‘Fake news’, screams Trump over Kushner’s Russian links

The new wrinkles? A Washington Post story that came out Friday citing USA officials briefed on intelligence reports who said that President Trump's confidant and son-in-law Jared Kushner tried to set up a secret "back channel" communication line with the Kremlin using Russian facilities. Trump started by lashing out against the coverage of the probe, tweeting, "It is my opinion that numerous leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media".

Putin Interview: Did Russia Interfere in the US Election?

Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that he had limited personal interaction with former U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn , when asked by NBC's Megyn Kelly in an exclusive interview about the nature of their relationship - and a widely circulated December, 2015 photo that shows the two sitting next to each other at dinner during an event to celebrate Russian TV network RT . Putin suggested that skilled hackers anywhere, including the USA, could shift the blame for hacking onto Russian Federation.

Trump Not Expected To Block Comey’s Senate Testimony

Mr Comey has reportedly spoken with Special Counsel Robert Mueller - who is now overseeing the Russian Federation investigation for the Justice Department - to work out what he can publicly discuss in his testimony and thereby ensure there are no legal issues. The term " executive privilege " is not in the U.S. Constitution.

House committee issues subpoenas; Comey okayed to testify

Former FBI Director James Comey , whom Trump fired last month, could testify as early as next week and planned to confirm the president's pressure to drop the agency's investigation into Flynn , according to CNN . In addition to the two meetings that Sessions has acknowledged, the senators pointed to the possibility of a separate encounter at an April 2016 Trump campaign event that Sessions and Kislyak attended.

Warner: Panel’s next steps on Flynn coming Tuesday

Interviewed as part of the clearance renewal process, Flynn said all of his foreign trips as a private citizen "were funded by U.S. companies", according to excerpts of a March 14, 2016, report compiled by security clearance investigators. Mark Warner , the top Democrat on the panel, told reporters they did not believe Flynn could seek Fifth Amendment protections in regard to the documents they requested, and were seeking a firm answer.

Comey Agrees to Testify in Open Hearing Before Senate Intel Committee

Then-FBI Director James Comey sworn in prior to testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington DC The briefing came a day after Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russian Federation in that country's attempts to improperly influence the 2016 election. In one story, the Washington Post reported that a law enforcement Russia probe has identified a current adviser to the president as a "person of interest", while a New York Times story reported that the commander in chief told visiting Russian officials that the firing of "nut job" FBI Director James Comey had taken a weight off his shoulders.

Ex-FBI chief Comey to testify to Senate panel in public session

In an Oval Office meeting with senior Russian officials last week, Trump called Comey a "nut job" and said firing the intelligence chief had relieved "great pressure" on him, The New York Times reported . Earlier this week, revelations that Comey kept memos detailing his conversations with Trump, including one in which the president apparently pressed his former Federal Bureau of Investigation director to drop the inquiry into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, roiled Washington .

Trump embarks on his first big foreign trip amid turmoil in U.S.

This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: Trump is leaving Friday for his first foreign trip, to the Mideast and beyond, and aides had hoped the disarray at home would have been calmed if not resolved by takeoff time.

Putin offers to give Congress notes of Trump’s meeting

Russia President Vladimir Putin has offered to turn over to Congress records of President Donald Trump's discussions with Russian diplomats in which Mr Trump is said to have disclosed classified information. Mr Putin's remarks come as Washington was reeling over revelations late on Tuesday that President Trump personally appealed to FBI Director James Comey to abandon the bureau's investigation into National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

James Clapper: Defending democracy from Trump

President Donald Trump threatened to shut down daily press briefings Friday as he sought to defend his White House from criticism of its shifting explanations and misstatements about the firing of FBI Director James Comey. Trump conducted a television interview with NBC's Lester Holt in which he said one of the reasons he fired the FBI chief was because Comey was too focused on investigating links between the Trump campaign and Russian Federation instead of the " real story" - leaks from the federal government to the media.

Few in US Support Trump’s Firing of FBI Chief

"If, in fact, there are such recordings, I think those recordings will be subpoenaed and they will probably have to turn them over", said Lee. Clapper spoke following Trump's sudden firing of Comey last week, which drew sharp criticism because it came amid the FBI's probe into Russian Federation meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible ties between Russian Federation and the Trump presidential campaign.

Wife of ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman dies in car crash

Roughly 50,000 Haitians legally living and working in the U.S. could suddenly face deportation if immigration privileges granted after a 2010 earthquake devastated Haiti are allowed to expire. Roughly 50,000 Haitians legally living and working in the U.S. could suddenly face deportation if immigration privileges granted after a 2010 earthquake devastated Haiti are allowed to expire.

Mike Flynn probed over payments from Russian government-linked firms: Pentagon

Rep. Elijah Cummings just released three damning new documents on former Trump administration National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Flynn's lawyer, Robert K. Kelner, has argued that the retired general briefed the Defense Intelligence Agency, from which he retired in 2014 , before and after his 2015 Russian Federation trip.

‘Baloney’: Dianne Feinstein Rips ‘Sanctimonious’ Comey for Actions in Clinton Probe

In his most detailed public comments on the explosive episode, the FBI director told the Senate Judiciary Committee that his decision to disclose the preliminary investigation into newly discovered Clinton emails 11 days before the election was "one of the world's most painful experiences", but that he would do it again. In January, the Justice Department's inspector general said he would investigate whether Comey violated department guidelines in his handling of the case.

Clinton Refuses to Take Blame; Problems Ahead for Democratic Party

Working with Clinton on the effort is Dennis Cheng, her campaign finance chair , as well as Judith McHale, who was one of her undersecretaries of state, according to Politico . Sen. Ted Cruz called out FBI Director James Comey for the director's decision that Hillary Clinton and Huma Abedin would walk because there was no intent on their part to break the law by their mishandling of classified information.