Rick
Gates, the former deputy chairman of the Trump Campaign was allegedly
in contact with an Israeli intelligence firm about a social-media
disinformation campaign targeted at Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton and
to the benefit of Trump, according to the New York Times.
According
to the NYT, Rick Gates contacted a company called Psy-Group which is
filled with former Israeli intelligence operatives and offered
results using social media tactics, for which traditionally Russia
was accused during the 2016 Presidential Election.
A
different proposal offered opposition research about Hillary Clinton
and people close to her.
A third
one described a long-term plan to use social media to expose divides
in rival campaigns.
Together,
the proposals were labeled “Project Rome,” and referred to Trump,
Clinton, and Cruz “Lion,” “Forest,” and “Bear,”
respectively. In total, the work would have cost the Trump campaign
$3 million. According to NYT, Gates’ lawyer declined to comment.
According
to the NYT, Special Counsel Robert Mueller who investigates the
alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 Elections have obtained the
three proposals and have also questioned Psy-Group employees.
There
is, however, no evidence that any of the proposals were utilized.
However as reported by NYT in May 2018, Donald Trump Jr. did, in
fact, meet with Joel Zamel, the head of Psy-Group. In addition,
George Nader, a Lebanese-American businessman and adviser to Emirati
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and Erik Prince, the
founder of Blackwater and brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
were also in attendance at Trump Tower in August 2016, Vanity Fair
reported.
Full
report:
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