Former Trump Campaign Chief Used Press Coverage To Curry Favor With Russian Oligarch, And Other Trump News From Monday
Monday, October 2nd. Day 256.
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Paul Manafort Used Trump Campaign To Curry Favor With Russian Oligarch
In emails provided to The Atlantic, former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort repeatedly urged an old coworker to show Russian oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska articles about the Trump campaign. Manafort is reportedly deeply in debt to Deripaska in the wake of brokering a failed investment. In one email, Manafort's old lieutenant Konstantin Kilimnik said he was optimistic about "the issue of our biggest interest" because of the mending of Manafort's relationship with Deripaska. The conversation turns more cryptic as Kilimnik arranges a meeting with Manafort to discuss "the guy who gave you your biggest black caviar jar," seemingly a reference to Deripaska.
New Documents Show More Communications Between Trump Staff And Russia
The Washington Post reports that President Trump's attorney Michael Cohen has reportedly surrendered documents showing two more communications between himself and Russian actors during the presidential campaign. One communication was a second proposition for a Trump residential property in Moscow. Another contained a proposition to attend an economic conference that was attended by Vladimir Putin. Cohen denied both requests.
Trump Called Cowboys Owner Four Times About Anthem Protest
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that President Trump called Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones four times before last Monday's game to implore him and the team not to take a knee. Jones knelt before the national anthem along with his team in protest of the President's calls for kneeling players to be fired.
Trump Criticized Secretary Of State For Pursuing Diplomatic Solution With North Korea
After Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he was attempting to open diplomatic channels with North Korea, President Trump wrote that he was "wasting his time" on Twitter. Trump suggested that military options were the only way to proceed, saying "we'll do what needs to be done."
Trump Signed Directive Designed To Pressure North Korea
The Washington Post reports that early in his administration, President Trump signed a directive designed to put pressure on North Korea. The directive reportedly resulted in a cyber-attack on the country's spy agency that cut off their internet access. The directive also stressed pressuring other countries to cut off diplomatic ties with North Korea.
Trump Milks Reputation Of Instability
Axios reports that President Trump has been ordering negotiators to use his reputation of instability to their advantage. During a conversation with his top trade negotiator, Trump instructed his staff to give other countries the impression that he could pull out of a deal at any moment. Referencing the South Korean trade deal, Trump said "You've got 30 days, and if you don't get concessions then I'm pulling out…You tell them, 'This guy's so crazy he could pull out any minute.'"
