So we can take this article from May 26, 2017, about Oleg Deripaska's desire for full immunity in exchange for co-operation with Congress (either House or Senate), and tie it into other events going on at the time.
As mentioned here, the reasoning for the House and the Senate turning down the immunity deal offer is because it may interfere with federal criminal investigators.
This is because on May 17, 2017, Robert Mueller was hired as the special counsel, and was building his team, hence it "may interfere" with his work.
justice.gov/opa/pr/appoint…
justice.gov/opa/pr/appoint…
The House Intelligence Committee agreed to this.
This is because Devin Nunes, the Chairman, had stepped away at the time due to an ethics investigation.
He recused on April 6, 2017 and was cleared on December 7, 2017.
edition.cnn.com/2017/04/06/pol…
politico.com/story/2017/12/…
This is because Devin Nunes, the Chairman, had stepped away at the time due to an ethics investigation.
He recused on April 6, 2017 and was cleared on December 7, 2017.
edition.cnn.com/2017/04/06/pol…
politico.com/story/2017/12/…
Adam Waldman was most likely out of Washington as well, having left for New York on May 16, 2017.
Adam Waldman was also trying to reach out to Mark Warner to determine whether he should be talking with Warner about Oleg Deripaska or with the House Intelligence Committee.
This text was from May 15, 2017, the day before he left Washington.
This text was from May 15, 2017, the day before he left Washington.
The Daily Beast was also trying to suggest that the counterintelligence team were heroes who were worried that the investigation was going to come to a halt as well, publishing the article "FBI Agents Worry White House Will Kneecap Russia Probe".
Comey had also been fired on May 9, 2017.
This was happening at a time where Steele and Bruce Ohr were in contact, and Steele was worried about being exposed by Comey's dismissal.
foxnews.com/politics/2018/…
This was happening at a time where Steele and Bruce Ohr were in contact, and Steele was worried about being exposed by Comey's dismissal.
foxnews.com/politics/2018/…
"My Russian client asked me to engage in specific way w investigation. We received letter from counsel of house intel committee. I assume you want me to deal with you rather than him but please let me know."
By August 2017, Steele was open to re-engaging with the Federal Bureau of Investigation / Robert Mueller, and Steele would eventually meet with Mueller's team directly.
edition.cnn.com/2017/10/05/pol…
edition.cnn.com/2017/10/05/pol…
During May 2017, where they were completely unsure what was going to happen next after Comey's dismissal, all of the main conspirators were worried - until Mueller offered a life raft by continuing the old Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
Then they could delay, delay, delay.
Then they could delay, delay, delay.
Whoops.
"I asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter. I didn't do it myself for a variety of reasons but I asked him to because I thought it might prompt the appointment of a special counsel." -- James Comey
thehill.com/policy/nationa…
thehill.com/policy/nationa…
May 16, 2017, article by Michael S. Schmidt (with contributions from Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman).
The Comey memo article.
nytimes.com/2017/05/16/us/…
The Comey memo article.
nytimes.com/2017/05/16/us/…
Comey blamed Trump's "tapes" tweet on May 12, 2017 for him leaking the memo, claiming he woke up on Monday night (May 15, 2017) worried about the idea that the tape could exist.
edition.cnn.com/2017/06/08/pol…
edition.cnn.com/2017/06/08/pol…
However, on May 12, 2017, it was also announced by Mark Warner that Comey had declined to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee for May 16, 2017.
politico.com/story/2017/05/…
politico.com/story/2017/05/…
