonViejo]

Last edited Sat Jan 6, 2018, 12:20 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: L.A. Times

By David S. Cloud

January 6, 2018 3:00 a.m.

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has recalled for questioning at least one participant in a controversial meeting with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016, and is looking into President Trump’s misleading claim that the discussion focused on adoption, rather than an offer to provide damaging information about Hillary Clinton.

Some defense lawyers involved in the case view Mueller’s latest push as a sign that investigators are focusing on possible obstruction of justice by Trump and several of his closest advisors for their statements about the politically sensitive meeting, rather than for collusion with the Russians.

Investigators also are exploring the involvement of the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, who did not attend the half-hour sit-down on June 9, 2016, but briefly spoke with two of the participants, a Russian lawyer and a Russian-born Washington lobbyist. Details of the encounter were not previously known.

It occurred at the Trump Tower elevator as the Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and the lobbyist, Rinat Akhmetshin, were leaving the building and consisted of pleasantries, a person familiar with the episode said. But Mueller’s investigators want to know every contact the two visitors had with Trump’s family members and inner circle.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pol-trump-probe-20180106-story.html

---

UPDATE:

Mueller looking at Ivanka Trump's interaction with Russian lawyer at Trump Tower: report

BY JOSH DELK - 01/06/18 10:20 AM EST

Special counsel Robert Mueller is reportedly looking into an interaction between a Russian lawyer and Ivanka Trump surrounding a controversial Trump Tower meeting during the campaign.

While the first daughter and now-White House adviser did not take part in the June 2016 meeting, she exchanged greetings with the Russian attorney and a lobbyist who attended the meeting as they stepped off an elevator, a person familiar with the exchange told The Los Angeles Times.

Mueller's team is looking into any interactions the attorney, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and lobbyist, Rinat Akhmetshin, had with President Trump's family members and inner circle, the Times reported.

The June 2016 meeting has become a flashpoint in the Russia probe, with the president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr. meeting with the attorney who promised damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump Jr., the president's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort all attended the meeting with the Russian lawyer and lobbyist.

more
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/367738-mueller-investigating-ivanka-trumps-involvement-with-trump-tower

[L. Coyote]

1. Amy Siskind: This may be a factor in why things are heating up ....

Is Trump's resignation on the Camp David agenda? Or is this a hunker in the bunker weekend?

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[lindysalsagal]

2. It's always the cover-up: The "adoption" meeting. Riiiiight.

Glad to see Ivanka's on the hot seat: We know what happened when Flynn's son was questioned....One can only hope that this will be 45's Achilles' heel: His beloved wi, a-hem, I mean, daughter.

[FreepFryer]

3. Para 2 - "rather than" is erroneous assumption. More like "in addition to" (n/t)

[getagrip_already]

4. that's the first thing I thought...

They are "also looking at" .... Not "rather than".......

[FSogol]

5. LOL, Someone didn't get their story straight the first time!

[milestogo]

6. I think Ivanka will be good at designing women's prisonwear and shoes.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Nailing down a specific point or exploring a hitherto unknown one

[monmouth4]

8. The old man will really lose it if they go after his Ivanka. n/t

[DeminPennswoods]

9. Collusion isn't a crime, but obstruction of justice

is as is conspiracy to commit a crime. The Trump Tower meeting fits as conspiracy to commit a crime as it involves a federal computer hacking statute (DNC/Podesta emails). The statement crafted on board AF1 for Don Jr is also conspiracy seeking to cover up this potential crime.

Firing Comey and all the other things Trump/Sessions/McGahn did is obstruction of justice of a federal investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. Tick tick tick

[Mr. Ected]

11. Let's look in the crystal ball. When obstruction charges are brought against Trumpco

What will the GOP talking points be? That no crime was committed, or the alleged crime was the product of criminal endeavor on the part of the Democrats, etc., etc.? Not that any of those would hold water, but the Republican defense is typically nonsensical but distracting.

How can we foresee these talking points and blunt them at point of entry?

[Turbineguy]

12. They talked about adoption

at the meeting that he doesn't know what they talked about that never happened.