The Russia connectionTrump associates’ lies, false, or misleading statements on Russia; combatting fake news; Germany’s offensive cyber capabilities, and more

Published 5 December 2018

  The Mueller investigation has gotten closer to Donald Trump

·  Perjury chart: Trump associates’ lies, false, or misleading statements on Russia to federal authorities

  All the witnesses who apparently misled Congress’ Russia probes

·  Did Trump advise Michael Cohen to lie to Congress?

  Trump likes to blame Democrats for getting hacked. Now Republicans have been too.

·  Germany develops offensive cyber capabilities without a coherent strategy of what to do with them

·  Michael Flynn is worse than a liar

·  Feds target Butina’s GOP boyfriend as foreign agent

·  Plan to combat fake news proposed as EU elections approach

The Mueller investigation has gotten closer to Donald Trump (Andrew Prokop, Vox)
What we know — and still don’t know — about the special counsel probe and the president.

Perjury chart: Trump associates’ lies, false, or misleading statements on Russia to federal authorities (Ryan Goodman, Just Security)
It is a federal offense to intentionally make false statements to Congress, the FBI, and other federal authorities. It is also a crime to encourage others to do so (that is, in technical terms, to “suborn perjury”). It is also a crime to engage in a conspiracy to lie to federal authorities. A conspiracy can involve a tacit or explicit agreement to commit the criminal activity.
Here is a summary of the 18-page Chart which is below (as a PDF document). It will be updated as new information becomes public. Major updates will be announced on Twitter and Facebook.

All the witnesses who apparently misled Congress’ Russia probes(Adam Rawnsley, Daily Beast)
At least eight witnesses had trouble telling the whole truth when congressional investigators asked about their Russia dealings.

Did Trump advise Michael Cohen to lie to Congress? (Bob Bauer, The Atlantic)
The president’s former lawyer didn’t stand to gain from giving false testimony.

Trump likes to blame Democrats for getting hacked. Now Republicans have been too. (Aaron Rupar, Vox)
The president’s talking point is suddenly awkward.

Germany develops offensive cyber capabilities without a coherent strategy of what to do with them (Matthias Schulze, Defense One)
Germany has traditionally prioritized defense over offense in cyberspace. That’s now beginning to change.

Michael Flynn is worse than a liar (Harry Littman, The Atlantic)
The word lie has lost its power in the Trump era. Try replacing it with fraud.

Mueller’s warning to Trumpworld (Abigail Tracy, Vanity Fair)
The Flynn memo proves that the special counsel will show mercy to those who cooperate—and bring the hammer down on everyone else.

Feds target Butina’s GOP boyfriend as foreign agent (Betsy Woodruff, Erin Banco, Daily Beast)
Paul Erickson served as accused Kremlin spy Maria Butina’s guide as she penetrated the American conservative movement. Now he’s under investigation as a Russian agent, too.

How an internet impostor exposed the underbelly of the Czech media (Tim Gosling, Foreign Policy)
When politicians own the press, trolls have the last laugh.

Plan to combat fake news proposed as EU elections approach (Robin Emmott, Reuters)
The European Union’s executive proposed on Wednesday spending more money to counter fake news on the Internet, establishing an early warning system to alert governments and pushing tech companies do more to stop disinformation before next year’s EU elections.
The European Commission’s plan, which must be agreed by EU leaders, is part of an attempt to stop what the United States, NATO and the EU say are Russian attempts to undermine Western democracies with disinformation campaigns that sow division. Russia has repeatedly denied any such actions.