buzzfeed--2020-03-03--An Emboldened Joe Biden Made His Case To Super Tuesday Voters With A Raft Of Endorsements Behind Him

DALLAS — In the hours leading up to Super Tuesday , Joe Biden was having some of the best moments his campaign has had in months .
After handily winning South Carolina over the weekend , a wave of endorsements came from legislators across the country , including three former rivals for the presidency , two of whom dropped out of the race just in the previous 48 hours .
“ Just a few days ago the press and the pundits declared this campaign dead , but South Carolina had something to say about it , ” Biden said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And tomorrow , Texas and Minnesota and the rest of the Super Tuesday states , they ’ re going to have a lot to say about it.
” “ In all we now have 1,500 endorsements , including 36 congressmen .
Mayors , elected officials , are joining the campaign , in just the last two days , ” he added later .
In Iowa , and then in New Hampshire , and then in Nevada and South Carolina , Biden repeated the mantra each time that this was the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
And in each of those states , his team worked to downplay expectations as his performance in the first three of those contests stood in contrast to his frontrunner status at the launch of his campaign .
Biden ’ s animated performance Monday , however , alongside Amy Klobuchar , Beto O ’ Rourke , and — at a previous event — Pete Buttigieg , spoke to an emboldened campaign coming off a decisive victory in South Carolina — thanks to the overwhelming support of older black voters .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end my campaign than joining his , ” Sen. Klobuchar said Monday night , campaigning for Biden for the first time since dropping out of the race that morning .
The crowd was a combination of decided Biden voters , those leaning his way , and former Buttigieg and Klobuchar supporters who turned their support to him in the past few days .
“ Especially with Amy and Beto it was right on the money , it was perfect .
It seems like the campaign has been energized , ” said Sherelyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s packed rally in Dallas on Monday evening , where a marching band set the scene for a campaign event with a distinctly more lively crowd than the former vice president ’ s events have tended to draw in recent months .
With 14 states voting and a third of the total number of delegates at play on Tuesday , Biden and Bernie Sanders have been polling close to each other in several states recently , with Sanders ahead in some — including in the delegate-rich states of California and Texas .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same pointed attacks on Sanders , who was an Independent for most of his time in Congress , that he has brought up in recent weeks without mentioning his name : “ People don ’ t want the promise of revolution , they want results , they want the revival of decency , honor , and character , ” he said .
“ If Democrats want a nominee who ’ s a Democrat , a lifelong Democrat , an Obama–Biden Democrat , then join us .
We can either win big or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice , ” he added .
Biden praised Buttigieg , Klobuchar , and O ’ Rourke , casting them as the future of the Democratic Party — Klobuchar “ had the grit and determination to do anything she set her mind to ” , and O ’ Rourke was “ a man who electrified this state and nation , ” “ a man with unlimited future.
” He reserved the highest compliment he could think of for Buttigieg — “ [ Buttigieg ] reminds me of my son , Beau , ” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg endorsed him .
Buttigieg told reporters , `` When I ran for president we made it clear that the whole idea was about rallying the country together to defeat Donald Trump and to win the era for the values that we share , and that was always a goal that was much bigger than me becoming president and it is in the name of that very same goal that I am delighted to endorse and support Joe Biden for president . ''
Klobuchar , taking the stage at the rally to chants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd Monday night , appealed to Texans to “ vote for dignity , vote for our heart , for our country.
” And O ’ Rourke , whose 2018 Senate run came within inches of unseating Sen. Ted Cruz but didn ’ t quite get there , was there as a sharp reminder to Texans of how close they ’ ve come in recent years to flipping their state at various levels .
O ’ Rourke called Biden “ the antithesis of Donald Trump , ” and said he decided to endorse Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hall in Charleston , South Carolina , last week , responding with empathy to Rev .
Anthony Thompson , who lost his wife in the Mother Emanuel AME church shooting in 2015 .
“ He wanted to heal that man , he wanted to heal Charleston , South Carolina .
But as someone who lives in El Paso , Texas … I felt Joe Biden healing us , ” O ’ Rourke said .
For Texas Democrats , gains in recent years on both the state and federal levels have been exciting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come close but not quite defeat Cruz , to be nine seats away from a majority in the state House .
Among Texas Democrats , there ’ s been a tension on how to keep that momentum moving , to either take the path of centrist candidates to win over unsettled independents and moderate Republicans , or to present bold progressive candidates to activate young and Latino voters who could represent rising political forces , as their numbers have grown in recent years .
“ Por ultimo , in 2018 , all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are here on this stage , ran the greatest grassroots campaign Texas had ever seen , we won more votes than any Democrat had in Texas history , ” O ’ Rourke said , closing out his speech , “ Ladies and gentlemen , el proximo presidente de los estados unidos.
” Several of O ’ Rourke ’ s former staffers , some of whom played an instrumental role in that Senate run , are working for the Sanders campaign in Texas or have moved on to work on down-ballot races for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s campaign is making the case to Texas that only a moderate candidate like himself is capable of delivering progress for their state .
“ He can bring together that coalition of our fired-up Democratic base , as well as independents and moderate Republicans , ” Klobuchar told the crowd in Dallas .
Several voters in the crowd said they support Sanders ’ proposals in principle but said they can ’ t see how he ’ d pass them , and worry that a more progressive candidate could damage the prospects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially in Texas where Republicans still control both houses in the Capitol and officials litigiously went after Obama ’ s policies for years .
Immediately following Klobuchar and former Democratic leader Sen. Harry Reid ’ s endorsement of Biden on Monday , Sanders told a rally that “ the establishment ” was getting “ very , very nervous.
” Some voters at the Biden event on Monday said they found that suggestion condescending .
“ I ’ m offended by somebody saying , ‘ establishment ’ .
I just want somebody who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know that ’ s not Donald Trump , ” said Charlene Powell , 55 , who voted early for Biden .
“ I don ’ t have a card to the establishment .
I ’ m not a card-carrying establishment member .
What does that mean , ‘ establishment , ’ Bernie ?
” said her husband , Jay Powell , 62 , who also voted for Biden .
“ We ’ re capable of thinking for ourselves.
” A handful of voters who spoke to BuzzFeed News at the Biden event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa two months ago — that even if they don ’ t agree with Sanders on most things or would worry about his effect on down-ticket candidates , they would still vote for him in November if he wins the primary .
One Biden supporter at Monday ’ s rally , a former lifelong Republican who said she switched parties because of Trump and supported Buttigieg until he dropped out , said she ’ s excited to vote for Biden , but she , too , would vote for Bernie Sanders if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hockenborough , 60 , was at the rally in Dallas wearing a T-shirt plastered with Buttigieg ’ s logo and a sign on her back that said “ former Republican.
” “ First I went for Beto , then I went for Pete , they ’ re both for Biden , so I think Biden can do it , ” she said .
“ I would still vote for [ Sanders ] , ” if he wins the nomination , she said , “ I ’ m going to vote blue no matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand Trump .
I feel like he ’ s ruined my party .
I will vote for Bernie .
I won ’ t be happy about it .
I think Biden would do a much better job .
”

DALLAS — In the hours leading up to Super Tuesday, Joe Biden was having some of the best moments his campaign has had in months.
After handily winning South Carolina over the weekend, a wave of endorsements came from legislators across the country, including three former rivals for the presidency, two of whom dropped out of the race just in the previous 48 hours.
“Just a few days ago the press and the pundits declared this campaign dead, but South Carolina had something to say about it,” Biden said at a rally in Dallas on Monday night. “And tomorrow, Texas and Minnesota and the rest of the Super Tuesday states, they’re going to have a lot to say about it.”
“In all we now have 1,500 endorsements, including 36 congressmen. Mayors, elected officials, are joining the campaign, in just the last two days,” he added later.
In Iowa, and then in New Hampshire, and then in Nevada and South Carolina, Biden repeated the mantra each time that this was the state that was the real beginning of the campaign. And in each of those states, his team worked to downplay expectations as his performance in the first three of those contests stood in contrast to his frontrunner status at the launch of his campaign.
Biden’s animated performance Monday, however, alongside Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, and — at a previous event — Pete Buttigieg, spoke to an emboldened campaign coming off a decisive victory in South Carolina — thanks to the overwhelming support of older black voters.
“I cannot think of a better way to end my campaign than joining his,” Sen. Klobuchar said Monday night, campaigning for Biden for the first time since dropping out of the race that morning.
The crowd was a combination of decided Biden voters, those leaning his way, and former Buttigieg and Klobuchar supporters who turned their support to him in the past few days.
“Especially with Amy and Beto it was right on the money, it was perfect. It seems like the campaign has been energized,” said Sherelyn Roberts, 71, at Biden’s packed rally in Dallas on Monday evening, where a marching band set the scene for a campaign event with a distinctly more lively crowd than the former vice president’s events have tended to draw in recent months.
With 14 states voting and a third of the total number of delegates at play on Tuesday, Biden and Bernie Sanders have been polling close to each other in several states recently, with Sanders ahead in some — including in the delegate-rich states of California and Texas.
On Monday, Biden laid out some of the same pointed attacks on Sanders, who was an Independent for most of his time in Congress, that he has brought up in recent weeks without mentioning his name: “People don’t want the promise of revolution, they want results, they want the revival of decency, honor, and character,” he said.
“If Democrats want a nominee who’s a Democrat, a lifelong Democrat, an Obama–Biden Democrat, then join us. We can either win big or lose big, that’s a choice,” he added.
Biden praised Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and O’Rourke, casting them as the future of the Democratic Party — Klobuchar “had the grit and determination to do anything she set her mind to”, and O’Rourke was “a man who electrified this state and nation,” “a man with unlimited future.”
He reserved the highest compliment he could think of for Buttigieg — “[Buttigieg] reminds me of my son, Beau,” Biden said at an earlier campaign stop after Buttigieg endorsed him.
Buttigieg told reporters, "When I ran for president we made it clear that the whole idea was about rallying the country together to defeat Donald Trump and to win the era for the values that we share, and that was always a goal that was much bigger than me becoming president and it is in the name of that very same goal that I am delighted to endorse and support Joe Biden for president."
Klobuchar, taking the stage at the rally to chants of “Amy!” from the crowd Monday night, appealed to Texans to “vote for dignity, vote for our heart, for our country.”
And O’Rourke, whose 2018 Senate run came within inches of unseating Sen. Ted Cruz but didn’t quite get there, was there as a sharp reminder to Texans of how close they’ve come in recent years to flipping their state at various levels.
O’Rourke called Biden “the antithesis of Donald Trump,” and said he decided to endorse Biden after seeing him at a CNN town hall in Charleston, South Carolina, last week, responding with empathy to Rev. Anthony Thompson, who lost his wife in the Mother Emanuel AME church shooting in 2015.
“He wanted to heal that man, he wanted to heal Charleston, South Carolina. But as someone who lives in El Paso, Texas … I felt Joe Biden healing us,” O’Rourke said.
For Texas Democrats, gains in recent years on both the state and federal levels have been exciting and frustrating at the same time — to come close but not quite defeat Cruz, to be nine seats away from a majority in the state House. Among Texas Democrats, there’s been a tension on how to keep that momentum moving, to either take the path of centrist candidates to win over unsettled independents and moderate Republicans, or to present bold progressive candidates to activate young and Latino voters who could represent rising political forces, as their numbers have grown in recent years.
“Por ultimo, in 2018, all of us, a lot of the people who are here on this stage, ran the greatest grassroots campaign Texas had ever seen, we won more votes than any Democrat had in Texas history,” O’Rourke said, closing out his speech, “Ladies and gentlemen, el proximo presidente de los estados unidos.”
Several of O’Rourke’s former staffers, some of whom played an instrumental role in that Senate run, are working for the Sanders campaign in Texas or have moved on to work on down-ballot races for markedly more progressive candidates than Biden.
Biden’s campaign is making the case to Texas that only a moderate candidate like himself is capable of delivering progress for their state.
“He can bring together that coalition of our fired-up Democratic base, as well as independents and moderate Republicans,” Klobuchar told the crowd in Dallas.
Several voters in the crowd said they support Sanders’ proposals in principle but said they can’t see how he’d pass them, and worry that a more progressive candidate could damage the prospects of other Democrats down the ticket, especially in Texas where Republicans still control both houses in the Capitol and officials litigiously went after Obama’s policies for years.
Immediately following Klobuchar and former Democratic leader Sen. Harry Reid’s endorsement of Biden on Monday, Sanders told a rally that “the establishment” was getting “very, very nervous.”
Some voters at the Biden event on Monday said they found that suggestion condescending.
“I’m offended by somebody saying, ‘establishment’. I just want somebody who’s best for this country, and I know that’s not Donald Trump,” said Charlene Powell, 55, who voted early for Biden.
“I don’t have a card to the establishment. I’m not a card-carrying establishment member. What does that mean, ‘establishment,’ Bernie?” said her husband, Jay Powell, 62, who also voted for Biden. “We’re capable of thinking for ourselves.”
A handful of voters who spoke to BuzzFeed News at the Biden event Monday echoed what moderates and independents said in Iowa two months ago — that even if they don’t agree with Sanders on most things or would worry about his effect on down-ticket candidates, they would still vote for him in November if he wins the primary.
One Biden supporter at Monday’s rally, a former lifelong Republican who said she switched parties because of Trump and supported Buttigieg until he dropped out, said she’s excited to vote for Biden, but she, too, would vote for Bernie Sanders if it came down to it.
Judy Hockenborough, 60, was at the rally in Dallas wearing a T-shirt plastered with Buttigieg’s logo and a sign on her back that said “former Republican.”
“First I went for Beto, then I went for Pete, they’re both for Biden, so I think Biden can do it,” she said.
“I would still vote for [Sanders],” if he wins the nomination, she said, “I’m going to vote blue no matter what, because I can’t stand Trump. I feel like he’s ruined my party. I will vote for Bernie. I won’t be happy about it. I think Biden would do a much better job.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-04--Why Did Joe Biden Do So Well On Super Tuesday? These Voters Explain.

LOS ANGELES — On Sunday , Karen Badon filled out a ballot to vote early for Elizabeth Warren , after deciding that she agreed more with Warren ’ s platform than anyone else ’ s .
She didn ’ t send it in .
On the night of Super Tuesday , she stood in line at the Baldwin Hills Recreation Center in Los Angeles with a Biden for President sign in hand , the candidate she ’ d ended up voting for instead .
`` I saw all these people dropping out and they were all endorsing Biden , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can be elected , ' '' said Badon , 57 .
`` So I did not mail in my ballot .
I went to vote today , tore up my ballot , and voted for Biden . ''
Joe Biden delivered results on Super Tuesday well beyond expectations , with about 30 % of Super Tuesday voters saying in exit polls they ’ d made up their minds on who to support in the last few days , and almost half of those voters saying they ’ d decided to go with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Bernie Sanders in Massachusetts , Minnesota , and Texas , the second-largest state of the day .
The race in California was not decided by early Wednesday morning .
Badon was among the crowd at Biden ’ s election night rally in Baldwin Hills with three other women who all voted for Biden .
They talked to BuzzFeed News about how they arrived at their choice , telling part of the story of the Democratic primary 's sudden turn .
Carla Taravella , 52 , had decided she was voting for Pete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsed Biden on Monday .
“ It was very close between the two , I was back and forth , ” she said .
Buttigieg ’ s endorsement helped , but Biden was always her number two choice , because she likes his demeanor and his experience in politics .
Debbie Mars , 63 , said she ’ s been behind Biden since he announced , because of his “ kindness and civility.
” Mars , who is black , said Biden was the candidate who came across as the most genuinely invested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped Biden to a blow-out win in South Carolina this past weekend .
“ As a very proud African American , many of us are very offended at being the flavor of the week .
Many of the candidates are bubbling up , ‘ we need the black vote , we need the black vote.
’ And it makes us feel very much token .
This is a very organic thing with Joe , ” she said .
She looked at Biden ’ s track record as “ a solid policy maker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that she ’ s not worried about the fact that he ’ s 77-years-old and criticisms over his occasional verbal mishaps because “ politics is a machine anyway , he ’ s going to have plenty of people around him to keep him on the straight and narrow .
”

LOS ANGELES — On Sunday, Karen Badon filled out a ballot to vote early for Elizabeth Warren, after deciding that she agreed more with Warren’s platform than anyone else’s.
She didn’t send it in. On the night of Super Tuesday, she stood in line at the Baldwin Hills Recreation Center in Los Angeles with a Biden for President sign in hand, indicating the candidate she’d ended up voting for instead.
"I saw all these people dropping out and they were all endorsing Biden, and I thought, Biden is the one who can be elected," said Badon, 57. "So I did not mail in my ballot. I went to vote today, tore up my ballot, and voted for Biden."
Joe Biden delivered results on Super Tuesday well beyond expectations, with about 30% of Super Tuesday voters saying in exit polls they’d made up their minds on who to support in the last few days, and almost half of those voters saying they’d decided to go with Biden. He surprised with wins over Sen. Bernie Sanders in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Texas, the second-largest state of the day. The race in California was not decided by early Wednesday morning.
Badon was among the crowd at Biden’s election night rally in Baldwin Hills with three other women who all voted for Biden. They talked to BuzzFeed News about how they arrived at their choice, telling part of the story of the Democratic primary's sudden turn.
Carla Taravella, 52, had decided she was voting for Pete Buttigieg, until he dropped out and endorsed Biden on Monday.
“It was very close between the two, I was back and forth,” she said. Buttigieg’s endorsement helped, but Biden was always her number two choice, because she likes his demeanor and his experience in politics.
Debbie Mars, 63, said she’s been behind Biden since he announced, because of his “kindness and civility.”
Mars, who is black, said Biden was the candidate who came across as the most genuinely invested in black communities, a view that helped Biden to a blowout win in South Carolina this past weekend.
“As a very proud African American, many of us are very offended at being the flavor of the week. Many of the candidates are bubbling up, ‘We need the black vote; we need the black vote.’ And it makes us feel very much token. This is a very organic thing with Joe,” she said.
She looked at Biden’s track record as “a solid policymaker, decision-maker,” she said, adding that she’s not worried about the fact that he’s 77 years old and criticisms over his occasional verbal mishaps because “politics is a machine anyway — he’s going to have plenty of people around him to keep him on the straight and narrow.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-04--Joe Biden And His Campaign Had An Absolute Blast On Super Tuesday

LOS ANGELES — Before the polls closed in California on Super Tuesday , and possibly days before the full results from the two largest states would be known , Joe Biden took the stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd to say he might have defeated Sen. Bernie Sanders .
“ They told us when we got to Super Tuesday , it ’ d be over .
Well , it may be over for the other guy !
” he said to roars of approval in Los Angeles .
“ We are very much alive , ” he shouted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the updated stump speech he ’ s been giving since his resounding win in South Carolina .
In contrast to the long evenings he 'd spent over the past 10 months sticking around to shake every hand and grasp every shoulder in relatively small crowds at his events , he stuck around to talk to many people Tuesday night but left dozens still clamoring to meet him as he wrapped up .
Not long after Biden left the stage , California ’ s polls closed and the Associated Press immediately called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — for Sanders .
Biden , though , had the kind of night that was unthinkable for him three weeks ago , when he bailed out of New Hampshire hours before results would place him a distant fifth and raise doubts his campaign would last the day .
North Carolina , Virginia , Alabama , Tennessee , Arkansas , and Oklahoma all fell into the Biden column Tuesday .
So did Minnesota , where he received a late assist from Sen. Amy Klobuchar , who suspended her campaign Monday and quickly endorsed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Sanders and the state ’ s senior senator , Elizabeth Warren , in a total surprise .
Early Wednesday morning , Biden officially won Texas , the second-largest state on the map on Tuesday , and a state that Sanders badly hoped to win himself .
Biden ’ s confidence , already on the upswing since South Carolina , was reinforced .
After months when he could do no right , for the next 72 hours it seemed like Biden could do no wrong .
In the days between primaries , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg , another recent dropout , and from another former rival , former Texas representative Beto O ’ Rourke .
Aides to the former vice president could hardly contain themselves on Twitter .
It was a somewhat ironic home run trot — over the first 10 months of his campaign , they often trashed the social media platform and wound up on the receiving end of its users ’ endless criticism and attacks .
The real conversation wasn ’ t happening there — the real voters weren ’ t there , this logic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be fooled into fighting its battles or getting too distracted there .
But there Biden ’ s team was Tuesday night , tapping out # Joementum as fast as their fingers could .
And , just before 9:30 p.m .
ET , the candidate 's Twitter account dropped an eight-second meme saturated in swagger .
“ I ain ’ t dead , ” the 77-year-old Biden , says — in footage from his interview for a New York Times endorsement he didn ’ t receive .
“ And I ’ m not @ @ @ @ @

LOS ANGELES — Before the polls closed in California on Super Tuesday, and possibly days before the full results from the two largest states would be known, Joe Biden took the stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd to say he might have defeated Sen. Bernie Sanders.
“They told us when we got to Super Tuesday, it’d be over. Well, it may be over for the other guy!” he said to roars of approval in Los Angeles.
“We are very much alive,” he shouted.
Biden soon settled into an abridged version of the updated stump speech he’s been giving since his resounding win in South Carolina. In contrast to the long evenings he'd spent over the past 10 months sticking around to shake every hand and grasp every shoulder in relatively small crowds at his events, he stuck around to talk to many people Tuesday night but left dozens still clamoring to meet him as he wrapped up.
Not long after Biden left the stage, California’s polls closed and the Associated Press immediately called the state — the biggest Super Tuesday prize — for Sanders. Biden, though, had the kind of night that was unthinkable for him three weeks ago, when he bailed out of New Hampshire hours before results would place him a distant fifth and raise doubts his campaign would last the day.
North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma all fell into the Biden column Tuesday. So did Minnesota, where he received a late assist from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who suspended her campaign Monday and quickly endorsed his. And in Massachusetts, he beat both Sanders and the state’s senior senator, Elizabeth Warren, in a total surprise.
Early Wednesday morning, Biden officially won Texas, the second-largest state on the map on Tuesday, and a state that Sanders badly hoped to win himself.
Biden’s confidence, already on the upswing since South Carolina, was reinforced. After months when he could do no right, for the next 72 hours it seemed like Biden could do no wrong. In the days between primaries, he had scored endorsements from Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg, another recent dropout, and from another former rival, former Texas representative Beto O’Rourke.
Aides to the former vice president could hardly contain themselves on Twitter. It was a somewhat ironic home run trot — over the first 10 months of his campaign, they often trashed the social media platform and wound up on the receiving end of its users’ endless criticism and attacks. The real conversation wasn’t happening there — the real voters weren’t there, this logic went, and so the campaign would not be fooled into fighting its battles or getting too distracted there.
But there Biden’s team was Tuesday night, tapping out #Joementum as fast as their fingers could. And, just before 9:30 p.m. ET, the candidate's Twitter account dropped an eight-second meme saturated in swagger.
“I ain’t dead,” the 77-year-old Biden, says — in footage from his interview for a New York Times endorsement he didn’t receive. “And I’m not gonna die.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-04--Jeff Sessions Is One Step Closer To Winning His Old Senate Seat Back

WASHINGTON — Former attorney general Jeff Sessions moved one step closer to reclaiming his old Senate seat Tuesday night despite a lack of support from his former boss , President Donald Trump .
Sessions earned a spot in a runoff election on March 31 for the Republican nomination for an Alabama Senate seat Tuesday night , according to a call from Decision Desk HQ as results continued flowing in .
He ’ ll race former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville in the runoff to determine which Republican will challenge Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in the general election .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key to Democrats ’ attempts to regaining the majority in the Senate , making this a key race to watch .
Jones ’ loss would make it difficult for Democrats to overcome Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s stronghold over the Republican-led Senate .
Tuesday ’ s Republican primary was crowded .
In addition to Tuberville , Sessions faced Rep. Bradley Byrne , Roy Moore — the former judge accused of child molestation — and three other candidates .
According to Alabama law , primary candidates who win with less than 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runoff election against the runner-up before advancing to the general election .
Sessions held the Alabama Senate seat for two decades before Trump tapped him to serve as US attorney general .
Trump forced him to resign in 2018 , a year after he recused himself from the Russia investigation that led to the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel .
Since then , the president has lashed out against Sessions , saying he regrets choosing him as the nation ’ s top attorney .
Tuberville coached football at Auburn University from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dubbed a carpetbagger by opponents for switching residencies from Florida to Alabama in 2018 to run for governor before running for Senate in 2020 .
Trump holds a 60 % approval rating in the deep red state but didn ’ t endorse in the race , leading the other Republicans to criticize Sessions ’ fraught relationship with the president while cozying up to Trump themselves .
The winner of the runoff will face Jones , a Democrat who won the historically Republican seat in a November 2017 special election .
But first , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contend with what ’ s sure to come in the following three weeks — a bevy of campaign stunts from both candidates aligning themselves with the president and trying hard to point out where their opponents have broken with Trump .
In the days leading up to the election , the top Republican candidates bombarded Alabama television with attack ads .
Byrne — who ’ s expected to place third and will not qualify for the runoff — targeted the incumbent in a statewide “ Fire Doug Jones ” tour .
The first-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after upsetting Moore nearly three years ago .
Some Republican lawmakers had picked a side in the primary .
Rep. Liz Cheney , a member of House Republican leadership and daughter of the former vice president , tweeting her endorsement of Byrne last week .
Sen. Kevin Cramer , who served in the House of Representatives before moving over to the Senate in 2019 , donated $ 10,000 to Byrne after he encouraged him to run , long before Sessions entered the race .
“ I really think the world of him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think he ’ s great and a good member.
” He added that he had n't expected Sessions ’ last-minute entry into the race .
Outgoing Rep. Martha Roby of Alabama was less inclined to weigh in .
When asked if she was pushing for either candidate in the primary last week , Roby told BuzzFeed News simply , “ I ’ m not.
” This is a developing story .
Check back for updates and follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.

WASHINGTON — Former attorney general Jeff Sessions moved one step closer to reclaiming his old Senate seat Tuesday night despite a lack of support from his former boss, President Donald Trump.
Sessions came in second in the Republican primary for the Alabama Senate seat, but he earned a spot in a runoff election on March 31. Decision Desk HQ called the race with former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville narrowly beating Sessions in Tuesday's election, 33-32%. The two Republicans will face each other in the runoff to determine who will challenge Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in the general election.
The outcome of the November general will be key to Democrats’ attempts to regaining the majority in the Senate, making this a key race to watch. Jones’ loss would make it difficult for Democrats to overcome Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s stronghold over the Republican-led Senate.
Tuesday’s Republican primary was crowded. In addition to Tuberville, Sessions faced Rep. Bradley Byrne, Roy Moore — the former judge accused of child molestation — and three other candidates. According to Alabama law, primary candidates who win with less than 50% of the vote automatically enter a runoff election against the runner-up before advancing to the general election.
Sessions held the Alabama Senate seat for two decades before Trump tapped him to serve as US attorney general. Trump forced him to resign in 2018, a year after he recused himself from the Russia investigation that led to the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel. Since then, the president has lashed out against Sessions, saying he regrets choosing him as the nation’s top attorney.
Tuberville coached football at Auburn University from 1999 to 2008. He has been dubbed a carpetbagger by opponents for switching residencies from Florida to Alabama in 2018 to run for governor before running for Senate in 2020.
Trump holds a 60% approval rating in the deep red state but didn’t endorse in the race, leading the other Republicans to criticize Sessions’ fraught relationship with the president while cozying up to Trump themselves.
The winner of the runoff will face Jones, a Democrat who won the historically Republican seat in a November 2017 special election. But first, Republican voters in Alabama will have to contend with what’s sure to come in the following three weeks — a bevy of campaign stunts from both candidates aligning themselves with the president and trying hard to point out where their opponents have broken with Trump.
In the days leading up to the election, the top Republican candidates bombarded Alabama television with attack ads. Byrne — who’s expected to place third and will not qualify for the runoff — targeted the incumbent in a statewide “Fire Doug Jones” tour. The first-term Democratic senator faces a tough reelection race after upsetting Moore nearly three years ago.
Some Republican lawmakers had picked a side in the primary. Rep. Liz Cheney, a member of House Republican leadership and daughter of the former vice president, tweeting her endorsement of Byrne last week. Sen. Kevin Cramer, who served in the House of Representatives before moving over to the Senate in 2019, donated $10,000 to Byrne after he encouraged him to run, long before Sessions entered the race.
“I really think the world of him,” Cramer told BuzzFeed News of Byrne. “I think he’s great and a good member.” He added that he hadn't expected Sessions’ last-minute entry into the race.
Outgoing Rep. Martha Roby of Alabama was less inclined to weigh in.
When asked if she was pushing for either candidate in the primary last week, Roby told BuzzFeed News simply, “I’m not.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-04--Michael Bloomberg Did Not Have A Super Tuesday

WEST PALM BEACH , Florida — Michael Bloomberg ’ s return on investment turned out to be very small .
A late entry to the presidential race , Bloomberg skipped the first four early states and constructed his entire strategy around winning big on Super Tuesday , spending over $ 500 million to put himself into contention during those contests .
But it didn ’ t pay off ; his rival Joe Biden surged , and Bloomberg ’ s status in the race looks uncertain after Tuesday .
Despite the disappointing results and increasing pressure on him to drop out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell the audience here on Tuesday night that he would leave the race .
He spent the day campaigning in Florida , which votes on March 17 .
Bloomberg was introduced by supporter Judy Sheindlin , the eponymous host of Judge Judy , and he spoke to a large ballroom audience in a convention center .
“ If I ’ m the nominee , let me make you this promise : We will beat Donald Trump here in Florida and in swing states around the country , ” Bloomberg said .
“ Tonight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of Super Tuesday states .
And as the results come in , here ’ s what is clear : No matter how many delegates we win tonight , we have done something no one thought was possible .
In just three months , we ’ ve gone from 1 % in the polls to being a contender for the Democratic nomination for president.
” Though Bloomberg ’ s campaign manager , Kevin Sheekey , told reporters earlier in the day that the candidate would “ absolutely not ” drop out on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would reassess based on the results .
“ I think you make an assessment in any campaign like this after every time there 's a vote , ” Sheekey said .
Sheekey left the door open to the idea that Super Tuesday could show that Bloomberg would not win the nomination .
“ We will find out how well he does tonight , ” Sheekey said .
“ We will find out whether Mike Bloomberg is on his way to becoming the candidate , or we will find out that Mike Bloomberg is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to whomever that candidate will be.
” And after Bloomberg ’ s event , Sheekey put out a statement that didn ’ t say he was dropping out but also did not definitively say he would fight on .
In the statement , Sheekey said , “ We ’ ve built a nationwide coalition focused on building a better future for America , and that starts with defeating Donald Trump in November.
” He pointed out that “ only ” one-third of delegates are awarded on Super Tuesday .
But Sheekey also emphasized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeating Donald Trump in November . ''
Earlier this week , Bloomberg ’ s campaign announced events in Michigan and Florida following Super Tuesday .
The campaign returned to New York on Tuesday night and has no public events scheduled for Wednesday .
Bloomberg strong-armed his way into the Democratic primary with an unprecedentedly massive ad spending campaign that raised his profile nationally .
For a while , this boosted his poll numbers enough that he looked like a serious threat to capture the anti–Bernie Sanders vote .
But several factors converged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
His shaky performances on the debate stage shattered the carefully constructed image conveyed in his advertising , and Biden ’ s win in South Carolina gave the former vice president a surge at exactly the right time for Super Tuesday .
Biden ’ s victory injected energy into his formerly moribund campaign and convinced fellow moderates Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg to drop out of the race and endorse him , consolidating against Sanders .
This cued wavering voters — many of whom are more focused on beating Trump than supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden instead of Bloomberg .
And it quickly became clear how tentative the former New York City mayor 's support had been when news outlets called first Virginia and then North Carolina for Biden within seconds of polls closing , indicating that the former vice president had won by large margins .
Biden also won other states into which Bloomberg poured huge amounts of resources , like Oklahoma and Tennessee .
Bloomberg did win American Samoa .
As of press time , the results in Texas and California , two of the states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not come in yet .
He spent Tuesday insisting he would stay in the race , becoming irritated with reporters who pressed him about whether he would do like other moderate candidates and drop out to endorse Biden in order to stop Sanders .
The former mayor admitted that his only path to the nomination was through a contested convention .
And on Tuesday night , voters at his West Palm Beach event said they hoped he would fight on .
“ I just hope he takes it all the way to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52 .
“ Biden ’ s a great guy , but he ’ s missing something .
I don ’ t think he ’ s the strongest candidate.
” “ Hopefully he ’ ll do better in the other states , ” said Susanna Scavazzon , 47 .
“ I ’ ll still vote for him , ” said Amy Bissinger , 39 .
“ Delegate-wise , we still have wiggle room .
We ’ re still waiting on California and Texas.
” “ He is in the top three , thank god @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that he said he was running so late .
I ’ m hoping somehow he can change that around .
”

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Michael Bloomberg’s return on investment turned out to be very small.
A late entry to the presidential race, Bloomberg skipped the first four early states and constructed his entire strategy around winning big on Super Tuesday, spending over $500 million to put himself into contention during those contests. But it didn’t pay off; his rival Joe Biden surged, and Bloomberg’s status in the race looks uncertain after Tuesday.
Despite the disappointing results and increasing pressure on him to drop out, the billionaire former mayor did not tell the audience here on Tuesday night that he would leave the race. He spent the day campaigning in Florida, which votes on March 17. Bloomberg was introduced by supporter Judy Sheindlin, the eponymous host of Judge Judy, and he spoke to a large ballroom audience in a convention center.
“If I’m the nominee, let me make you this promise: We will beat Donald Trump here in Florida and in swing states around the country,” Bloomberg said. “Tonight, the polls are still open in a number of Super Tuesday states. And as the results come in, here’s what is clear: No matter how many delegates we win tonight, we have done something no one thought was possible. In just three months, we’ve gone from 1% in the polls to being a contender for the Democratic nomination for president.”
Though Bloomberg’s campaign manager, Kevin Sheekey, told reporters earlier in the day that the candidate would “absolutely not” drop out on Tuesday, he also said the campaign would reassess based on the results. “I think you make an assessment in any campaign like this after every time there's a vote,” Sheekey said.
Sheekey left the door open to the idea that Super Tuesday could show that Bloomberg would not win the nomination. “We will find out how well he does tonight,” Sheekey said. “We will find out whether Mike Bloomberg is on his way to becoming the candidate, or we will find out that Mike Bloomberg is going to be the most important person to whomever that candidate will be.”
And after Bloomberg’s event, Sheekey put out a statement that didn’t say he was dropping out but also did not definitively say he would fight on. In the statement, Sheekey said, “We’ve built a nationwide coalition focused on building a better future for America, and that starts with defeating Donald Trump in November.” He pointed out that “only” one-third of delegates are awarded on Super Tuesday. But Sheekey also emphasized: "Our number one priority remains defeating Donald Trump in November."
Earlier this week, Bloomberg’s campaign announced events in Michigan and Florida following Super Tuesday. The campaign returned to New York on Tuesday night and has no public events scheduled for Wednesday.
Bloomberg strong-armed his way into the Democratic primary with an unprecedentedly massive ad spending campaign that raised his profile nationally. For a while, this boosted his poll numbers enough that he looked like a serious threat to capture the anti–Bernie Sanders vote.
But several factors converged to make everything go wrong for Bloomberg on Tuesday. His shaky performances on the debate stage shattered the carefully constructed image conveyed in his advertising, and Biden’s win in South Carolina gave the former vice president a surge at exactly the right time for Super Tuesday. Biden’s victory injected energy into his formerly moribund campaign and convinced fellow moderates Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg to drop out of the race and endorse him, consolidating against Sanders.
This cued wavering voters — many of whom are more focused on beating Trump than supporting any particular candidate — to go with Biden instead of Bloomberg. And it quickly became clear how tentative the former New York City mayor's support had been when news outlets called first Virginia and then North Carolina for Biden within seconds of polls closing, indicating that the former vice president had won by large margins. Biden also won other states into which Bloomberg poured huge amounts of resources, like Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Bloomberg did win American Samoa. As of Wednesday morning he is a distant third in the delegate-rich states of Texas and California, but at least with a chance of getting delegates out of each.
He spent Tuesday insisting he would stay in the race, becoming irritated with reporters who pressed him about whether he would do like other moderate candidates and drop out to endorse Biden in order to stop Sanders. The former mayor admitted that his only path to the nomination was through a contested convention.
And on Tuesday night, voters at his West Palm Beach event said they hoped he would fight on.
“I just hope he takes it all the way to the convention,” said Jean Belizaire, 52. “Biden’s a great guy, but he’s missing something. I don’t think he’s the strongest candidate.”
“Hopefully he’ll do better in the other states,” said Susanna Scavazzon, 47.
“I’ll still vote for him,” said Amy Bissinger, 39. “Delegate-wise, we still have wiggle room. We’re still waiting on California and Texas.”
“He is in the top three, thank god,” said Deborah Kinniry, 64. “I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that he said he was running so late. I’m hoping somehow he can change that around.”


buzzfeed--2020-03-04--Mueller Memos Part 6: What Witnesses Told Investigators About Trump And Russia

BuzzFeed News sued the US government under the Freedom of Information Act for the right to see all the work that Robert Mueller ’ s team kept secret .
Today we are publishing the sixth installment of the FBI ’ s summaries of interviews with witnesses .
The Justice Department and FBI have turned over to BuzzFeed News and CNN the latest cache of highly secretive interview summaries from former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into Russia ’ s interference in the 2016 election and President Donald Trump ’ s attempts to obstruct the inquiry .
The documents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kushner , former campaign chair Paul Manafort , former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates , and former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon .
Excerpts from some of the interview summaries , known as FBI 302s , are sprinkled throughout Mueller ’ s report , but many details were omitted .
For example , interview summaries released to BuzzFeed News last month revealed that former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe told investigators he had met with other officials several times after FBI director James Comey was fired to discuss `` whether there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ” and other Russia-related investigations .
The summaries also showed that senior advisers Stephen Miller and Kushner , along with former communications director Hope Hicks , sometimes drafted tweets for Trump , that Bannon didn ’ t think the “ Putin stuff ” was a big deal , and that former national security adviser Michael Flynn sought guidance from Obama administration officials Susan Rice and Ben Rhodes “ about how to do things.
” Since last November , the government has released about 1,700 pages of interview summaries representing more than 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released thus far have been heavily redacted .
BuzzFeed News began a legal challenge last month to one particular category of exemption from the Freedom of Information Act .
The Mueller report was the most hotly anticipated prosecutorial document in a generation , laying out the evidence of Russia 's interference in the 2016 election and Trump ’ s attempts to obstruct the investigation .
But at 448 pages , it reflected only a tiny fraction of the primary-source documents that Mueller ’ s team had amassed over the course of its investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and later CNN , filed Freedom of Information Act lawsuits against the FBI and Justice Department to gain access to the thousands of pages of interview summaries of all the witnesses who spoke to FBI agents and investigators .
Here are the highlights from this installment : The documents include a heavily redacted interview summary from April 11 , 2018 , with Jared Kushner , the president 's son-in-law and senior adviser , which was released following a lengthy review by intelligence agencies .
Kushner told investigators during the eight-hour interview that former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Time Warner luncheon with Henry Kissinger and Dimitri Simes , who ran a pro-Kremlin think tank in Washington , DC .
Kushner told agents he pursued Simes at a time when “ the campaign was having a hard time getting people to support them.
” Simes had reportedly tried to peddle to Kushner compromising information on Bill and Hillary Clinton ’ s ties to Russia .
But Kushner told investigators he “ never got from Simes information that could be ‘ operationalized.
’ ” During his interview with investigators , Kushner also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said to Kushner , `` we like what your candidate is saying .
It 's refreshing . ''
Kushner said “ they discussed Syria and having the Russian generals brief ” national security adviser Michael Flynn .
According to the interview summary , Flynn said there was not a secure line of communication , so Kushner asked whether they could communicate using the Russian Embassy .
Kislyak quickly said , “ no that wo n't work.
” “ Kushner told Kislyak that he wanted to make sure he was speaking with people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the 33-page interview summary said .
Kislyak also met with Avi Berkowitz , an attorney and political adviser to Trump and Kushner .
Kislyak told Berkowitz that Kushner “ should meet with someone else who was a better channel through which to communicate to Putin.
” Kushner also discussed his meeting with Sergey Gorkov , the head of the Russian state-owned bank Vnesheconombank ( VEB ) .
Kushner told investigators he did not prepare for the meeting and that no one from the transition team had “ googled Gorkov.
” “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very thoughtful gifts ; a bag of dirt/soil from the town in Belarus where Kushner ’ s family is from and a painting , ” the interview summary says .
Kushner told investigators he did not recall anything about VEB “ being sanctioned , or any discussions of US sanctions.
” A former foreign policy adviser ripped into Trump ’ s “ shady ” campaign and the president himself J.D .
Gordon , a Trump campaign adviser during the 2016 election , unloaded on Trump and the campaign , telling Mueller ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agents were speaking with him as he believed there were a lot of shenanigans happening at the highest levels.
” Gordon , a Navy veteran and former Pentagon spokesperson , spoke in unusually vivid detail about dysfunction within the campaign ’ s foreign policy team and the controversial changes to the Republican platform surrounding Ukraine during the 2016 convention .
Several noteworthy details from his interviews with the special counsel ’ s office were excluded from Mueller ’ s final report .
“ Gordon described the Trump campaign as being disorganized and chaotic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Agents to understand that concept when conducting this investigation , ” according to an August 2017 interview summary .
Among Gordon ’ s complaints were that Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks had lied about contacts between the campaign and Russians .
“ Gordon said he hoped the Russian investigation was very thorough , ” the summary says .
“ Gordon thinks Trump must be guilty of something .
He is constantly ripping people off .
Trump lies all the time and surrounds himself with people who do n't tell the truth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Russians .
Gordon thinks she probably lied to protect Trump whether she knew anything or not.
” He also complained that he didn ’ t get paid for his work on the campaign as promised , prompting him to quit on Aug. 10 , 2016 .
“ Gordon was offered a position with the Presidential Transition Team but said he would n't show up until he got a check and he never received payment , ” the summary says .
“ The campaign was shady and dishonest.
” Gordon said then-senator Jeff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s foreign policy team and later became Trump ’ s attorney general , was a “ good friend ” who had offered him the campaign job .
But things didn ’ t go well , according to Gordon .
“ Gordon described the foreign policy team as being run like a 6th grade student council with no real authority or power , ” the summary states .
Gordon also said that “ the last person to speak to Trump has the most influence on his decisions , ” and that Jared Kushner “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In one apparent example of campaign dysfunction , Gordon said that Walid Phares , another foreign policy adviser , “ had come up with a list of ambassadors to meet with and when Kushner found out , Kushner said only he would be meeting with ambassadors.
” Kushner “ came up with an idea , which Gordon jokingly referred to as ‘ win a call with Kushner , ’ where campaign members were asked to write bios on various ambassadors and Kushner would have a phone call with whoever wrote the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phares quit two weeks into the gig after Rick Dearborn , another campaign official , told the advisers “ they could n't meet with ambassadors.
” Gordon and someone whose name is redacted “ got stuck writing the bios , ” and Kushner eventually met with ambassadors for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia , according to the summary .
“ At one point , [ REDACTED ] sent Dearborn a note about Kushner 's outreaches after finding out [ REDACTED ] tried to setup a meeting with the Saudi prince , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had [ REDACTED ] talk to Dearborn about going through the embassies to setup meetings because back channels are always about money.
” Gordon said it was Sam Clovis , another campaign adviser , who came up with the list of who would serve on the foreign policy team .
The list included Phares , Carter Page , George Papadopoulos , and Keith Kellogg , among others .
“ Eventually Clovis was pushed out of his role , ” Gordon ’ s summary states .
Page and Papadopoulos “ were bad news for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying to the FBI as part of Mueller ’ s probe .
In May 2016 , Gordon and Phares were planning to fire Papadopoulos “ after a story broke about his statements to the British press , ” but Clovis wanted to give him another chance , the summary says .
“ They were worried that if they fired Papadopoulos he would go to the press and tell them that the foreign policy advisor team was a scam.
” Gordon spoke to investigators about two key events that Mueller scrutinized in his final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vivid picture of one of those events , an encounter with Sergey Kislyak at a reception following an event for ambassadors in Cleveland at the same time as the 2016 Republican National Convention .
Mueller ’ s report said that “ Gordon ran into Kislyak as the two prepared plates of food , and they decided to sit at the same table to eat.
” There , they were joined by Page and the ambassadors from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan .
“ As they ate , Gordon and Kislyak talked for what Gordon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes , during which Gordon again mentioned that he meant what he said in his speech about improving U.S.-Russia relations.
” Gordon ’ s interview summary notes that the reception was “ a networking event ” that offered free food and drink , and that Gordon and Kislyak encountered one another at “ the chicken satay tray.
” Gordon also said that he “ knew the Kazakh ambassador prior to this event.
” Page , according to Gordon , “ briefly spoke with Kislyak and the Azerbaijan ambassador.
” Gordon said he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; they also “ talked about Russia 's attempt to warn the U.S. about the Boston bomber.
” Gordon also shed light on how the Republican platform came to present less forceful language around Ukraine and Russia than what was originally proposed .
On March 31 , 2016 , the foreign policy team held a two-hour meeting in Washington , DC , Gordon said .
It was then that Papadopoulos proposed a Trump–Putin meeting .
“ Gordon described Papadopoulos as acting on his own and wheeling and dealing , ” the interview summary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with the ambassador in the United Kingdom and Putin was interested in meeting with Trump , working through the ambassador to make it happen .
Sessions said it was a bad idea and shut it down .
Apparently Papadopoulos kept doing it , repeatedly going around Gordon.
” During both his August 2017 interview and a 2019 interview with Mueller ’ s office , Gordon recalled comments Trump made about Ukraine and Russia .
“ In that meeting , Trump said the Europeans should do more about the situation in Ukraine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Gordon on Feb. 14 , 2019 .
“ Trump had also said he wanted better relations with Russia and he did n't want World War III over Ukraine.
” Mueller ’ s report detailed how months later at the RNC , delegate Diana Denman proposed an amendment to the platform that expressed support for Ukraine in the midst of Russia ’ s `` ongoing military aggression '' — support that included `` providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine 's armed forces.
” “ Gordon stated that he flagged this amendment because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Gordon personally heard the candidate say at the March 31 foreign policy meeting — namely , that the Europeans should take primary responsibility for any assistance to Ukraine , that there should be improved U.S.-Russia relations , and that he did not want to start World War III over that region , ” the Mueller report says .
The amendment was eventually edited from “ lethal assistance ” to “ appropriate assistance.
” In his 2017 interview summary , Gordon said Denman was “ hell-bent on arming Ukraine ” and that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ukraine and was involved in elections monitoring there .
Denman was a [ Ted ] Cruz delegate and a protagonist.
” Gordon said Denman “ was upset ” by his desire to “ withdraw the whole amendment.
” He also said that Trump and Manafort “ exacerbated the issue by lying about the platform in the news on July 31.
” “ Manafort denied the campaign 's involvement in changing the platform in an interview with Chuck Todd , ” the summary states .
“ Gordon explained that the campaign was involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump does n't pay attention and ended up saying the same thing in an interview with George Stephanopoulos .
Trump said he had heard the campaign was involved in the change but he had nothing to do with the platform change.
” Near the end of his interview that day , Gordon heaped more criticism on Trump — but stopped short of accusing him of collusion .
Though the beginning of the sentence is redacted , the summary says “ Trump was involved in inappropriate activity ” and that “ Gordon made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is involved in , business deals with Russia , not paying his policy office .
The investigators could likely find something illegal Trump was involved in but Gordon is not aware of any election meddling that Trump was involved in.
” In May and June 2017 , prosecutors and FBI agents interviewed two delegates to the Republican National Convention to understand what happened with the party ’ s platform on Ukraine .
One delegate proposed language pledging “ lethal defensive weapons ” to Ukraine in its fight against Russia , but the platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In his report , the special counsel wrote that his investigation didn ’ t establish that the efforts by Gordon — a Trump official watching the process — “ to dilute a portion of the Republican Party platform on providing assistance to Ukraine were undertaken at the behest of candidate Trump or Russia.
” Diana Denman wanted the party to take a strong stand and arm Ukraine .
She said Gordon told her he needed to clear that amendment with “ New York.
” Denman asked Gordon three times with whom he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly told her it was Donald Trump .
“ Denman noted she only shared Trump ’ s name as the guy in New York with the interviewing agents and refused to tell it to reporters , ” the summary said .
Denman ’ s amendment was set to the side — the only one tabled during the meeting .
Another delegate , Rachel Hoff , said the campaign hadn ’ t weighed in elsewhere about the platform and described Gordon ’ s move as a “ rare intervention.
” Gordon told the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid “ World War III ” with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine .
He denied changing the platform and said Denman was “ hell bent ” on arming Ukraine .
Gordon denied telling Denman that he was ever on the phone with Trump and said he called Rick Dearborn , another campaign adviser .
He “ might have said to Denman that he had talked to Trump about these issues in the past ” and accused Denman of leaking the changes to the press .
The FBI summary notes , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exacerbated ” the matter by making misstatements on TV about the campaign ’ s involvement in the platform changes .
A Trump campaign aide said Flynn set up a transition period call between Trump and the Afghan president Matthew Miller , another Trump campaign aide , says he knew Michael Flynn — Trump ’ s eventual national security adviser who was fired less than a month into the job — from time spent as a civilian Defense Department employee in Afghanistan .
Flynn used his connections there to set up a phone call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the transition period , a summary of an October 2017 interview with Miller says .
Flynn set up the call “ in December 2016 utilizing an ambassador contact Flynn had in Afghanistan.
” Miller also provided details about the changes to the Republican platform in 2016 regarding Ukraine .
“ The campaign was there to target amendments that may be troublesome , ” Miller ’ s interview summary reads .
“ It was as non-nefarious as it comes since the NATO mentality was if you attack one you attack all and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defend Ukraine , ” Miller said of the changes .
The interview summary states , “ Miller did n't think it made sense for the platform to lock the president in to making such a significant commitment to defend Ukraine .
Gordon talked to Denman about lightening the amendment and eventually the lightened version passed the vote.
” Miller also described Denman as “ grandmotherly , ” the summary says .
When he and Gordon spoke with her about changing her amendment , she was “ hesitant about the changes but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Russian national who wanted to sell him dirt on Hillary Clinton The documents included an interview summary with a mysterious figure : Henry Oknyansky , also known as Henry Greenberg , a Russian national who in 2016 wanted to sell Roger Stone dirt on Hillary Clinton for $ 2 million .
Stone ’ s meeting with Greenberg was publicized in a Washington Post story in June 2018 .
A month later , investigators from Mueller ’ s team met with Greenberg at the special counsel ’ s office in Washington , DC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stone and Republican strategist Michael Caputo in May 2016 .
Greenberg was joined at the meeting with his Ukrainian associate , Alexei Rasin , “ who offered Stone damaging information on Hillary Clinton.
” “ Rasin formerly worked for Clinton and was allegedly in possession of financial statements which demonstrated her involvement in money laundering activities with Rasin ’ s companies .
Stone inquired about the amount of financial misappropriations related to Clinton and asked if it was in the amount of millions .
Rasin relayed that it was rather somewhere in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately refuted the offer and stated that he did not believe Donald Trump would pay for opposition research information .
The meeting then concluded shortly thereafter , ” the interview summary states .
Greenberg said Rasin has tried to find other buyers for the information he had but was unsuccessful .
Greenberg told investigators his motivation was purely financial as he would have received a portion of the proceeds from the sale .
The Washington Post story quoted Stone as saying that Greenberg was a longtime FBI informant .
The interview summary says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents whose names are redacted and that he “ still maintains contact with many individuals who may be of interest to the FBI.
” Former FBI director James Comey found government documents while packing for a move Former FBI director James Comey called the bureau two months after Trump fired him to let officials know that “ while packing for an upcoming move , he found a folder with government documents , ” according to the interview summary of James Rybicki , Comey ’ s former chief of staff .
Rybicki told Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a couple weeks prior , Comey had “ called the front office telephone number and left a telephone message for Rybicki , ” who returned Comey ’ s call the same day .
“ Comey agreed to provide the documents the next day when individuals from FBI Finance & Facilities Division ( FFD ) were returning Comey 's personal property , ” the interview summary says .
The next day , employees from the FFD “ retrieved one blue ‘ standard ’ folder from Comey at his residence , ” the summary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one page email , a one page chart with handwritten notes on the back and civil litigation paperwork for Comey.
” The interview summary doesn ’ t go into any more detail about the nature of the documents .
Rybicki got the records on the same day , then “ requested guidance from FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe later that evening on how to handle the documents , ” the summary says .
McCabe asked that “ Comey 's civil litigation paperwork go to the FBI 's Office of General Counsel ( OGC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to FBI 's Records Management Division .
Rybicki sent the civil litigation paperwork to [ REDACTED ] the Acting Deputy General Counsel at OGC.
” The interview summary says Rybicki also spoke with then–FBI associate deputy director David Bowdich “ regarding the remaining documents.
” Someone whose name is redacted “ retrieved the documents from Rybicki ” a couple days later .
Previously released interview summaries detailed how Rybicki and Comey kept track of the memos the former FBI director wrote about his interactions with Trump .
Rob Goldstone talked about a gift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mogul Sam Clovis , the Trump adviser who briefly served in the Agriculture Department , told FBI agents he ordered George Papadopoulos to “ shut up ” and to not engage with Russia during the 2016 campaign .
Clovis described three attempts by campaign surrogates or supporters to set up meetings with Russia , but said he warned his colleagues to steer clear .
During his October 2017 interview , Clovis called himself a “ Sovietologist ” and said he recommended a policy that any paid members of the campaign be required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Russia can be very sneaky and will try to distract you on one side while sneaking by you on the other side , ” Clovis told the agents .
He explained that he felt like he was “ herding cats ” while organizing the scattershot foreign policy team and others on the Trump campaign .
The summary by FBI agents recorded Clovis saying Gen. Michael Flynn did not have “ much depth or thought.
” He said Papadopoulos couldn ’ t be trusted to not talk to the press .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said Ivanka Trump was the president ’ s “ blind spot , his princess.
” Clovis told the agents that he worked briefly with Ivanka on policies about the Family and Medical Leave Act but he had to remind her that “ they were running as Republicans ” — and helped her develop more conservative policies .
Describing himself as one of the few people who emerged from the campaign without any “ scars , ” Clovis said he was troubled when the Republican Party changed its platform on Ukraine at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin .
“ The ‘ bromance ’ Trump had with Putin bothered Clovis but the press and the public fed on it , ” FBI agents wrote .
“ Clovis felt he had to clean up after with a shovel because Trump played up his bromance with Putin for the public.
” Roughly 200 pages of the summaries are dedicated to “ proffers ” by Rick Gates , interviews with FBI agents after his plea deal to tell them everything he knew on more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Grand Havana Room in Manhattan with Paul Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik , who is suspected of being a Russian spy .
There , Manafort was showing off about his success on the Trump campaign and told Kilimnik about a strategy to win blue-collar workers in Michigan , Minnesota , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin — the very states about which Manafort would later turn over internal polling data .
At that same meeting , Gates said Manafort turned down an offer to work on behalf of ousted Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House continued through at least February 2018 .
Gates told the agents that Manafort spoke regularly to intermediaries — such as Kushner and Rudy Giuliani — to get associates appointed to administration jobs .
Gates told the agents about his involvement in “ insider trading and/or securities fraud offenses ” connected to an identity theft company .
This section is heavily redacted .
Flynn was the campaign official who came up with the “ lock her up ” slogan , Gates said .
Giuliani was on tap to be attorney general — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overplayed his hand ” and felt he was due a much more influential role in the administration .
After the election , Gates said he was approached by an unidentified person who was close to the prime minister of Malaysia , who was accused of looting $ 700 million from a state development fund called 1MDB .
Gates said the person asked him to help “ resolve the 1MDB issue between the Malaysian government and the US government.
” Gates recalled that Trump told this person the “ issue would be resolved ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he meant.
” The person suggested meetings with H.R .
McMaster , then the national security adviser , and then–secretary of state Rex Tillerson , but Gates said those meetings wouldn ’ t be possible .
Gates drafted talking points about 1MDB but eventually dropped the issue by February 2018 .
A Manafort associate had `` no doubt '' he 'd met with Russian intelligence The documents released Monday include an interview with a prominent figure in the chess world , which sheds more light on the special counsel ’ s interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians just days after Trump was elected .
Mueller ’ s report says that senior Russian government officials — such as press secretary Dmitry Peskov and Kirill Dmitriev , the head of Russia ’ s sovereign wealth fund — traveled to New York for the match between Norwegian and Russian players in November 2016 .
Dmitriev tried to use the event to meet people close to Trump but was apparently largely unsuccessful , according to the special counsel ’ s findings .
Otherwise , the event is scarcely mentioned in the Mueller report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s team , Trump said he didn ’ t attend the event — though the Trump Organization had been asked months before to host it .
“ Although one World Chess Federation official recalled hearing from an attendee that President-Elect Trump had stopped by the tournament , the investigation did not establish that Trump or any Campaign or Transition Team official attended the event , ” the Mueller report states .
That official was Beatriz Marinello , who was then the vice president of the World Chess Federation .
Mueller ’ s team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the interview is cited only in this one instance in the final report .
But the complete interview summary , released Monday , fleshes out what the FBI heard about Trump ’ s purported attendance at the match and a Russian businessperson ’ s role in organizing the event .
Marinello said “ various celebrities and prominent businessmen from New York attended , ” including actor Woody Harrelson , and that “ the event was full of Russians.
” She said she “ remembered seeing the Russian Press Officer at the event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the person ’ s name .
“ Another individual at the event claimed that Putin was in Florida on that day , ” the summary says .
“ Marinello believed that statement to be false however , as she did not see any news coverage of Putin being in Florida.
” Marinello said Ilya Merenzon , the CEO of a company called Agon , organized the event .
She said she thought he “ may have formerly worked for ” Kirsan Ilyumzhinov , the president of the World Chess Federation who was placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the first week of the 2016 WCC , Merenzon showed Marinello a photograph on his cell phone and told her it was a photo of Donald Trump attending the event , ” Marinello ’ s interview summary reads .
“ Marinello did not get a good look at the photograph because Merenzon held it from a distance .
Marinello could tell the photograph depicted three men but could not identify any of them .
Marinello did not see Trump at the event but stated that it was possible he had attended in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have seen him.
” Marinello recounted to investigators how more than a year later , she went to Moscow and on the way back ran into Merenzon on her flight .
“ Marinello recalled asking Merenzon , ‘ Do you still have the photo ?
’ to which Merenzon quickly responded , 'No , ' ” the summary says of the March 2018 encounter .
“ Marinello clarified that she did not specifically ask Merenzon if he had the photograph of Trump but she was positive he understood her inquiry to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Marinello said Merenzon had “ brought many Russians to the United States for the 2016 WCC , ” according to the summary .
Marinello guessed that he had brought 10 to 20 “ mostly females , ” whom she described as “ young and casual.
” “ Merenzon was insistent that the Russians be brought to the United States early , prior to the event , ” the summary states .
“ Merenzon assisted with obtaining office space for them in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan .
They utilized that space for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small offices located just off of Broadway.
” Marinello said the Russians “ seemed guarded ” when they spoke with her and “ only engaged with her when they needed something.
” “ They often had conference calls with Moscow and were very disorganized , ” the summary says .
“ They had no prior connections to New York and for most of them , it was their first time visiting the United States .
Marinello provided that , in normal circumstances , the organizers of the event provided the infrastructure [ NFI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case , the Russians brought their own infrastructure.
” A “ case agent note ” says Marinello could have been referring “ to either computers and/or telecommunications equipment ” when she spoke about infrastructure .
Throughout the interview , Marinello said she would look for additional information to give the FBI agents , indicating that they were interested in learning more .
For instance , near the end , she agreed to search “ various documents ” to try to find the names of the Russians who worked at the 2016 event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she would give them copies of the invitations that the Russians received and would search “ her cell phone for any additional information which could provide further insight about Russian activities at the 2016 WCC.
” “ Hannity tailored his shows to the agenda Manafort suggested .
”

J.D. Gordon, a Trump campaign adviser during the 2016 election, unloaded on Trump and the campaign, telling Mueller’s team he was “glad the interviewing Agents were speaking with him as he believed there were a lot of shenanigans happening at the highest levels.”
Gordon, a Navy veteran and former Pentagon spokesperson, spoke in unusually vivid detail about dysfunction within the campaign’s foreign policy team and the controversial changes to the Republican platform surrounding Ukraine during the 2016 convention. Several noteworthy details from his interviews with the special counsel’s office were excluded from Mueller’s final report.
“Gordon described the Trump campaign as being disorganized and chaotic at times and stated it was important for the Agents to understand that concept when conducting this investigation,” according to an August 2017 interview summary.
Among Gordon’s complaints were that Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks had lied about contacts between the campaign and Russians.
“Gordon said he hoped the Russian investigation was very thorough,” the summary says. “Gordon thinks Trump must be guilty of something. He is constantly ripping people off. Trump lies all the time and surrounds himself with people who don't tell the truth. Gordon explained Hicks had lied about contact with Russians. Gordon thinks she probably lied to protect Trump whether she knew anything or not.”
He also complained that he didn’t get paid for his work on the campaign as promised, prompting him to quit on Aug. 10, 2016.
“Gordon was offered a position with the Presidential Transition Team but said he wouldn't show up until he got a check and he never received payment,” the summary says. “The campaign was shady and dishonest.”
Gordon said then-senator Jeff Sessions, who ran the campaign’s foreign policy team and later became Trump’s attorney general, was a “good friend” who had offered him the campaign job. But things didn’t go well, according to Gordon.
“Gordon described the foreign policy team as being run like a 6th grade student council with no real authority or power,” the summary states. Gordon also said that “the last person to speak to Trump has the most influence on his decisions,” and that Jared Kushner “had a lot of say with Trump.”
In one apparent example of campaign dysfunction, Gordon said that Walid Phares, another foreign policy adviser, “had come up with a list of ambassadors to meet with and when Kushner found out, Kushner said only he would be meeting with ambassadors.” Kushner “came up with an idea, which Gordon jokingly referred to as ‘win a call with Kushner,’ where campaign members were asked to write bios on various ambassadors and Kushner would have a phone call with whoever wrote the best ambassador bios about those particular ambassadors.” Phares quit two weeks into the gig after Rick Dearborn, another campaign official, told the advisers “they couldn't meet with ambassadors.”
Gordon and someone whose name is redacted “got stuck writing the bios,” and Kushner eventually met with ambassadors for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, according to the summary.
“At one point, [REDACTED] sent Dearborn a note about Kushner's outreaches after finding out [REDACTED] tried to setup a meeting with the Saudi prince,” the summary says. “Gordon had [REDACTED] talk to Dearborn about going through the embassies to setup meetings because back channels are always about money.”
Gordon said it was Sam Clovis, another campaign adviser, who came up with the list of who would serve on the foreign policy team. The list included Phares, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, and Keith Kellogg, among others.
“Eventually Clovis was pushed out of his role,” Gordon’s summary states. Page and Papadopoulos “were bad news for the campaign.” Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI as part of Mueller’s probe.
In May 2016, Gordon and Phares were planning to fire Papadopoulos “after a story broke about his statements to the British press,” but Clovis wanted to give him another chance, the summary says. “They were worried that if they fired Papadopoulos he would go to the press and tell them that the foreign policy advisor team was a scam.”
Gordon spoke to investigators about two key events that Mueller scrutinized in his final report. His interview summary paints a more vivid picture of one of those events, an encounter with Sergey Kislyak at a reception following an event for ambassadors in Cleveland at the same time as the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Mueller’s report said that “Gordon ran into Kislyak as the two prepared plates of food, and they decided to sit at the same table to eat.” There, they were joined by Page and the ambassadors from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. “As they ate, Gordon and Kislyak talked for what Gordon estimated to have been three to five minutes, during which Gordon again mentioned that he meant what he said in his speech about improving U.S.-Russia relations.”
Gordon’s interview summary notes that the reception was “a networking event” that offered free food and drink, and that Gordon and Kislyak encountered one another at “the chicken satay tray.” Gordon also said that he “knew the Kazakh ambassador prior to this event.” Page, according to Gordon, “briefly spoke with Kislyak and the Azerbaijan ambassador.” Gordon said he and Kislyak not only spoke about US–Russia relations; they also “talked about Russia's attempt to warn the U.S. about the Boston bomber.”
Gordon also shed light on how the Republican platform came to present less forceful language around Ukraine and Russia than what was originally proposed.
On March 31, 2016, the foreign policy team held a two-hour meeting in Washington, DC, Gordon said. It was then that Papadopoulos proposed a Trump–Putin meeting.
“Gordon described Papadopoulos as acting on his own and wheeling and dealing,” the interview summary states. “Papadopoulos said he was working with the ambassador in the United Kingdom and Putin was interested in meeting with Trump, working through the ambassador to make it happen. Sessions said it was a bad idea and shut it down. Apparently Papadopoulos kept doing it, repeatedly going around Gordon.”
During both his August 2017 interview and a 2019 interview with Mueller’s office, Gordon recalled comments Trump made about Ukraine and Russia. “In that meeting, Trump said the Europeans should do more about the situation in Ukraine,” reads the summary of an interview with Gordon on Feb. 14, 2019. “Trump had also said he wanted better relations with Russia and he didn't want World War III over Ukraine.”
Mueller’s report detailed how months later at the RNC, delegate Diana Denman proposed an amendment to the platform that expressed support for Ukraine in the midst of Russia’s "ongoing military aggression" — support that included "providing lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine's armed forces.”
“Gordon stated that he flagged this amendment because of Trump's stated position on Ukraine, which Gordon personally heard the candidate say at the March 31 foreign policy meeting — namely, that the Europeans should take primary responsibility for any assistance to Ukraine, that there should be improved U.S.-Russia relations, and that he did not want to start World War III over that region,” the Mueller report says. The amendment was eventually edited from “lethal assistance” to “appropriate assistance.”
In his 2017 interview summary, Gordon said Denman was “hell-bent on arming Ukraine” and that he had heard that she “had been to Ukraine and was involved in elections monitoring there. Denman was a [Ted] Cruz delegate and a protagonist.”
Gordon said Denman “was upset” by his desire to “withdraw the whole amendment.” He also said that Trump and Manafort “exacerbated the issue by lying about the platform in the news on July 31.”
“Manafort denied the campaign's involvement in changing the platform in an interview with Chuck Todd,” the summary states. “Gordon explained that the campaign was involved in legitimately changing the amendment through debate. Trump doesn't pay attention and ended up saying the same thing in an interview with George Stephanopoulos. Trump said he had heard the campaign was involved in the change but he had nothing to do with the platform change.”
Near the end of his interview that day, Gordon heaped more criticism on Trump — but stopped short of accusing him of collusion. Though the beginning of the sentence is redacted, the summary says “Trump was involved in inappropriate activity” and that “Gordon made this statement based on 3500 lawsuits Trump is involved in, business deals with Russia, not paying his policy office. The investigators could likely find something illegal Trump was involved in but Gordon is not aware of any election meddling that Trump was involved in.”
A delegate interview contradicted Mueller's finding