U.S. Department of Justice
Attorney Work Product // May Contain Material Protected Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e)
imposed sanctions on nine Russian individuals and entities.[1] On December 29, 2016, the Obama Administration also expelled 35 Russian government officials and closed two Russian government-owned compounds in the United States.[2]
During the rollout of the sanctions, President-Elect Trump and multiple Transition Team senior officials, including McFarland, Steve Bannon, and Reince Priebus, were staying at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Flynn was on vacation in the Dominican Republic,[3] but was in daily contact with McFarland.[4]
The Transition Team and President-Elect Trump were concerned that these sanctions would harm the United States's relationship with Russia.[5] Although the details and timing of sanctions were unknown on December 28, 2016, the media began reporting that retaliatory measures from the Obama Administration against Russia were forthcoming.[6] When asked about imposing sanctions on Russia for its alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, President-Elect Trump told the media, "I think we ought to get on with our lives."[7]
Russia initiated the outreach to the Transition Team. On the evening of December 28, 2016, Kislyak texted Flynn, "can you kindly call me back at your convenience."[8] Flynn did not respond to the text message that evening. Someone from the Russian Embassy also called Flynn the next morning, at 10:38 a.m., but they did not talk.[9]
The sanctions were announced publicly on December 29, 2016.[10] At 1:53 p.m. that day, McFarland began exchanging emails with multiple Transition Team members and advisors about the impact the sanctions would have on the incoming Administration.[11]
At 2:07 p.m., a Transition Team member texted Flynn a link to a New York Times article about the sanctions.[12] At 2:29
- ↑ Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency With Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities, The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Dec. 29, 2016).
- ↑ Statement by the President on Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment, The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Dec. 29, 2016).
- ↑ Flynn 11/16/17 302, at 14; McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 3-8; Bannon 2/12/18 302, at 5.
- ↑ Flynn 11/17/17 302, at 5; Flynn 1/19/18 302, at 1; McFarland 11/22/17 302, at 3-9.
- ↑ Flynn 11/17/17 302, at 3.
- ↑ Christine Wang, US to announce new sanctions against Russia in response to election hacking, CNBC (Dec. 28, 2016).
- ↑ John Wagner, Trump on alleged election interference by Russia: "Get on with our lives", Washington Post (Dec. 29, 2016).
- ↑ SF000006 (12/28/16 Text Message, Kislyak to Flynn).
- ↑ Call Records of Michael T. Flynn Grand Jury
- ↑ Flynn 11/17/17 302, at 2-3; McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 4-5.
- ↑ 19/29/16 Email, McFarland to O'Brien et al.; 12/29/16 Email, McFarland to Flynn et al.
- ↑ SF000001 (12/29/16 Text Message, Flaherty to Flynn).
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