Trump's Paris withdrawal puts Bannon in front row
The probes have come increasingly close to Trump's inner circle, with investigators requesting documents from Trump's campaign associates and the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner under scrutiny for his contacts with Russian officials.
It's an extraordinary step for the White House to suddenly farm out inquiries about a subject about which the president is publicly commenting on-and in this case, just hours beforehand.
Asked at an off-camera briefing for reaction to upcoming congressional testimony from fired FBI Director James Comey, press secretary Sean Spicer referred questions for the first time to the newly named outside lawyer.
Also on the Russian Federation front: "Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating possible ties between the Trump election campaign and Russian Federation, is expanding his probe to assume control of a grand jury investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, three sources told Reuters". But while Bannon's name has not come up publicly in the Russian Federation investigation, at least thus far, Kushner is now reportedly a focus of the FBI probe.
Kushner, who has sought to avoid the limelight, can not afford to do so any longer.
Yesterday Politico reported that Kushner is back in the West Wing and he continues to lead meetings despite the rising tide of Russia-related questions.
Spicer was questioned on May 30 as to where if Trump had previous knowledge concerning multiple efforts by Kushner during December 2016 to establish a back channel for the exclusive objective of communicating with Moscow.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer points to a members of the media as he answers questions during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington Friday
Gergen: Kushner should take 'leave of absence'
Senator Patrick Leahy and Representatives John Conyers and Zoe Lofgren, in the nine-page letter dated Thursday and sent to Kushner Companies President Laurent Morali, asked for details about the company's controversial May road show in China, where the developer offered investors a chance to get USA visas under the EB-5 program if they put money in a project in New Jersey, One Journal Square.
Trump appeared to refer to a Washington Examiner article when he tweeted that "the Democrats, who have excoriated Carter Page about Russian Federation, don't want him to testify".
First and foremost, President Donald Trump changes his views frequently, and sometimes dramatically, said Hagle.
"He promised he was going to do this", she said. Dubke confirmed the reports.
Opponents of the Trump administration were quick to take the opportunity to accuse Kushner of potentially committing espionage and Democrats have called for his security clearance to be removed till the investigation concludes.
"In a tweet, Michael C. Short, senior assistant to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, said, ".the question is not if that move happens, but only when.
Another source said the businessman-turned-politician returned home "lonely, angry and not happy with much of anyone", discovering that presidency was not an easy or natural fit. VEB confirmed the meeting with Kushner in a statement to CNN, though described Kushner in his role as head of Kushner Companies, not as a representative of Trump. "In addition to that, and perhaps more importantly, he is a very good person". Comey is expected to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russian Federation during last year's presidential election.