Q&A: What we know about U.S. probes of Russian meddling in 2016 election(Reuters) - Former FBI Director James Comey testified before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8 about Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. President Donald Trump’s abrupt firing of Comey on May 9 renewed attention to allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the election to benefit Trump. It also raised questions about the motivations behind Comey’s dismissal. The following describes what is publicly known and not known about U.S. investigations into meddling and possible collusion between Russia and members of the Trump campaign: How did the investigations begin? Former President Barack Obama ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to assess whether Russia tried to intervene in the  election after a cyber attack on the Democratic National Committee in July 2016 and the publication of thousands of hacked personal emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager in the month before the Nov. 8 election. Obama told intelligence officials to deliver a report on possible foreign interference before he left the White House in January 2017. What did the intelligence agencies find?  The Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency concluded in a report declassified in January that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a campaign not just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system but to affect the outcome. The agencies said Putin and the Russian government had a clear preference for Trump to win the White House. Putin’s  associates hacked information, paid social media “trolls” and backed efforts by Russian government agencies and state-funded media to sway public opinion, the agencies said.  The report stopped short of assessing whether Russia succeeded in swaying the election result. Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly denied interfering in the U.S. election. How many U.S. investigations are there into Russian election meddling? Comey told the House Intelligence Committee on March 20 that the FBI was investigating Moscow’s role in the election, including possible collusion with Trump’s campaign. The Justice Department announced on May 17 that it had appointed Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as special counsel to lead an independent Russia probe. Mueller would, if the evidence merits, work in tandem with the FBI to handle any related criminal prosecutions. In addition, there are multiple committees in the Senate and House of Representatives investigating various aspects of Russian election meddling. What has Trump said about Russia’s role in the election? He has not taken a clear public position. At a July 2016 news conference, Trump addressed an FBI probe into Clinton’s use of a private email system when she was secretary of state and emails that had possibly been deleted by saying: “I will tell you this, Russia: if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” He subsequently dismissed reports, including from U.S. intelligence officials, that Russia had attempted to intervene in the election on his behalf.    The first time Trump said he accepted the findings of the intelligence agencies was at a Jan. 11 news conference ahead of his inauguration. “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia,” Trump said, although he added: “It could have been others also.” Trump said in May that China may have hacked the emails of Democratic officials to meddle with the election, offering no evidence and countering the view of intelligence officials. Trump has made clear on multiple occasions he believes the Russia investigations have run their course and should be closed. “The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?” he wrote on Twitter on May 8. On May 30, Trump tweeted: “Russian officials must be laughing at the U.S. & how a lame excuse for why the Dems lost the election has taken over the Fake News.” Did the FBI probe continue after Comey’s dismissal? There is no evidence that the FBI ended or paused its investigation after Comey’s departure. Andrew McCabe, who is leading the agency as acting director, promised the Senate Intelligence Committee that Comey’s firing would not affect the investigation and that he will notify the committee of any attempt to delay or derail it.  Trump on June 6 chose former U.S. Justice Department official Christopher Wray, who represented New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the so-called Bridgegate scandal, to be the next FBI director. Wray will need Senate confirmation. Why was Comey fired? The White House cited a May 9 letter to Trump from Attorney General Jeff Sessions that attached a memo from Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, on “Restoring Confidence in the FBI” that recommended Comey’s dismissal. Rosenstein’s memo said Comey erred in July 2016 by announcing the FBI had been examining Clinton’s use of a private email server and that the case should be closed without prosecution. Rosenstein’s view was that Comey’s decision to make a public statement broke with longstanding FBI precedent and should have been handled by the then-U.S. attorney general, Loretta Lynch. Trump called Comey a “showboat” and “grandstander” in an interview with NBC News on May 11, saying that he would have fired Comey regardless of Rosenstein’s recommendation. Was Comey’s firing related to the FBI’s Russia probe? Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee he believes his dismissal was directly related to the FBI’s Russia probe. “I know I was fired because of something about the way I was conducting the Russia investigation, was in some way putting pressure on him, in some way irritating him, and he decided to fire me because of that,” Comey said in his June 8 testimony. Trump asked Comey to end the agency’s investigation of Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, and also to make some sort of public statement that he was not personally under investigation in order to clear “the cloud” hanging over his presidency, according Comey’s testimony. Comey said he found it concerning that Trump would ask him to drop the agency’s probe of Flynn and declined to state publicly that Trump himself was not under investigation, in part because it would create a “duty to correct” if that changed. “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty,” Trump told Comey at a Jan. 27 dinner, according to Comey. Less than a week before he was fired, Comey told a congressional panel that it made him “mildly nauseous” that he may have affected the outcome of the election by publicly re-opening and then re-closing the Clinton email probe days before the election. In an unorthodox move, Great America Alliance, an offshoot of a pro-Trump super PAC devoted to promoting the White House agenda, developed a television ad called “Showboat” to air as Comey testified. The ad claims Comey was “consumed with election meddling” at the expense of fighting terrorism. Has there been any fallout for Trump associates over contacts with Russia before, during or after the election campaign? Flynn was fired in February. The White House said he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the contacts he had with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, before Trump took office. On May 9, federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoenas seeking business records from people who worked with Flynn when he was a private citizen. On May 10, the Senate Intelligence Committee issued the first subpoena in its Russia investigation, demanding documents from Flynn. He provided the first batch on June 6. Sessions had to recuse himself from involvement in Russia-related probes at the Justice Department because he had not told Congress of his own contacts with Kislyak in 2016. Rosenstein is handling matters related to Russia and it is he who appointed Mueller as special counsel. Is Trump himself under investigation?  In the short letter Trump sent to Comey dismissing him from the FBI, he thanked Comey for informing him on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation. Comey has confirmed that Trump was not personally under investigation at any point before his dismissal from the FBI. Trump’s personal lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, said Comey’s Senate testimony proved the president was not under investigation. Kasowitz denied Trump ever told Comey he needed and expected his loyalty. politicsNews
q a what know probes russian meddling election reuters former fbi director james come testified senate intelligence committee june russian involvement presidential election president donald trump abrupt firing come may renewed attention allegations intelligence agencies russia interfered election benefit trump it also raised questions motivations behind come dismissal the following describes publicly known known investigations meddling possible collusion russia members trump campaign how investigations begin former president barack obama ordered intelligence agencies assess whether russia tried intervene election cyber attack democratic national committee july publication thousands hacked personal emails hillary clinton campaign manager month election obama told intelligence officials deliver report possible foreign interference left white house january what intelligence agencies find the central intelligence agency federal bureau investigation national security agency concluded report declassified january russian president vladimir putin ordered campaign undermine confidence electoral system affect outcome the agencies said putin russian government clear preference trump win white house putin associates hacked information paid social media trolls backed efforts russian government agencies media sway public opinion agencies said the report stopped short assessing whether russia succeeded saying election result putin russian officials repeatedly denied interfering election how many investigations russian election meddling come told house intelligence committee march fbi investigating moscow role election including possible collusion trump campaign the justice department announced may appointed robert mueller former fbi director special counsel lead independent russia probe mueller would evidence merits work tandem fbi handle related criminal prosecutions in addition multiple committees senate house representatives investigating various aspects russian election meddling what trump said russia role election he taken clear public position at july news conference trump addressed fbi probe clinton use private email system secretary state emails possibly deleted saying i tell russia listening i hope able find emails he subsequently dismissed reports including intelligence officials russia attempted intervene election behalf the first time trump said accepted findings intelligence agencies news conference ahead inauguration as far hacking i think russia trump said although added it could others trump said may china may hacked emails democratic officials middle election offering evidence countering view intelligence officials trump made clear multiple occasions believes russia investigations run course closed the collusion story total hoax taxpayer funded charge end wrote twitter may on may trump tweeted russian officials must laughing lame excuse dems lost election taken fake did fbi probe continue come dismissal there evidence fbi ended paused investigation come departure andrew mccain leading agency acting director promised senate intelligence committee come firing would affect investigation notify committee attempt delay derail trump june chose former justice department official christopher way represented new jersey governor chris christie bridgegate scandal next fbi director way need senate confirmation why come fired the white house cited may letter trump attorney general jeff sessions attached memo rod rosenstein deputy attorney general restoring confidence fbi recommended come dismissal rosenstein memo said come erred july announcing fbi examining clinton use private email server case closed without prosecution rosenstein view come decision make public statement broke longstanding fbi precedent handled attorney general rosetta lynch trump called come showpost grandstand interview nbc news may saying would fired come regardless rosenstein recommendation was come firing related fbi russia probe come told senate intelligence committee believes dismissal directly related fbi russia probe i know i fired something way i conducting russia investigation way putting pressure way irritating decided fire come said june testimony trump asked come end agency investigation michael flynn former national security adviser also make sort public statement personally investigation order clear cloud hanging presidency according come testimony come said found concerning trump would ask drop agency probe flynn declined state publicly trump investigation part would create duty correct changed i need loyalty i expect loyalty trump told come dinner according come less week fired come told congressional panel made mildly gaseous may affected outcome election publicly clinton email probe days election in unorthodox move great america alliance offshoot super pac devoted promoting white house agenda developed television ad called showpost air come testified the ad claims come consumed election meddling expense fighting terrorism has fallout trump associates contacts russia election campaign flynn fired february the white house said misled vice president mike pence contacts russia ambassador united states series kislyak trump took office on may federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoena seeking business records people worked flynn private citizen on may senate intelligence committee issued first subpoena russia investigation demanding documents flynn he provided first batch june sessions recuse involvement probes justice department told congress contacts kislyak rosenstein handling matters related russia appointed mueller special counsel is trump investigation in short letter trump sent come dismissing fbi thanked come informing three separate occasions investigation come confirmed trump personally investigation point dismissal fbi trump personal lawyer marc kasowitz said come senate testimony proved president investigation kasowitz denied trump ever told come needed expected loyalty politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Q&A: What we know about U.S. probes of Russian meddling in 2016 election(Reuters) - Former FBI Director James Comey testified before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8 about Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. President Donald Trump’s abrupt firing of Comey on May 9 renewed attention to allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the election to benefit Trump. It also raised questions about the motivations behind Comey’s dismissal. The following describes what is publicly known and not known about U.S. investigations into meddling and possible collusion between Russia and members of the Trump campaign: How did the investigations begin? Former President Barack Obama ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to assess whether Russia tried to intervene in the  election after a cyber attack on the Democratic National Committee in July 2016 and the publication of thousands of hacked personal emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager in the month before the Nov. 8 election. Obama told intelligence officials to deliver a report on possible foreign interference before he left the White House in January 2017. What did the intelligence agencies find?  The Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency concluded in a report declassified in January that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a campaign not just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system but to affect the outcome. The agencies said Putin and the Russian government had a clear preference for Trump to win the White House. Putin’s  associates hacked information, paid social media “trolls” and backed efforts by Russian government agencies and state-funded media to sway public opinion, the agencies said.  The report stopped short of assessing whether Russia succeeded in swaying the election result. Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly denied interfering in the U.S. election. How many U.S. investigations are there into Russian election meddling? Comey told the House Intelligence Committee on March 20 that the FBI was investigating Moscow’s role in the election, including possible collusion with Trump’s campaign. The Justice Department announced on May 17 that it had appointed Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as special counsel to lead an independent Russia probe. Mueller would, if the evidence merits, work in tandem with the FBI to handle any related criminal prosecutions. In addition, there are multiple committees in the Senate and House of Representatives investigating various aspects of Russian election meddling. What has Trump said about Russia’s role in the election? He has not taken a clear public position. At a July 2016 news conference, Trump addressed an FBI probe into Clinton’s use of a private email system when she was secretary of state and emails that had possibly been deleted by saying: “I will tell you this, Russia: if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” He subsequently dismissed reports, including from U.S. intelligence officials, that Russia had attempted to intervene in the election on his behalf.    The first time Trump said he accepted the findings of the intelligence agencies was at a Jan. 11 news conference ahead of his inauguration. “As far as hacking, I think it was Russia,” Trump said, although he added: “It could have been others also.” Trump said in May that China may have hacked the emails of Democratic officials to meddle with the election, offering no evidence and countering the view of intelligence officials. Trump has made clear on multiple occasions he believes the Russia investigations have run their course and should be closed. “The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?” he wrote on Twitter on May 8. On May 30, Trump tweeted: “Russian officials must be laughing at the U.S. & how a lame excuse for why the Dems lost the election has taken over the Fake News.” Did the FBI probe continue after Comey’s dismissal? There is no evidence that the FBI ended or paused its investigation after Comey’s departure. Andrew McCabe, who is leading the agency as acting director, promised the Senate Intelligence Committee that Comey’s firing would not affect the investigation and that he will notify the committee of any attempt to delay or derail it.  Trump on June 6 chose former U.S. Justice Department official Christopher Wray, who represented New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the so-called Bridgegate scandal, to be the next FBI director. Wray will need Senate confirmation. Why was Comey fired? The White House cited a May 9 letter to Trump from Attorney General Jeff Sessions that attached a memo from Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, on “Restoring Confidence in the FBI” that recommended Comey’s dismissal. Rosenstein’s memo said Comey erred in July 2016 by announcing the FBI had been examining Clinton’s use of a private email server and that the case should be closed without prosecution. Rosenstein’s view was that Comey’s decision to make a public statement broke with longstanding FBI precedent and should have been handled by the then-U.S. attorney general, Loretta Lynch. Trump called Comey a “showboat” and “grandstander” in an interview with NBC News on May 11, saying that he would have fired Comey regardless of Rosenstein’s recommendation. Was Comey’s firing related to the FBI’s Russia probe? Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee he believes his dismissal was directly related to the FBI’s Russia probe. “I know I was fired because of something about the way I was conducting the Russia investigation, was in some way putting pressure on him, in some way irritating him, and he decided to fire me because of that,” Comey said in his June 8 testimony. Trump asked Comey to end the agency’s investigation of Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, and also to make some sort of public statement that he was not personally under investigation in order to clear “the cloud” hanging over his presidency, according Comey’s testimony. Comey said he found it concerning that Trump would ask him to drop the agency’s probe of Flynn and declined to state publicly that Trump himself was not under investigation, in part because it would create a “duty to correct” if that changed. “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty,” Trump told Comey at a Jan. 27 dinner, according to Comey. Less than a week before he was fired, Comey told a congressional panel that it made him “mildly nauseous” that he may have affected the outcome of the election by publicly re-opening and then re-closing the Clinton email probe days before the election. In an unorthodox move, Great America Alliance, an offshoot of a pro-Trump super PAC devoted to promoting the White House agenda, developed a television ad called “Showboat” to air as Comey testified. The ad claims Comey was “consumed with election meddling” at the expense of fighting terrorism. Has there been any fallout for Trump associates over contacts with Russia before, during or after the election campaign? Flynn was fired in February. The White House said he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the contacts he had with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, before Trump took office. On May 9, federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoenas seeking business records from people who worked with Flynn when he was a private citizen. On May 10, the Senate Intelligence Committee issued the first subpoena in its Russia investigation, demanding documents from Flynn. He provided the first batch on June 6. Sessions had to recuse himself from involvement in Russia-related probes at the Justice Department because he had not told Congress of his own contacts with Kislyak in 2016. Rosenstein is handling matters related to Russia and it is he who appointed Mueller as special counsel. Is Trump himself under investigation?  In the short letter Trump sent to Comey dismissing him from the FBI, he thanked Comey for informing him on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation. Comey has confirmed that Trump was not personally under investigation at any point before his dismissal from the FBI. Trump’s personal lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, said Comey’s Senate testimony proved the president was not under investigation. Kasowitz denied Trump ever told Comey he needed and expected his loyalty. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: q a what know probes russian meddling election reuters former fbi director james come testified senate intelligence committee june russian involvement presidential election president donald trump abrupt firing come may renewed attention allegations intelligence agencies russia interfered election benefit trump it also raised questions motivations behind come dismissal the following describes publicly known known investigations meddling possible collusion russia members trump campaign how investigations begin former president barack obama ordered intelligence agencies assess whether russia tried intervene election cyber attack democratic national committee july publication thousands hacked personal emails hillary clinton campaign manager month election obama told intelligence officials deliver report possible foreign interference left white house january what intelligence agencies find the central intelligence agency federal bureau investigation national security agency concluded report declassified january russian president vladimir putin ordered campaign undermine confidence electoral system affect outcome the agencies said putin russian government clear preference trump win white house putin associates hacked information paid social media trolls backed efforts russian government agencies media sway public opinion agencies said the report stopped short assessing whether russia succeeded saying election result putin russian officials repeatedly denied interfering election how many investigations russian election meddling come told house intelligence committee march fbi investigating moscow role election including possible collusion trump campaign the justice department announced may appointed robert mueller former fbi director special counsel lead independent russia probe mueller would evidence merits work tandem fbi handle related criminal prosecutions in addition multiple committees senate house representatives investigating various aspects russian election meddling what trump said russia role election he taken clear public position at july news conference trump addressed fbi probe clinton use private email system secretary state emails possibly deleted saying i tell russia listening i hope able find emails he subsequently dismissed reports including intelligence officials russia attempted intervene election behalf the first time trump said accepted findings intelligence agencies news conference ahead inauguration as far hacking i think russia trump said although added it could others trump said may china may hacked emails democratic officials middle election offering evidence countering view intelligence officials trump made clear multiple occasions believes russia investigations run course closed the collusion story total hoax taxpayer funded charge end wrote twitter may on may trump tweeted russian officials must laughing lame excuse dems lost election taken fake did fbi probe continue come dismissal there evidence fbi ended paused investigation come departure andrew mccain leading agency acting director promised senate intelligence committee come firing would affect investigation notify committee attempt delay derail trump june chose former justice department official christopher way represented new jersey governor chris christie bridgegate scandal next fbi director way need senate confirmation why come fired the white house cited may letter trump attorney general jeff sessions attached memo rod rosenstein deputy attorney general restoring confidence fbi recommended come dismissal rosenstein memo said come erred july announcing fbi examining clinton use private email server case closed without prosecution rosenstein view come decision make public statement broke longstanding fbi precedent handled attorney general rosetta lynch trump called come showpost grandstand interview nbc news may saying would fired come regardless rosenstein recommendation was come firing related fbi russia probe come told senate intelligence committee believes dismissal directly related fbi russia probe i know i fired something way i conducting russia investigation way putting pressure way irritating decided fire come said june testimony trump asked come end agency investigation michael flynn former national security adviser also make sort public statement personally investigation order clear cloud hanging presidency according come testimony come said found concerning trump would ask drop agency probe flynn declined state publicly trump investigation part would create duty correct changed i need loyalty i expect loyalty trump told come dinner according come less week fired come told congressional panel made mildly gaseous may affected outcome election publicly clinton email probe days election in unorthodox move great america alliance offshoot super pac devoted promoting white house agenda developed television ad called showpost air come testified the ad claims come consumed election meddling expense fighting terrorism has fallout trump associates contacts russia election campaign flynn fired february the white house said misled vice president mike pence contacts russia ambassador united states series kislyak trump took office on may federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoena seeking business records people worked flynn private citizen on may senate intelligence committee issued first subpoena russia investigation demanding documents flynn he provided first batch june sessions recuse involvement probes justice department told congress contacts kislyak rosenstein handling matters related russia appointed mueller special counsel is trump investigation in short letter trump sent come dismissing fbi thanked come informing three separate occasions investigation come confirmed trump personally investigation point dismissal fbi trump personal lawyer marc kasowitz said come senate testimony proved president investigation kasowitz denied trump ever told come needed expected loyalty politicsnews