The Trump Administration’s cooperation with Russia

Key Issue: Trump Administration cooperation with Russian government

Other issue: Trump campaign colluding with Russians on efforts to influence the election

Key People Involved: Donald Trump, Sally Yates, Michael Flynn

Timeline

January – early February: U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agency officials interviewed say that they have seen no evidence of Trump campaign colluding with Russians on efforts to influence the election.

Late January: Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates warns Trump’s administration that Flynn might be lying about the Michael Flynn phone call, in which he allegedly spoke with Russian officials.

Jan. 30: Trump fires Sally Yates. (White House states that Yates had “betrayed the department of justice”.)

Feb. 13: Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned following revelations he spoke with the Russian ambassador about U.S. sanctions during a late December phone call.

Feb, 14: NYT and CNN published their stories:

Facts Reported

• Members of Trump’s presidential campaign had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials before November elections (NYT and CNN)
• The information comes from phone records and intercepted calls (NYT and CNN)

• U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the phone records and calls (NYT)
• The interceptions happened around the same time they were discovering evidence that Russia was trying to disrupt the presidential election by hacking the DNC (NYT)