On Monday, a letter from Australian Ambassador Joe Hockey to Attorney General William Barr surfaced showing the Australian government intended to help the Trump administration get to the bottom of the origins of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. The letter was originally sent in May.
“The Australian Government will use its best endeavors to support your efforts in this matte. While Australia’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, the Hon Alexander Downer, is no longer employed by the government, we stand ready to provide you with all the relevant information to support your inquiries," the letter reads.
President Donald Trump called Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week to ask for his help into the investigation. The call took place before Morrison traveled to the United States later in the week, The Guardian reported.
“The Australian government has always been ready to assist and cooperate with efforts that help shed further light on the matters under investigation,” the Australian government said in a statement, which confirmed the call. “The PM confirmed this readiness once again in conversation with the president.”
BREAKING: Australian Ambassador Joe Hockey sent AG Bill Barr the following letter in May:
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 30, 2019
“The Australian Government will use its best endeavors to support your efforts in this matter ... we stand ready to provide you with all the relevant information to support your inquiries” pic.twitter.com/73EUc2R1uB
Mueller's investigation focused on whether or not the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to interfere with the 2016 elections. After a two-and-a-half year investigation, Mueller concluded no collusion and no obstruction took place.
From The Guardian:
The Mueller investigation began after Australia’s former foreign minister Alexander Downer was allegedly told about the interference by George Papadopoulos, a Trump campaign aide. Downer then informed the FBI.
According to Downer, Papadopoulos told him during “a night of heavy drinking” in May 2016 that Russia had obtained damaging information about Hillary Clinton from her emails.
Papadopoulos took to Twitter to chime in on the letter:
I have been right about Downer from the beginning. A wannabe spy and Clinton errand boy who is about to get exposed on the world stage. Great reporting, NYTs! Mifsud is next.
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 30, 2019
First, I testified against both Downer and Mifsud a year ago to help launch Durham’s investigation. Now, the fruit of that accurate testimony is exposing the global nature of the attempt to set up the 2016 campaign and interfere in the democratic process. Was my patriotic duty!
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgePapa19) September 30, 2019