Read on Twitter
<thread>
Sec. of State Tillerson told Trump no, and said it would be ILLEGAL interference in an ongoing investigation.
@AmbJohnBolton called it an obstruction of justice.
New #Halkbank Timeline from me and @DaniSchulkin.
Just in time for #BarrHearing https://www.justsecurity.org/71694/trump-barr-and-the-halkbank-case-timeline/
Sec. of State Tillerson told Trump no, and said it would be ILLEGAL interference in an ongoing investigation.
@AmbJohnBolton called it an obstruction of justice.
New #Halkbank Timeline from me and @DaniSchulkin.
Just in time for #BarrHearing https://www.justsecurity.org/71694/trump-barr-and-the-halkbank-case-timeline/
2. At its heart, the prosecution of the Turkish bank Halkbank involves a multibillion-dollar criminal scheme to evade U.S. sanctions against #Iran.
According to great reporting by several news outlets, Trump directed Barr to try to stop prosecution of the bank and its associates
According to great reporting by several news outlets, Trump directed Barr to try to stop prosecution of the bank and its associates
3.
09/21/16: Erdoğan asks @JoeBiden to get case dropped and fire @PreetBharara
09/21/16: Erdoğan's wife tries with @DrBiden
12/15/16: Erdoğan tries with @BarackObama
1/3/17: Erdoğan tries with Obama
The answer is no.
Erdoğan tries with Trump, and Barr kicks into action.
09/21/16: Erdoğan asks @JoeBiden to get case dropped and fire @PreetBharara
09/21/16: Erdoğan's wife tries with @DrBiden
12/15/16: Erdoğan tries with @BarackObama
1/3/17: Erdoğan tries with Obama
The answer is no.
Erdoğan tries with Trump, and Barr kicks into action.
4. Those entries on the timeline (Erdoğan's overtures to Obama and Biden) are thanks in large part to reporting by @IgnatiusPost. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-man-at-the-crux-the-of-us-turkey-dispute-is-about-to-go-on-trial/2017/10/12/92c4c7a2-af96-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html
5. What would motivate Trump to intervene? That's key Q for obstruction and improper interference.
Bolton has long said: Trump's personal/financial interests.
Nov. 9, 2016: On very first phone call with Erdoğan as President-Elect, Trump raises his business interests in Turkey.
Bolton has long said: Trump's personal/financial interests.
Nov. 9, 2016: On very first phone call with Erdoğan as President-Elect, Trump raises his business interests in Turkey.
6. Here's report (by @PaulBlu) on President-Elect Trump and Erdoğan's Nov. 9, 2016 phone call. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-turkey-business_n_5836188ae4b01ba68ac41d9f
7-8. Curious sequence of events with Southern District of NY (read #7 & #8 together):
First, Preet Bharara:
Sept. 2016/Jan. 2017: Erdoğan asks Obama/Biden to fire Bharara
11/30/16: President-Elect Trump asks Bharara to remain as US Attorney, SDNY
03/11/17: Trump fires Bharara
First, Preet Bharara:
Sept. 2016/Jan. 2017: Erdoğan asks Obama/Biden to fire Bharara
11/30/16: President-Elect Trump asks Bharara to remain as US Attorney, SDNY
03/11/17: Trump fires Bharara
8.
Second, Geoffrey Berman:
02/15/20: CNN reports US Attorney Berman rebuffed Barr's attempt to drop prosecution of Halkbank
06/17/20: Bolton book reveals Trump promised Erdoğan he'd replace SDNY prosecutors
06/20/20 Trump-Barr fire Berman
Second, Geoffrey Berman:
02/15/20: CNN reports US Attorney Berman rebuffed Barr's attempt to drop prosecution of Halkbank
06/17/20: Bolton book reveals Trump promised Erdoğan he'd replace SDNY prosecutors
06/20/20 Trump-Barr fire Berman
9. The reporting on Geoffrey Berman's push back against Barr to ensure SDNY's continuation of Halkbank prosecution is thanks to @eorden and @KaraScannell: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/15/politics/william-barr-roger-stone-prosecutors-outrage/index.html
10/10 Our Halkbank Timeline is due to great reporting by:
@alanfeuer
@arappeport
@carolelee
@eorden
@EricLiptonNYT
@HeidiNBC
@IgnatiusPost
@JenniferJJacobs
@JuliaEAinsley
@KaraScannell
@ktbenner
@maggieNYT
@nwadhams
@PaulBlu
@SalehaMohsin
@StephaniBaker
@SRuhle
@Tom_Winter
<end>
@alanfeuer
@arappeport
@carolelee
@eorden
@EricLiptonNYT
@HeidiNBC
@IgnatiusPost
@JenniferJJacobs
@JuliaEAinsley
@KaraScannell
@ktbenner
@maggieNYT
@nwadhams
@PaulBlu
@SalehaMohsin
@StephaniBaker
@SRuhle
@Tom_Winter
<end>
addendum-1 Plus this 
exclusive interview with Judge Berman (with Courthouse News's great @KlasfeldReports):
https://www.courthousenews.com/on-the-bench-in-the-age-of-trump/
(My head still spins too.)
exclusive interview with Judge Berman (with Courthouse News's great @KlasfeldReports):https://www.courthousenews.com/on-the-bench-in-the-age-of-trump/
(My head still spins too.)
addendum-2
“I have a little conflict of interest ’cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul."
Then-candidate Donald J. Trump, Dec. 1, 2015 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/conflict-of-interest-donald-trump-syria-kurds-turkey_n_5d9bb7bfe4b0fc935edf5be0
“I have a little conflict of interest ’cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul."
Then-candidate Donald J. Trump, Dec. 1, 2015 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/conflict-of-interest-donald-trump-syria-kurds-turkey_n_5d9bb7bfe4b0fc935edf5be0
