Welcome to the Mueller Report audio. Before we get started, this episode is going to be a little bit shorter. I'm going to read the introduction to section 4 and 4A. The eight different parts under section 4A titled campaign period September 15 to November 8, 2016, are all long enough

to get their own episode, so I'll be releasing those separately after releasing this one.

Section 4. Russian government links to and contacts with the Trump campaign.

The office identified multiple contacts, links, in the words of the appointment order,

between Trump campaign officials and individuals with ties to the Russian government. The office investigated whether

those contacts constituted a third avenue of attempted Russian interference with or influence

on the 2016 presidential election. In particular, the investigation examined whether these

contacts involved or resulted in

coordination or a conspiracy with the Trump campaign and Russia, including with respect to Russia

providing assistance to the campaign in exchange for any sort of favorable treatment in the future.

Based on the available information, the investigation did not establish such coordination.

This section describes the principal links between the Trump campaign and individuals

with ties to the Russian government, including some contacts with campaign officials or associates

that have been publicly reported to involve Russian contacts.

Each subsection begins with an overview of the Russian contact at issue and then describes

in detail the relevant

facts, which are generally presented in chronological order, beginning with the early months

of the campaign and extending through the post-election transition period.

Section 4A. Campaign Period. September 2015 through November 8, 2016.

Russian government-connected individuals and media entities began

showing interest in Trump's campaign in the months after he announced his candidacy in June

2015. Because Trump's status, as a public figure at the time, was attributable in large part

...