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Report: Trump Told Rosenstein to Announce Indictments Before Putin Meeting

The president reportedly thought the indictments “would strengthen his hand in the talks.”

President Donald Trump gave the go-ahead for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to announce the indictments of 12 Russian intelligence officials before his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin because he hoped “it would strengthen his hand in the talks,” sources told Bloomberg. The outlet reports that Rosenstein approached Trump last week about the indictments, and asked the president if he’d rather they were announced before or after the summit. Trump reportedly said he’d rather Rosenstein announce them before the meeting. Although special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe involves figures within Trump’s 2016 campaign, Rosenstein briefed the president on the upcoming development on “national security grounds.”