Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos said both Attorney General Jeff Sessions and President Trump supported his proposition that Trump meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 campaign, according to court documents filed late Friday night.
Papadopoulos, who advised Trump on foreign policy, was the first person charged in special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe into Russian election interference and possible collusion by the Trump campaign.
“While some in the room rebuffed George’s offer, Mr. Trump nodded with approval and deferred to Mr. Sessions who appeared to like the idea and stated that the campaign should look into it. George’s giddiness over Mr. Trump’s recognition was prominent during the days that followed,” Papadopoulos’ lawyers wrote in the court filing.
Papadopoulos has shared his account of the March 31, 2016 meeting with Mueller, according to his legal team. It directly contradicts the testimony given by Sessions to Congress, in which Sessions said that he “pushed back” on the proposed Putin meeting.
The new disclosure comes in a criminal sentencing request submitted by Papadopoulos’ team just before midnight to U.S. District Court Judge Randy Moss. In it, Papadopoulos’ lawyers ask that their client be allowed to forgo prison time. Mueller has recommended that Papadopoulos serve up to six months in prison for lying to the FBI.
Papadopoulos “was the first domino, and many have fallen in behind,” his lawyers wrote. “Despite the gravity of his offense, it is important to remember what Special Counsel said at George’s plea of guilty: he was just a small part of a large-scale investigation.”
