U.S. Department of Justice
Attorney Work Product // May Contain Material Protected Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e)
Immediately after speaking with McFarland, Flynn called and spoke with Kislyak.[1] Flynn discussed multiple topics with Kislyak, including the sanctions, scheduling a video teleconference between President-Elect Trump and Putin, an upcoming terrorism conference, and Russia's views about the Middle East.[2] With respect to the sanctions, Flynn requested that Russia not escalate the situation, not get into a "tit for tat," and only respond to the sanctions in a reciprocal manner.[3]
Multiple Transition Team members were aware that Flynn was speaking with Kislyak that day. In addition to her conversations with Bannon and Reince Priebus, at 4:43 p.m., McFarland sent an email to Transition Team members about the sanctions, informing the group that "Gen [F]lynn is talking to russian ambassador this evening."[4] Less than an hour later, McFarland briefed President-Elect Trump. Bannon, Priebus, Sean Spicer, and other Transition Team members were present.[5] During the briefing, President-Elect Trump asked McFarland if the Russians did "it," meaning the intrusions intended to influence the presidential election.[6] McFarland said yes, and President-Elect Trump expressed doubt that it was the Russians.[7] McFarland also discussed potential Russian responses to the sanctions, and said Russia's response would be an indicator of what the Russians wanted going forward.[8] President-Elect Trump opined that the sanctions provided him with leverage to use with the Russians.[9] McFarland recalled that at the end of the meeting, someone may have mentioned to President-Elect Trump that Flynn was speaking to the Russian ambassador that evening.[10]
After the briefing, Flynn and McFarland spoke over the phone.[11]
Flynn reported on the substance of his call with Kislyak, including their discussion of the sanctions.[12] According to McFarland, Flynn mentioned that the Russian response to the sanctions was not going to be escalatory because they wanted a good relationship with the incoming Administration.[13] McFarland also gave Flynn a summary of her recent briefing with President-Elect Trump.[14]
- ↑ Flynn Statement of Offense ¶ 3(d).
- ↑ Flynn 11/17/17 302, at 3-4; Flynn Statement of Offense ¶ 3(c); 12/30/16 Email, Flynn to McFarland.
- ↑ Flynn 11/17/17 302, at 1; Flynn Statement of Offense ¶ 3(d).
- ↑ 12/29/16 Email, McFarland to Flynn et al.
- ↑ 12/29/16 Email, Westerhout to Flaherty; McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 7.
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 7.
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 7.
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 7.
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 7.
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 7.
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 7.
- ↑ Flynn 11/17/17 302, at 4; Flynn Statement of Offense ¶ 3(e).
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 8.
- ↑ McFarland 12/22/17 302, at 8.
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