After a May 7 meeting, Manafort directs recurring internal-poll transfers to Kilimnik
The recurring campaign-data channel followed Manafort's May 7 meeting with a longtime associate whom the Senate committee identified as a Russian intelligence officer.
Entities and roles
- Donald J. TrumpDonald Trump network root
- Paul ManafortTrump 2016 campaign chairman
- Rick Gatesformer Trump deputy campaign chairman
- Konstantin Kilimnikrecipient of internal polling and campaign updates
Relationships in this file
- Donald J. Trumpformer deputy campaign chairmanRick Gates
- Donald J. Trump2016 campaign chairmanPaul Manafort
- Paul Manafortlongtime political-consulting associateKonstantin Kilimnik
Claims and evidence
- factdocumented
After Manafort met Kilimnik on May 7, Rick Gates believed Manafort began directing him to transmit internal Trump campaign polling and updates to Kilimnik on a recurring basis, using encrypted messages and deleting some communications. The Senate Intelligence Committee identified Kilimnik as a Russian intelligence officer and deemed Manafort's access and information sharing a grave counterintelligence threat. Investigators could not determine Kilimnik's ultimate use of the data.
- U.S. Department of Justice, Special Counsel's Office: Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential ElectionVolume I, pages 129–141: Gates transmissions, polling briefings, deleted messages, and unresolved purpose
- U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election, Volume 5Pages 69–81 and executive findings: May 7 meeting, Gates' account of recurring polling transfers, Kilimnik assessment, and evidentiary limits