Sanctions
An Unexpected Primer: The Origination Clause and the Senate's Sanctions Bill
Ed Stein Fri, Jun 23, 2017, 9:30 AM
What does the Origination Clause have to do with national security? Good question.
Latest in Russia
Middle East Ticker
U.S. Sinks Deeper into Syrian Civil War, Gulf Feud Starting to Shift Qatari Policy, U.S. Resumes Weapons Deliveries to Saudi Arabia
J. Dana Stuster Tue, Jun 20, 2017, 4:00 PM
The U.S. military shot down a Syrian bomber on Sunday, Qatar is reconsidering its support for Hamas while continuing to fight it out in the editorial pages, and the United States is supplying the Saudi air campaign in Yemen again.
The Russia Connection
Takeaways From Comey's Prepared Testimony for the Senate Select Intelligence Committee
Susan Hennessey, Quinta Jurecic, Matthew Kahn Wed, Jun 7, 2017, 2:36 PM
Some quick takeaways from the prepared testimony of former FBI Director James Comey in advance of tomorrow’s SSCI hearing.
Obstruction of justice
Does an FBI Investigation Qualify Under the Obstruction of Justice Statutes? A Closer Look
Helen Klein Murillo, Benjamin Wittes Fri, Jun 2, 2017, 2:59 PM
Our previous analysis of whether President Trump's behavior toward former FBI Director James Comey might constitute obstruction of justice missed an important and complex question: whether an FBI investigation even counts as a “pending proceeding” for purposes of the agency obstruction of justice statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1505.
Cyber & Technology
An Important Russian Hacking Story
Susan Landau Fri, Jun 2, 2017, 12:30 PM
Citizen Lab found that Russian hacking group conducted a cyberattack against a U.S. journalist, an example of a dangerous trend of targeting civil society members in Russia and abroad.
The Russia Connection
Washington Post Reports Jared Kushner Sought Secret Communications Channel with Kremlin
Susan Hennessey Fri, May 26, 2017, 7:33 PM
The Washington Post is now reporting that Russian ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak communicated to Moscow that Jared Kushner had approached him in hopes of establishing a secret communications channel with the Kremlin.
Secrecy & Leaks
How Do Leak Investigations Work?
Selina MacLaren Tue, May 16, 2017, 2:30 PM
An overview of two kinds of leak investigations: those undertaken by the Justice Department and those led by the Department’s Inspector General.
Middle East Ticker
Russia’s Latest Plan for Syria, Yemen Coalition Tearing Itself Apart, Economy and Syria on Agenda in Iran’s Election
J. Dana Stuster Tue, May 16, 2017, 1:00 PM
Russia proposes “de-escalation zones” to reduce fighting in Syria, the UAE and Yemeni governments are feuding within the Saudi-led coalition to fight the Houthis, and Iran’s election highlights criticisms of the intervention in Syria.
Aegis
Do We Really Need Another Trump-Russia Timeline?
Jane Chong Mon, May 1, 2017, 6:26 PM
Today marks the launch of our comprehensive page collecting developments and news stories relating to President Trump and his associates’ alleged ties to Russia. But the internet is teeming with timelines and databases—some quite sophisticated—providing infinite variations on this very thing.
Foreign Policy Essay
Understanding Russia’s New Role in the Middle East
Yuri M. Zhukov Sun, Apr 23, 2017, 10:00 AM
With its role in Syria, Russia has presented itself as an alternative security manager in the Middle East—but Moscow is discovering that getting into the region is far easier than getting out.