Deep State
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On March 20, Comey gave a similar briefing: Transcript of Comey testimony, March 20, 2017: Hearing on Russian Election Tampering Before the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, 15th Cong., 1st Sess.
The next day, he was “beside himself”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:54.
The president was consumed with the issue: Ibid., 55.
At about 8:15 a.m. on March 30: Comey, Higher Loyalty, 258–59.
“lift the cloud”: Comey memo, March 30, 2017.
On April 7, Trump’s nominee Neil M. Gorsuch: “Neil Gorsuch Confirmed by Senate as Supreme Court Justice,” New York Times, April 7, 2017.
Just four days later: Comey memo, April 11, 2017.
Chapter Nine: “I Know You Told Me Not To”
A few hours after speaking to Comey: “President Trump’s Thoroughly Confusing Fox Business Interview, Annotated,” Washington Post, April 11, 2017.
“half vote-of-confidence”: Ibid., annotation.
“the last straw”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:75.
“Hillary Clinton would probably be”: Nate Silver, “The Comey Letter Probably Cost Clinton the Election,” FiveThirtyEight, May 3, 2017.
While Silver didn’t dismiss other factors: Ibid.
“Look, this is terrible”: Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Committee of the Judiciary, May 3, 2017.
“That ship had sailed”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:64.
“I’m going to read you a letter”: Ibid., 63–64.
At 5:00 p.m., the group met: Ibid., 67.
On the afternoon of May 9: A Report of Investigation of Certain Allegations Relating to Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, Office of the Inspector General, 15.
Rosenstein’s memo had duly landed: Restoring Public Confidence in the FBI, documentcloud, 1–3.
“not to see the light of day”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:68.
“the only line the President cared about”: Ibid., 69.
Fox News cheered the news: “Fox News Is Covering James Comey’s Firing from an Alternate Reality,” Slate, May 10, 2017.
The Wall Street Journal editorial page: “Comey’s Deserved Dismissal,” Wall Street Journal, May 9, 2017.
But they were exceptions: “Trump Fires FBI Director James Comey over Email Investigation,” NBC News, May 9, 2017.
Evidently channel surfing: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:70.
in which he was “screaming”: Ibid.
“Just turn the lights off”: “After Trump Fired Comey, White House Staff Scrambled to Explain Why,” Washington Post, May 10, 2017.
Spicer told reporters: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:70.
Chapter Ten: Seven Days in May
“I just fired the head of the FBI”: “Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure on Investigation,” New York Times, May 19, 2017.
“Not only would it be an issue”: Transcripts of Jim Baker Interview with House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, Lawfare, April 9, 2019.
The next morning, McCabe, Baker, and Lisa Page: McCabe’s Senate testimony: Hearing on Worldwide Threats, U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, May 11, 2017.
“Never forget, no one speaks”: “Behind the Scenes of Trump’s Infamous Lester Holt Interview,” Axios, April 21, 2019.
At the White House, Holt: “Lester Holt’s Interview with Trump,” NBC News, May 11, 2017.
“Something was needed”: Comey, Higher Loyalty, 270.
The result was an explosive article: “In a Private Dinner, Trump Demanded Loyalty. Comey Demurred,” New York Times, May 11, 2017.
In this highly charged environment: “Former Attorney General: Trump Made the Right Call on Comey,” Washington Post, May 12, 2017.
On Friday morning McCabe had his first meeting: “Read the Full Transcript of Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s 60 Minutes Interview,” Time, February 18, 2019.
“have a heart attack”: Ibid.
Chapter Eleven: “This Is the End of My Presidency”
“like feeding seagulls at the beach”: James Comey testimony transcript on Trump and Russia, Politico, June 8, 2017.
“he did not come in looking for the job”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:81.
“By virtue of the authority”: Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Interference with the 2016 Presidential Election and Related Matters, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, May 17, 2017.
“Oh my God. This is terrible”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:78.
But Trump’s was a solitary voice: “Special Counsel Appointment Gets Bipartisan Praise,” Hill, May 17, 2017.
“a great deal of confidence”: “Grassley Statement on the Appointment of Special Counsel in Russian Interference Probe,” Chuck Grassley, May 17, 2017.
“has sterling credentials and is above reproach”: “Senator Collins’ Statement on Appointment of Former FBI Director Robert Mueller as Special Counsel,” Susan Collins, May 17, 2017.
“The investigation will go on”: “Robert Mueller: The Special Counsel America Needs,” New York Times, May 17, 2017.
“part of the brotherhood of prosecutors”: “The Mueller Caveat,” Wall Street Journal, May 18, 2017.
The two debated the issue: “Strzok Page Text Messages 5-19-17,” scribd, uploaded January 23, 2018.
“That did prompt some discussion”: Peter Nicholas, Aruna Viswanatha, and Erica Orden, “Trump’s Allies Urge Harder Line as Mueller Probe Heats Up,” Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2017.
Bannon told Trump that his complaints: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:81.
McGahn, too, told Trump: Ibid., 85.
Trump took his complaints about Mueller: Ibid., 81.
more than eighteen million viewers: “Nearly 20 Million Viewers Watched James Comey’s Senate Testimony,” Fortune, June 9, 2017.
“It rings in my ear”: “Trump’s Meddlesome Priest,” New York Times, June 8, 2017.
Minutes after Comey finished testifying: “Donald Trump’s Response to James Comey’s Testimony: Read His Lawyer’s Statement in Full,” Independent, June 8, 2017.
The next day, at a press conference: “Remarks by President Trump and President Iohannis of Romania in a Joint Press Conference,” Whitehouse.gov, June 9, 2017.
Ruddy appeared that evening: “Trump Confidant Christopher Ruddy Says Mueller Has ‘Real Conflicts’ as Special Counsel,” PBS NewsHour, June 12, 2017.
“Spicer issued a bizarre late night press release”: “Trump Friend Chris Ruddy Says Spicer’s ‘Bizarre’ Statement Doesn’t Deny Claim Trump Seeking Mueller Firing,” ABC News, June 13, 2017.
“While the president has the right”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:83.
Ruddy’s comments prompted Senator Susan Collins: “Rosenstein Says He Wouldn’t Fire Special Counsel Mueller Without Good Cause,” NPR, June 13, 2017.
The president called Sessions at home: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:107.
On June 14, The Washington Post disclosed: “Special Counsel Is Investigating Trump for Possible Obstruction of Justice, Officials Say,” Washington Post, June 14, 2017.
“You gotta do this. You gotta call Rod”: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2
016 Presidential Election, 2:85–86.
McGahn felt trapped: Ibid., 85.
“tired of it being portrayed”: “Bork Irked by Emphasis on His Role in Watergate,” New York Times, July 2, 1987.
Chapter Twelve: “The Worst Day of My Life”
The president’s disdain for both men: “Sessions Told White House That Rosenstein’s Firing Could Prompt His Departure, Too,” Washington Post, April 20, 2018.
In the Oval Office on June 19: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:90–93.
“What can I do? I’m not an employee”: Ibid., 93.
Later that day, Trump and Hope Hicks: “Excerpts from the Times’s Interview with Trump,” New York Times, July 19, 2017.
Sunday meeting with Rosenstein and Mueller: “Rosenstein-McCabe Feud Dates Back to Angry Standoff in Front of Mueller,” Washington Post, October 10, 2018.
To Hicks’s dismay, the Times led: “Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions,” New York Times, July 19, 2017.
there was an investigation before: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 1:95.
The Post responded that: John Wagner, “Trump Levels False Attacks Against the Post and Amazon in a Pair of Tweets,” Washington Post, July 23, 2017.
Priebus was soon ousted: Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter, July 28, 2017, 4:00 P.M.
McCabe later said he felt “disconnected”: McCabe, Threat, 253.
On a late summer Friday: “Michael Cohen Would Take a Bullet for Donald Trump,” Vanity Fair, September 6, 2017.
So it should have come as no surprise: “READ: Michael Cohen’s Statement to the Senate Intelligence Committee,” CNN, September 19, 2017.
He had his lawyer in the Russia investigation: “Text of Trump Team Memos to Special Counsel Assailing Comey,” Associated Press, July 7, 2018.
but he had lied, too: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:193.
“I’m sympathetic”: Katelyn Polantz, “Transcript Released of Flynn Voicemail from Trump Lawyer Showing Possible Attempt to Obstruct,” CNN, May 31, 2019.
The next day, the president tried to focus attention: “Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure,” Whitehouse.gov, December 15, 2017.
But reporters quickly asked about Flynn: “President Trump Remarks on Tax Reform and Michael Flynn Guilty Plea,” C-SPAN, December 2, 2017.
Trump followed up with a series: “President Trump’s Departure Remarks,” C-SPAN, December 4, 2017.
“those cheatin’ FBI lovebirds”: “FBI Lovebirds Might Be Getting Busy in Other Ways, Too,” New York Post, April 10, 2018.
The tirade prompted a rare response: Eric Holder (@EricHolder), Twitter, December 3, 2017, 8:57 A.M.
Wray said only that he: “In Texts, FBI Officials in Russia Inquiry Said Clinton ‘Just Has to Win,’” New York Times, December 12, 2017.
Congressman Andy Biggs, Republican of Arizona: “Rep. Biggs on Strzok-Page Texts: ‘In Any Other Country We Would Call It a Coup,’” Fox News, April 26, 2019.
“It’s a shame what’s happened”: “Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure,” Whitehouse.gov, December 15, 2017.
In this highly charged atmosphere: U.S. House of Representatives, Executive Session Committee on the Judiciary, Joint with the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, 16-258.
Two days later, Trump did exactly that: Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter, December 23, 2017, 2:27 P.M.
Chapter Thirteen: Deep State
In an essay to accompany the Moyers interview: “Essay: Anatomy of the Deep State,” Moyers Archive, February 21, 2014.
On January 12, The Wall Street Journal: “Trump Lawyer Arranged $130,000 Payment for Adult-Film Star’s Silence,” Wall Street Journal, January 12, 2018.
When Cohen sought guidance: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 1:145.
Trump said he wanted McGahn to write: Ibid., 115, 116.
The next day, in an Oval Office meeting: Ibid., 116–17.
Despite Trump’s earlier public statements: “The Trump Lawyers’ Confidential Memo to Mueller, Explained,” New York Times, June 2, 2018.
McCabe was watching CNN: “Ex–FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe Is Fired—and Fires Back,” CNN, March 17, 2018.
“Andrew McCabe FIRED”: Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter, March 16, 2018, 11:08 P.M.
A time-honored way: Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, 2:145–48.
On April 24, at a press conference: “‘Stupid Question’: Trump Curtly Dismisses a Reporter’s Question About Pardoning Michael Cohen,” Washington Post, April 24, 2018.
“Much of the bad blood with Russia”: Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter, April 11, 2018, 8:00 A.M.
“DOJ just issued the McCabe report”: Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter, April 13, 2018, 2:36 A.M.
Trump had already taken to Twitter: Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter, April 13, 2018, 7:01 A.M.
Saying he was inspired by a video clip: “Trump Touts Hannity’s Show on ‘Deep State Crime Families’ Led by Mueller, Comey, and Clintons,” Washington Post, April 12, 2018.
Stephanopoulos and his producers were thorough: “Transcript: James Comey’s Interview with ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos,” ABC News, April 15, 2018.
“The big questions in Comey’s badly reviewed book”: Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter, April 15, 2018, 6:57 A.M.
“James Comey’s book is titled”: Frank Bruni, “Comey Is Trump’s Ultimate Victory,” New York Times, April 16, 2018.
And Comey faced criticism: “Ex–FBI Agents Say Comey Is ‘Damaging the Agency’ as He Clashes with Trump,” Guardian, April 17, 2018.
In the wake of Comey’s ABC interview: President Trump Job Approval, RealClearPolitics, May 2018.
On June 8, 2018, William Barr: Memorandum, June 8, 2018.
On June 14, Michael Horowitz: DOJ OIG Releases Report on Various Actions by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice in Advance of the 2016 Election, Office of the Inspector General.
“Inspector General Blasts Comey”: “Inspector General Blasts Comey and Also Says Others at FBI Showed ‘Willingness to Take Official Action’ to Hurt Trump,” Washington Post, June 14, 2018.
“Comey’s Actions ‘Extraordinary and Insubordinate’”: “Comey’s Actions ‘Extraordinary and Insubordinate,’ Report Says,” CNN, June 14, 2018.
“Those seven words are what Trump and his allies will seize on”: “How 7 Words in the 500-Page IG Report Give Donald Trump All the ‘Deep State’ Ammo He Wanted,” CNN, June 14, 2018.
Cohen turned to television: “EXCLUSIVE: Michael Cohen Says Family and Country, Not President Trump, Is His ‘First Loyalty,’” ABC News, July 2, 2018.
Trump leaped on the disparity: “Trump: Cohen Payments Came from Me, Not the Campaign,” Fox News, August 22, 2018.
In early September, the Justice Department: “Text Messages Between Former FBI Officials Capture Reactions to Stories on Russia Investigation,” CNN, September 14, 2018.
A little more than a week later: “Rod Rosenstein Suggested Secretly Recording Trump and Discussed 25th Amendment,” New York Times, September 21, 2018.
Rosenstein met with John Kelly: “Rod Rosenstein’s Job Is Safe, for Now: Inside His Dramatic Day,” New York Times, September 24, 2018.
“extended conversation”: “At the request of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, he and President Trump had an extended conversation to discuss the recent news stories. Because the President is at the United Nations General Assembly and has a full schedule with leaders from around the world
, they will meet on Thursday when the President returns to Washington, D.C.,” Sarah Sanders (@PressSec), Twitter, September 24, 2018, 11:48 A.M.
The next day, Trump was in: “Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference After Midterm Elections,” Whitehouse.gov, November 7, 2018.
Just before his appointment to the Justice Department: “President Trump’s Pick to Replace Jeff Sessions Suggested Cutting Off Robert Mueller’s Funding,” Time, November 7, 2018.
“He was my first choice from day one”: “President Trump White House Departure,” C-SPAN, December 7, 2018.
On November 20, Trump’s lawyers finally submitted: “Full Text of Mueller’s Questions and Trump’s Answers,” Associated Press, April 18, 2019.
“What I can tell you is”: “Trump Submits Answers to Special Counsel Questions About Russian Interference,” Washington Post, November 20, 2018.
Cohen was sentenced to three years: “‘Dirty Deeds’: Ex–Trump Lawyer Cohen Gets 3 Years in Prison,” Associated Press, December 12, 2012.
“Attorney General Bill Barr is preparing”: “Justice Department Preparing for Mueller Report as Early as Next Week,” CNN, February 20, 2019.
“The special counsel’s investigation has consumed”: “Justice Department Preparing for Mueller Report in Coming Days,” Washington Post, February 20, 2019.
“The great national psychodrama”: “‘Merely the End of Chapter One’: The Mueller Report, Rumored to Drop Next Week, Is Only the Beginning,” Vanity Fair, February 21, 2019.
A New York Times reporter spotted Giuliani: “Where’s the Mueller Report? Washington Barely Handled the Anticipation,” New York Times, March 22, 2019.
Conclusion
As he was boarding Air Force One: “Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure,” Whitehouse.gov, March 24, 2019.
Rudy Giuliani and Jay Sekulow: Giuliani/Sekulow interview with Wolf Blitzer, “‘Impossible to Obstruct Justice if There’s No Underlying Crime,’ No Collusion Means No Obstruction,” RealClearPolitics, March 24, 2019.
The reality was far more complex: “Read: Letter from Special Counsel Robert Mueller to Attorney General William Barr,” CNN, May 1, 2019; “Mueller Complained That Barr’s Letter Did Not Capture ‘Context’ of Trump Probe,” Washington Post, April 30, 2019; “Read Robert Mueller’s Letter to William Barr Critiquing the Attorney General’s Summary of His Report,” Time, May 1, 2019.