CAMPAIGN/INTELLIGENCE/ISRAEL/ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “A top Trump campaign official requested online manipulation proposals by an Israeli intelligence firm in 2016 to help defeat Hillary Clinton and Republican primary opponents, The New York Times reports. There is no evidence Trump’s campaign acted on any of the proposals by Psy-Group, a company staffed by former Israeli intelligence operatives, the Times reports, citing interviews and copies of the proposals the paper obtained. The campaign official, Rick Gates, was ultimately not interested in the company’s work, a person with knowledge of the discussions told the Times. Special counsel Robert Mueller and his team, who are investigating Russian interference and possible coordination with the Trump campaign in the 2016 presidential election, have obtained copies of the proposals and questioned Psy-Group employees, according to people familiar with those interviews, the Times reports. The Times reports that the Israeli company’s pitches appear unconnected to Moscow’s interference campaign. Psy-Group’s owner, Joel Zamel, did meet with Donald Trump Jr. in August 2016, according to the Times.”
–Kate Sullivan, “New York Times: Top Trump campaign official requested online manipulation plans from Israeli company,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, October 8, 2018 10:17 pm