Richard grenell

MIAMI (AP) — Three Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are demanding answers from the Trump administration about how much it knew about an attempted raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an operation they said potentially violated U.S. law and ran counter to American support for negotiations to end the South American country’s political standoff. … [Read more...] about Democrats press Trump for answers on foiled Venezuela raid

But Republicans who maintain that Flynn was simply trying to avoid aggravating the situation with the Kremlin quickly pointed to the transcripts to say the calls were proper. Trump's Justice Department dismissed the case this month, saying the FBI didn’t have a basis to question Flynn in the first place. … [Read more...] about Transcripts released of Flynn’s calls with Russian diplomat

Flynn would later plead guilty – and, later still, seek to reverse his plea – for lying to the FBI in January 2017 about the discussions of U.S. sanctions on Russia that he had with Kislyak on that day and others. But the calls, declassified by former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell and released under the auspices of confirmed successor John Ratcliffe, confirm an overlooked aspect of the Trump team’s early outreach to Moscow.  … [Read more...] about Flynn Asked Russian for Alliance Against ‘Radical Islamists’ on Infamous Phone Call

“After all the screw-ups and malicious behavior by FBI and DOJ officials during the Russia investigation, we simply cannot take them at their word anymore. We need oversight and transparency to sort out this mess. I’m grateful that former acting DNI chief Grenell took the important steps of properly declassifying this material and letting some sunlight in. Transparency brings accountability. Keep it coming.” … [Read more...] about Senate Releases Transcripts of Flynn-Kislyak Call: ‘Nothing Improper, and the FBI Knew It’

Trump has also nominated ambassadors who weren’t financial backers, but were high profile supporters or media surrogates during the campaign. They include former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, now the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand; Callista Gingrich, wife of the former Speaker of the House and the nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Holy See; Terry Branstad, the former Iowa governor and now ambassador to China; former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, co-chair of Trump’s Michigan campaign last year and the president’s nominee to be ambassador to the Netherlands; and Richard Grenell, an outspoken Trump supporter, former Fox News contributor, and now the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Germany. … [Read more...] about Donald ‘Drain The Swamp’ Trump Taps Top Donors for Ambassador Posts