Clinton Campaign Learned of Trump-Russia Claims Before FBI: Lawyer

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

WASHINGTON—The Hillary Clinton campaign learned of claims regarding Donald Trump and Russia in the summer of 2016 and sought to get media outlets to report on the information, Marc Elias testified on May 18.

Elias said he was told by Michael Sussman, a fellow lawyer with Perkins Coie—the Clinton campaign’s law firm—about the claims, prompting Elias to share the information with others in the campaign in August 2016.

Elias, the campaign’s general counsel, said the campaign wanted to see the claims reported on in the press. “I thought that if there was a news account of the allegations,” it would “benefit the campaign,” he said.

Elias was testifying in federal court in Washington during the trial of Sussman, who allegedly lied to the FBI when he said that he was not bringing the allegations against Trump on behalf on any clients. Prosecutors allege he was acting on behalf of the Clinton campaign and Rodney Joffe, a technology executive who has said he was promised a position in a Clinton administration.

Billing records presented in court by Special Counsel John Durham’s team show Sussmann billing the campaign for thousands of dollars for “confidential meetings” with Elias and others. The records were for meetings starting July 29, 2016, and going through Aug. 19, 2016.

Sussmann handed over the data, which allegedly showed a link between Trump and Russia’s Alfa Bank, to FBI lawyer James Baker on Sept. 19, 2016, just weeks before Trump beat Clinton.

FBI experts quickly concluded that the information didn’t support the allegations and the CIA later found the claims not “technically plausible.”

Elias said he did not authorize or encourage Sussmann to meet with Baker. According to Baker, Sussmann warned the bureau that the New York Times would soon report on the allegations. Elias said he didn’t think going to the FBI was a good idea because it could have caused the New York Times to delay publishing the article.

By John Haughey and Zachary Stieber

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

The Real Reason Why the Left is Unhinged

Nine out of thirteen of the original states required you to be a Bible believing Christian to serve in government at the time of the founding.

The Sacrificial Lambs of the Riyadh Standup Scene

Which is the greater injustice: jailing political dissidents, or millions dead from pharma crimes with no accountability for those responsible?

No Kings Exposes Odd Things!

The “No Kings” protests held around the nation are not grassroots spontaneous people’s protests but are highly organized events by paid provocateurs.

President Trump Needs Much Better Protection

President Trump faces threats from foreign adversaries and domestic radicals prone to violence, people suffering from severe “TDS.”

Science Has Finally Come For Transgenderism

British biologist Richard Dawkins said “trans women are men,” calling transgender ideology a movement that undermines biological truth.

Texas Appoints Higher Education Ombudsman to Enforce DEI Violations

Texas is moving to enforce bans on DEI practices in universities and potentially restrict college courses focused on gender and race.

House Judiciary Chair Refers Ex-CIA Director John Brennan for Criminal Prosecution

House Republicans referred ex-CIA Director John Brennan to AG Pam Bondi for prosecution over the 2016 probe into alleged Russian–Trump collusion.

FBI Has Arrested 28,000 Violent Criminals Since Jan. 20: Trump

President Trump praised the FBI for doing an “incredible job,” citing thousands of arrests and major disruptions of criminal activity nationwide.

White House Ballroom Project Breaks Ground

Demolition began Oct. 20 on the White House East Wing to make room for Trump’s planned ballroom, with parts of the structure already removed.

Trump Calls off Meeting With Putin, White House Says

White House says Secretary Rubio and Russia’s Lavrov had a productive call; no further meetings or Trump-Putin talks are planned soon.

President Signs Rare Earth Agreement With Australia’s PM

President Trump hosted Australian PM Albanese at the White House, where both leaders signed a new agreement on rare earth mineral cooperation.

Trump Says Insurrection Act Is ‘Strongest Power a President Has’

President Trump detailed plans to invoke the Insurrection Act to address rampant crime, calling it the “strongest power a president has.”

Army Corps of Engineers to Pause $11 Billion in Projects During Shutdown: Vought

Russ Vought, director of the White House’s OMB, has added to the growing pile of federal projects paused during the government shutdown.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central