Here, Donald: Disregard the Implanted Micro Chip Embedded in this Gift Okay No Problemo

Story on that soccer ball Putin gave Trump 

Article Source: The Hill 

WASHINGTON (The Daily Beast) — Republicans have sought for weeks amid the impeachment inquiry to shift attention to Trump demands that Ukraine investigate any 2016 election meddling, defending it as a legitimate concern while Democrats accuse Trump of pursuing fringe theories for his benefit.

The Republican defense of Trump became central to the impeachment proceedings when Dr. Fiona Hill, a respected Russia scholar and former senior White House official, added a harsh critique during her testimony.

Hill told some of Trump’s fiercest defenders in Congress that they were repeating a fictional narrative. 

She said that it likely came from a disinformation campaign by Russian security services, which also propagated it.

In a briefing that closely aligned with Dr. Hill’s testimony, American intelligence officials informed senators and their aides in recent weeks that Russia had engaged in a years-long campaign to essentially frame Ukraine as responsible for Moscow’s own hacking of the 2016 election, according to three American officials. The briefing came as Republicans stepped up their defenses of Trump in the Ukraine affair.

The revelations demonstrate Russia’s persistence in trying to sow discord among its adversaries — and show that the Kremlin apparently succeeded, as unfounded claims about Ukrainian interference seeped into Republican talking points.

American intelligence agencies believe Moscow is likely to redouble its efforts as the 2020 presidential campaign intensifies. The classified briefing for senators also focused on Russia’s evolving influence tactics, including its growing ability to better disguise operations.

More proof here from The Daily Beast:

The Trump administration is quietly fighting a new package of sanctions on Russia.

A Trump State Department official sent a 22-page letter to a top Senate chairman (Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) making a wide-ranging case against a new sanctions bill. 

Noteworthy: Graham — usually a staunch ally of the White House —introduced the legislation earlier this year that is designed to punish Russian individuals and companies over the Kremlin’s targeting of Ukraine, as well as their 2016 election interference, its activities in Syria, and its attacks on dissidents in Russia. 

Key: Despite Trump’s strong opposition, the bill passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee even with five Republican senators opposing it: Chairman Jim Risch, Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Johnny Isakson, Sen. John Barrasso, and Sen. Ron Johnson. 

My 2 cents: Trump must be livid about that vote since he apparently has let Putin down by not stopping any new or reinforced sanctions. 

And, Mr. Trump, your oops to Putin may not suffice at this point.

This is a good reminder of how much Trump fears not pleasing Putin and hoping Putin does not release the damaging evidence he holds over him – which I suspect is extensive and deeply money-related.

Thanks for stopping by.