An indictment from Durham in the investigation of links between Trump's campaign and Russia. Analysis of false statements and their impact on the FBI's evaluation of the dossier. Controversy over Trump's records at the National Archives. Escape to Belarus and questionable legal advice. A motion for vacation during release and its strategic implications. A legal fund for Trump aides and organizers of the January 6th rally.
The indictment of Igor Danchenko in John Durham's investigation highlights the potential flaws and partisan influence in the Russia investigation.
Danchenko's false statements hindered the FBI's ability to properly evaluate the information in the Steele dossier, emphasizing the importance of truthfulness in federal investigations.
Deep dives
John Durham's Indictment in the Russia Investigation
John Durham has issued another indictment in his investigation into the Russia investigation. Igor D'Enchenko, a source for Christopher Steele's infamous dossier, has been charged with false statements to federal officials. The indictment alleges that D'Enchenko lied about where the information in the dossier came from, including key information from Charles Dolan Jr., a PR executive associated with US Democratic politics. The indictment argues that these false statements made it more difficult for the FBI to properly evaluate the information.
The Extensive Detail in the Indictment
The indictment in the D'Enchenko case is unusually detailed, going beyond the standard charge and going into great detail about the alleged lies, their impact on the investigation, and the evidence supporting the charges. The indictment aims to show that by concealing or misrepresenting the source of the information, D'Enchenko made it harder for the FBI to accurately assess its credibility. The document even delves into specific claims, such as the P-Tape allegation, and how D'Enchenko's actions created the false perception of multiple sources when there was actually just one.
Implications and Possible Future Indictments
The detailed indictment and its focus on the veracity of the information in the Steele dossier support the argument that aspects of the Russia investigation may have been flawed or influenced by partisan motivations. While the indictment primarily targets D'Enchenko, it also raises the possibility of other individuals who provided false statements to the FBI facing similar charges. The strong case presented in this indictment could lead to additional indictments in the future. However, it is important to note that this indictment represents a specific aspect of the investigation and does not necessarily reflect on the entire probe or its conclusions.
There’s been another indictment in special prosecutor John Durham’s investigation of the investigation into links between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. It’s another indictment for false statements to federal officials, this time of Igor Danchenko, a Russian national and Russia analyst who was one of Christopher Steele’s sources in assembling the infamous dossier. The thrust of the allegations in the indictment are that Danchenko lied to FBI investigators about where information that ended up in the dossier came from, and it looks like most of his information came from one political operative.
The indictment itself is long, it’s detailed, and it seems like it’s making an argument, and it also seems like it makes a strong case for how some false statements prevented the FBI from accurately evaluating the information provided. Josh Barro and Ken White analyze this second indictment from Durham and what this shows about how the FBI and the media handled the information in the dossier. Does former President Trump have a point about this being a “witch hunt”?
Plus: a judge gets an unusual and pretty annoying request from the Trump legal team, a Capitol riot suspect fled to Belarus because his lawyer advised it (he claims) and another wants to ask a judge’s permission to take a paid-for vacation, and the Schlapp legal fund.
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