Cybersecurity
Trump Decided Russia Indictments Should Come Pre-Summit, Sources Say
- Rosenstein gave Trump options on the timing, two people say
- Trump now says he misspoke in his comments alongside Putin
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President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead to announce new Russian election-hacking indictments before his meeting with Vladimir Putin rather than after -- in the hopes it would strengthen his hand in the talks, according to accounts from people familiar with the decision.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein went to Trump last week and offered him the choice: before or after the Putin summit on Monday in Helsinki? Trump chose before, ultimately putting the issue into the spotlight just 72 hours before the high-stakes meeting, the people said.