World News, Economics and Analysis Based on Bible Prophecy

“Americans should be deeply alarmed by revelations of corruption and lawlessness within the nation’s top law enforcement agencies,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in his April 2018 cover story. “It is our responsibility to cut through the noise and politics to understand the truth.”

A deadly “deep state” is operating in the U.S. government. Using scandals like the Trump-Russia collusion hoax, it is creating confusion, discord and deep hatred, all in an effort to destroy America’s president and the United States Constitution.

The timeline below was created to help readers track the activities of the deep state, particularly the Trump-Russia collusion scandal. Hover over a headline on the left to read a brief description of the event.

The right column lists the titles of articles and podcasts produced by the Trumpet that explain the biblical, spiritual and prophetic aspects of these events.

Events

Trumpet Coverage & Events

2023

MAY

APR

MAR

Chinese Influence Scandal Imperils Trudeau’s Government

FEB

America, Iran and a Tale of Two Sanctions Waivers

JAN

2022

DEC

NOV

OCT

SEPT

Unmasking Spy Minister Justin Trudeau

AUG

JULY

JUNE

MAY

APR

MAR

FEB

JAN

Is Russia Blackmailing Biden?

2021

DEC

NOV

OCT

Whatever Happened to Expanding the Abraham Accords?

SEPT

AUG

JULY

JUNE

MAY

APR

Democrats’ Radical Environmentalism Is a Trojan Horse for Totalitarian Government

MAR

FEB

JAN

2020

DEC

NOV

OCT

SEPT

Who’s Funding America’s Race Riots?

AUG

JULY

JUNE

MAY

APR

MAR

‘Deep State’ Endorses Joe Biden

2019

Dec. 9: Horowitz Report on Carter Page FISA Applications
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz releases his nearly 500 page report about the Carter Page FISA warrants. Horowitz found seventeen errors over the course of the original application and the three renewals of the warrant. Horowitz wrote that the mistakes were not adequately explained. The Report revealed that the warrants would not have been approved without the FBI's use of the Christopher Steele memos, vindicating Congressman Devin Nunes's 2018 memo and exposing Adam Schiff's as a lie. The Horowitz Report also confirmed that the FBI knew early on that Carter Page was innocent, but continued to withhold exculpatory evidence from the FISA judges when it applied for renewals. Learn More

DEC

Dec. 9: Horowitz Report on Carter Page FISA Applications
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz releases his nearly 500 page report about the Carter Page FISA warrants. Horowitz found seventeen errors over the course of the original application and the three renewals of the warrant. Horowitz wrote that the mistakes were not adequately explained. The Report revealed that the warrants would not have been approved without the FBI's use of the Christopher Steele memos, vindicating Congressman Devin Nunes's 2018 memo and exposing Adam Schiff's as a lie. The Horowitz Report also confirmed that the FBI knew early on that Carter Page was innocent, but continued to withhold exculpatory evidence from the FISA judges when it applied for renewals. Learn More
Nearly 200 Evangelical Leaders Defend Trump, Condemn Christianity Today

NOV

The Fraudulent Roots of the Impeachment Inquiry

OCT

Would an Impeachment of President Trump Spark Civil War?

SEPT

AUG

JULY

April 18: Mueller report made public
Unless there is evidence of a crime, the findings of an investigation remain classified in order to protect the privacy of the person, or persons, investigated. Attorney General William Barr made the decision to release the entire 448-page report, with very few redactions, to the public in order to be transparent. Learn More

APR

April 18: Mueller report made public
Unless there is evidence of a crime, the findings of an investigation remain classified in order to protect the privacy of the person, or persons, investigated. Attorney General William Barr made the decision to release the entire 448-page report, with very few redactions, to the public in order to be transparent. Learn More

March 22: Mueller concludes special counsel investigation
Mueller's report found no evidence of coordinated collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. His investigation also found no evidence of obstruction of justice. Mueller's one responsibility was to decide whether or not a crime had been committed. In an unprecedented move, Mueller decided to be undecided. In his report, Mueller wrote: “Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” Mueller had no instructions, nor do any exist—for any prosecutors, anywhere—to “exonerate.” Prosecutors simply prosecute, if they have enough evidence, or if they don’t, they don’t. His attempt to shift the burden of proof onto the president to prove himself innocent provided the Democrats in Congress the opportunity to keep the collusion narrative alive. Learn More

MAR

March 22: Mueller concludes special counsel investigation
Mueller's report found no evidence of coordinated collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. His investigation also found no evidence of obstruction of justice. Mueller's one responsibility was to decide whether or not a crime had been committed. In an unprecedented move, Mueller decided to be undecided. In his report, Mueller wrote: “Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” Mueller had no instructions, nor do any exist—for any prosecutors, anywhere—to “exonerate.” Prosecutors simply prosecute, if they have enough evidence, or if they don’t, they don’t. His attempt to shift the burden of proof onto the president to prove himself innocent provided the Democrats in Congress the opportunity to keep the collusion narrative alive. Learn More
The Left’s Response to the Mueller Report Reveals Why Man Must Suffer

Feb. 14: William Barr confirmed by Senate 54 to 45

FEB

Feb. 14: William Barr confirmed by Senate 54 to 45

Jan. 15: Confirmation hearing for William Barr
Barr was nominated by President Trump on Dec. 7, 2018. His confirmation hearings occurred on Jan. 15 and 16, 2019. (For more information on those dates, request our free booklet January 16—God’s Miracle Day.) These are important prophetic dates that the Trumpet watches closely. Learn More

JAN

Jan. 15: Confirmation hearing for William Barr
Barr was nominated by President Trump on Dec. 7, 2018. His confirmation hearings occurred on Jan. 15 and 16, 2019. (For more information on those dates, request our free booklet January 16—God’s Miracle Day.) These are important prophetic dates that the Trumpet watches closely. Learn More

2018

Dec. 7: President Trump nominates William Barr as attorney general
William Barr was already attorney general once before. He would become only the second man to serve two separate terms as attorney general; the first served back in the mid-19th century. Learn More

DEC

Dec. 7: President Trump nominates William Barr as attorney general
William Barr was already attorney general once before. He would become only the second man to serve two separate terms as attorney general; the first served back in the mid-19th century. Learn More

June 18: William Barr memo to Rod Rosenstein
On June 8, 2018, William Barr sent a 19-page memo to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that stunned the Mueller team. Barr's memo dismantled Mueller's legal argument about obstruction of justice. Learn More

JUNE

June 18: William Barr memo to Rod Rosenstein
On June 8, 2018, William Barr sent a 19-page memo to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that stunned the Mueller team. Barr's memo dismantled Mueller's legal argument about obstruction of justice. Learn More

MAY

APR

MAR

Nunes Memo Exposes Unseen Threat to America

Feb. 2: Devin Nunes memo about the Steele dossier is declassified

FEB

Feb. 2: Devin Nunes memo about the Steele dossier is declassified

Jan. 18: Devin Nunes writes memo about Steele dossier
Republican Congressman Devin Nunes was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from January 2015 to January 2019. On Jan. 18, 2018, Nunes wrote a memo detailing his concerns about the fisa process and revealed that the Department of Justice used the Steele dossier as evidence in seeking a warrant to spy on an American citizen in an opposing campaign. Nunes revealed damaging information about what was left out of the fisa applications. His memo was initially considered classified material. Many Democrats said there was no reason to have it declassified. On Feb. 2, 2018, the White House counsel declassified Nunes's memo. Learn More

JAN

Jan. 18: Devin Nunes writes memo about Steele dossier
Republican Congressman Devin Nunes was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from January 2015 to January 2019. On Jan. 18, 2018, Nunes wrote a memo detailing his concerns about the fisa process and revealed that the Department of Justice used the Steele dossier as evidence in seeking a warrant to spy on an American citizen in an opposing campaign. Nunes revealed damaging information about what was left out of the fisa applications. His memo was initially considered classified material. Many Democrats said there was no reason to have it declassified. On Feb. 2, 2018, the White House counsel declassified Nunes's memo. Learn More

2017

JUNE

Lies About Trump—‘Good for Business’ at CNN

May 17: Robert Mueller III appointed special counsel
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller iii to be special counsel to investigate President Trump and Russia. Rosenstein made the appointment because Attorney General Jeff Sessions had recused himself from the case. Rosenstein gave Mueller nearly infinite scope to investigate all things related to Trump and Russia. Mueller's investigation can be broken into two main elements: 1) Investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election, and 2) whether or not President Trump obstructed justice. Point 2 was inspired thanks to fbi Director James Comey's memos regarding the firing of Michael Flynn. Learn More
May 9: President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey
On May 9, Deputy Attorney General wrote a letter to President Trump recommending that fbi Director James Comey be fired for his handling of the Clinton investigation. President Trump was already planning on firing Director Comey for lying to him about being investigated. Learn More

MAY

May 17: Robert Mueller III appointed special counsel
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller iii to be special counsel to investigate President Trump and Russia. Rosenstein made the appointment because Attorney General Jeff Sessions had recused himself from the case. Rosenstein gave Mueller nearly infinite scope to investigate all things related to Trump and Russia. Mueller's investigation can be broken into two main elements: 1) Investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election, and 2) whether or not President Trump obstructed justice. Point 2 was inspired thanks to fbi Director James Comey's memos regarding the firing of Michael Flynn. Learn More
May 9: President Trump fires FBI Director James Comey
On May 9, Deputy Attorney General wrote a letter to President Trump recommending that fbi Director James Comey be fired for his handling of the Clinton investigation. President Trump was already planning on firing Director Comey for lying to him about being investigated. Learn More
Trump’s War With the FBI: This Won’t End Well

MAR

President Trump’s War Against the Media Doesn’t Compare to Obama’s

Feb. 14: President Trump discusses Michael Flynn with FBI Director Comey
Michael Flynn was being investigated by Comey's fbi for corresponding with his Russian counterpart during the transition into the Trump administration. After Flynn's resignation, President Trump had a meeting with fbi Director Comey. Comey recorded memos of his meeting with the president and wrote that the president told him to "go easy" on Flynn. Comey viewed the president's comments as "obstruction of justice." Comey later leaked his memos in hopes it would trigger a special counsel investigation. Learn More
Feb. 13: Michael Flynn resigns
President Trump appointed Gen. Michael Flynn as his National Security Advisor. Before entering the White House, Flynn engaged with foreign dignitaries--an appropriate and legal action for an incoming administration to take. Flynn quickly became a target of the outgoing Obama administration who monitored his phone calls with foreign dignitaries. Obama's Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates wanted to prosecute Flynn for a violation of the Logan Act. Yates informed the White House about Flynn's phone calls and told the White House that Flynn was not being honest with Vice President Pence about the content of the calls. This episode led to Flynn's resignation, and eventually made him a target of Mueller's special investigation. Learn More

FEB

Feb. 14: President Trump discusses Michael Flynn with FBI Director Comey
Michael Flynn was being investigated by Comey's fbi for corresponding with his Russian counterpart during the transition into the Trump administration. After Flynn's resignation, President Trump had a meeting with fbi Director Comey. Comey recorded memos of his meeting with the president and wrote that the president told him to "go easy" on Flynn. Comey viewed the president's comments as "obstruction of justice." Comey later leaked his memos in hopes it would trigger a special counsel investigation. Learn More
Feb. 13: Michael Flynn resigns
President Trump appointed Gen. Michael Flynn as his National Security Advisor. Before entering the White House, Flynn engaged with foreign dignitaries--an appropriate and legal action for an incoming administration to take. Flynn quickly became a target of the outgoing Obama administration who monitored his phone calls with foreign dignitaries. Obama's Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates wanted to prosecute Flynn for a violation of the Logan Act. Yates informed the White House about Flynn's phone calls and told the White House that Flynn was not being honest with Vice President Pence about the content of the calls. This episode led to Flynn's resignation, and eventually made him a target of Mueller's special investigation. Learn More

Jan. 20: Susan Rice sends e-mail to herself documenting January 5 follow-on meeting
Just before leaving office, Susan Rice sent an e-mail to herself documenting a follow-on meeting in the Oval Office between Obama and top intelligence officials. In her e-mail, Rice emphasized that President Obama wanted everything to be done "by the book." During that meeting, the Obama administration discussed withholding information from the incoming Trump administration. In her e-mail, Rice wrote: "From a national security perspective, however, President Obama said he wants to be sure that, as we engage with the incoming team, we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we cannot share information fully as it relates to Russia." Learn More
Jan. 20: Donald Trump inauguration
Jan. 10: BuzzFeed publishes Steele dossier
After cnn published its article about fbi Director James Comey briefing President-elect Trump on some aspects of the Steele dossier, BuzzFeed published the dossier in its entirety. Learn More
Jan. 10: CNN runs article about Comey’s January 6 meeting with Mr. Trump
Following the January 6 Comey-Trump meeting, James Clapper—the one who directed Comey to brief Mr. Trump—promptly leaked information about the meeting to cnn, giving the network the hook it needed to “report” on the dossier. Learn More
Jan. 6: FBI Director James Comey meets with President-elect Donald Trump
The day after Obama was briefed on the intelligence assessment, January 6, fbi Director James Comey briefed President-elect Donald Trump. But he briefed the president only on parts of the report, including the “salacious” gossip contained in the dossier. He lied to the incoming president, telling him he was not under investigation. Learn More
Jan. 6: Intelligence assessment on Russian interference published
“Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections” was the product of Obama's December 9 directive to review Russia's interference in the 2016 election. One of the key assessments in the report appears on page 1 (emphasis added): “We also assess Putin and the Russian government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. All three agencies agree with this judgment. cia and fbi have high confidence in this judgment; nsa has moderate confidence.” In an April 2017 article for the Federalist, former cia employee Fred Fleitz wrote that the Jan. 6, 2017, assessment “was very unusual because it was such a conclusive analysis of a very controversial subject with no dissenting views.” Learn More
Jan. 5: Follow-on conversation takes place in the Oval Office
After the initial meeting, Obama has a follow-on meeting in the Oval Office to discuss withholding information from the incoming Trump administration. This meeting was documented by an e-mail Susan Rice sent to herself on January 20. According to Rice's e-mail, the follow-on meeting involved Obama, Joe Biden, Susan Rice, fbi Director Jim Comey and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. In Rice's e-mail documenting the meeting, she wrote that Obama wanted everything done "by the book." She also wrote: "From a national security perspective, however, President Obama said he wants to be sure that, as we engage with the incoming team, we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we cannot share information fully as it relates to Russia." Learn More
Jan. 5: President Obama meets with top intelligence officials
President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with top intelligence officials in the Oval Office. Present at the meeting with top Obama officials are James Clapper (the director of National Intelligence), Adm. Mike Rodgers (head of nsa), John Brennan (cia director) and James Comey (fbi director). The intelligence officials are there to brief Obama on the findings of the intelligence assessment Obama commissioned on December 9. Within the assessment is a two-page summary of the Steele dossier. Learn More

JAN

Jan. 20: Susan Rice sends e-mail to herself documenting January 5 follow-on meeting
Just before leaving office, Susan Rice sent an e-mail to herself documenting a follow-on meeting in the Oval Office between Obama and top intelligence officials. In her e-mail, Rice emphasized that President Obama wanted everything to be done "by the book." During that meeting, the Obama administration discussed withholding information from the incoming Trump administration. In her e-mail, Rice wrote: "From a national security perspective, however, President Obama said he wants to be sure that, as we engage with the incoming team, we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we cannot share information fully as it relates to Russia." Learn More
Jan. 20: Donald Trump inauguration
Jan. 10: BuzzFeed publishes Steele dossier
After cnn published its article about fbi Director James Comey briefing President-elect Trump on some aspects of the Steele dossier, BuzzFeed published the dossier in its entirety. Learn More
Jan. 10: CNN runs article about Comey’s January 6 meeting with Mr. Trump
Following the January 6 Comey-Trump meeting, James Clapper—the one who directed Comey to brief Mr. Trump—promptly leaked information about the meeting to cnn, giving the network the hook it needed to “report” on the dossier. Learn More
Jan. 6: FBI Director James Comey meets with President-elect Donald Trump
The day after Obama was briefed on the intelligence assessment, January 6, fbi Director James Comey briefed President-elect Donald Trump. But he briefed the president only on parts of the report, including the “salacious” gossip contained in the dossier. He lied to the incoming president, telling him he was not under investigation. Learn More
Jan. 6: Intelligence assessment on Russian interference published
“Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections” was the product of Obama's December 9 directive to review Russia's interference in the 2016 election. One of the key assessments in the report appears on page 1 (emphasis added): “We also assess Putin and the Russian government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. All three agencies agree with this judgment. cia and fbi have high confidence in this judgment; nsa has moderate confidence.” In an April 2017 article for the Federalist, former cia employee Fred Fleitz wrote that the Jan. 6, 2017, assessment “was very unusual because it was such a conclusive analysis of a very controversial subject with no dissenting views.” Learn More
Jan. 5: Follow-on conversation takes place in the Oval Office
After the initial meeting, Obama has a follow-on meeting in the Oval Office to discuss withholding information from the incoming Trump administration. This meeting was documented by an e-mail Susan Rice sent to herself on January 20. According to Rice's e-mail, the follow-on meeting involved Obama, Joe Biden, Susan Rice, fbi Director Jim Comey and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. In Rice's e-mail documenting the meeting, she wrote that Obama wanted everything done "by the book." She also wrote: "From a national security perspective, however, President Obama said he wants to be sure that, as we engage with the incoming team, we are mindful to ascertain if there is any reason that we cannot share information fully as it relates to Russia." Learn More
Jan. 5: President Obama meets with top intelligence officials
President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with top intelligence officials in the Oval Office. Present at the meeting with top Obama officials are James Clapper (the director of National Intelligence), Adm. Mike Rodgers (head of nsa), John Brennan (cia director) and James Comey (fbi director). The intelligence officials are there to brief Obama on the findings of the intelligence assessment Obama commissioned on December 9. Within the assessment is a two-page summary of the Steele dossier. Learn More
Donald Trump and the Jeroboam End

2016

Dec. 9: Obama orders review of Russian interference in 2016 presidential election
The Obama administration was well aware of Russia’s attempt to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election prior to Election Day. Some members of the administration who sounded the alarm were told to stand down. Prior to the election, the toughest President Barack Obama got with Russia was when he told Vladimir Putin to “cut it out.” Mr. Obama stressed that hacking an election was virtually impossible and told candidate Donald Trump that he would need to accept the outcome. Once Trump won, however, the Democrats reversed their story. Russia quickly became America's greatest foe for having allegedly stolen an election using Donald Trump as its "agent." On December 9, lame-duck President Obama called for a full review into what Russia did during the election. He wanted the report to be finished before he left office; an unusual request considering the magnitude of an investigation into a presidential election. The review was concluded on Jan. 6, 2017 with the publication of the intelligence report titled “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections.” Learn More

DEC

Dec. 9: Obama orders review of Russian interference in 2016 presidential election
The Obama administration was well aware of Russia’s attempt to meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election prior to Election Day. Some members of the administration who sounded the alarm were told to stand down. Prior to the election, the toughest President Barack Obama got with Russia was when he told Vladimir Putin to “cut it out.” Mr. Obama stressed that hacking an election was virtually impossible and told candidate Donald Trump that he would need to accept the outcome. Once Trump won, however, the Democrats reversed their story. Russia quickly became America's greatest foe for having allegedly stolen an election using Donald Trump as its "agent." On December 9, lame-duck President Obama called for a full review into what Russia did during the election. He wanted the report to be finished before he left office; an unusual request considering the magnitude of an investigation into a presidential election. The review was concluded on Jan. 6, 2017 with the publication of the intelligence report titled “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent U.S. Elections.” Learn More

Nov. 8: Donald Trump wins presidential election
One election website said Hillary Clinton had a 71 percent chance of winning the election. The New York Times said Clinton had an 85 percent chance of winning. Reuters put it at 90 percent. One political analyst on abc said Clinton's chance of winning was 95 percent. Virtually every single polling site had Clinton winning the electoral college in a landslide. Even Fox News had Clinton winning 274 electoral college votes. On election night, Donald Trump won 304 electoral college votes. On Aug. 5, 2016, fbi investigator Peter Strzok texted Lisa Page that there was "no way [Trump] gets elected—but I’m afraid we can’t take the risk. It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you’re 40." Now it was time for the fbi to make a claim on the "policy" it had set up. Learn More

NOV

Nov. 8: Donald Trump wins presidential election
One election website said Hillary Clinton had a 71 percent chance of winning the election. The New York Times said Clinton had an 85 percent chance of winning. Reuters put it at 90 percent. One political analyst on abc said Clinton's chance of winning was 95 percent. Virtually every single polling site had Clinton winning the electoral college in a landslide. Even Fox News had Clinton winning 274 electoral college votes. On election night, Donald Trump won 304 electoral college votes. On Aug. 5, 2016, fbi investigator Peter Strzok texted Lisa Page that there was "no way [Trump] gets elected—but I’m afraid we can’t take the risk. It’s like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before you’re 40." Now it was time for the fbi to make a claim on the "policy" it had set up. Learn More
What the Trump Victory Means

Oct.: First FISA warrant on Carter Page
Page left the Trump campaign in September 2016. The first fisa warrant to spy on him was approved in October 2016 (the exact date is still unknown). This fisa was renewed three times meaning that Page was surveilled by the U.S. government for almost one year. Thanks to a practice known as the "two-hop" rule, investigators could also extensively monitor anyone Page came in contact with, as well as who those people communicated with. Page was the target of the fisa warrant, but this also gave the fbi permission to spy on the Trump campaign, and ultimately Donald Trump. Learn More

OCT

Oct.: First FISA warrant on Carter Page
Page left the Trump campaign in September 2016. The first fisa warrant to spy on him was approved in October 2016 (the exact date is still unknown). This fisa was renewed three times meaning that Page was surveilled by the U.S. government for almost one year. Thanks to a practice known as the "two-hop" rule, investigators could also extensively monitor anyone Page came in contact with, as well as who those people communicated with. Page was the target of the fisa warrant, but this also gave the fbi permission to spy on the Trump campaign, and ultimately Donald Trump. Learn More

Sept. 2: Strzok and Page text “[President Obama] wants to know everything we’re doing.”
On Sept. 2, 2016, as the fbi was filing reports about the Clinton e-mail investigation, Page texted Strzok: “potus [President of the United States] wants to know everything we are doing.” It's still unclear if this text was a reference to the Clinton investigation or the Trump-Russia investigation. President Obama promised many times that he never got involved in Justice Department matters. In April 2016, President Obama told Fox News’s Chris Wallace, “I do not talk to the attorney general about pending investigations. I do not talk to fbi directors about pending investigations. We have a strict line and always have maintained it …. I guarantee it.” Learn More

SEPT

Sept. 2: Strzok and Page text “[President Obama] wants to know everything we’re doing.”
On Sept. 2, 2016, as the fbi was filing reports about the Clinton e-mail investigation, Page texted Strzok: “potus [President of the United States] wants to know everything we are doing.” It's still unclear if this text was a reference to the Clinton investigation or the Trump-Russia investigation. President Obama promised many times that he never got involved in Justice Department matters. In April 2016, President Obama told Fox News’s Chris Wallace, “I do not talk to the attorney general about pending investigations. I do not talk to fbi directors about pending investigations. We have a strict line and always have maintained it …. I guarantee it.” Learn More

July 31: FBI opens investigation into Russia and Trump campaign
The fbi says it decided to open the investigation dubbed "Crossfire Hurricane" into the Trump campaign based on information it received from an Australian diplomat named Alex Downer. Downer said he met with Trump campaign adviser George Papadopolous at a London pub in May 2016. Papadoplous allegedly mentioned something about "e-mails." After Wikileaks began dumping dnc e-mails in July 2016, Downer was given permission by the Australian government to inform the U.S. government about the conversation he'd had with Papadopolous back in May. The fbi says it was this information that triggered the opening of the investigation. Attorney General William Barr is investigating whether July 31, 2016, is the "real" start of the investigation. Learn More
July 22: Wikileaks publishes hacked DNC e-mails
The dnc e-mails revealed that the Committee was biased against Bernie Sanders in favor of Hillary Clinton. Other revelations in the e-mails led to the resignation of dnc head Debbie Wasserman Shultz. These e-mails were not stolen from Clinton's private server, nor did they have any damaging impact on the Clinton campaign specifically. Learn More
July 5: FBI Director James Comey recommends no charges for Clinton
In April 2016, President Barack Obama said in a tv interview that Hillary Clinton "never intentionally put America in any kind of jeopardy." Three months later, on July 5, fbi Director James Comey held an unprecedented press conference in which he publicly exonerated Hillary Clinton: "Although 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." Learn More
July: Carter Page visits Russia
Christopher Steele's dossier said that Trump campaign foreign-policy adviser Carter Page was one of the lead men in "a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation" between the Trump campaign and Russia. On July 1, Page visited Russia to deliver a speech (not on behalf of the campaign). Later on, Page's July 1 visit was referenced in U.S. government files as further evidence that Page was conspiring with Russian government officials. Learn More

JULY

July 31: FBI opens investigation into Russia and Trump campaign
The fbi says it decided to open the investigation dubbed "Crossfire Hurricane" into the Trump campaign based on information it received from an Australian diplomat named Alex Downer. Downer said he met with Trump campaign adviser George Papadopolous at a London pub in May 2016. Papadoplous allegedly mentioned something about "e-mails." After Wikileaks began dumping dnc e-mails in July 2016, Downer was given permission by the Australian government to inform the U.S. government about the conversation he'd had with Papadopolous back in May. The fbi says it was this information that triggered the opening of the investigation. Attorney General William Barr is investigating whether July 31, 2016, is the "real" start of the investigation. Learn More
July 22: Wikileaks publishes hacked DNC e-mails
The dnc e-mails revealed that the Committee was biased against Bernie Sanders in favor of Hillary Clinton. Other revelations in the e-mails led to the resignation of dnc head Debbie Wasserman Shultz. These e-mails were not stolen from Clinton's private server, nor did they have any damaging impact on the Clinton campaign specifically. Learn More
July 5: FBI Director James Comey recommends no charges for Clinton
In April 2016, President Barack Obama said in a tv interview that Hillary Clinton "never intentionally put America in any kind of jeopardy." Three months later, on July 5, fbi Director James Comey held an unprecedented press conference in which he publicly exonerated Hillary Clinton: "Although 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." Learn More
July: Carter Page visits Russia
Christopher Steele's dossier said that Trump campaign foreign-policy adviser Carter Page was one of the lead men in "a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation" between the Trump campaign and Russia. On July 1, Page visited Russia to deliver a speech (not on behalf of the campaign). Later on, Page's July 1 visit was referenced in U.S. government files as further evidence that Page was conspiring with Russian government officials. Learn More

June 27: Loretta Lynch tarmac meeting with Bill Clinton
In late June 2016, Loretta Lynch met Hillary Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, in private aboard her plane at the Phoenix airport. About a week later, Comey announced that although Clinton and her aides were “extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information,” they should not be charged with crimes. The next day, Lynch confirmed that the Justice Department would not bring charges. Learn More
June: Christopher Steele begins compiling dirt on Trump campaign
In April 2016, a lawyer representing Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee (dnc) hired a firm called Fusion gps to obtain damaging information against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The dnc and the Clinton campaign used Fusion gps to pay former British spy Christopher Steele $168,000. In June 2016, Steele began colluding with anonymous Russian sources to produce a series of 17 unverified reports alleging that Trump had engaged in certain acts with Russian prostitutes and that the Russian government “had been feeding Trump and his team valuable intelligence on his opponents” for five years. Learn More

JUNE

June 27: Loretta Lynch tarmac meeting with Bill Clinton
In late June 2016, Loretta Lynch met Hillary Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, in private aboard her plane at the Phoenix airport. About a week later, Comey announced that although Clinton and her aides were “extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information,” they should not be charged with crimes. The next day, Lynch confirmed that the Justice Department would not bring charges. Learn More
June: Christopher Steele begins compiling dirt on Trump campaign
In April 2016, a lawyer representing Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee (dnc) hired a firm called Fusion gps to obtain damaging information against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The dnc and the Clinton campaign used Fusion gps to pay former British spy Christopher Steele $168,000. In June 2016, Steele began colluding with anonymous Russian sources to produce a series of 17 unverified reports alleging that Trump had engaged in certain acts with Russian prostitutes and that the Russian government “had been feeding Trump and his team valuable intelligence on his opponents” for five years. Learn More

Cast Of Characters

Barack Obama

44th president of the United States of America (2009 to 2017)

Hillary Clinton

Barack Obama’s Secretary of State from January 2009 to February 2013. Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 election.

James Comey

FBI director from September 2013 to May 2017.

John Brennan

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency from March 2013 to January 2017.

James Clapper

Director of National Intelligence from August 2010 to January 2017.

Peter Strzok

Chief of counterespionage at the FBI during Barack Obama’s second term in office. He fired from the FBI in August 2018.

Donald Trump

45th president of the United States (in office)

Carter Page

Foreign policy advisor to the 2016 Trump Campaign

George Papadopolous

Foreign policy advisor to the 2016 Trump Campaign

Paul Manafort

Republican Party consultant. Joined the Trump Campaign in March 2016. In June 2016, he became campaign manager. He resigned from the campaign in August 2016.

Michael Flynn

Retired United States Army Lieutenant General. He served as President Trump’s first National Security Advisor.