The Full Russia Timeline - By Greer Clem
After reading the full lawsuit filed by the Democratic National Committee last week against Russia and the Trump campaign, I compiled a full timeline of Trump-Russia contact. This is a month-to-month illustration of how the Russian government conspired with Trump affiliates to get him elected president.
June 2015: Trump announces candidacy for President of the United States. First attack of DNC by Russia occurs.
Fall, 2015: Trump signs letter of intent to build a property in Moscow. The deal was brokered by Felix Sater, a convicted felon from Russia and longtime business associate of Trump. Trump has since claimed he and Sater have never met. Sater contacts Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, and says, “I will get Putin on this program and we will get Donald elected. I know how to play it and we will get this done. Buddy our boy can become President of the USA and we an engineer it. I will get all of Putin’s team to buy in on this, I will.” Meanwhile, European intelligence is aware of correspondence between Russian associates and Trump campaign staff.
December, 2015: Michael Flynn is paid to attend an anniversary gala in Moscow for the propaganda outlet “Russia Today.” He attends a dinner where he sits at the same table as Putin
February, 2016: Flynn is appointed as foreign policy advisor.
March, 2016: Trump brings Paul Manafort on board. George Papadopoulos meets several times with Joseph Mifsud, a professor who has ties to the Kremlin.
April, 2016: DNC is attacked more thoroughly by Russia. April 26, Papadopoulos has a meeting where he’s told they’ve collected dirt on Hillary Clinton.
May, 2016: Papadopoulos confides to and Australian diplomat that Russia has promised damaging info to the Trump campaign. The diplomat reports this to the FBI who then open an investigation.
June, 2016: Don Jr. send the famous “I love it” email to Russians and they set up a meeting. On June 9th, the Trump Tower meeting occurs. June 15, DNC material is released.
July, 2016: At the GOP national convention Trump gives a speech that is soft on Russia and Ukraine. Wikileaks begins disseminating DNC documents. When asked if the DNC hack was related to Russian attempts to help the Trump campaign, Don Jr. responds “They’ll say anything to be able to win this. This is time and time again, lie after lie...It’s disgusting.” Paul Manafort publicly says there is no relationship between Trump and Putin or himself and the Russian regime.
August, 2016: Roger Stone communicates with Russian intelligence and brags about his contact with Julian Assange.
September and October, 2016: FBI continues investigation.
November 8, 2016: Trump wins the presidency. Russian parliament celebrates the victory as a job well done.
October 5, 2017: Papadopoulos pleads guilty to lying about contacts with Russians during interviews with the FBI. October 27, Manafort and Gates are indicted on dozens of counts.
February 23, 2018: Gates pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy against the United States and one count of making a false statement to a federal agent.