U.S. Department of Justice
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making further efforts to arrange a meeting between the Campaign and the Russian government. To the contrary, Papadopoulos told the Office that he understood the Campaign to be supportive of his efforts to arrange such a meeting.[1] Accordingly, when he returned to London, Papadopoulos resumed those efforts.[2]
Throughout April 2016, Papadopoulos continued to correspond with, meet with, and seek Russia contacts through Mifsud and, at times, Polonskaya.[3] For example, within a week of her initial March 24 meeting with him, Polonskaya attempted to send Papadopoulos a text message—which email exchanges show to have been drafted or edited by Mifsud—addressing Papadopoulos's "wish to engage with the Russian Federation."[4] When Papadopoulos learned from Mifsud that Polonskaya had tried to message him, he sent her an email seeking another meeting.[5] Polonskaya responded the next day that she was "back in St. Petersburg" but "would be very pleased to support [Papadopoulos's] initiatives between our two countries" and "to meet [him] again."[6] Papadopoulos stated in reply that he thought "a good step" would be to introduce him to "the Russian Ambassador in London," and that he would like to talk to the ambassador, "or anyone else you recommend, about a potential foreign policy trip to Russia."[7]
Mifsud, who had been copied on the email exchanges, replied on the morning of April 11, 2016. He wrote, "This is already been agreed. I am flying to Moscow on the 18th for a Valdai meeting, plus other meetings at the Duma. We will talk tomorrow."[8] The two bodies referenced by Mifsud are part of or associated with the Russian government: the Duma is a Russian legislative assembly,[9] while "Valdai" refers to the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based group that "is close to Russia's foreign-policy establishment."[10] Papadopoulos thanked Mifsud and said that he would see him "tomorrow."[11] For her part, Polonskaya responded that she had "already alerted my personal links to our conversation and your request," that "we are all very excited the possibility of a good relationship with Mr. Trump," and that "[t]he Russian Federation would love to welcome him once his candidature would be officially announced."[12]
- ↑ Papadopoulos 8/10/17 302, at 4-5; Papadopoulos 8/11/17 302, at 3; Papadopoulos 9/20/17 302, at 2.
- ↑ Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ¶ 10.
- ↑ Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ¶¶ 10-15.
- ↑ 3/29/16 Emails, Mifsud to Polonskaya (3:39 a.m. and 5:36 a.m.).
- ↑ 4/10/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Polonskaya (2:45:59 p.m.).
- ↑ 4/11/16 Email, Polonskaya to Papadopoulos (3:11:24 a.m.).
- ↑ 4/11/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Polonskaya (9:21:56 a.m.).
- ↑ 4/11/16 Email, Mifsud to Papadopoulos (11:43:53).
- ↑ Papadopoulos Statement of Offense ¶ 10(c).
- ↑ Anton Troianovski, Putin Ally Warns of Arms Race as Russia Considers Response to U.S. Nuclear Stance, Washington Post (Feb. 10, 2018).
- ↑ 4/11/16 Email, Papadopoulos to Mifsud (11:51:53 a.m.).
- ↑ 4/12/16 Email, Polonskaya to Papadopoulos (4:47:06 a.m.).
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