5 Things for October 31: Arresting Developments

CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 10/31/2017, 8:36 a.m.
Happy Halloween! It's sure to be a spooky one for some people in Washington. Here's what else you need to …
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl

By AJ Willingham, CNN

(CNN) -- Happy Halloween! It's sure to be a spooky one for some people in Washington. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.

1. Russia investigation

Well, where to begin? Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former Trump campaign official Rick Gates surrendered to Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller on Monday, and that wasn't even the biggest shock of the day.

It turns out former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos has also pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI after lying about his interactions with foreign officials close to the Russian government. This information was revealed in court records unsealed Monday, and it's a huge deal because it is a tangible connection between the Trump campaign and Russian actions in the 2016 election.

The FBI statement regarding Papadopoulos also states he was involved in an email chain suggesting that a low-level campaign staffer meet with Russian officials interested in the Trump campaign so as not "to send any signal."

As for Manafort and Gates, they were indicted on 12 counts, including conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, false statements and other charges.

2. Trump administration

The White House was in emergency mode following the flurry of activity from the Mueller investigation. First of all, officials say President Donald Trump will not call for Mueller's firing. Trump has repeatedly downplayed and dismissed the investigation.

Trump was, however, reportedly livid over Monday's developments, especially the surprising revelation of Papadopoulos' guilty plea.

When faced with the day's developments, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tried to pivot the conversation to Hillary Clinton's campaign, saying somewhat illogically that previous news about the Clinton campaign funding the infamous Steele dossier amounted to "collusion" with Russia.

3. Puerto Rico

It was a busy day for FBI news, because the bureau also is reportedly investigating the $300 million Whitefish Energy Holdings contract secured by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. This is the contract that the Puerto Rican utility is working to cancel after widespread scrutiny regarding the choice of company and amount of money awarded.

While the FBI office in San Juan would neither confirm nor deny an investigation, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general said it opened a review of the contract after a CNN report highlighted the contract and calls from members of Congress. The office said it considers the investigation to be one of its high-priority cases.

4. Facebook

Facebook will inform lawmakers this week that roughly 126 million Americans may have been served content generated on its platform by the Russian government-linked troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency between June 2015 and August 2017. That's more than half of the voting population. However, in written testimony, Facebook stresses that such content represented "a tiny fraction" -- 0.004% -- of everything that circulated on the platform's News Feed.

5. Bowe Bergdahl

At his sentencing hearing Monday, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl apologized to service members who searched for him after he deserted his outpost in Afghanistan in 2009. He was captured by the Taliban hours later and held captive for four years before being released in a controversial prisoner swap in 2014. Bergdahl and his case have become a political firebrand, and earlier this month he pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. The trial has been filled with harrowing statements from both Bergdahl and service members charged with rescuing him.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

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Want to know your credit score? Just ask Alexa

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No word yet on the movie rights to their amazing story.

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This is the kind of hard-hitting news the world needs.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"... The lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War. And men and women of good faith on both sides made their stand where their conscience had to make their stand."

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, discussing the Civil War and removal of Confederate monuments during a Fox News appearance Monday.

AND FINALLY ...

Volume up for a Halloween treat

It's been a long week and it's only Tuesday, so we all deserve one of the very best Halloween videos ever.