Air Force One flight at centre of Mueller investigation

THE shock news of White House Communications Director Hope Hicks’s resignation has thrown a renewed spotlight onto one critical meeting she was involved in.

President Donald Trump’s actions on Air Force One in July 2017 are of particular interest for Robert Mueller. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

THE shock news of White House Communications Director Hope Hicks’s resignation has thrown a renewed spotlight onto one critical meeting she was involved in.

It was July 2017 when President Trump boarded Air Force One to fly home from the G20 summit in Germany.

He had just had his first meeting with Russian President Putin and given Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull a spin in “the beast”, but on the secure plane, it was back to business.

Reporters from The New York Times had submitted a list of 14 questions demanding to know what happened in a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between the president’s son Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort and a Russian lawyer, which has proved critical to US intelligence agencies.

Exactly what went on in the air above the Atlantic is unclear, however multiple reports from those present say the President “personally dictated” a response.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president “weighed in, as any father would”. This contradicted the president’s lawyer, Jay Sekulow, who said he was “not involved” in wording the statement.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania board Air Force One in Florida. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Putin and Trump got on so well at the G20 that First Lady Melania had to be sent in to break them up. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Shortly afterwards, the official response from Donald Jr claimed the “short introductory meeting” covered a Russian adoption program that was unrelated to the campaign.

However it was later proved to be misleading by Donald Jr himself, who released his own emails showing he was offered “official documents and information” that would “incriminate” Hillary Clinton.

“If it’s what you say I love it,” Trump Jr replied to his contact, Rob Goldstone, who brokered the meeting.

Eight months on, exactly what took place on Air Force One is what US investigators want to get to the bottom of as part of an inquiry into potential Russian influence in the US election.

Just a day before the news of her impending resignation broke, Ms Hicks was questioned for a gruelling nine hours by the House Intelligence Committee.

The 28-year-old admitted to telling “white lies” for the President on occasion, but insisted those lies were not related to the Russian investigation, according to sources who heard her testimony firsthand.

Senior democrat Adam Schiff said Ms Hicks spoke about her role in the Trump campaign and the transition period but would not answer questions under oath about what has happened since January 20 when Mr Trump was sworn in, or what happened on the plane.

“All of our questions about what went into that statement went unanswered,” Mr Schiff said.

White House communications director Hope Hicks is one of Trump’s closest advisers and has been questioned by the House Intelligence Committee. Picture: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

The eldest son of US President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr eventually released his own emails under pressure from The New York Times. Picture: AP Photo/Manish Swarup

The flight is also of interest for special counsel Robert Mueller, who has already quizzed the President’s former strategist Steve Bannon and former legal adviser Mark Corallo.

While Mr Trump has consistently denied any collusion has taken place, Mr Mueller is said to be interested in how the President was involved in the response, The New York Times reported.

“Some lawyers and witnesses who have sat in or been briefed on the interviews have puzzled over Mr Mueller’s interest in the episode. Lying to federal investigators is a crime; lying to the news media is not,” the paper said.

As Ms Hicks underwent questioning this week, Mr Trump tweeted once more about the “witch hunt” he claims is being conducted against him and cited Fox News reports that said there is “no evidence of collusion”.

However as intelligence agencies methodically question White House staff, some say political inexperience and a desire to protect family members may have left the President “unnecessarily” exposed.

“What is already clear is that, as Mr Trump’s aides and family members tried over 48 hours to manage one of the most consequential crises of the young administration, the situation quickly degenerated into something of a circular firing squad. They protected their own interests, shifted blame and potentially left themselves — and the president — legally vulnerable,” The New York Times said.

— With Wires