U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at “Democrat corruption” the day after special counsel Robert Mueller announced the first charges laid into the probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
“I hope people will start to focus on our Massive Tax Cuts for Business (jobs) and the Middle Class (in addition to Democrat corruption)!” the president tweeted.
Trump’s tweet comes the day after his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was indicted on several charges, including conspiracy against the United States. Manafort, along with a former business associate, Rick Gates, surrendered to federal officials in Washington on Monday to face 12 charges in Mueller’s investigation into potential co-ordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.
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Also on Monday, it was revealed that George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser to Trump, pleaded guilty earlier in October to making false statements to the FBI about meeting with Russian officials.
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Papadopoulos is the first person to face criminal charges that cite interactions between Trump campaign associates and Russian intermediaries during the 2016 presidential campaign.
A few hours after both Manafort and Gates surrendered to the FBI, Trump took to Twitter in an attempt to dismiss any connection between his campaign and charges laid against his former campaign chairman.
“Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren’t Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????” the president tweeted. “….Also, there is NO COLLUSION!”
Trump reiterated the sentiment Tuesday.
“The Fake News is working overtime. As Paul Manaforts lawyer said, there was ‘no collusion’ and events mentioned took place long before he…” Trump tweeted. “….came to the campaign. Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar. Check the DEMS!”
The president said yesterday’s “biggest story” was the resignation of Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta from his firm.
“The biggest story yesterday, the one that has the Dems in a dither, is Podesta running from his firm. What he know about Crooked Dems is….” Trump tweeted. “….earth shattering. He and his brother could Drain The Swamp, which would be yet another campaign promise fulfilled. Fake News weak!”
Podesta, the elder brother of former Hillary Clinton aide John Podesta, announced that he would step aside from the Podesta Group after coming under investigation by Mueller.
“Not bad enough that I was the victim of a massive cyber crime directed by the Russian President,” John Podesta responded on Twitter. “Now I’m the victim of a big lie campaign by the American President.”
Podesta’s personal email account was hacked during the election and WikiLeaks released thousands of his emails.
–with a file from Global News reporter Katie Dangerfield and the Associated Press.