"We noted, among other things, that the President stated on more than 30 occasions that he does not 'recall' or 'remember' or have an 'independent recollection' of information called for by the questions."
(Mueller, on Trump's responses to questions, App. C, p. 417)
Trump had "no recollection" of his son Don Jr., son-in-law Jared Kushner, and campaign director Paul Manafort participating the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting seeking dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Trump had "no independent recollection" whether he spent any time at Trump Tower during these days.
Did Trump chat with his old friends from the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Moscow, the Agalarov family, between June 3, 2016 and the end of the campaign?
Trump has "no independent recollection" of that either.
Trump did "not recall" being aware of Don Jr., Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort's communications with now-indicted Kremlin-linked attorney Natalia Veseltniksaya.
He didn't even know her name, he added.
Trump to Mueller: "I have no recollection of being told during the campaign that Vladimir Putin or the Russian government 'supported' my candidacy or 'opposed' the candidacy of Hillary Clinton."
In fact, Trump told Mueller: "I have no recollection of being told during the campaign that any foreign government or foreign leader had provided, wished to provide, or offered to provide tangible support to my campaign."
Apparently leaving open the possibility that it may have happened, Trump claimed: "I do not recall being provided any information during the campaign about the hacking of any of the named entities or individuals before it became the subject of media reporting."
Trump claimed to have had "no recollection" about whether he spoke to his campaign staff about "possible hacking" of DNC emails released by WikiLeaks and did "not recall" whether he spoke to any representative of WikiLeaks.
When asked by Mueller why he made the "Russia, if you're listening" remark, Trump said he made it "in jest and sarcastically" before adding that he did not "recall" talking about it with anyone before the press conference.
Did Trump discuss pardoning Assange?
"I do not recall..."
Trump's memory failed him again when it came to Roger Stone.
Trump: "I do not recall being aware during the campaign of specific efforts by foreign individuals or companies to assist my campaign through the use of social media postings or the organization of rallies."
Did Trump talk to Cohen about Trump Tower Moscow?
"I had few conversations with Mr. Cohen on this subject. As I recall, they were brief, and they were not memorable." Trump additionally claimed he didn't recall discussions, travel plans, or Sater-Cohen communications about it.
"l had no knowledge of Mr. Manafort offering briefings on the progress of my campaign to an individual named Oleg Deripaska," Trump claimed, adding he didn't know whether Manafort shared internal polling data with Kilimnik. (without saying Kilimnik's name)
Did Trump know about efforts by Russian officials to meet with him and senior campaign members?
"I do not recall..."
Why did the GOP change its platform on the Ukraine with Trump's nomination?
"I have no recollection..."
"I do not remember having been asked to attend the World Chess Championship gala, and I did not attend the event."
Signed,
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A federal judge adjourned the Eric Adams trial indefinitely — but appointed former solicitor general Paul Clement as a friend-of-the-court.
Judge Ho will have an “adversarial” process on whether to dismiss the case. buff.ly/3QuVmtB
Explainer:
This is a significant setback for Trump's ex-defense lawyer and acting DAG Emil Bove, who wanted dismissal of Adams case without adversarial proceedings.
Tapping Paul Clement, who argued for the US before SCOTUS, Judge Ho seems mindful of a ruling surviving appeals.
More context:
It's unclear what Paul Clement will advise — and what power Clement believes the judge has on dismissal.
But by appointing Clement, and declining other amici, Judge Ho steers the "adversarial" part of the proceedings to a credible third party w/o apparent ties to the case.
Protesters showed up outside federal court in Manhattan for today's hearing from a 19-state coalition of attorneys general challenging DOGE and Elon Musk's access to the Treasury's payment system — temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
Arguments for an injunction at 2 p.m. ET.
"All rise."
"The Honorable Jeannette A. Vargas presiding."
Assistant NYAG Andrew Amer, who argued Trump's civil fraud case, will also present arguments today for the coalition.
SDNY Civil Division Chief Jeffrey Oestericher argues for the government.
Judge Vargas says she would like to hear about the threshold issue of standing first, before turning the preliminary injunction motion.
As the FBI agents' hearing resumes, @NormEisen announces the parties are "one word" away from a temporary deal protecting their names.
The govt will agree that "There is no present intent, directly or indirectly," to disclose the list of names, and provide two days of advanced, written notice if that changes.
The hurdle? For now, DOJ won't make this commitment govt-wide.
That raises a question for the judge: Who else has it?@NormEisen presses for that answer:
"You'll forgive the heat of my emotions, but the men and women of the FBI... have been tormented the past two days."
@NormEisen DOJ's lawyer won't say the information hasn't been disclosed.
"Standing here today, there is nothing to indicate that" it has been disclosed.
"I don’t have reason to believe that it’s occurred."
Trump will be sentenced for 34 felonies at 9:30 am ET. He will appear by video and likely will face no criminal penalties. It could be over in an hour.
But the fight over its symbolism gives it historic weight. I’m covering it live.
Consider: Over the past week, Trump's lawyers filed hundreds of pages of high-pitched arguments in four courts, at every level of the NY judiciary and SCOTUS, in a failed bid to stop these proceedings.
Prosecutors and the judge fought just as tenaciously to complete this trial record.
A federal judge grants sanctions against Rudy Giuliani for discovery violations.
The requested relief was an adverse inference moving the Georgia election workers he defamed closer to getting his $3.5M Palm Beach condo.
Judge Liman is reciting his ruling and its scope now.
Earlier today, Giuliani's lawyer described adverse inferences as the "death penalty" for the case.
Liman granted adverse inferences, not yet specified.
So far, the Trump appointee slammed Giuliani's "blithe disregard" for the court's holding and "preposterous" conduct.
Liman quotes then-10th Circuit Judge Gorsuch's comments against Giuliani:
"Discovery is not supposed to be a shell game, where the hidden ball is moved round and round and only revealed after so many false guesses are made and so much money is squandered."
He was order to appear after the Georgia election workers he defamed say he "secreted away" assets from his N.Y. apartment — and reportedly went to Trump's polling station in a Mercedes convertible ordered to be turned over to them.
The hearing has begun.
Attorney for Giuliani: Ken Caruso.
For Ga. election workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman: Aaron Nathan
Nathan:
Giuliani disclosed new bank accounts opened in July 2024.
On Aug. 30, Giuliani and his associates opened up a new entity: Standard USA LLC, over which he has +80% ownership interest.
"Suffice it to say, it's troubling that we learned about it on Monday for the first time."