Australian ambassador rejects Graham's description of diplomat's role in Russia probe's origins

Australia’s ambassador to the U.S. confirmed to Sen. Lindsey Graham that the Australian authorities is aiding Lawyer Basic William Barr’s investigation of overseas interference in the 2016 election — however disputed the lawmaker’s reference to an Australian diplomat concerned in the Russia probe’s origins.

Graham on Wednesday had asked the prime ministers of Australia, Italy and Britain to proceed to assist Barr in his inquiry, which critics say represents another effort by President Donald Trump to discredit the work of former special counsel Robert Mueller.

“It seems that the USA regulation enforcement and intelligence communities relied on overseas intelligence as a part of their efforts to research and monitor the 2016 presidential election,” the South Carolina Republican wrote in his letter to the leaders.

Graham added that those efforts by American officers included “accepting info from an Australian diplomat who was … directed to contact [Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George] Papadopoulos and relay info obtained from Papadopoulos relating to the marketing campaign to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”

It has been reported that Papadopoulos had revealed to an Australian diplomat, believed to be Alexander Downer, particulars of his April 2016 conversations with Josef Mifsud, a London-based professor with ties to the Kremlin. Mifsud allegedly advised Papadopoulos that Moscow had “hundreds of emails” damaging to 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

In a letter responding to Graham dated Wednesday, Ambassador Joe Hockey wrote that the Australian government “is cooperating” with Barr’s inquiry and has “been public about our willingness to cooperate.”

Hockey added: “In your letter you made mention of the position of an Australian diplomat. We reject your characterisation of his position.”

In line with Mueller’s report, a overseas authorities official contacted the FBI in July 2016 about an encounter he had with Papadopoulos two months earlier, throughout which the then-Trump aide steered the campaign “had acquired indications from the Russian government that it might help the Marketing campaign by way of the anonymous release of data damaging to” Clinton.

That warning “prompted the FBI on July 31, 2016, to open an investigation into whether or not individuals associated with the Trump Marketing campaign have been coordinating with the Russian government in its interference actions,” Mueller wrote.

Papadopoulos was sentenced in September 2018 to 14 days in federal jail for making false statements to the FBI.

The New York Occasions reported Monday that Trump pushed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in a current telephone name to help Barr gather info for the Justice Division's inquiry.

Article originally revealed on POLITICO Magazine

Src: Australian ambassador rejects Graham's description of diplomat's role in Russia probe's origins
==============================
New Smart Way Get BITCOINS!
CHECK IT NOW!
==============================