Michael Sussmann’s trial for lying to the FBI in regards to the debunked Alfa Bank story targeting Donald Trump has featured several twists and turns. Earlier in the proceedings, Hillary Clinton’s former campaign manager, Robby Mook, admitted that the failed presidential candidate had personally agreed to the dissemination of the disinformation.
After years of obfuscation, that represented the first direct connection to Clinton, who has long presented herself as an innocent bystander, just sharing what she saw in the news. But while she personally agreed with giving the Alfa Bank story to reporters, the next question was whether she also gave her stamp of approval to giving it to the FBI?
That’s where Michael Sussmann comes in. While he denied working on behalf of any client when he took the disinformation to the FBI, Special Counsel John Durham brought the literal receipts on Tuesday, proving that he had billed Clinton on that very same day for a “confidential project.”
Government prosecutors on Wednesday presented the jury with Michael Sussmann’s billing records, which they say prove he charged the Hillary Clinton campaign for his meeting with then-FBI General Counsel James Baker where he shared allegations of a covert communications channel between the Trump Organization and Russia’s Alfa Bank.
The prosecution’s final witness was Kori Arsenault, a paralegal with Special Counsel John Durham’s office. Arsenault worked on much of the government’s exhibits and helped to explain the records to the jury.
The prosecution on Wednesday morning produced the record from Perkins Coie that they say proves the law firm billed “Hillary for America” for the meeting Sussmann had with Baker at FBI headquarters on Sept. 19, 2016.
On the bill, also dated Sept. 19, 2016, the Clinton campaign is listed as the client, the time is listed as 3.3 hours, and the memo states: “work and communications regarding confidential project.”
As we always say, follow the money.