A comprehensive history of the Trump team's *ever-evolving* denials of collusion with Russia.
Buckle up.
Buckle up.
12/2016 - No communication with Russia
Hope Hicks: “It never happened. There was no communication between the campaign and any foreign entity during the campaign.”
Kellyanne Conway: "I discussed that with the president-elect just last night. Those conversations never happened."
Hope Hicks: “It never happened. There was no communication between the campaign and any foreign entity during the campaign.”
Kellyanne Conway: "I discussed that with the president-elect just last night. Those conversations never happened."
1/2017 - (Still) no communication with Russia
Mike Pence: “Well of course not. I think to suggest that is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors that have swirled around the candidacy."
Mike Pence: “Well of course not. I think to suggest that is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors that have swirled around the candidacy."
2/2017 - No communication "to the best of our knowledge"
Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “This is a non-story because, to the best of our knowledge, no contacts took place, so it’s hard to make a comment on something that never happened.”
Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “This is a non-story because, to the best of our knowledge, no contacts took place, so it’s hard to make a comment on something that never happened.”
3/2017 - No communication that was "set up"
Trump Jr.: “Did I meet with people that were Russian? I'm sure, I'm sure I did. ... But none that were set up. None that I can think of at the moment. And certainly none that I was representing the campaign in any way, shape or form.”
Trump Jr.: “Did I meet with people that were Russian? I'm sure, I'm sure I did. ... But none that were set up. None that I can think of at the moment. And certainly none that I was representing the campaign in any way, shape or form.”
7/8/2017 - Communication but only about "adoption"
Trump Jr.: “We primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children that was active and popular with American families years ago ... but it was not a campaign issue at that time and there was no follow up.”
Trump Jr.: “We primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children that was active and popular with American families years ago ... but it was not a campaign issue at that time and there was no follow up.”
7/9/2017 - Communication but it wasn't "meaningful"
Trump Jr.: “No details or supporting information was provided or even offered. It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information.”
Trump Jr.: “No details or supporting information was provided or even offered. It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information.”
5/16/2018 - Information was never "used"
Giuliani: “And even if it comes from a Russian, or a German, or an American, it doesn’t matter. And they never used it, is the main thing. ... They rejected it. If there was collusion with the Russians, they would have used it.”
Giuliani: “And even if it comes from a Russian, or a German, or an American, it doesn’t matter. And they never used it, is the main thing. ... They rejected it. If there was collusion with the Russians, they would have used it.”
7/16/2018 - No collusion because Trump "didn't know" Putin
Trump: "There was no collusion. I didn't know the president. There was nobody to collude with."
(Trump confirmed in a 11/2013 interview with MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts, "I do have a relationship with [Putin]."
Trump: "There was no collusion. I didn't know the president. There was nobody to collude with."
(Trump confirmed in a 11/2013 interview with MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts, "I do have a relationship with [Putin]."
7/30/2018 - Collusion isn't even a crime. Hacking is!
Giuliani: "I don't even know if that's a crime — colluding with Russians. Hacking is the crime. The president didn't hack. He didn't pay for the hacking."
Giuliani: "I don't even know if that's a crime — colluding with Russians. Hacking is the crime. The president didn't hack. He didn't pay for the hacking."
