IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ) EMANUEL MCCRAY, individually and on) Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, ) Plaintfis,) ) vs, ) ) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ) JUSTICE, ) ) FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, ) ) JEFFERSON BEAUREGARD SESSIONS III, ) In His Official Capacity As Attorney General of) the United States, ) ROD JAY ROSENSTEIN, fi His Official Capacity As Deputy Attorney General of the United States, CHRISTOPHER ASHER WRAY, Jn His Official Capacity As Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and ROBERT SWAN MUELLER II, Jn His Official Capacity As Special Counsel 10 the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Defendants, CIVIL NO: PLAINTIFFS’ MASTER EXHIBITS PART | OF 5, PAGES 1-45son apart (ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS syne omnes warn oe Congress of the United States - House of Representatives COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM 2187 Ravaurw House Orrice BULONG Wassivaton, OC 20515-6149, May 16, 2017 Mr. Andrew G. McCabe Acting Director Federal Bureau of Investigation 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20530 Dear Mr. MeCabe: Today, the New York Times reported former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey memorialized the content of phone calls and meetings with the President in a series of internal memoranda.' At least one such memorandum reportedly describes a conversation in which the President referenced the FBI investigation of former National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and said to Comey, “I hope you can let this go."? According to the report, “Mr. Comey created similar memos—including some that are classified—about every phone call and meeting he had with the president.”> If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI’s investigation as it relates to Lt. Gen. Flynn. So the Committee can consider that question, and others, provide, no later than May 24, 2017, all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives and may at “any time” investigate “any matter” as set forth in House Rule X, An attachment to this letter provides additional information about responding to the Committee's request. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Br, Jason Challetz Chairman pur / Enclosure page_/ oF 239 "Michael S. Schmit, Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation, N.Y. TMs, May 16,2017 "td a 'Office of the Deputy Attorney General ‘Mushixgtox, DAO. 20530 ORDER NO, 3915-2017 APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL FO INVESTIGATE RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE WITH THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND RELATED MATTERS, By virtue of the authority vested in me as Acting Attorney General, including 28 U.S.C §§ 509, 510, and 515, in order to discharge my responsibility to provide supervision and management of the Department of Justice, and to ensure a full and thorough investigation of the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, | hereby order as follows: (a) Robert S. Mueller III is appointed to serve as Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice. {) The Special Counsel is authorized vo conduct the investigation confirmed by then Director James 8. Comey in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017, including: (any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals, associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and Gi) any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a) (©) If the Special Counsel believes it is necessary and appropriate, the Special Counsel is (4) Sections 600.4 through 600.10 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations are applicable to the Special Counsel sfofa Date RHE Ros Acting Aughey General‘THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2017 Statement from the Press Secretary Today, President Donald J. Trump informed FBI Director James Comey that he has been terminated and removed from office. President Trump acted based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “The FBI is one of our Nation’s most cherished and respected institutions and today will mark a new beginning for our crown jewel of law enforcement,” said President Trump. A search for a new permanent FBI Director will begin immediately. ant 3 EXHIBIT PACES oFTHE WHITH HOUSE WASHINGTON May 9, 2017 Dear Director Comey: have received the attached letters trom the Attorney General nicl Deputy Attomey General of the United States recommending your dismissal as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have accepted their recommendation and you are hereby terminated and removed from office, elfective immediately. While 1 greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that Lam not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau. It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission, T wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors, Donald J. Trump EXHIBIT PAGE df OF.Office of the Attorney Genecal ‘Washington, B.C 20530 May 9, 2017 President Donald J. Trump The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As Attorney General, | am committed to a high level of discipline, integrity, and the rule of law to the Department of Justice—an institution that I deeply respect. Based on my evaluation, and for the reasons expressed by the Deputy Attorney General in the attached memorandum, Thave concluded that a fresh start is needed at the leadership of the FBI. It is essential that this Department of Justice clearly reaffirm its commitment to longstanding principles that ensure the integrity and fairness of federal investigations and prosecutions, The Director of the FBI must be someone who follows faithfully the rules and principles of the Department of Justice and who sets the right example for our law enforcement officials and others in the Department. Therefore, I must recommend that you remove Director James B, Comey, Jr. and identify an experienced and qualified inclividual to lead the great men and women of the FBI. Sincerely ay Jeff Sessions Attorney General JSph Attachment EXHIBIT __ PAGES OFU.S. Department of Justice Office of the Deputy Attorney General The Deputy Atorney Genet Washington, DC: 20530 May 9, 2017 MEMORANDUM FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL _ FROM: ROD J. ee DEPUTY ATTORNEY MENERAL SUBJECT: RESTORING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE FBI ‘The Federal Bureau of Investigation has long been regarded as out nation’s premier federal b investigative agency. Over the past year, however, the FBI’s reputation and credibility have suffered substantial damage, and it has affected the entire Department of Justice. That is deeply troubling to many Department employees and veterans, legislators and citizens. ‘The current FBI Director is an articulate and persuasive speaker about leadership and the immutable principles of the Department of Justice, He deserves our appreciation for his public service, As you and I have discussed, however, I cannot defend the Director’s handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton's emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken, Almost everyone agrees that the Director ‘made serious mistakes; itis one of the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives, ‘The Director was wrong to usurp the Attorney General’s authority on July 5, 2016, and announce his conclusion that the case should be closed without prosecution. Itis not the function of the Director to make such an announcement. At most, the Director should have said the FBI had completed its investigation and presented its findings to federal prosecutors, The Director now defends his decision by asserting that he believed Attorney General Loretta Lynch hhad a conflict. But the FBI Director is never empowered to supplant federal prosecutors and assume command of the Justice Department. There is a well-established process for other officials to step in when a conflict requires the recusal of the Attorney General. On July 5, however, the Director announced his own conclusions about the nation’s most sensitive eriminal investigation, without the authorization of duly appointed Justice Department leaders, Compounding the error, the Director ignored another longstanding principle: we do not hold press conferences to release derogatory information about the subject of a declined criminal investigation, Derogatory information sometimes is disclosed in the course of criminal investigations and prosecutions, but we never release it gratuitously. The Director laid out his version of the facts for the news media as if it were a closing argument, but without a trial. It is a textbook example of what federal prosecutors and agents are taught not to do. 6‘Memorandum for the Attomey General Page 2 Subject: Restoring Public Confidence in the Federal Bureau of Investigation In response to skeptical questions at a congressional hearing, the Director defended his remarks by saying that his “goal was to ‘say what is true, What did we do, what did we find, what | do we think about it.” But the goal of a federal criminal investigation is not to announce our | thoughts at a press conference. The goal is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify a federal criminal prosecution, then allow a federal prosecutor who exercises authority delegated by the Attomey General to make a prosecutorial decision, and then ~ if prosceution is warranted ~ let the judge and jury determine the facts, We sometimes release information about closed investigations in appropriate ways, but the FBI does not do it sua sponte. | Concerning his letter to the Congress on October 28, 2016, the Director cast his decision as a choice between whether he would “speak” about the FBI’s decision to investigate the newly- discovered email messages or “conceal” it. “Conceal” is a loaded term that misstates the issue When federal agents and prosecutors quietly open a criminal investigation, we are not concealing anything; we are simply following the longstanding policy that we refrain from publicizing non- public information. In that context, silence is not concealment. My perspective on these issues is shared by former Attorneys General and Deputy Atloreys General from different eras and both political parties. Judge Laurence Silberman, who served as Deputy Attorney General under President Ford, wrote that “it is not the bureau's responsibility to opine on whether a matter should be prosecuted.” Silberman believes that the | Director's “performance was so inappropriate for an FBI director that (he] doubt{s] the bureau will ever completely recover.” Jamie Gorelick, Deputy Attorney General under President Clinton, joined with Larry Thompson, Deputy Attorney General under President George W. Bush, to opine that the Director had “chosen personally to restrike the balance between transparency and faimess, departing from the department's traditions.” They concluded that the Director violated his obligation to “preserve, protect and defend” the traditions of the Department and the FBI. Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, who scrved under President George W. Bush, observed that the Director “stepped way outside his job in disclosing the recommendation in that fashion” because the FBI director “doesn’t make that decision.” Alberto Gonzales, who also served as Attorney General under President George W. Bush, called the decision “an error in judgment.” Erie Holder, who served as Deputy Attomey General under President Clinton and Atlomey General under President Obama, said thet the Director’s decision “was incorrect. It violated long-standing Justice Department policies and traditions. And it ran counter to guidance | ‘that T put in place four years ago laying out the proper way to conduct investigations during an | clection season.” Holder concluded that the Ditector “broke with these fundamental principles” and “negatively affected public trust in both the Justice Department and the FBI.” Former Deputy Attorneys General Gorelick and Thompson described the unusual events as “real-time, raw-take transparency taken to its illogical limit, a kind of reality TV of federal criminal investigation,” that is “antithetical to the intetests of justice.” Donald Ayer, who served as Deputy Attorney General under President George H.W. Bush, along with other former Justice Department officials, was “astonished and perplexed” by the decision to “break_] with longstanding practices followed by officials of both parties during 9 EXHIBIT PAGE ? OFMemorandum for the Attorney General Page 3 Subject: Restoring Public Confidence in the Federal Bureau of Investigation past elections.” Ayer's letter noted, “Perhaps most troubling... is the precedent set by tis departure from the Department's widely-respected, non-partisan traditions.” We should reject the departure and return to the traditions, Although the President has the power to remove an FBI director, the decision should not be taken lightly. I agree with the nearly unanimous opinions of former Department officals, The way the Director handled the conclusion ofthe email investigation was wrong. As a result, the EBL is unlikely to regain public and congressional trust until it has a Director who understands the gravity of the mistakes and pledges never to repeat them, Having refused to admit his errors, the Director cannot be expected to implement the necessary corrective actions, EXHIBIT PAGE OFhip uhkseaksorilusceableiO9STATESSSS8_a html Canonical 10: 69STATESSS88_a Subject: ALERTING GOR OF DELIVERY OF SEIZED HEU DURING SEPTEMBER 21 FBI DIRECTOR'S TRIP TO MOSCOW From: Secretary of State To: Georgia Tbilisi, Russia Moscow Original Classification: SECRET Current Classification: SECRET Previous Handling Restrictions: Archive Status: -- Not Assigned - Not Assigned -- Type: TE Locator: TEXT ONLINE Reference(s): -- N/A or Blank -- Executive Order (E.0.): -- Not Assigned -- Markings: -- Not Assigned -- Enclosure: -- Not Assigned Concepts: -- Not Assigned -- TAGS: Georgia [66] Military and Defense Affairs--Military Nuclear Applications [MNUC] Political Affairs--Arms Controls and Disarmament [PARM] Russia [RS] Office: -- N/A or Blank -- Document Character Count: 7846 Date: 2009 August 17, 19:56 (Monday) SECRET STATE 085588 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.0. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2019 TAGS: PARM, HNUC, RS, GG SUBJECT: ALERTING GOR OF DELIVERY OF SEIZED HEU DURING SEPTEMBER 21 FBI DIRECTOR'S TRIP TO MOSCOW REF: A, 09 STATE 38943 8. 09 MOSCOW 1052 C. APRIL 25 2009 AMBASSADOR BEYRLE E-MAIL D. 08 MOSCOW 521 Classified By: EUR/PRA: KATHLEEN MORENSKT PER E.0. 12958: REASONS 1.4 (A) AND (G). 1, (SBU) This is an action request: Embassy Moscow please see para 6 and 7; and Enbassy Tbilisi please see para 8 2. (S/NF) Background: Over two years ago Russia requested a ten-gran sample of highly enriched uranium (HEU) seized in early 2006 in Georgia during a nuclear smuggling sting operation involving one Russian national and several Georgian accomplices. The seized HEU was transferred to U.S. custody and is being held at a secure DOE facility. In response to the Russian request, the Georgian Government authorized the United States to share a sample of the material with thehp thkdoaksoriplusdeablesiOSSTATESSSE8_a imi Russians for forensic analysis. Director Mueller previously Planned to deliver the sample in April (Ref A), but due to a scheduling conflict the trip was canceled. Embassy Hoscow Legatt informed the FSB prior to Mueller's intended Aprit delivery and received confirmation that the FSB would take custody of the sample after the Director's plane landed. EST Moscow also informed Rosatom of the planned transfer and that the U.S. placed a high priority on completing this transfer (Ref B). Once the LegAtt told FSB counterparts the April trip had been canceled, Ambassador Beyrle informed Igor Neverov (Ref C), who said that he understood but was disappointed the trip was postponed. The September 21 visit provides again an opportunity to deliver the requested ten-gram sample from the seized HEU in order to obtain cooperation from the GOR on this nuclear smuggling case and to eventually establish a more productive mechanism of U.S.-Russian cooperation on nuclear forensics 3. (S/NF) While there was a reasonable exchange of information with Russian security services at the time of the 2006 seizure, we have had poor cooperation investigating the diversion of HEU, which the United States believes was stolen from a Russian facility. Russia did not respond to papers that then Acting U/S Rood provided Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov in Decenber 2008 reiterating the USG position that Russia should pick up this sample in the United States. Further, when asked for an update on their response to our proposal, Ryabkov told us in early 209 in Washington that ‘there was an interagency dispute over who would come and pick up the material. 4. (S/NF) Given Russia's reluctance to act so far, FBI Mueller's delivery of this sample will underscore to Russia our commitment to follow through on this case. While some details related to the sharing of information on smuggling networks may be too sensitive to discuss, delivery of the sample could enable us to discuss whether Russian authorities investigated the diversion and prosecuted anyone. Moreover, we hope it will spark discussions on mechanisms to exchange information and material on future incidents of this nature, particularly in light of the commitments made in the July Summit U.S.-Russia Joint Statement on Nuclear Cooperation regarding strengthening our cooperation to stop acts of nuclear terrorism. Posts should note that DOE/NNSA's April 2009 determination authorizing distribution of the sample to the Russian Federation only for attribution of the sample in support of a criminal investigation is applicable to the Proposed September 21 delivery of the sample to Russia 5. (S/Rel Russia) Background con't: On April 16, the FSB verbally confirmed to Legatt that we will have no problem with the Russian Ministry of Aviation concerning MueLler's flight (although we probably won't see paperwork until shortly before the trip). The FBI is requiring that the /ohp thkiooksorgpusaabiesIOGSTATESSSES_a imi sample be turned over to a Russian law enforcement authority (i.e, FSB) as opposed to an intelligence service (i.e., SVR) or technical authority (i.e., Rosatom). A representative from the responsible Russian Law Enforcement authority, who will accept custody of the sample, must be identified and verified ahead of time. That individual will be required to have signatory authority to accept the sample. Appropriate arrangements need to be made to ensure the transfer of material is conducted at the airport, plane-side, upon arrival of the Director's aircraft. Post should also remind ‘the GOR that this is the material about which the GOR gave the USG nonproliferation assurances in 2088 in a diplomatic note from February 2008 (Ref D) 6. (S/Rel Russia) Action request: Embassy Moscow is requested to alert at the highest appropriate level the Russian Federation that FBI Director Mueller plans to deliver the HEU sample once he arrives to Moscow on September 21 Post is requested to convey information in paragraph 5 with regard to chain of custody, and to request details on Russian Federation's plan for picking up the material. Embassy is also requested to reconfirm the April 16 understanding from the FSB verbally that we will have no problem with the Russian Ministry of Aviation concerning Mueller's September 21 flight clearance. 7. (S/Rel Russia) Post is requested to deliver the following talking points: =-We wish to inform you that FBI Director Mueller plans to arrive in Moscow on the evening of September 21 with a ten-gram sample of seized HEU, which you requested for nuclear forensics analysis. --We regret that the April visit by Director Mueller could not take place due to a scheduling conflict. We would be grateful once again for the Russian Federation's willingness to receive the sample and facilitate the logistics for its pick up. s-As before, we require confirmation that a representative from a responsible Russian law enforcement authority will be available to accept custody of the sample and have signatory authority to accept the sample. =-We require that the transfer of this material be conducted at the airport, on the tarmac near by the plane, upon arrival of the Director's aircraft. --We place a high priority on completion of this sample transfer to facilitate your forensic analysis of the material --Further, with the delivery of this sample, we hope to collaborate more closely on pronoting a more effective ulip tweaks orhlusleables/09STATE®SS86_ him! relationship between our law enforcement organizations to counter illicit trafficking of nuclear materials. s+In particular, such efforts were underscored in the July Summit joint presidential statement on nuclear cooperation regarding our conmitments to strengthen cooperation to stop acts of nuclear terrorism. Securing vulnerable nuclear materials and improving nuclear security within our two countries is our highest priority. -+ It is our hope to eventually establish a more systematic mechanism to facilitate U.S. -Russian cooperation on investigations into nuclear smuggling cases. We continue to believe that Russia should be concerned by the prospect that HEU was diverted from one of its facilities, and should actively investigate the incident 8. (S/Rel Georgia) For Embassy Tbilisi: No action is required at this point. As before, State will send instructions at the appropriate time on alerting the Georgian Government when the transfer of the seized HEU is immanent and in Russian custody 9. (U) Department thanks Post for its assistance. Washington point of contacts are Mike Curry, ISN/WMOT, 202-736-7692 (CurryMRestate.sgov.gov) and Nate Young, EUR/PRA, 262-647-7278 (YoungllH@state, sgov.gov). Please slug all responses for EUR, ISN/WMOT, and T. CLINTON 213Georgia sting nets bomb-grade uranium - World news - Terrorism | NBC News Page | of 2 Cecreie -CIA A sting nets bomb=) Radioactive material obtained on black market alee teroram concer (Ap cima er that ed othe arrest ofa Rossin a moins si WASHINGLON — Republic of Geongaatortes, dehy the CIA set apa sting ‘who tied to sell small anount of miler bomb tani na pastiche inhi chet packs, U.S. and Ger "he operation, which nether goverment bas publiiaed, represents cme of the most sesows cases of singing of nae aerial in recent yeas, according to alyssa officials The arrest underscored concerns about the possibilty of terrorists aging nova bomb-making materia onthe Back market although there ‘vas wo suggestion thatthe case was teresa [Nocridence sess this putin ose " detonation of ani provsed nacea explosive device, even small nnbers of incidents involving HEU ingof the U.N. International Atomic Ene ney Agency ie the serio consequeares of (highly enriched rain) o platoniam are of ery high concer,” sad Metis Fe Detals of he vestigation, which alo fnvolve the FI and Hnensy Departs, were provided to The Assad Pres hy U.S. iia nd ‘Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabisi Authorities they do not knowhow the man acted the nace mera or if his sins eating with investigators, seeesto much larger quantities were tre, He and thee Georgian accomplices aren Goorin costly ad not Georgian attempts to trace the nul ear mater sine the arrest and contin whether the man nde hd aes to larger quantities bane foundered fom lack of oopsation fom Russa, Merabishil sid that he was revcalng the story ut of rusttion wily Russ espns a the ned to astra the dangers breakdown a Anmessage eft with he pres ofc ofthe RassionFinsey was nt rtrd satya atthe Russian Foreign Ministry to The Associated Pres that there ws no ue authorized to content on Wed say night, ‘Tense relations with Georgia In Moscow, the tne ax news ae ited aye lif source at Ross's ar agency as saving Gea authorities had sven Rusia oo ‘mala sample to determin its ois and had tect posi other information, Res breakaway Georgian border regions, bara and South Os sti ions with Geog, ke Rusia former Soviet republic, Georgia has hen rouble by Resi’ sport for separatists two ‘The ting was setup after Georgian authorities uncovered extensive smugsing networks while avestigating vin groups operating fn the breakaway republics, Morais sa When we sent buyers, the channel throng Abana Sth Ossi a to expund, a we sate sing huge Maw of mers,” sald i Sometimes twas low-grade enched materials, bt this was the ist instance of hight enriched ate According to his account, durngan invest Osetia, Goran aide nvmeraget posing sch reign baer mde contac ith the Russa slr in North Oeseti,obich s part of Rass, Aplastic bag of uranium After the Rassian oe ‘Thi the Georgian capital ct sell the sample, the agent buted mors that he transton occ iN orth Ossetia, sisting the Rasson come to 14 sting-nets-bo... 8/6/2017 ‘Ata meeting in Tis, the man pile out fom is poet aplasia http://www.nbenews.com/id/16795915/ns/world_news-terrorism/t/georgia-Georgia sting nets bomb-grade uranium - World news - Terrorism | NBC News Page 2 of 2 “He was offering this the ist sagen adel and said he hate pees, Merabishni si, “We dont ow if that was re.” ‘Uraniam hasa lv level of rdiaetine emission and can be transported soe safes than oter rating materia “The man wasareste and sentenced to eight to 0 years ia prion ou st galing cha His accomplices were sentenced on lesser charges. Russian authorities took simple of the material ut fil offer anya istan despite reyes for hep hon the Georgians, Merabishit sad We wore ready to provide all the inforation, hut unfortunately no one mee fon Rosi, ot even onteriew thie person” Merabishl sai “nis siprising because it sin Rossin terest to sere these m “Contiemed to be highly enriched wranium” ‘The Georgians asked for U tested by the Energy Departinent's National Nace Sect Administration “The material wasamalbzed by agency mite als Thee are terrorist ontanzations in Kasia who would py bie assistance. Agents rom the Fi and he Fine ey Depart tok the mar Hack othe United States where was expetsand confirmed to be highs enriched raion,“ satya Wes a spokesmnn forthe Fleming, of he LAEA, sa the agency was aac the Tis scirae an was expecting for notation from Georgia soon The CTA would wot comment onthe ease and the FB coamed its avolsenenin the investigation ut nothing mor, Merah, who was isting Washington this we ck, sali edd Wor ave se deta of he ‘made or the fall mane of the suspect. Further effort laf with the Georan Ens wee Ht ssf ciation, inciting th exact te the arrest was Nowe ofthe U.S ofcals would confirm the we ht ofthe seizute ois quit, ft Merabishsii sid it ws abot 9.5 mbes of wraith yr more than 99 percent. ‘Uranium enriched at 90 percent is weapons sr. Anulearbomb fa design sina totheone expla ove Hiroshi i 1945 would requte aout 10 pounds of uranium enriched at over 90 percent, according to Matthew Hunn senor researe associate who foensesom mle theta errors at Haren Universit’s Kennedy ‘School of Goverment. Bunn sid that move sophisticated nplosion type nlear bomb would req eto 40 pounds According to an IAEA database, there have how 16 previous confined eae in whic the highly eee writ or platoninm have been recverod by authorities lace 1993, Russian cooperation ‘eitial Tomas eases the recoveries hve involved snaller quantities th the Tis ase. But in 904, 6 pounds of ight envched wraninm tended for sale were sized by police nthe Caech Republi. I 2003, Georgia Armenian man wth about 5 ounce sof HEL, according to the State Department, srr sing detston dso prided hy the ite States aight a "lming sid examples of stolen or missing bomb-grade nilear materia itctuding highly envied wlan a pl onium, ate rate and troubling David Albright, former 1-8. weapons inspector and head ofthe Washingow-has od asia for Seneca Ite rational Sect ssid that lacking help fom Russia, the CLA may be looking tater ales to be detis who has avs to ast eae er Russian operation nase tng these qestions crt, bt ithas not heen forthcoming,” besa, “One way to Metis who active trading these materials isto conduct tng operations, slpieewstyarnesncinmest Share hutp://www.nbcnews.com/id/ 1679591 S/ns/world_news-terrorism/t/georgia-ci IS sting-nets-bo... 8/6/2017Armenia, Georgia Foil Uranium Smuggling Ring | Asbarez.com Page 1 of 2 Armenia, Georgia Foil Uranium Smuggling Ring Armenia Featured Story News Top Stories. November 8, 201 YEREVAN (RFE/RL)-The Armenian National Security Service (NSS) on Monday said that it has closely cooperated with Georgian law-enforcement authorities in their hitherto secret investigation into an alleged smuggling of highly-enriched uranium to Georgia that led to the arrest of two Armenian nationals. The Georgian government announced the arrests back in April but did not divulge any details of the case until the two Armenians pleaded guilty during their secret trial late last week. Citing officials in Tbilisi, Western media have identified them as Smbat Tonoyan and Hrant Ohanian The latter is a retired nuclear physicist According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, the suspects were arrested in Tbilisi last March with tte pack which they tried to sell, for $1.5 Ministry seable in a nuclear 18 grams (0.6 ounces) of uranium hidden in a cig million, to an undercover police agent posing as a Turkish Islamist ra representatives say the uranium was nearly 90 perce warhead iched an Both suspects are now facing ten year Reports from Tbilisi said on Monday that they have admitted to the accusations The trial is taking place in closed n, with neither the defendants, nor their lawyers made available to journalists. Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili told AFP news agency that the secrecy is needed to protect undercover police agent 16 http://asbarez.com/88226/armenia-georgia-foil-uranium-smuggling-ring! 6/2017Armenia, Georgia Foil Uranium Smuggling Ring | Asbarez.com Page 2 of 2 In Yerevan, meanwhile, the NSS said that Armenian and Georgian special services have been in “close cooperation” throughout the probe. In a short statement, the NSS said that cooperation led to the arrest in Armenia last April of Garik Dadayan. the man who is alleged to have provided the uranium sample to Tonoyan and Ohanian Dadayan was already arrested by Georgian border guards in 2003 while entering the country with 200 grams of highly-enriched uranium. He was subsequently tried by an Armenian court and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. He reportedly served less than half of that sentence. The NSS statement said that Dadayan was charged under an article of the Armenian Criminal Code that deals with nuclear material smuggling, suggesting that he will again be tried in ‘Armenia. The charges carry between four and eight years’ imprisonment. It is not clear when he will go on tral Russian authorities reportedly told investigators of the 2003 case that Dadayan had traveled to Georgia from Novosibirsk, Russia, which is home to a nuclear fuel manufacturing plant. Several disappearances of material from that plant have been documented Ashot Chilingarian, the director of the Yerevan Physics institute (YI). insisted on Monday that the uranium seized by the Georgian authorities was not produced in Armenia, arguing that the country has no uranium enrichment facilities. He suggested that it was specifically designed for nuclear weapons Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service, Chilingarian also confirmed that Ohanian is a former YPI employee. He said the 59-year-old scientist worked at the institute's cosmic radiation division from 1975-1995 and has maintained no ties with it since then. Tonoyan, the other suspect, is said to be a former dairy firm owner who lost a fortune while gambling. Georgian officials say he repeatedly traveled to Turkey via Georgia before his arrest According to the Associated Press, they also say they have sent the seized material and its packaging to the U.S. for further forensic analysis and have reported the case to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IAEA spokesman Ayhan Evrensel confirmed the Vienna-based agency is working with Georgia on the case " hitp://asbarez.com/88226/armenia-georgia-foil-uranium-smuggling-ring/ 8/6/2017Page | of 6 Hillary Clinton warned in 2009 memo that Russian uranium moves were bad for US, Eur = a nk (it ‘Small Business Financing ‘Startup Business Financing Memo undercuts Hillary story on controversial Russian uranium deal, Clinton Foundation 18 i -on-controve... 8/6/2017 lary-story Awww. circa.com/story/2016/08/24/polities‘memo-undercuts-hi hups:Hillary Clinton warned in 2009 memo that Russian uranium moves were bad for US, Eur... Page 2 of 6 WATCH: Raff Willams connect the dot between Russa, a uanum deal nd the Clinton Foundation When Hilary Cinton was questioned about adel that gave Russi increased sway over uranium markets the former Secretary of State and now Democratic presidential nominee said she hed ne reason to intervene in the decison and didnt even know the Clinton Foundation was Being enriched byitsbeneiclares “was not personaly involved because that wasnt something the Secretary of State i Clinton told WMUR a New Hampshire TV station in June 2015, thelone me she has adiesse the controversy that ist surfaced a year ago of 8 ad 5 : fue oeaee : ne aman 67080 ue Infact, there was a reason to be concerned, according to diplomatic patches left siting in pubic onthe Whiteaks ~ lspatches that hee not ‘gamered much media stenon Moscow flexes muses ‘Stat Department officials in Fal 2009 ~a year belote he United States approved the deal - obtained an internal strategy document from Russia's ruclear energy frm, Rosatom. thet wamed about Moscow intentions a it lees muscles" in anim markets In one cable sent 0 Clinton. US. oficalsin Brussel wamed Rusia wae about to stong-sr Sal Ukrsinento a dea for long term supply of ruclear fel that cou ‘shut the US. company Westinghouse out ofthe make! and extend Moscow's fence over Europe, The strategy paper... is consistent with Russia's efforts to dominate the gas supply market in Europe, 1 pate toms rereseatves bres 19 hitps://www.circa.com/story/2016/08/24/politics/memo-undercuts-hillary-story-on-controve.... 8/6/2017Hillary Clinton warned in 2009 memo that Russian uranium moves were bad for US, Eur... Page 3 of 6 "Te strategy paper elects concems raised by industry reps and Ukranian diplomats the past few months ands consistent wih Russia's efor to dominate the gs supply market in Europe" the cable from US. representatives inthe European Union's capital ety wamed, Westinghouse expansion in Eastern Europe ‘Greater control over nuclear power lat fuel in European markets could make European nations mote elant on natura gps exports a the heat of Russia's economy, the career diplomats wored ‘And Rosatom succeeded, the American nuclear compory Westinghouse might nt beable io expand a ithoped in Eastern Europe, hey added. Deal approved by CHUS Clinton campaign oficis decined to dccuss the memo, bu she has vowed 1 end foreign donations to the Clatn Foundation if elected president ‘tissues the 2010 sale of Uranium One to Rosato, Uranium One controls oe ih of uranium mined nthe United States and the Resatom del had to be approved bythe Commitee on Foreign iwestments athe United Stats (CFIUS), bic ¢ made up of sine voting members, nclaing the Secretary of State ‘Sounding the alarm over deal When the review process as taking place. Sen, John Barrasso (LY) sounded alarms that the deal would qve the Russian government control over «sizable portion of America uranum production eapacty Five other Republican members of Congress led by Rep. Peter King, RNY, rote that the da! "Would pose great potential harm tothe national secunty ofthe United States. Despite warnings trom her own diplomats andthe lawmakers, Cinton dt not use her postin oa the CFISUS to stop the dea Clear warning rom diplomats Ina presientl race where classified cables and private eral have dominate so much dscussion the two-page nonassied memo has hardly caused ast in puble Butitlays outa clear warning fom cree US. officials about why expanding Russias control o uranium markets was bad forthe United Sates and forte allies in Europe I have never seen a diplomatic cable that had as stark a description of one energy company trying to cheat. 1 Fred Feltz, Center for Security Policy Intligence analysts ifr on how important the able shou have been to then Secretary Glinton Fred Fez former CIA analyst now wih the conservative Gente or Secuy Policy, says the cable shows an effort by Russia increase te Influence over Uline" This is an unclassified informational cable of a kind that is routinely sent by our diplomats. ' 20 |ttps://www.cirea.com/story/2016/08/24/politics/memo-undercuts-hillary-story-on-controve... 8/6/2017Hillary Clinton warmed in 2009 memo that Russian uranium moves were bad for US, Eur... Page 4 of 6 [Former CA clandestine aficer rian Fairchild ‘Brian Farhi, a former CA clandestine sence oer, told Circa that atthe unclassted lve. the cable's nothing special” ' statutory obligation to act But a former US. ambassador to the European Union, Boyden Gray, told Circa that Clinton andthe ene Obama administration should have been ‘more viglant in keeping Russi fom geting any mare leverage over uranium an energy market, “Shehad a statutory obligation to act, and she acts trough inaction ~ and Russia wins Gray eid nan interview. What they've ivan Russia is a {octhold 2 bg entrée into comering the uranium markets and tipping the ene balance ofthe energy world” The Russians should be back on their hind legs and instead they continue to take advantage of us. 1c. Boyden Gray Gray sa with ow petroleum prices, conta of uranium sn important o everyday Arescans. ut over ime the energy landscape wil hey change snd Russa increased leverage over the gas and nuclear markets wil ur American interest. “The Russions shouldbe back on the hind legs and instead they cominue to ake advantage of us, he eal Herbat U.S. should be helping Ukraine Former US, Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst echoed Gry tling Circa tis ot in Ukraine interest to be beholden to Russia for nuclear energy. “tis very much in curinterest hat Ukraine be abe to pursue an independent poly. So forthe US. t help Ukraine to help fre ital from dependence ‘on Russia inthe nuclear edie ana brainer” ‘The Clinton Foundation connection \While the CFIUS deterations were taking place, people who stood to poft om the Urania One ale donated more than $26 milion othe Cnton Foundation ‘Aso, Renaissance Capital. an investment bank with cannectians te the Russian govement, pad former Present Bil Cinton $800,000 o deliver a speechmoce than his usa fee. Even before the sole was unde consideration the Clinton Foundation received $31 $ millon in donations from one person. Frank Gista, who stood to benefit rom the sale ©. Boyden Gray: Hillary Clinton should have recused herself Some of those donations were not propery csclsed atthe time Bl Clinton also helped Gusta who was once owned a company tha merged with Uranium One secure valusle uranium mining gts Kazakhstan, (©. Boyden Gray, who sso served as chief White House counsel during the st Bush administration, said Mila Ginton shoul ether have fled her statutory duty or recused hese fom a decision, because her husband financial terest reat a personal conflict of intrest ‘Clear violation of ethics’ “Vthink'tis a smoking gun” Gray sad. "By not acing she helped. And the only way he couldhave voiced criminal labilty was to recuse hese \ahich she didnot. thnkitis clear voltion of ethics statutes, “ 2! tory-on-controve... 8/6/2017 ies/memo-undercuts-hillary-s htps://www.circa.com/story/2016/08/24/pol‘steve cnasor on (ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS eA JACREON Ee en aed Congress of the Wnited States eee ies Mmuse of Represenatines aera peer COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY yaa 2198 Ravaunn House Orrce BulLoING RAERSEO eee Soiree Wastanaron,0¢ 20616-6216 se Seinen i (202) 228-9961 July 21, 2017 ‘The Honorable Jeff Sessions Attorney General Washington, D.C. Dear Attorney General Sessions, ‘As you know, you lead a Department over which the House Judiciary Committee has primary oversight jurisdiction. Throughout the Obama Administration, the Judiciary Committee sent letters to your predecessors as Attomey General, and to individual DOJ components, requesting answers to a multitude of questions concerning various issues of interest stemming from Judiciary hearings and oversight responsibilities. Many of the inquiries remain unanswered, with some outstanding requests approaching two years overdue. Congressional oversight is not a responsibility that we take lightly, and our ability to provide this service for the American people is most effective when we work in cooperation with the Administration. Considering that the Obama Administration failed to respond to a host of requests over the years, we write now asking you to rectify this situation, by helping the Judiciary Committee obtain answers to outstanding oversight questions, To that end, we have attached a list of letters and/or questions that remain either unanswered or inadequately addressed by the previous Administration. Please review the attached list, and provide us with answers at your earliest convenience. Thank you for giving this request priority. We know that we share the common goals of identifying instances of waste, fraud, and abuse, rooting out such conduct, and implementing solutions necessary to help ensure they do not happen again in the future, I look forward to working with you on this effort. Sincerely,Doon ry a om 24Attachment A List of Outstanding Letters 2sINSPECTOR GENERAL 7/7/14: Questions for the Record submitted to Stuart F. Delery following hearing entitled, “Guilty Until Proven Innocent? A Study of the Propriety & Legal Authority for Operation Choke Point” (see Attachment B) 2/5/15: Goodlatte Letter to Holder on Fraud, Mismanagement and Abuse regarding Moonlight Fire Settlement (see Attachment B) 5/19/15: Questions for the Record submitted to Caroline D. General, Tax Division (see Attachment B) lo, Acting Assistant Attomey TNT: Goodlatte & Franks Call on DOJ to Investigate Planned Parenthood https://judiciary house. gow/press-release/good]atte-franks-call-on-doj-to-investigate-planned- parenthood 11/17/15: Questions for the Record submitted to Attorney General Lynch following hearing entitled, “Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice” 2/25/16: Questions for the Record submitted to David Bitkower following hearing entitled, “Intemational Conflicts of Law and their Implications for Cross Border Data Requests” 3/1/16: Questions for the Record submitted to FBI Director Comey following hearing entitled, “The Encryption Tightrope: Balancing Americans’ Security and Privacy” 7/5/16: Goodlatte Presses for Information on FBI’s Investigation into Hillary Clinton hittps://judiciary house gov/press-release/goodlatte-presses- restigation-hillary= clinton/ 71/16: Goodlatte & Gowdy Lead Letter Signed by 200 Members Pressing Director Comey About Clinton Investigation bttps://udiciary house. gov/press-release/goodlatte-gowdy-lead-letter-signed-200-members- pressing-director-comey-clinton-investigation! 7/11/16: Goodlatte, Chaffetz Letter to DC USAO Requesting Perjury Investigation of Hillary Clinton https://judiciary house. gov/press-release/goodiatte- clinton/ hafYetz-request-perjury-investigation-hillary- JSAO Outlining Case for Perjury against Clinton perjury -einton! 8/15/16: Goodlatte, Chaffetz Letter to DC hittps://judiciary house. gov/press-release/goodlatte-chafTetz-outline-« 10/3/16: Goodlatte Presses Justice Department on Secret Agreements with Top Clinton Advisors hitps://judiciary. house.gov/press-release/goodlatte-presses-justice-department-secret-agreements- top-clinton-advisors! 2610/5/16: Goodlatte, Chatfetz, Grassley, Nunes Letter to DOJ Regarding Mills and Samuelson Laptops https://judiciary.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/100516_-Joint-Letter-to-AG-Lynch.pdf 10/11/16: Goodlatte & Judiciary Republicans Letter to DOW/State OIG Calling for Independent Investigation of Special Treatment Given to Key Clinton Insiders hups://judiciary house. gov/press-release/goodlatte-judiciary-republicans-call-independent- investigation-special-treatment-given-key-clinton-insiders/ 10/12/16: Goodlatte Letter Following Up on October 3 Letter, and Asking Additional Questions About Laptops (see Attachment B) 10/18/16: Goodlatte Calls on Justice Department to Investigate Undersecretary Kennedy for Violating the Law hitps://judiciary.house,gov/press-release/goodlatte-calls-justice-department-investizate- undersecretary-kennedy-violating-law/ 10/21/16: Goodlatte to FBI: Clinton Advisor's Use of Laptop Made by a Chinese Company Raises National Security Concerns htps://judiciary. house, gov/press-release/goodlatte-clinton-advisors-use-laptoy company-raises-national-security-concerns/ y-made-ching 11/3/16: Goodlatte and Chaffetz Call on DOJ to Preserve All Clinton Investigation Documents htips://judiciary.house,gov/press-release/goodlatte-chaffetz-call-doj-preserve-clinton- investigation-documents/ 11/7/16: Goodlatte Calls on Director Comey to Answer Questions Clouding the Clinton Investigation https:/judiciary house. gov/press-release/goodlatte-calls-director-comey-answer-questions- clouding-clinton-investigation/ aAttachment B Additional Letters 28207 ‘Quest fr the Record om ‘Chainnan Bch (oe ahe Oversight esa ne "Gaity Unt Proven tact? A Sty fe ropriy & Letl Autor or the atic ‘Department's Operston Choc Fo ‘hay namie ‘Owens fr he Hames Sot Fare |. TeCommine hes eeved manera rer f wien cen anion win ‘pedis eal Opener Choke Post Whee a ees DOW ‘Beat 30 you doy tts happening? 2 Zetinwesian ie ting sp oud «Pane rte who te ore (Straten OP Gaol seta anya nye comes Gels Starlets at frown thn cameing pods. ZonFinanes namie, Sean note i en of Ofer ha ot hy hee ey hd tolyoa? Sot Ott mute, Ware yo, se tt tas ber bepeniag? 1. lye bon saith von spend? Hin wih omy repens akan ey corevea, ibin Bs yoo brea 1 ant ay ried sco you might ewig wher Operon Che Pan eying somo ings ed harming he very pope speedo behoping” ‘© Win peciiely wie Divison dasa arr caller ana it in 5. TheCompuoir fhe Curerey hese and wed "Sodiing be peice a ‘spy eadaing cnet ik alegain reuse ne ese ake sie argu it Whee a OO) need eins eto ‘Gpetion hate Pan esemn cea happening vow Aeecing, 80 are [REDO co lange da hs sranqnna meters slwn Operon Chee onto conte ent haager ian nt pes ner ae you ua 3d fever unecosary dering? 4 eyour tno, you naan a 0% coun ate a ier of a, Abe ing egy was poured ef perascn Choke an spon aandng senove coir oh rove merce ih ute ene Da en asa 30 pcan, ‘a prentege ten detente bed on «rane aera lonet senate ow seit nash 394 eta develope? What ws enc experi he shodevepei| 1 Ameo you sou Operation Chute Poin ates ht DO) aye ing i cnn ‘retinal copa uns bed assets wis faut aes aor 2?208 recs bt ig acon npn thundering mae meen Fecstut” How mary luni have yu el a eal fOpran Chee Pent es IBe"inering inant morse seasoa “That uses to Optra n Choke foie bear iors ose a an aie lun amage hve yo cose eyo en derngFar een hve YO) fenerdor are yu coreng biting shan ois th Ieper abr woul alow peyena companies wes wre at, Steiynvsed ee anh es of mer war eh eso mk 4 Aha ing we hed nny hat Operon Chote ons ety enfeing eng Standing now yor csteme” ata snd the Bas Seccy Ae 30 yah ‘ran Fed framers Tak Foc urge asd thd i implemen rogindas tet of FIRREA? 9. Dae fea nw rib banks ed tales rom fing nase come esCongress of the Lnited States House of Representatives TEE ON THE WUC February 5, 2015 ‘The Honorable Bric H. Holder, Jr. Attorney General U,S. Department of Justice Washington, DC 20530 Dear Attorney General Holder: Tam concerned to read several news reports about allegations of mismanagement, fraud, and abuse by employees of the Department of Justice in regard to the ongoing legal battle surrounding the Moonlight fire.’ According to the Sacramento Bee, in 2012, Sierra Pacific Industries paid the federal government $47 million and deeded it 22,500 acres ofits land to compensate for damages caused by a wildfire, known as the Moonlight fire, which devastated mote than 40,000 acres in two national forests in California.* Now Sierra Pacific Industries is asking a federal court to vacate this settlement due to “fraud upon the court."* According to the Sacramento Bee, “[t}he company contends federal prosecutors sat by in pretrial depositions and knowingly allowed the California Department of Forestry and Fite Protection and U.S. Forest Service investigators to ‘repeatedly lie under oath about the very * See John Fund, The Scandals a Justice, National Review Online, Jan. 30, 2015, bsp nationalreview.comiarticle/39755 /seandals Justice john-fund; Prosecutors Burn Down the Law, Wall Street Jounal Jan. 2, 2015, hitp//worw..vy.convarticlesprosecutors-burn-down-the-law- 1420242330; Sidney Powell, Why every American should care about California's Moonligh fire case, FoxNews.com, Dee. 4 2015, Inpliww.foxnews.convopinion/2014/12/04/why-every-american-should-care-about-alifornia-moonlight-fre casel, Denny Walsh, Sierra Pacific levels corruption allegations in renewed legal fight over Moonlight fire, The ‘Sacramento Bee, Ort. 9, 2015, trp/www.sacbee com/news/locaartile2645729 hm "Denny Walsh, Siera Pacific levels corruption allegations tn rencwed legal fight over Moonlight fre, The ‘Sacramento Bee, Oct, 9, 2015, hipy/ www sacbee comnews/locafaticle?645729 him Mi. 3!foundation of their investigation.” Sierra Pacific also contends that “the investigators’ origin- and-cause report is a fraudulent document that omits or distorts all information that might have hurt the government's case.”* According to the Sacramento Bee: One of the documents Sierra Pacific filed is a declaration from a veteran former assistant U.S. attomey, who says he was forced to give up his position as the government’s lead lawyer in the Moonlight case, apparently because he rebuffed pressure from a superior to “engage in unethical conduct as a lawyer.” ‘The declaration from E. Robert Wright says he was bounced out of the case by his boss, David Shelledy, chief of the civil division in the U.S. attomey’s office, and replaced by a prosecutor with no previous experience in wildland fire recovery cases. While the Committee on the Judiciary exercises caution regarding inquiries into on-going litigation at the Department of Justice, these allegations regarding the Department's conduct in this case are unsettling, In an effort to determine whether further investigation by this Committee is needed into this matter, I request that the appropriate employees of the Department of Justice brief my staff regarding the allegations raised by Sierra Pacific Industries ‘Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request. Please have your staff respond to John Coleman, oversight counsel on the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, at (202) 225-2825 by Friday, February 13, 2015, to arrange the briefing, Sincerely, Jit Lolth Bob Goodlatte Chairman “ia, oa “la 32Questions for the Record Caroline D. Ciraolo Acting Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Committee on the Judiciary Lois Lerner/Internal Revenue Service Targeting Issues 1. Defense lawyers routinely have to worry about their clieuts withholding informs from them. Similar considerations govern when DOJ lawyers represent agencies. For example, in February 2014, the Internal Revenue Service Chief Counsel to the ‘Commissioner, Kate Duvall, learned that there were significant gaps in Lois Lerner’s emails. Yet one month later, instead of preserving the material as relevant to pending litigation, Internal Revenue Service IT officials erased the backup tapes. ‘What mechanisms were in place, prior to the Lois Lerner litigation, to ensure that the information Division lawyers presented to the court in tbat litigation w: accurate? What chauges have you made to those mechanisms in response to the lost emails and related problems that arose during the Lois Lerner litigation? Respor The Tax Division represents the United States in civil suits arising under the internal revenue laws, When a suit is filed or the Tax Division’s attorneys leam that litigation is reasonably anticipated and they will be representing the United States, the Tax Division's attomeys take the necessary steps to ensure that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fulfills its obligation to identify and preserve any material that is relevant to the claim or defense of any party in the litigation, Tax Division attorneys work with the appropriate agency employees to develop a reasonably comprehensive search strategy, and the Division’s attorneys are instructed to follow up with the appropriate agency employees to ensure the agency is taking appropriate and reasonable steps to censure that relevant material is preserved. The Tax Division's attomeys recognize and take seriously their duty to respond to discovery consistent with the applicable rules and existing law.cs Congress of the Wmited States Vowse of Tepreseutati October 12, 2016 ‘The Honorable Loretta Lynch Attorney General USS. Department of Justice Washington, D.C. Dear Attomey General Lynch: On October 3, 2016, I sent you a leiter asking ten questions about the immunity agreements and “side agreements” between the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Beth Wilkinson, the lawyer representing both Cheryl Mills and Heather Samuelson, in the investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. That letter, a copy of which is enclosed, asked for responses and a staff briefing by October 10, 2016. As of today, I have not received responses to any of my questions, and my staff has not received a briefing from anyone in your Department. Please provide responses to those questions at once, and please answer the following questions as part of yout response: 1, What are the standard FBI procedures for the retention and/or destruction of evidence following the conclusion of a criminal investigation? Please provide documentation. 2. Have the laptops belonging to Ms. Mills and Ms, Samuelson in fact been destroyed? a. Ifo, were the standard procedures for destruction of evidence followed? If they were not, why not? b, Ifthe standard FBI procedures for destruction of evidence were followed with respect to the Mills and Samuelson laptops, please provide documentation showing that. 3._ Please provide a timeline with respect to the Mills und Samuelson laptops, including when the FBI obtained them, when they were searched, and if they were destroyed, when. 34‘Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, BOB GOODLATTE Chairman Enclosure 35Pastor: Republican Told of Plan to “Take Out” Trump Page | of 5 ‘TRU # HOME QLISTENNOW (IARTICLES QABOUT 4PRAYER DONATE Pastor: Republican Told of Plan to “Take Out” Trump July 24,2017 Rodney Howard-Brown, Pastor at the River at Tampa Bay church in Florida, says a senior Republican congressman told him of a plan to “take out” President Donald Trump. 3 é hutp://Avww.trunews.com/article/pastor-senior-republican-told-me-of-plan-to-take-out-trump 8/6/2017Pastor: Republican Told of Plan to “Take Out” Trump. Page 2 of S According to Infowars, Pastor Howard-Brown told the audience during an appearance on Revival Ministries International he spent three hours with the congressman who hintedat a plot to “remove Trump suddenly from office.” ‘He said there is a plot on Capitol Hill to take the president out, I said you mean by impeachment or by indictment ~ he said no, to take him out, he will be removed suddenly from office,” said Pastor Howard-Browne. Pastor Howard-Browne added that he asked if the Congressman meant remove by impeachment or indictment and the Congressman replied that “you can read between the lines”. According to Pastor Howard-Browne the Congressman, who he said has been in office since 1996, told him there was nothing they could do to stop the plot from going forward. And he added that the deep state was t war with Pres. Trump because of his support to the evangelical community. TRUNEWS DONATE TODAY! Support TRUNEWS to help build a global news network that provides a credible source for world news 37 hitp:/www trunews.com/article/pastor-senior-republican-told-me-of-plan-to-take-out-trump 8/6/2017Pastor: Republican Told of Plan to “Take Out” Trump Page 3 of 5 We believe Christians need and deserve their own global news network to keep the worldwide Church informed, and to offer Christians a positive alternative to the anti-Christian bigotry of the mainstream news media Top Stories Daily Recap: August 4th, 2017 38 hutp://Avww.trunews.com/article/pastor-senior-republican-told-me-of-plan-to-take-out-trump 8/6/2017Behe Congress of the Wnited States BEE me Tvse of Representatives Se ease AULA ASA COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY Eh awAles aon 2198 Ravaunn House OrFice BUILDING Sen re ee rte a, am ze July 27, 2017 ‘The Honorable Jeff Sessions ‘The Honorable Rod J. Rosenstein Attomey General Deputy Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Justice te Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C, Dear Attomey General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein: We are writing to you to request assistance in restoring public confidence in our nation’s {justice system and its investigators, specifically the Department of Justice (DO!) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). We need to enable these agencies to perform their necessary and important law enforcement and intelligence functions fully unhindered by politics, While we presume that the FBI's investigation into Russian influence has been subsumed into Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, we are not confident that other matters related to the 2016 election and afiermath are similarly under investigation by Special Counsel Mueller. The unbalanced, uncertain, and seemingly unlimited focus of the special counsel's investigation has led many of our constituents to see a dual standard of justice that benefits only the powerful and politically well-connected. For this reason, we call on you to appoint a second special counsel! investigate a plethors of connected to the 2016 election and its aftermath, inctuding | actions taken by previously public figures like Attorney General Loretta Lynch, FBI Director | James Comey, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. | Many Democrats and members of the Washington media previously called for « “special prosecutor” to investigate Russian influence on the election and connections with the Trump campaign. Not surprisingly, once you actually made the decision to appoint a special counsel, the calls for further investigations by congressional committees continued, focused on allegations that have heretofore produced no evidence of criminality, despite the fact that over a year has passed since the opening of the original FBI investigation. 2Seo aaa continues to ' See 28 CFR Part 600 ~ General Powers of Special Counsel. 39saturate anything and everything associated with reactions to President Trump's executive decisions, and reveals the hypocrisy of those who refuse to allow the Special Counsel's investigation to proceed without undve political influence. It is an unfortunate state of affairs Your stated rationale for recommending Director Comey’s termination as FBI Director was his mishandling of former Secretary Clinton's email investigation and associated public disclosures concerning the investigation’s findings. We believe this was the correct decision. It is clear that Director Comey contributed to the politicization of the FBI’s investigations by issuing his public statement, nominating himself as judge and jury, rather than permitting career DOI prosecutors to make the final decision. But many other questions remain unanswered, due to Mr. Comey’s premature and inappropriate decision, as well as the Obama Justice Department's refusal to respond to legitimate Congressional oversight. Last week, the Republican Members of this Committee sent a letter to the Justice Department, asking for responses to those unanswered inquiries.’ ‘These questions cannot, for history’s sake and for the preservation of an impartial system of justice, be allowed to die on the vine. ILis therefore incumbent on this Committee, in our oversight capacity, to ensure that the agencies we oversee are above reproach and that the Justice Department, in particular, remains immune to accusations of politicization, Many Congressional entities have been engaged in oversight of Russian influence on the election, but a comprehensive investigation into the 2016 Presidential campaign and its aftermath must, similarly, be free of even the suggestion of political interference. The very core of our justice system demands as much. A second, newly- appointed special counsel will not be encumbered by these considerations, and will provide real value to the American people in offering an independent perspective on these extremely sensitive matters. Our call for a special counsel is not made lightly. We have no interest in engendering ‘more bad feelings and less confidence in the process or governmental institutions by the American people. Rather, our call is made on their behalf. It is meant to determine whether the criminal prosecution of any individual is warranted hased on the solemn obligation to follow the facts wherever they lead and applying the law to those facts. As we referenced above, Democrats and the mainstream media called for a special counsel to be appointed to investigate any Russian influence on President Trump’s campaign. Their pleas were answered, but there are many questions that may be outside the scope of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation. This was clear following Mr. Comey’s recent testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8, 2017, which ignited renewed scrutiny of former * See House Judiciary Committee letter of July 21, 2017 to Attorney General Sessions, requesting answers to multiple questions which remain unanswered or inadequately answered from the Obama Administration, available at itps:/Hudiciary house, gov/wp-contenvuploads!2017:07/072 117_Lete Sessions. pautm_source- House Judiciary +Committees Pres EMAIL CAMPAIGN 2017 07 21um_ medium=emailéun es@tuti_ciunpaianfeabS93 57. m=0_ dl ebaSfil-fcabS93157-101865997,Attomey General Loretta Lynch, and the actions she took to mislead the public concerning the investigation into the Clinton email investigation. Last year, this Committee inquired repeatedly about the circumstances surrounding that and other matters, but our inquiries were largely ignored.’ During his testimony, Mr. Comey referenced a meeting on the Phoenix airport tarmac between Ms. Lynch and former President Bill Clinton. Mr. Comey raised concerns about Ms. Lynch's conduct, and questioned her independence, stating: At one point, the attomey general had directed me not to call it an investigation, but instead to call it a matter, which confused me and concerned me. That was ‘one of the bricks in the load that led me to conclude, ‘I have to step away from the department if we're to close this case credibly."* In addition, in preparing to testify in front of Congress for a September 2015 hearing, Mr. Comey asked Ms. Lynch at the time whether she was prepared to refer to the Clinton investigation as just that, an “investigation.” Mr. Comey testified that Ms. Lynch said, “Yes, but don’t call it that, call it a matter.” Mr. Comey retorted, “Why would I do that?” Ms, Lynch answered, “Just call it a matter.”* Mr. Comey stated that he acquiesced, but it gave him “a queasy feeling,” since it gave him the “impression that the attorney general was trying to align how we describe our work” with how the Clinton campaign was talking about it. Notwithstanding the fact that the FBI is the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and not the Federal Bureau of Matters, one is hard-pressed to understand why Ms. Lynch directed then- Director Comey to call the Clinton investigation a “matter” unless she intended to use such deceptive language to help wrongly persuade the American people that former Secretary Clinton ‘was not, in fact, the subject ofa full-scale FBI investigation, or to otherwise undermine the integrity of the investigation, Following Director Comey’s Senate Intelligence Committee testimony, Senator Dianne Feinstein was asked about the testimony while appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Senator Feinstein stated, “I would have a queasy feeling too, though, to be candid with you, [ think we need to know more about that, and there's only one way to know about it, and that’s to have the Judiciary Committee take a look at that,”” Md. * Peter Baker, The New York Times, June 8, 2017, available at [hups:/www.nytimes.conv2017/06/08/us/poities/comey-testimony-lorettalynch htm) Sd “Ed O'Keefe, The Washington Post, June 8, 2017, available at hitps:/www. washingtonpost.com/palitie/2017Mive- updatestrump-white-house! inécomey, ddescribe-clinlon-investigations Putn_verm= cob 1193 Bi Watkins, “Feinstein: Judiciary Committee must ‘step up and carry its weight’," CNN.com, June (1, 2017, avaitable at hatp//voww enn.com/2017/061! l/politie/dianne-feinstein-james-comey/indes, hinWe share Senator Feinstein’s and Mr. Comey’s concerns ~ specifically, that during the midst of a contentious Presidential election, which was already rife with scandal arising from Secretary Clinton's mishandling of classified information, that our nation’s chief law enforcement officer would instruct the FBI Director, her subordinate, to mislead the American public about the nature of the investigation. Following Ms. Lynch’s directive to downplay the Clinton investigation as a “matter,” Director Comey infamously terminated the Clinton investigation, stating, “[a]lthough there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.”* Mr. Comey’s testimony has provided new evidence that Ms. Lynch may have used her position of authority to undermine the Clinton investigation. At any other point in history this accusation would entail a shock to the conscience of law abiding Americans who expect a DOJ free of political influence. We only have, however, an investigation into Russian influence on the 2016 election, including any ties to the Trump campaign. To limit our nation’s insight into just this this single component of the 2016 election will only cause the special counsel’s work to be derided as one-sided and incomplete. The special counsel’s work must begin and end unimpeded by political motivations on either side of the aisle, For these reasons, the following points must also be fully investigated ~ ideally, via a second special counsel. This is imperative to regain the cherished trust and confidence in our undoubtedly distressed law enforcement and political institutions, We call on @ newly appointed special counsel to investigate, consistent with appropriate regulations, the following questions, many of which were previously posed by this Committee and remain unanswered: 1) Then-Attomey General Loretta Lynch ditecting Mr. Comey to mislead the American people on the nature of the Clinton investigation; 2). The shadow cast over our system of justice conceming Secretary Clinton and her involvement in mishandling classified information; 3) FBI and DOJ’s investigative decisions related to former Secretary Clinton's email investigation, including the propriety and consequence of immunity deals given to potential Clinton co-conspirators Cheryl Mills, Heather Samuelson, John Bentel and possibly others: 4) The apparent failure of DOJ to empanel a grand jury to investigate allegations of mishandling of classified information by Hillary Clinton and her associates; 5) ‘The Department of State and its employees’ involvement in determining which communications of Secretary Clinton's and her associates to turn over for public scrutiny; * statement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clintons Use of «Personal E-Mail System, July 5, 2016, available at hips: Pi gow news/pressreleess mey-on-the-inve rof-seeretary-hillary-elinton20 suse:6) WikiLeaks disclosures concerning the Clinton Foundation and its potentially unlawful international dealings; 7) Connections between the Clinton campaign, or the Clinton Foundation, and foreign entities, including those from Russia and Ukraine; 8) Mr, Comey’s knowledge of the purchase of Uranium One by the company Rosatom, whether the approval of the sale was connected to any donations made to the Clinton Foundation, and what role Secretary Clinton played in the approval of that sale that had national security ramifications; 9) Disclosures arising from unlawful access to the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) computer systems, including inappropriate collusion between the DNC and the Clinton campaign to undermine Senator Bernie Sanders” presidential campaign; 10) Post-election accusations by the President that he was wiretapped by the previous Administration, and whether Mr. Comey and Ms. Lynch had any knowledge of efforts made by any federal agency to unlawfully monitor communications of then-candidate ‘Trump or his associates; 11) Selected leaks of classified information related to the unmasking of U.S. person identities incidentally collected upon by the intelligence community, including an assessment of whether anyone in the Obama Administration, including Mr. Comey, Ms. Lynch, Ms. Susan Rice, Ms. Samantha Power, or others, had any knowledge about the “unmasking” of individuals on then candidate-Trump’s campaign team, transition team, or both; 12) Admitted leaks by Mr. Comey to Columbia University law professor, Daniel Richman, regarding conversations between Mr. Comey and President Trump, how the leaked information was purposefully released to lead to the appointment of a special counsel, and whether any classified information was included in the now infamous “Comey memos”; 13)Mr. Comey’s and the FBI’s apparent reliance on “Fusion GPS” in its investigation of the ‘Trump campaign, including the company’s creation of a “dossier” of information about Mr. Trump, that dossier’s commission and dissemination in the months before and after the 2016 election, whether the FBI paid anyone connected to the dossier, and the intelligence sources of Fusion GPS or any person or company working for Fusion GPS and its affiliates: and 14) Any and all potential leaks originated by Mr. Comey and provide to author Michael Schmidt dating back to 1993, 43You have the ability now to right the ship for the American people so these investigations may proceed independently and impartially. The American public has a right to know the facts — ftermath. We urge you to appoint a second special ed to the dustbin of all of them ~ surrounding the election and counsel to ensure these troubling, unanswered questions are not releg history Sincerely, Lown sheath[MweCprinee on Wt fee Dae fouifii Kear L Hand 45