The Mueller Report was released today, and one section reveals that “multiple members” of the Trump transition team, led by Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law, “communicated with foreign government officials” in an effort to undermine the Obama White House’s decision to allow the passage of a UN Security Council resolution in December 2016 that was sharply critical of Israeli settlements.
We knew that Trump’s transition tried to block the resolution by reaching out to Russia; former national security adviser Mike Flynn has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the matter.
The news here is that “multiple members” of the transition team reached out to other foreign countries. The report suggests that in order “to support Israel,” Jared Kushner issued an all points bulletin throughout the transition team. (The report confirms what the Wall Street Journal characterized as a “blitz” in its own investigation of the incident last year.)
From the report:
According to Flynn, the Trump Transition Team regarded the vote as a significant issue and wanted to support Israel by opposing the resolution. On December 22, 2016, multiple members of the Transition Team, as well as President-Elect Trump, communicated with foreign government officials to determine their views on the resolution and to rally support to delay the vote or defeat the resolution. Kushner led the effort for the Transition Team; Flynn was responsible for the Russian government. Minutes after an early morning phone call with Kushner on December 22, Flynn called [Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey] Kislyak. According to Flynn, he informed Kislyak about the vote and the Transition Team’s opposition to the resolution, and requested that Russia vote against or delay the resolution. Later that day, President-Elect Trump spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the vote. Ultimately, Egypt postponed the vote.
On December 23, 2016, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, and Venezuela resubmitted the resolution. Throughout the day, members of the Transition Team continued to talk with foreign leaders about the resolution, with Flynn continuing to lead the outreach with the Russian government through Kislyak. When Flynn spoke with Kislyak, Kislyak informed Flynn that if the resolution came to a vote, Russia would not vote against it. The resolution later passed 14-0, with the United States abstaining.
It has been reported that Israeli officials initiated the action by the Trump team:
Despite no mention in [an earlier Mueller filing] document, the Trump team’s decision to contact Russia was made following requests by senior Israeli officials that they try to intervene.
Flynn’s guilty plea in 2017 says that he was directed by a “very senior” official, who it is reported was Kushner, to approach officials of foreign governments. But Flynn only mentioned Russia as a country he approached.
There was speculation that Kushner would get caught up in the Mueller probe. Though he has escaped indictment. The Guardian:
And while the identity of that “senior transition official” has not been revealed there have been hints, not least the Wall Street Journal’s report last month that special counsel Robert Mueller has been investigating the attempt by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to block the passage of the resolution 2334 – the same effort that Flynn, it now appears, lied to the FBI about.
The fact that Trump called al-Sisi was known at the time.
The other Israel reference in the report is to George Papadopoulos and the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Finally, the Office investigated whether one of the above campaign advisors-George Papadopoulos-acted as an agent of, or at the direction and control of, the government of Israel.
While the investigation revealed significant ties between Papadopoulos and Israel (and search warrants were obtained in part on that basis), the Office ultimately determined that the evidence was not sufficient to obtain and sustain· a conviction under F ARA or Section 951.
Papadopoulos has said that he was investigated on this basis. He was working closely with energy businesses in Israel. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his connections to “certain foreign nationals” with connections to Russian officials.
Thanks to Adam Horowitz and Allison Deger.
More news about Israel the so-called “American” media steadfastly refuses to report.
Yes, and all against the Logan Act…. a United States federal law that criminalizes negotiation by unauthorized persons with foreign governments having a dispute with the United States. The intent behind the Act is to prevent unauthorized negotiations from undermining the government’s position. The Trump team were all unauthorized individuals working to undermine a very important US Government Foreign Policy. Are they too big to prosecute? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act
Thank you, Philip Weiss. You isolated the relevant facts that the media will try their best to make disappear. We, now, must try our best to have this summary republished wherever possible.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/18/the-guardian-view-on-the-mueller-report-now-we-see-it-what-next
“The Guardian view on the Mueller report: now we see it. What next?” Editorial
“It is no surprise that the document bears little resemblance to that portrayed by the Trump administration. It must not be allowed to draw a line beneath it.”
“Finally we have heard from Robert Mueller himself. For two years, in the face of immense presidential pressure and outright attempts to have him fired, the special counsel and his team quietly pursued their mammoth inquiry. He remained silent too as the Trump administration falsely claimed his 400-plus page report as a vindication. Now it is – to a large degree – in the public domain. But this is not the last word.
“Its length, and the complexity of matters with which it deals, means that it will take time to fully digest the document and understand its ramifications. The politicians and journalists frenziedly combing through it in Washington have already found plenty of meat. The bar had been set high by the shocking facts that had already emerged about Russia’s role in the 2016 election and the actions of Donald Trump and his campaign. There is no single new killer fact which transforms the picture and is likely to sway a dedicated Trump supporter. But the report is nonetheless damning, and a vital and necessary addition to the body of evidence already amassed. Mr. Mueller’s role allowed him to access evidence and press individuals as the media cannot. The report’s status as a formal, official record of events is also crucial, even if it will inevitably be assailed as partisan.
“It details the ‘sweeping and systematic’ Russian interference. It lays out the multiple links between the campaign and those with ties to the Russian state, reminds us that it ‘expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts,’ and was at times receptive to Russian offers of help, even if conspiracy or coordination could not be established. It lists 11 possible instances of obstruction. It states that there was evidence which precluded the investigators from conclusively determining that the president did not commit a crime. Attempts to influence the investigation were mostly unsuccessful ‘largely because persons surrounding the president declined to carry out orders or accede to his requests.’
“The document released on Thursday, however, is not the complete story. It is copiously redacted, often in striking places. There are valid legal reasons to excise material from such a text. But no confidence can be placed in the man overseeing the process, Mr Trump’s hand-picked attorney-general, particularly after his almost comical attempts to misrepresent the document. In William Barr’s world, the president’s refusal to be interviewed amounted to the White House’s ‘full cooperation.’ The entire tenor of his remarks implied that the matter was now done and dusted: ‘GAME OVER,’ as his boss posted on Twitter.
“But all those who care about democracy in America must keep going, with all Mr. Mueller’s diligence and persistence but none of his reticence. First, they must press for members of Congress to have access to the full, unredacted version. Second, they must continue reminding voters that if Mr. Mueller was unable to judge whether the president obstructed justice based on facts and legal guidelines, Mr. Trump’s actions are nonetheless abnormal and appalling. So is the willingness of his supporters and the Republican party elite to stand by him given what was already known about his campaign’s relations with an adversary interfering in democratic elections in their country. Third, they must push for a concerted strategy to protect the US against further such attempts. This report is further proof that Mr. Trump is unfit for office, and of the methods which helped to place him there. Mr. Mueller took his time, but the matter could hardly be more urgent as the next presidential race approaches.”
Trump “supports Israel” by promoting continuing gross violations of international law, by Israel. Dangerous, and of course disgusting.