Deep State
Page 42
and Trump’s attacks on Sessions, 256, 257–58
and Trump’s attempts to influence Comey, 148, 162
and Trump’s New York Times interview, 254
and Trump’s treason claims, 331
and Weiner laptop investigation, 106–8, 115–17, 123
McCabe, Jill, 47–49, 114–15, 203–4, 277
McCain, John, 21–22, 140, 144
McCarthy, Joseph, 149n, 180
McConnell, Julie, 258
McConnell, Mitch, 179, 229, 259
McCullough, Charles, III, 38
McFarland, K. T., 145, 151, 175
McGahn, Don
and appointment of special counsel, 229, 231, 232
and beginning of Mueller investigation, 237
and briefings on Russia investigations, 181, 183
and Comey’s congressional testimony, 191
and Comey’s firing, 194, 197–98, 200–201
and fallout from Comey’s firing, 208–9, 212–13
and Flynn investigation, 169–70, 173
and Flynn’s resignation, 171
and McCabe’s interview for FBI director, 225, 228–29
and media coverage of Russia investigation, 176
and Mueller Report findings, 315, 325
resignation threat, 250
and Rosenstein firing speculation, 292
and Rosenstein’s offer to record Trump, 304
and Russian interference investigation, 157–58, 162–63
and Sessions’s recusal from Russia investigation, 179, 180
and Trump’s attacks on Sessions, 255
and Trump’s attempts to influence Comey, 188
Trump’s conflict with, 281–82
and Trump’s criticisms of Mueller, 239–40
and Trump’s efforts to remove Mueller, 249, 249n
Medvedev, Dmitry, 89
Meet the Press, 151
Mercer, Rebekah, 98
Mercer, Robert, 98
Mercer Family Foundation, 98
MI6, 94
Midyear Exam investigation
and Clinton email investigation, 126
and Clinton interview, 74
and Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting, 70, 73
and Comey speech to former special agents, 112
and Crossfire Hurricane investigation, 110
and FBI bias concerns, 57–58
formal opening of, 38
impact on Clinton Foundation investigation, 97–98
and inspector general’s report, 299
key investigators, 49
and leak concerns in FBI, 92–93
meeting on conclusions of, 83–84
and Weiner laptop investigation, 107, 115, 117, 119, 134–35
Mifsud, Joseph, 266
military-industrial complex, 323
Miller, Judith, 173
Miller, Matt, 129
Miller, Steven, 192–94, 197–98, 204, 212, 223
Milligan, Susan, 98
Mills, Cheryl, 41–42, 58, 99
Mnuchin, Steven, 324
Moffa, Jonathan, 49, 65, 152, 234
Morgan, Mark, 264
Morning Joe, 138
Mother Jones, 132
Moyers, Bill, 279–80
MSNBC, 138
Mueller, Robert
appointment as special counsel, 229, 230–31
assembly of investigative team, 234–37
attempts to interview Trump, 282–83, 307–9
background, 19–20
and Barr’s appointment, 308–9
and Barr’s defense of Trump, 298
and Barr’s handling of report, 310–16
and the Cohen investigation, 301
and Comey’s book release, 294
and Comey’s firing, 12–13, 244
Comey’s replacement of, 1, 28–31
Comey’s style contrasted with, 31–32
considered as Trump’s FBI director, 225
and “deep state” conspiracy theories, 279–80
extension as FBI director, 28–29
last day as special counsel, 318
meeting with Comey on FBI position, 17–18
and Papadopoulos conviction, 266–67
and political bias allegations, 258, 265
political ideology, 29
report of special counsel investigation, 309, 310–18, 325–26
and results of report, 330
and Rosenstein, 237–38
and Stellar Wind surveillance program, 21–25, 27
and Strzok-Page text messaging controversy, 261–62, 269, 274, 276
threat to resign, 24–25
and Trump’s attempts to influence investigation, 268n, 306
Trump’s efforts to remove as special counsel, 246–49, 249n, 281–82, 292, 325
and Trump’s response to special counsel appointment, 232–34, 239–40, 246–49, 250–54
Muslim travel ban, 163, 165
Nadler, Jerrold, 328
National Archives, 53
National Security Agency (NSA), 21
NBC, 222, 294–95, 331
NBC Nightly News, 213–14
Netanyahu, Benjamin, 175
New Economic School, 109
Newman, Melanie, 71–73, 77
NewsHour, 246
Newsmax Media, 246
Newsweek, 28
New Yorker, 149, 323
New York Post, 269–70
New York Times
and appointment of special counsel, 233
and Clinton email investigation, 35–36, 40–41, 82–83, 128–29
and Clinton Foundation investigation, 98
and Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting, 71
and Cohen-Trump relationship, 89
and Comey memo leak, 226–27
and Comey’s book release, 296, 297
and coverage of Russia investigation, 175–77
and election outcome, 136
and fallout from Comey’s firing, 204, 215–16
and Gorsuch confirmation, 185
interview with Trump on special counsel investigation, 252–55
and Mueller Report findings, 326
and Rosenstein’s offer to record Trump, 303
and search for FBI director, 18–19
and Stellar Wind surveillance program, 26
and Strzok-Page text messaging controversy, 269, 270n
and Trump’s efforts to remove special counsel, 281, 282
and Trump’s feud with reporters, 173
and Weiner scandal, 105–6
Niebuhr, Reinhold, 28, 28n
Nixon, Richard, 4, 13, 238, 254
Norman, Greg, 193
Nunes, Devin, 182, 229, 271
Obama, Barack
and Clinton campaign, 82
and Clinton email investigation, 34, 41, 45, 57
and Comey’s appointment as FBI director, 28–30
Comey’s relationship with, 3
Comey’s service under, 162
and election outcome, 137
and Espionage Act cases, 53
and Flynn’s firing, 139
and Holder’s AG appointment, 191
and Mueller Report findings, 320–21, 323
presidential campaign, 70
regard for Mueller, 19
and Russian interference investigation, 141, 143–44
and Steele dossier allegations, 103
and Trump’s claims of corruption, 290, 292
and wiretapping allegations by Trump, 180–81
Obamacare, 183–84, 268
Office of Legal Couns
el, 21
Office of Professional Responsibility, 300
Ohr, Bruce, 93–96, 141, 266, 271, 329
Ohr, Nellie, 93–95
O’Malley, Martin, 276
Open Society Foundation, 55
Orbis Business Intelligence, 94
O’Reilly, Bill, 71, 164–65, 168
Page, Carter
and Australian intelligence on Russian interference, 91–92
and briefings on Russia investigations, 181
and Crossfire Hurricane investigation, 92, 94, 109, 230
and Steele dossier, 94, 96, 104, 322
Page, Lisa
and appointment of special counsel, 229
and assembly of Mueller’s team, 234–35
and Australian intelligence on Russian interference, 91
background, 46–47
and Clinton email investigation, 49, 63–65, 74, 129–30
and Clinton Foundation investigation, 116, 123–24
and Comey’s firing, 8
and conservative culture of FBI, 111–12
and Crossfire Hurricane investigation, 99–101
and deliberations on special counsel appointment, 221
and election interference concerns, 121
and election outcome, 136–37
and fallout from Comey’s firing, 204, 210, 212, 218–19
and inspector general’s report, 292–93
and Justice Department bias concerns, 56
and leak investigations, 267
and McCabe’s firing, 287
and origins of “deep state” conspiracy theory, 13
political opinions, 50–52, 57–58
and Rosenstein’s offer to record Trump, 224
and Steele dossier, 96
and Strzok’s firing, 300
Strzok’s relationship with, 11, 152–53, 153n
and text messaging controversy, 135–36, 258–62, 263, 269–70, 272–74, 276, 287, 299–300, 302–3
and Trump’s attempts to influence Comey, 148
Trump’s ongoing attacks on, 328–29
and Trump’s treason claims, 331
and Weiner laptop investigation, 107, 117, 123
Papadopoulos, George
and Australian intelligence on Russian interference, 87–88, 88n, 90–92
and briefings on Russia investigations, 181
and Crossfire Hurricane investigation, 93, 109, 230
FBI interview of, 266
and Mueller Report findings, 322
pardon powers, 54, 268, 283, 289–91, 302
Paul, Rand, 31
PBS, 246
Pelosi, Nancy, 83, 131, 321
Pence, Mike
and Comey’s firing, 200–201
and Flynn investigation, 158, 169, 174
and Trump’s intelligence briefing, 145–46
and Washington Post article on Russia investigation, 151
Petraeus, David, 53, 80
Pientka, Joe, 156–57
Pirro, Jeanine, 216
Podesta, John, 108
Pompeo, Mike, 145, 210
Porter, Rob, 238, 271, 281–82
Praetorian Guard (Rome), 330, 330n
Priebus, Reince
and Comey memo leak, 227–28
and Comey’s firing, 194, 198, 200–201
and Comey’s Intelligence Committee testimony, 246
and Comey’s White House meetings, 165–68, 174
and fallout from Comey’s firing, 208
fired by Trump, 258, 281
and Flynn investigation, 158, 169–70
and Flynn’s communications with Russia, 151
and McCabe campaign contributions controversy, 115
and McGahn’s resignation threat, 250
and media coverage of Russia investigation, 175–76
and Mueller Report findings, 315
and Russian interference investigation, 140, 159
and Sessions’s recusal from Russia investigation, 179, 180
and Trump’s attacks on Sessions, 255–56
and Trump’s attempts to influence Comey, 188
and Trump’s intelligence briefings, 145–46
and Trump’s Middle East trip, 238
and Trump’s New York Times interview, 252
Priestap, Edward William “Bill”
and Clinton email investigation, 63
and Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting, 71–72
and Crossfire Hurricane investigation, 92, 110
and deliberations on special counsel appointment, 221
and election outcome, 137
and fallout from Comey’s firing, 204
and FISA applications, 109
and McCabe campaign contributions controversy, 115
on Strzok, 38–39
and Strzok-Page text messaging controversy, 152–53
and Weiner laptop investigation, 118
Putin, Vladimir
and Australian intelligence on Russian interference, 90–91
and Comey’s White House meeting with Priebus, 167–68
and Crossfire Hurricane investigation, 109
and Mueller Report findings, 322
Oval Office meeting with Trump, 204
and Steele dossier, 102
Trump’s relationship with, 3, 50–51, 90–91, 108, 142, 164–65, 171, 177, 205
Quarles, James, 234
Ranger School, 20
Rashkin, Jamie, 276
real estate development deals. See Trump Tower Moscow project
Reed, Jack, 244
Reid, Harry, 83, 144
Remnick, David, 323
Reno, Janet, 4
Republican National Committee, 17, 115
Richards, Keith, 91n
Richman, Daniel, 215, 226–27
Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Moscow, 103, 144, 150, 322
Robert F. Kennedy Building, 6
Rogers, Michael, 183
Romney, Mitt, 21–22
Rose Law Firm, 74
Rosenberg, Chuck, 61
Rosenberg, Julius and Ethel, 42
Rosenstein, Rod
appointed as Attorney General, 163–64
and appointment of special counsel, 230–31, 232–33
background, 164
and Barr’s defense of Trump in Russia probe, 298
and beginning of Mueller investigation, 237–38
and Cohen raid, 290
and Comey’s firing, 6–9, 192, 194–95, 196–200, 202
and Comey’s Intelligence Committee testimony, 246–47
confirmation, 181, 184, 188
and deliberations on special counsel appointment, 221–25, 226
and demotion of Ohr, 271–72
and expansion of Crossfire Hurricane, 229–30
and fallout from Comey’s firing, 205–6, 212–15, 217–25
and McCabe’s interview for FBI director, 220–21, 228
and McCabe’s plans to retire, 263
and Mueller Report findings, 14, 309, 310, 312–13, 315–16, 323, 325–26, 330
offer to record Trump conversations, 224–25, 303–5, 315
speculation on possible firing, 292
and Trump’s attacks on Comey, 265
Trump’s efforts to influence, 240
and Trump’s efforts to remove special counsel, 249, 282
Trump’s leverage on, 305–6
and Trump’s New York Times interview, 252–55
Trump’s nickname for, 251, 251n
and Trump’s refusal to testify in Mueller probe, 284
and Whitaker’s appointment, 306
Rtskhiladze
, Giorgi, 133
Rubio, Marco, 211
Ruddy, Christopher, 246–47
rule of law
and impact of Trump’s tactics, 15
and independence of FBI, 3–4, 29–31, 254, 331
and Mueller Report findings, 316–18, 325–26, 329
and Mueller’s team, 237
and nature of “deep state,” 324
and Stellar Wind surveillance program, 21, 26
Russian Intelligence Services
and Australian intelligence on Russian interference, 87–89, 90–91
and Clinton email investigation, 55–56
and Guccifer 2.0 leaks, 66
and Lynch, 84
and Steele dossier allegations, 103, 104
and Trump campaign connections, 175
Russian interference investigation
and bureaucratic secrecy, 2–3
and election outcome, 136
and fallout from Comey’s firing, 213–14
and Guccifer 2.0 leaks, 66–67
Rosenstein’s oversight, 192
and Sessions’s recusal, 6, 178–79, 181, 196–97
and Strzok’s expertise, 11–12
and Weiner laptop investigation, 107
See also Mueller, Robert
Ryan, Paul, 229–30, 247
Rybicki, Jim, 58, 61, 63, 73, 83, 124–25
Samuelson, Heather, 41–42
Sanders, Bernie
and Clinton email investigation, 37, 167, 319
and Clinton nomination, 88
and Guccifer 2.0 leaks, 86
and Strzok-Page text messaging controversy, 276
Sanders, Sarah Huckabee, 205–7, 211–12, 247
Saturday Night Massacre, 249, 292
Savage, Nick, 297
Scalia, Antonin, 185
Schiff, Adam, 139, 182, 202–3
Schiller, Keith, 200–201, 207–8
Schmidt, Michael S., 35, 215, 226–27, 252, 303
Schools, Scott, 271, 287
Schumer, Charles, 26–27, 177, 202, 229
Schweitzer, Peter, 98
security clearances, 43, 224, 272
Sekulow, Jay, 271–72, 282, 311–12
Senate Intelligence Committee, 45, 233, 241, 264
sensitive investigative matter (SIM) designation, 38, 93
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 11, 17, 20
Sessions, Jefferson Beauregard, III
appointment as attorney general, 138–39, 168
and appointment of special counsel, 231
and Barr’s defense of Trump in Russia probe, 298
and Comey’s firing, 5–9, 194, 196–97
Comey’s relationship with, 4
and Comey’s Senate testimony, 191–92
and Comey’s White House meetings, 172–73, 174
and Crossfire Hurricane expansion, 230