xd0x93xd0xbbxd0xb0xd0xb2xd0xb0 xd0xa6xd0x98xd0x9a xd0xa0xd0xa4 xd0xadxd0xbbxd0xbbxd0xb0 xd0x9fxd0xb0xd0xbcxd1x84xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0 xd0xbdxd0xb0 xd0xb2xd1x81xd1x82xd1x80xd0xb5xd1x87xd0xb5 xd1x81 xd0x92xd0xbbxd0xb0xd0xb4xd0xb8xd0xbcxd0xb8xd1x80xd0xbexd0xbc xd0x9fxd1x83xd1x82xd0xb8xd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xbc xd0xb7xd0xb0xd1x8fxd0xb2xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xb0, xd1x87xd1x82xd0xbe xd0xbdxd0xb8xd0xbaxd1x82xd0xbe xd0xb8xd0xb7 xd0xb8xd0xbdxd0xbexd1x81xd1x82xd1x80xd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xbdxd1x8bxd1x85 xd0xb0xd0xb3xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd0xbexd0xb2, xd1x83xd1x87xd0xb0xd1x81xd1x82xd0xb2xd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0xd0xb2xd1x88xd0xb8xd1x85 xd0xb2 xd0xbexd1x81xd0xb5xd0xbdxd0xbdxd0xb8xd1x85 xd0xb2xd1x8bxd0xb1xd0xbexd1x80xd0xb0xd1x85, xd0xbdxd0xb5 xd0xb1xd1x8bxd0xbb xd0xbfxd0xbexd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb6xd1x91xd0xbd xd0xb2 xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb2xd0xb0xd1x85, xd1x81xd0xbexd0xbexd0xb1xd1x89xd0xb0xd0xb5xd1x82 xd0xa0xd0x98xd0x90 xd0x9dxd0xbexd0xb2xd0xbexd1x81xd1x82xd0xb8.

xc2xabxd0x9fxd0xbexd1x81xd0xbaxd0xbexd0xbbxd1x8cxd0xbaxd1x83 xd1x81xd0xb5xd0xb9xd1x87xd0xb0xd1x81 xd0xbdxd0xb0 xd1x81xd0xbbxd1x83xd1x85xd1x83 xd1x82xd0xb5xd0xbcxd0xb0 xd0xb8xd0xbdxd0xbexd1x81xd1x82xd1x80xd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xbdxd1x8bxd1x85 xd0xb0xd0xb3xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd0xbexd0xb2, xd1x8f xd1x85xd0xbexd1x82xd0xb5xd0xbbxd0xb0 xd0xb1xd1x8b xd1x81xd0xbaxd0xb0xd0xb7xd0xb0xd1x82xd1x8c, xd1x87xd1x82xd0xbe xd0xbdxd0xb0 xd1x8dxd1x82xd0xb8xd1x85 xd0xb2xd1x8bxd0xb1xd0xbexd1x80xd0xb0xd1x85 xd0xb2xd0xbexd0xbexd0xb1xd1x89xd0xb5 xd0xbdxd0xb8xd0xbaxd1x82xd0xbe xd0xb8xd0xb7 xd0xbdxd0xb8xd1x85 xd0xbdxd0xb5 xd0xb1xd1x8bxd0xbb xd0xbfxd0xbexd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb6xd1x91xd0xbd xd0xb2 xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb2xd0xb0xd1x85. xd0x92 xd1x82xd0xbexd0xbc xd1x87xd0xb8xd1x81xd0xbbxd0xb5 xd1x83 xd0xbdxd0xb0xd1x81 xd0xb1xd1x8bxd0xbb xd0xbaxd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xb4xd0xb8xd0xb4xd0xb0xd1x82 xd0xbexd0xb4xd0xb8xd0xbd xd0xbdxd0xb0 xd1x84xd0xb5xd0xb4xd0xb5xd1x80xd0xb0xd0xbbxd1x8cxd0xbdxd0xbexd0xbc xd1x83xd1x80xd0xbexd0xb2xd0xbdxd0xb5, xd0xbaxd0xbexd1x82xd0xbexd1x80xd1x8bxd0xb9 xd0xb2xd1x8bxd0xbfxd0xbexd0xbbxd0xbdxd1x8fxd0xb5xd1x82 xd1x84xd1x83xd0xbdxd0xbaxd1x86xd0xb8xd0xb8 xd0xb8xd0xbdxd0xbexd1x81xd1x82xd1x80xd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xbdxd0xbexd0xb3xd0xbe xd0xb0xd0xb3xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd0xb0 xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xb8 xd0xb0xd1x84xd1x84xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xb8xd1x80xd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0xd0xbd xd1x81 xd0xbexd1x80xd0xb3xd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xb8xd0xb7xd0xb0xd1x86xd0xb8xd0xb5xd0xb9. xd0x92 xd1x80xd0xb5xd0xb3xd0xb8xd0xbexd0xbdxd0xb0xd1x85 xd1x88xd0xb5xd1x81xd1x82xd1x8c xd1x87xd0xb5xd0xbbxd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb5xd0xba xd1x83xd1x87xd0xb0xd1x81xd1x82xd0xb2xd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0xd0xbbxd0xb8 xd0xbdxd0xb0xd1x80xd1x8fxd0xb4xd1x83 xd1x81xd0xbe xd0xb2xd1x81xd0xb5xd0xbcxd0xb8 xd0xbexd1x81xd1x82xd0xb0xd0xbbxd1x8cxd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xbcxd0xb8xc2xbb, xe2x80x93 xd1x86xd0xb8xd1x82xd0xb8xd1x80xd1x83xd0xb5xd1x82 xd0xb0xd0xb3xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd1x81xd1x82xd0xb2xd0xbe xd1x81xd0xbbxd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0 xd0xb3xd0xbbxd0xb0xd0xb2xd1x8b xd0xa6xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd1x80xd0xb8xd0xb7xd0xb1xd0xb8xd1x80xd0xbaxd0xbexd0xbcxd0xb0.

xd0x92 xd0xbexd1x82xd0xb2xd0xb5xd1x82 xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb5xd0xb7xd0xb8xd0xb4xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82 xd0xbfxd0xbexd0xb4xd1x87xd0xb5xd1x80xd0xbaxd0xbdxd1x83xd0xbb, xd1x87xd1x82xd0xbe xd0xb7xd0xb0xd0xbaxd0xbexd0xbd xd0xbexd0xb1 xd0xb8xd0xbdxd0xbexd0xb0xd0xb3xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd0xb0xd1x85 xd0xb4xd0xbexd0xbbxd0xb6xd0xb5xd0xbd xd0xbexd1x82xd0xb2xd0xb5xd1x87xd0xb0xd1x82xd1x8c xd1x82xd0xb5xd0xbc xd1x86xd0xb5xd0xbbxd1x8fxd0xbc, xd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb4xd0xb8 xd0xbaxd0xbexd1x82xd0xbexd1x80xd1x8bxd1x85 xd0xbexd0xbd xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb8xd0xbdxd1x8fxd1x82 xd0xb8 xd0xbdxd0xb5 xd0xbdxd0xb0xd1x80xd1x83xd1x88xd0xb0xd1x82xd1x8c xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb2xd0xb0 xd0xb3xd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb6xd0xb4xd0xb0xd0xbd.

xc2xabxd0xaf xd0xb7xd0xbdxd0xb0xd1x8e xd0xb2xd0xb0xd1x88xd1x83 xd0xbfxd0xbexd0xb7xd0xb8xd1x86xd0xb8xd1x8e, xd0xbaxd0xbexd1x82xd0xbexd1x80xd0xb0xd1x8f xd0xb7xd0xb0xd0xbaxd0xbbxd1x8exd1x87xd0xb0xd0xb5xd1x82xd1x81xd1x8f xd0xb2 xd1x82xd0xbexd0xbc, xd1x87xd1x82xd0xbexd0xb1xd1x8b xd0xb2xd0xbdxd0xb8xd0xbcxd0xb0xd1x82xd0xb5xd0xbbxd1x8cxd0xbdxd0xbe xd0xbfxd0xbexd1x81xd0xbcxd0xbexd1x82xd1x80xd0xb5xd1x82xd1x8c, xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xbexd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xb0xd0xbbxd0xb8xd0xb7xd0xb8xd1x80xd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0xd1x82xd1x8c xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb0xd0xbaxd1x82xd0xb8xd0xbaxd1x83 xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb8xd0xbcxd0xb5xd0xbdxd0xb5xd0xbdxd0xb8xd1x8f xd1x8dxd1x82xd0xbexd0xb3xd0xbe xd0xb7xd0xb0xd0xbaxd0xbexd0xbdxd0xb0, xd0xb2xd0xbdxd0xb5xd1x81xd1x82xd0xb8 xd1x82xd0xb0xd0xbc xd0xbexd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb5xd0xb4xd0xb5xd0xbbxd1x91xd0xbdxd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xb5 xd0xbaxd0xbexd1x80xd1x80xd0xb5xd0xbaxd1x82xd0xb8xd0xb2xd1x8bxc2xbb, xe2x80x93 xd0xbexd1x82xd0xbcxd0xb5xd1x82xd0xb8xd0xbb xd0xb3xd0xbbxd0xb0xd0xb2xd0xb0 xd0xb3xd0xbexd1x81xd1x83xd0xb4xd0xb0xd1x80xd1x81xd1x82xd0xb2xd0xb0.

xd0x9fxd0xb0xd0xbcxd1x84xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0 xd1x81xd0xbexd0xb3xd0xbbxd0xb0xd1x81xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xb0xd1x81xd1x8c xd1x81 xd0xbdxd0xb8xd0xbc, xd0xbexd1x82xd0xbcxd0xb5xd1x82xd0xb8xd0xb2, xd1x87xd1x82xd0xbe xd0xb7xd0xb0xd0xbaxd0xbexd0xbd xd0xbdxd0xb5xd0xbexd0xb1xd1x85xd0xbexd0xb4xd0xb8xd0xbcxd0xbe xd1x83xd0xbfxd0xbexd1x80xd1x8fxd0xb4xd0xbexd1x87xd0xb8xd1x82xd1x8c, xd1x87xd1x82xd0xbexd0xb1xd1x8b xc2xabxd0xbexd0xbd xd0xb1xd1x8bxd0xbb xd0xb1xd0xbexd0xbbxd0xb5xd0xb5 xd1x8dxd1x84xd1x84xd0xb5xd0xbaxd1x82xd0xb8xd0xb2xd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xb9 xd0xb8 xd1x82xd0xbexd1x87xd0xb5xd1x87xd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xb9, xd1x86xd0xb5xd0xbbxd0xb5xd0xbdxd0xb0xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb0xd0xb2xd0xbbxd0xb5xd0xbdxd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xb9, xd0xb0xd0xb4xd1x80xd0xb5xd1x81xd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xb9xc2xbb xd0xb8 xc2xabxd0xbdxd0xb5 xd1x83xd0xb4xd0xb0xd1x80xd1x8fxd0xbb xd0xbdxd0xb5xd0xb7xd0xb0xd1x81xd0xbbxd1x83xd0xb6xd0xb5xd0xbdxd0xbdxd0xbe xd0xbfxd0xbe xd1x82xd0xb5xd0xbc, xd0xbaxd1x82xd0xbe xd0xbdxd0xb5 xd0xb7xd0xb0xd1x81xd0xbbxd1x83xd0xb6xd0xb8xd0xb2xd0xb0xd0xb5xd1x82xc2xbb.

xd0xa2xd0xb0xd0xbaxd0xb6xd0xb5 xd1x81xd0xb5xd0xb3xd0xbexd0xb4xd0xbdxd1x8f xd0x9fxd0xb0xd0xbcxd1x84xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0, xd0xbexd0xb1xd1x81xd1x83xd0xb6xd0xb4xd0xb0xd1x8f xd1x81 xd0x9fxd1x83xd1x82xd0xb8xd0xbdxd1x8bxd0xbc xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xbexd1x88xd0xb5xd0xb4xd1x88xd0xb8xd0xb5 xd0xb2 xd1x81xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd1x8fxd0xb1xd1x80xd0xb5 xd0xb2xd1x8bxd0xb1xd0xbexd1x80xd1x8b, xd0xb7xd0xb0xd1x8fxd0xb2xd0xb8xd0xbbxd0xb0, xd1x87xd1x82xd0xbe xd1x81xd0xb8xd1x81xd1x82xd0xb5xd0xbcxd0xb0 xd1x8dxd0xbbxd0xb5xd0xbaxd1x82xd1x80xd0xbexd0xbdxd0xbdxd0xbexd0xb3xd0xbe xd0xb3xd0xbexd0xbbxd0xbexd1x81xd0xbexd0xb2xd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xb8xd1x8f xd1x8fxd0xb2xd0xbbxd1x8fxd0xb5xd1x82xd1x81xd1x8f xd0xbexd1x87xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x8c xd0xbfxd0xb5xd1x80xd1x81xd0xbfxd0xb5xd0xbaxd1x82xd0xb8xd0xb2xd0xbdxd0xbexd0xb9.

xd0xa0xd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xb5xd0xb5 xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb5xd1x81xd1x81-xd1x81xd0xb5xd0xbaxd1x80xd0xb5xd1x82xd0xb0xd1x80xd1x8c xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb5xd0xb7xd0xb8xd0xb4xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd0xb0 xd0xa0xd0xa4 xd0x94xd0xbcxd0xb8xd1x82xd1x80xd0xb8xd0xb9 xd0x9fxd0xb5xd1x81xd0xbaxd0xbexd0xb2 xd0xbfxd0xbexd0xb4xd1x82xd0xb2xd0xb5xd1x80xd0xb4xd0xb8xd0xbb xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb8xd0xb3xd0xbbxd0xb0xd1x88xd0xb5xd0xbdxd0xb8xd0xb5 xd0xa1xd0x9cxd0x98-xd0xb8xd0xbdxd0xbexd0xb0xd0xb3xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x82xd0xbexd0xb2 xd0xbdxd0xb0 xd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb5xd1x81xd1x81-xd0xbaxd0xbexd0xbdxd1x84xd0xb5xd1x80xd0xb5xd0xbdxd1x86xd0xb8xd1x8e xd0x9fxd1x83xd1x82xd0xb8xd0xbdxd0xb0. xd0x9cxd0xb5xd1x80xd0xbexd0xbfxd1x80xd0xb8xd1x8fxd1x82xd0xb8xd0xb5 xd1x81xd0xbexd1x81xd1x82xd0xbexd0xb8xd1x82xd1x81xd1x8f xd0xb2 xd0x9cxd0xb0xd0xbdxd0xb5xd0xb6xd0xb5 23 xd0xb4xd0xb5xd0xbaxd0xb0xd0xb1xd1x80xd1x8f.

Mr President of the Republic, Members of Government and of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Religious and Civil Authorities, Illustrious Representatives of Society and the World of Culture, Ladies and Gentlemen, I greet you most cordially and I am most pleased to be present among you. I thank you, Mr President, for the welcome you have offered me in the name of the entire population. I have come as a pilgrim to a country geographically small, but historically great; to an island that down the centuries has not isolated peoples but brought them together; to a land whose borders are the sea; to a place that is the eastern gate of Europe and the western gate of the Middle East. You are an open door, a harbour that unites. Cyprus, as a crossroads of civilizations, has an innate vocation to encounter, favoured by the welcoming character of the Cypriot people.

We have just paid homage to the first President of this Republic, Archbishop Makarios, and by that gesture, I wished to render homage to all its citizens. His name, xe2x80x9cMakariosxe2x80x9d, reminds us of the opening of Jesusxe2x80x99 Sermon on the Mount: the Beatitudes (cf. Mk 5:3-12). Who is makarios, truly blessed, according to the Christian faith to which this land is inseparably bound? Everyone can be blessed, and blessed are above all the poor in spirit, those who have experienced suffered in their lives, those who live in meekness and mercy, all those who without pretense practice justice and are peacemakers. The Beatitudes, dear friends, are the perennial charter of Christianity. When they are lived out, the Gospel becomes youthful and fills society with fresh hope. The Beatitudes are the compass that, in every latitude, indicates the routes that Christians must take in the voyage of life.

Precisely from this place, where Europe and the East meet, there began the first great inculturation of the Gospel on this continent. I am deeply moved to be able to retrace the steps of the great missionaries of the early Church, particularly Saints Paul, Barnabas and Mark. So here I am, a pilgrim in your midst, to walk with you, dear Cypriots, all of you, in the desire that the good news of the Gospel may bring from here to Europe a message of joy, under the banner of the Beatitudes. For what the earliest Christians gave to the world with the gentle power of the Spirit was an unprecedented message of beauty. It was the amazing newness of the Beatitudes, addressed to everyone, that won hearts and bestowed freedom upon many. This country has inherited a particular responsibility in that regard, namely, to be a messenger of beauty among the continents.

Cyprus radiates a natural beauty that must be protected and preserved by suitable environmental policies, adopted in concert with its neighbours. A beauty that is evident as well in its architecture, its art, especially its sacred art, and its religious crafts, and its many archaeological treasures. To draw an image from the sea all around us, I would even say that this island, small in size, represents a pearl of great price in the heart of the Mediterranean.

A pearl in fact becomes what it is, because it takes shape over time. It takes years for its various layers to become compact and give it lustre. So too, the beauty of this land comes from the cultures which over the centuries have met and blended here. Today too, the light of Cyprus is richly variegated. Many peoples and nations have contributed different shades and tints to this people. I think too of the presence of many immigrants: percentagewise, more than any other country of the European Union. To preserve the multicolored and multifaceted beauty of the whole is no easy thing. As in the formation of a pearl, it takes time and patience; it demands a broad vision capable of embracing a variety of cultures and looking to the future with foresight. I think in this regard of the importance of protecting and supporting all the members of society, especially those who are statistically a minority. I think too of the various Catholic agencies that would benefit from a suitable institutional recognition, so that the contribution they make to society through their activities, particularly their educational and charitable works, can be clearly defined from the legal standpoint.

A pearl develops its beauty in situations of difficulty. It is born in obscurity, when the oyster xe2x80x9csuffersxe2x80x9d after experiencing an unexpected threat to its safety, such as a grain of sand that irritates it. To protect itself, it reacts by assimilating the thing that wounded it: it encloses the foreign body that endangers it and makes it into something beautiful: a pearl. The pearl of Cyprus has been darkened by the pandemic, which has prevented many visitors from visiting it and seeing its beauty; here, as in other places, this has aggravated the effects of the financial and economic crisis. In this period of recovery, however, it will not be anxious efforts to recover what was lost that will ensure and consolidate growth, but the commitment to promote the recovery of society, especially through a decisive fight against corruption and everything that violates the dignity of the person; here I think, for example, of the scourge of human trafficking.

Yet the greatest wound suffered by this land has been the terrible laceration it has endured in recent decades. I think of the deep suffering of all those people unable to return to their homes and their places of worship. I pray for your peace, for the peace of the entire island, and I make it my fervent hope. The way of peace, which reconciles conflicts and regenerates the beauty of fraternity, has a single word as its signpost. That word is dialogue. We ought to help one another to believe in the patient and unassuming power of dialogue, on the basis of the Beatitudes. We know that it is no easy road; it is long and winding, but there is no other way to achieve reconciliation. Let us nurture hope by the power of gestures, rather than by gestures of power. There is a power of gestures, which prepares the way of peace. Not gestures of power, threats of reprisal and shows of force, but gestures of dxc3xa9tente and concrete steps towards dialogue. I think, for example, of openness to sincere discussion that would give priority to peoplexe2x80x99s needs, ever more effective involvement on the part of the international community, the need to protect the religious and cultural heritage, and the restitution of all that people hold most precious in that regard, such as places or at least sacred furnishings. With this in mind, I would like to express my appreciation and encouragement for the Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Project, promoted by the Embassy of Sweden, for the cultivation of dialogue among religious leaders.

Times that seem least favourable, when dialogue languishes, can be the very times that prepare for peace. The pearl also reminds us of this, for it takes shape in the patient, hidden process of weaving new substances together with the agent that caused the wound. In these circumstances, may hatred not be allowed to prevail, efforts be made to bind up wounds and to keep in mind the situation of those who have disappeared. And when tempted to yield to discouragement, to think of coming generations, who long to inherit a world of peace, cooperation and cohesiveness, not one marred by perennial rivalries and poisoned by unresolved disputes. For this, dialogue is necessary, to avoid the growth of suspicion and resentment. Let us think in this regard of the Mediterranean, now sadly a place of conflicts and humanitarian tragedies; in its profound beauty it is mare nostrum, the sea of all those peoples who border it, in order to be connected, not divided. Cyprus, as a geographic, historical, cultural and religious crossroads, is in a position to be a peacemaker. May it be a workshop of peace in the Mediterranean.

Peace is not often achieved by great personalities, but by the daily determination of ordinary men and women. The European continent needs reconciliation and unity; it needs courage and enthusiasm, if it is to move forward. For it will not be the walls of fear and the vetoes dictated by nationalist interests that ensure its progress, nor will economic recovery alone serve to guarantee its security and stability. May we look to the history of Cyprus to see how encounter and welcome have brought forth good fruits that endure. Not only in the history of Christianity, for which Cyprus was xe2x80x9cthe springboardxe2x80x9d on this continent, but also for the building of a society which found its richness in integration. This spirit of enlargement, this ability to look beyond onexe2x80x99s own borders, brings rejuvenation and makes possible the rediscovery of a brilliance that was lost.

The Acts of the Apostles speak of Cyprus, telling us that Paul and Barnabas xe2x80x9ctraversed the whole islandxe2x80x9d in order to reach Paphos (cf. Acts 13:6). I rejoice, in these days, that I can traverse the history and spirit of this land, in the desire that its yearning for unity and its message of beauty will continue to guide its journey towards the future. [In Greek:] May God bless Cyprus!

Ethan Crumbley, the 15-year-old suspect accused of opening fire at his Michigan high school, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to one count of terrorism causing death, four counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of assault with intent to murder, and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.xc2xa0

The sophomore, who is being charged as an adult, allegedly fired more than 30 rounds in the hallways of Oxford High School on Tuesday shortly before 1:00 p.m., killing four students and wounding seven others, including a teacher.xc2xa0

He appeared in Oakland County Court by video on Wednesday, slumped over in a vest, white mask, and glasses.xc2xa0

Mark Keast, an assistant prosecuting attorney in Oakland County, told Judge Nancy Carniak that he doesn’t “have the words to describe how horrific” the surveillance video of the shooting is.xc2xa0

“He methodically and deliberately walked down a hallway, aimed the firearm at students and fired it,” Keast said. “After children started running away from the defendant, he continued down the hallway, again at a deliberate and methodical pace, pointing and aiming inside classrooms and at students who hadnxe2x80x99t had the opportunity to escape.”

Judge Carniak ordered Crumbley to be held without bond and transferred to Oakland County Jail, where he will be separated from adults.xc2xa0

MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL TEEN KILLED IN SHOOTING WAS ‘HERO,’ CLASSMATES SAY

Lt. Tim Willis told the judge that Crumbley recorded videos on his phone the night before the incident in which he “talkedxc2xa0about shooting and killing students the next day at Oxford Highxc2xa0School.”

“Further, a journal was recovered from Ethanxe2x80x99s backpackxc2xa0also detailing his desire to shoot up a school to include murderingxc2xa0students,” Willis said.xc2xa0

Crumbley’s parents went to Oxford High School about two to three hours before the shooting to meet with their son and school officials over behavioral issues in the classroom.xc2xa0

“The parents were brought in the morning of the shooting and hadxc2xa0a face-to-face meeting with the school,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.xc2xa0

“The content of that meeting obviously is part of the investigation but wexc2xa0did not learn of that meeting, nor of the content of that meeting until afterxc2xa0the shooting and during this investigation.”

Crumbley also had to meet with school officials the day before the shooting “over behavior in the classroom that they felt was concerning.”

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald noted that the terrorism count is not a “typical” charge, but she said that it is necessary to get justice for all the victims in this shooting.xc2xa0

“The children that I have just listed and those that were injured, theyxe2x80x99re the victims in the first-degree murder charges and assault with intent to murder,” McDonald said.xc2xa0

“But what about all these other children? What about all the children who ran, screaming, hiding under desks? What about all the children at home right now who canxe2x80x99t eat and canxe2x80x99t sleep and canxe2x80x99t imagine a world where they could ever step foot back in that school. Those are victims too.”

GUN USED IN MICHIGAN SCHOOL SHOOTING PURCHASED BY SUSPECT’S FATHER ON BLACK FRIDAY

The suspect used a 9mm Sig Sauer, according to police, which the boyxe2x80x99s father bought on Black Friday, just four days before the shooting. A motive has not been announced.xc2xa0

McDonald said that her office is looking at charging the parents and “that decision will be made swiftly.”

The suspect has declined to speak with authorities following his arrest and his parents have hired an attorney.xc2xa0

“There is no conversation thatxe2x80x99s going on and no cooperation at that level,” Bouchard said Tuesday.xc2xa0

At least 30 shell casings were found at the scene and the suspect still had 18 live rounds when deputies apprehended him.xc2xa0

Crumbley was apprehended by police within five minutes of the first 911 call, Bouchard said.xc2xa0

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPxc2xa0

Four students died due to the shooting. Bouchard identified three of the students on Tuesday as 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, and 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin.xc2xa0

The fourth student died on Wednesday morning and was identified as 15-year-old Justin Shilling.xc2xa0

Three of the injured victims xe2x80x93 a 15-year-old male, a 17-year-old male, and a 47-year-old teacher xe2x80x93 have been discharged from the hospital. Four injured victims are still hospitalized.xc2xa0

“I started realizing it was real when I began to hear yelling,” Kluska told CNN.

Later, someone outside the room who claimed to be with the sheriff’s office told Kluska and his classmates that all was safe and they could come out, a video the freshman recorded shows.

“We’re not willing to take that risk right now,” the teacher replies.

It’s not clear who the person at the door was. But the teacher quickly signaled students to scramble out a first-floor window into the snow, Kluska said. From there, they raced across a courtyard to another part of the building, where a law enforcement officer herded them to safety.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard confirmed during a news conference Wednesday the suspect never knocked on any doors.

More than 100 calls to 911 were made. About two to three minutes after officers arrived, they found a 15-year-old suspect, later identified as Ethan Crumbley, and took him into custody without incident, Bouchard said.

The suspect’s lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on his client’s behalf at Wednesday’s arraignment. The judge scheduled a probable cause hearing for December 13 and a preliminary examination hearing for December 20.

During Crumbley’s arraignment Wednesday, Lt. Tim Willis said two separate videos were recovered from the suspected shooter’s cellphone in which he talked about shooting and killing students the next day at Oxford High School.

In addition to the cellphone, a journal was recovered from Crumbley’s backpack detailing his “desire to shoot up the school,” Willis said.

One of the dead was 14 years old

Justin died Wednesday morning at a hospital; the others died Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said. Tate died in a patrol car while a deputy was taking him to a hospital, Bouchard said.

“Justin was an exemplary employee, a devoted friend and co-worker, co-captain of his bowling team, and simply a pleasure to be around. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time,” the statement read.

Seven others — six students and a teacher — were shot, Bouchard said.

Among the wounded were a 14-year-old girl who was on a ventilator following surgery, Bouchard said Tuesday night. On Wednesday, it was announced she had been taken off the ventilator and was in stable condition. A 14-year-old boy had a gunshot wound to the jaw and head. The teacher, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were discharged, Bouchard said.

Parents could face charges

The suspect was being held at a juvenile detention facility. Bouchard said authorities asked a judge to transfer him from the detention facility to the Oakland County Jail. The judge agreed to the request.

Charges of first-degree murder require allegations of premeditation, and evidence in this case indicates the shooting was planned “well before the incident,” McDonald said.

This shooting was “absolutely premeditated,” McDonald told reporters, without elaborating.

McDonald’s office will consider charges against the suspect’s parents, she said.

The weapon authorities said was used in the shooting, a 9mm Sig Sauer SP2022 semiautomatic pistol, was purchased by Crumbley’s father on Friday, four days before shots rang out at the school, Bouchard said.

Authorities are considering charges against both parents, with McDonald saying a decision would be made on that “swiftly.” The potential charges stem from the parents owning a gun. McDonald said that means securing it properly, ensuring ammunition is kept separate, among other legal responsibilities.

“We have to hold individuals accountable who don’t do that,” she said.

CNN has pressed the prosecutor to speak on whether evidence was recovered to support potential charges and which charges are being considered. The prosecutor declined to go into detail citing the investigation, but reiterated that an announcement would be made as soon as possible regarding whether charges would be brought.

CNN has attempted to reach the parents of Ethan Crumbley and are attempting to identify an attorney for them.

McDonald told CNN’s Erin Burnett on Wednesday she felt it was tragic how desensitized people were to gun violence, but gun owners should be held accountable for their ownership and possession of a firearm.

Suspect and his parents met with school officials hours before shooting

Bouchard said the 15-year-old had not been on law enforcement radar prior to the shooting.

However, authorities did learn after the shooting that the suspect and his parents met with school officials a few hours before the shooting. Officials met with just the suspect the day before and with the suspect and parents the day of the shooting, Bouchard said.

“The day before, it was a meeting with school personnel about some concerning behavior and the meeting the day of was with school personnel and parents about a different issue,” Bouchard said.

The sheriff declined to go into issues on either day.

“Prior to those two meetings there was no contact or nothing in his file by either concerning behavior or discipline,” he said.

McDonald told CNN she was not able to comment on what, specifically, the gunman, parents and school officials discussed during their meeting.

“There’s an additional piece of evidence that hasn’t been released yet, but I can assure you it was troubling, it was disturbing, and unfortunately he was allowed to go back to class,” she said.

Video shows assailant ‘was shooting people at close range,’ sheriff says

Investigators recovered more than 30 shell casings, said the sheriff, who’d earlier said at least a dozen rounds were fired.

“We believe he fired at least 30 shots,” he said.

Bouchard said two 15-round magazines were recovered by investigators and a third was recovered in the overnight hours. Investigators also learned the suspect had 18 rounds left, with seven in his pocket.

“With this much ammunition still with him … the quick actions of the school and the lockdown as well as the deputies going to the danger, saved lives,” Bouchard said.

Video from the school shows the assailant was “shooting people at close range — oftentimes toward the head or chest,” Bouchard told CNN’s “New Day” earlier Wednesday.

“It’s chilling. It’s absolutely cold-hearted, murderous,” Bouchard said.

Prosecutors said during Crumbley’s arraignment they’ve seen video from the school surveillance cameras showing Crumbley “methodically and deliberately” walking the hallways, aiming a gun at students and firing.

“What is depicted on that video, honestly judge, I don’t have the words to describe how horrific that was,” said prosecutor Marc Keast.

Video showed Crumbley with a backpack, and a minute later exiting the bathroom without the backpack and with a gun in hand, authorities said.

He started firing right outside the bathroom, Keast said, but after children started running away, he continued to go down the hallway at a “methodical pace” and shot inside classrooms and at students who hadn’t had the opportunity to escape. This continued for another four or five minutes and he went to another bathroom, Keast said.

When deputies arrived, he set down the gun and surrendered.

“A preliminary review of the defendant’s social media accounts, his cellphone, as well as other documented evidence recovered on scene showed that this defendant planned this shooting, he deliberately brought the handgun that day with the intent to murder as many students as he could,” Keast said.

Though much of the shooting was at close range, it nevertheless appeared “random,” Bouchard told CNN, without elaborating.

The assailant “tried to breach classroom doors,” the sheriff said.

“He actually fired through a number of the doors that I looked at last night — through the barricaded doors. … Some of those barricades were struck by gunfire,” Bouchard said.

Bouchard praised the work of his deputies and other local law enforcement agencies that responded Tuesday, saying their coordination and active shooter training proved invaluable.

Deputies were dispatched to the school at 12:52 p.m., and the suspect was in custody within three minutes of their arrival, Bouchard said.

As deputies made their way through the school, they encountered the suspect, who then put his hands up, Bouchard said. Deputies took the gun and placed the suspect in custody.

“I believe they literally saved lives, having taken down the suspect with a loaded firearm still in the building,” the sheriff said.

‘We believe we have some writings that contain his thoughts’

As for the investigation into a motive: “We believe we have some writings that contain some of his thoughts,” Bouchard said, adding he didn’t immediately know whether the writings reveal intent.

Investigators executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home and have searched the school, he said. Authorities seized a phone and are examining other seized items.

Michigan law prevents police from talking to a juvenile without parental permission, and the parents have refused that permission and requested a lawyer, Bouchard said.

“So, we can’t get the motive from the suspect that we have in custody, but we think we’ve got a path to get a lot of supportive information as to how and why this occurred. We’ve recovered some evidence that we’re now beginning to pore over,” Bouchard said.

Authorities also are investigating pictures of a target and the weapon posted on social media by the suspect, he added.

‘I’m going to text my family, say I love them’

“This district has been very good in training their personnel and their students on active shooters,” Undersheriff Michael McCabe said.

Kluska’s teacher, Moises Cortez, jumped into action after a lockdown was announced over the school’s loudspeakers, said the student who recorded video of his classmates escaping through a window.

“He shut the door and put, like, a metal doorstopper so no one would be able to kick in the door.” Kluska told CNN. “After he turned off the lights, he told us to get to the corner because this might not be a drill and he wants to be safe.”

People were injured as they rushed out of the school, Bouchard said. Most were treated and released at a nearby staging area.

Zander Cumbey, a junior at the high school, told CNN’s Victor Blackwell that he started hearing screams about a minute after he sat down in his classroom.

“I heard screams come from the hallway and then the first gunshot happened, and my teacher, he walked into the classroom, he locked the door and he told us to call 911,” Zander said. “And then we heard the rest of the gunshots go off, more screams.”

He said as he was on the phone with dispatchers, he didn’t really speak to them.

“I just said kind of said ‘Oxford High School, shooter’, because I couldn’t talk,” Zander said.

He texted his parents that he loved them, he said, and texted his younger brother who also attends the school to see whether he was safe. Zander told CNN one of the victims — Tate Myre — was a close friend who was on the football team with him.

Donna Sanders’ youngest grandchild was changing classes when he heard gunshots, she told CNN. He and others ran through an exit door and went to a nearby grocery store to escape, he told her.

“He was able to run to safety with others while his brother was trapped inside,” Sanders said.

Sanders’ daughter, Vontysha Pittman, said her oldest son sought safety in a classroom with a teacher and other students. He hid under a desk and called his father to tell him what was happening, she said.

“They are both are safe at home, but they are broken. We need prayers and not just for us but all the families at Oxford,” Sanders said.

Page’s classroom was in lockdown for an hour, the senior told CNN. The entire experience as “insane” as he contemplated whether he would live through the ordeal.

“The very first thing in my head was, ‘Is this actually happening? I’m going to text my family, say I love them just in case, if I were to die.’ Then when everything calmed down for a second, I was able to catch my breath and rationalize things,” he said.

The Biden administration warned on Wednesday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would trigger xe2x80x9chigh impactxe2x80x9d U.S. sanctions that would surpass any previously imposed on Moscow.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in the Latvian capital of Riga after meeting with his NATO counterparts, said Russiaxe2x80x99s large-scale troop buildup on Ukrainexe2x80x99s border and other pressure tactics resembled steps Moscow took before it invaded Ukraine in 2014 and seized the Crimean peninsula.

xe2x80x9cNow, wexe2x80x99ve seen this playbook before in 2014, when Russia last invaded Ukraine. Then as now they significantly increased combat forces along the border. Then as now they intensified disinformation to paint Ukraine as the aggressor to justify pre-planned military action,xe2x80x9d Blinken said.

But it remained unclear if Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to order an invasion, Blinken told reporters.

xe2x80x9cNow, we donxe2x80x99t know whether President Putin has made the decision to invade,” he said. “We do know that hexe2x80x99s putting in place the capacity to do so in short order should he so decide. So despite uncertainty about intentions, and time, we must prepare for all contingencies while working to see to it that Russia reverses course.”

CIA Director William Burns recently traveled to Moscow to convey Washingtonxe2x80x99s concerns, to urge a return to diplomacy to resolve the conflict between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukraine government, and to make clear xe2x80x9cthe severe consequences should Russia follow the path of confrontation in military action,xe2x80x9d Blinken said.

xe2x80x9cWexe2x80x99ve made it clear to the Kremlin that we will respond resolutely, including with a range of high impact economic measures that we have refrained from pursuing in the past,xe2x80x9d Blinken said.

Russia has deployed tens of thousands of combat troops on Ukrainexe2x80x99s border but has denied any aggressive plans toward Ukraine, saying it is only responding to what it calls provocative actions by Ukraine and NATO countries.

Blinken said the U.S. is urging Russia to reverse its troop buildup, pull back heavy weapons and recommit to the diplomatic process set up to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

xe2x80x9cThatxe2x80x99s how we can turn back from a crisis that will have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for our bilateral relations with Moscow, for Russiaxe2x80x99s relations with Europe and for international peace and security,xe2x80x9d Blinken said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier that Russia would face serious political and economic consequences if it invades Ukraine.xc2xa0

The head of Ukrainexe2x80x99s military intelligence saidxc2xa0recently that Russia had more than 92,000 troops massed around Ukrainexe2x80x99s borders and was preparing for an attack by the end of January or beginning of February.

Ukraine, which wants to join the NATO military alliance, received deliveries of U.S. ammunition and Javelin missiles earlier this year, prompting criticism from Moscow.

The trial of Ghislaine Maxwell continued on Wednesday in federal court in downtown Manhattan, where the British socialite is facing sex-trafficking charges for allegedly assisting her late associate, Jeffrey Epstein, in abusing underage girls. In todayxe2x80x99s testimony, the defense cross-examined the governmentxe2x80x99s first alleged-victim witness, who, to protect her privacy, is known simply as xe2x80x9cJane.xe2x80x9d (Her testimony began yesterday.) Citing notes from Janexe2x80x99s previous unrecorded interviews with the government, Maxwellxe2x80x99s attorney Laura Menninger pointed out apparent inconsistencies and implied Jane had changed her story over time. Jane largely refused to engage, repeating xe2x80x9cI donxe2x80x99t recallxe2x80x9d and suggesting multiple times that the FBIxe2x80x99s notes from her interview could have been wrong.xc2xa0

The defense questioned inconsistent statements on whether Epstein had approached her alone at Interlochen Performing Arts Camp when she was 14 or if a woman xe2x80x94 Maxwell xe2x80x94 had been with him. In 2019, the attorney pointed out, Jane told the government that Maxwell had walked by with her dog. On Tuesday, Jane testified that Maxwell and Epstein had approached her together. xe2x80x9cThe FBI got it wrong again?xe2x80x9d Menninger said. xe2x80x9cMaybe they typed it up wrong,xe2x80x9d Jane said.

During yesterdayxe2x80x99s direct examination from the prosecution, Jane said shexe2x80x99d first seen Maxwell naked was on an occasion when Epstein and Maxwell had led her upstairs and began fondling each other and giggling, then told Jane to take her clothes off before Epstein began masturbating. On Wednesday, defense pointed to notes from a 2019 interview where Jane had reportedly said she did not have a specific memory of the first time she saw Maxwell nude. Asked if she remembered saying this in an interview with the government, Jane said, xe2x80x9cI donxe2x80x99t recall.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0xc2xa0

Defense brought up more instances where they claimed Jane had changed her story, trying to impeach her credibility as a witness. One was regarding the timing of when the alleged abuse started; whether shexe2x80x99d told the government that she wasnxe2x80x99t sure if Maxwell had touched her; whether shexe2x80x99d told the government she was unsure if Maxwell had ever seen her performing oral sex on Epstein; and whether shexe2x80x99d told the government her first trip to New York with Epstein had been free from abuse. In each instance, she answered xe2x80x9cI donxe2x80x99t knowxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cI donxe2x80x99t recall.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

In excruciating back-and-forths, Jane would say she didnxe2x80x99t remember saying something, at which point Menninger would ask her to consult documentation of her conversations with the government. xe2x80x9cWith all due respect,xe2x80x9d Jane said during questioning about the timing of a trip to New York to see The Lion King on Broadway in the late 1990s. xe2x80x9cI didnxe2x80x99t write this and Ixe2x80x99ve never seen this document before.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

At one point, Jane seemed to point to the vagaries of remembering traumatic events over time. Menninger pointed to a 2019 interview where shexe2x80x99d supposedly said she was not sure if Maxwell had ever called her house in Florida to arrange meetings with Epstein. This was in contrast to what shexe2x80x99d said on Tuesday xe2x80x94 that Maxwell or an assistant had called her house to arrange her visits. xe2x80x9cMemory is not linear,xe2x80x9d she said.

During the course of the cross-examination, Jane confirmed she had flown on Epsteinxe2x80x99s plane with Prince Andrew and celebrity chef Adam Perry Lang, and that Epstein had brought her to Mar-a-Lago, where he introduced her to Donald Trump, whom she did not accuse of any wrongdoing. She was 14 years old at the time.xc2xa0

The defense homed in on Janexe2x80x99s acting career and a prior appearance on a reality TV show. Menninger asked if she could cry on command. xe2x80x9cThatxe2x80x99s not really how it works,xe2x80x9d Jane said. She said reality TV doesnxe2x80x99t represent reality and when the prosecution asked she said she understood the difference between acting on tv and testifying in court. xe2x80x9cActing on television is not real, and testifying in court is real xe2x80x94 is the truth,xe2x80x9d she said during redirect examination from prosecution.

On Tuesday afternoon, a former boyfriend of Janexe2x80x99s corroborated portions of Janexe2x80x99s testimony. The witness, whom the court is calling xe2x80x9cMatt,xe2x80x9d said he dated Jane between 2006 and 2014, that he remains friends with her, and that they work on the same soap opera. He said Jane told him about her familyxe2x80x98s money struggles, and said she had had a xe2x80x9crough, brutalxe2x80x9d relationship with her mother. He also said that she had told him about Epstein helping her family pay bills and that she had had to do things she didnxe2x80x99t want to do to get the money. When he had pressed for details, he told the jury shexe2x80x99d said, xe2x80x9cMatt, the money wasnxe2x80x99t fucking free.xe2x80x9d

A longtime vice president of finance at Interlochen also testified, sharing documentation of a lodge on the arts center property that Epstein had donated money to fund, as well as correspondence with Maxwell expressing gratitude for the donation and discussing plans for a future visit by Epstein to the campus.

The U.S. intelligence community faced xe2x80x9cgreater challengesxe2x80x9d in briefing former President Trump than it had confronted in almost five decades, when President-elect Nixon was taking office, according to a new account published by the CIAxe2x80x99s internal research center. xc2xa0

As was well-documented during his time in office, Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s tense relationship with U.S. intelligence agencies worsened amid politically charged investigations into his campaignxe2x80x99s contacts with Russia, leading to a xe2x80x9cbadly strainedxe2x80x9d rapport early in his presidency, former CIA officer Robert Helgerson writes in an update to his book, xe2x80x9cGetting to Know the President.xe2x80x9d xc2xa0

The book is featured among other unclassified materials on the CIAxe2x80x99s xe2x80x9cCenter for the Study of Intelligencexe2x80x9d website, but is for educational purposes and not an official product of the agency or reflective of its position, according to a disclaimer.xc2xa0

It was first published in 1996 and is a running historical account, dating back to the Truman administration, of how the intelligence community briefs newly elected presidents. Its latest chapter includes insights from the senior intelligence officials who oversaw the pre-election briefings offered to the presidential candidates in 2016, as well as briefings during the presidential transition and the delivery of the Presidentxe2x80x99s Daily Brief (PDB) throughout Trumpxe2x80x99s presidency. xc2xa0xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cFor the Intelligence Community, the Trump transition was far and away the most difficult in its historical experience with briefing new presidents,xe2x80x9d Helgerson says. xe2x80x9cTrump was like Nixon, suspicious and insecure about the intelligence process, but unlike Nixon in the way he reacted. Rather than shut the [intelligence community] out, Trump engaged with it, but attacked it publicly,xe2x80x9d he writes. xc2xa0

The director of Central Intelligence during Nixonxe2x80x99s presidency, Richard Helms, talked about the xe2x80x9crockyxe2x80x9d relationship between Nixon and the intelligence community in a 1982 interview that is included in thexc2xa0 book. Nixon xe2x80x9cwould constantlyxe2x80xa6pick on the [CIA] for not having properly judged what the Soviets were going to do with various kinds of weaponry. And obviously, he was being selective, but he would make nasty remarks about this and say this obviously had to be sharpened up.xe2x80x9d

Nixon mostly declined to receive the PDB, not because he wasnxe2x80x99t engaged with foreign policy xe2x80x94 he instead delegated this to his then-national security adviser Henry Kissinger. Throughout his presidency, according to the book, a courier would deliver the PDB to Kissingerxe2x80x99s office. Kissinger would then send Nixon the PDB xe2x80x9calong with material from the State Department, the White House Situation Room, the Joint Chiefs, and others,xe2x80x9d and then xe2x80x9cNixon would keep the material on his desk, reading it at his convenience throughout the day.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

The latest installment of the book, a 40-page account, details Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s first ever briefing, which took place in Augustxc2xa0 2016 at the FBI field office in New York City. Mr. Trump, then still the Republican presidential nominee, was xe2x80x9cprimarily a listener,xe2x80x9d the document says, xe2x80x9creflecting the fact that the material was new to him.xe2x80x9d At his second briefing in September, Mr. Trump asked xe2x80x9cnumerous questions,xe2x80x9d many of which xe2x80x9creflected his interest in financial and trade matters and in press reports about Russiaxe2x80x99s reported interference in the U.S. election campaign,xe2x80x9d the account says. xc2xa0

The briefings during the transition were led by a group of 14 intelligence officials hand-picked by Ted Gistaro, a veteran CIA analyst who later served as former President Trumpxe2x80x99s briefer. They hailed from the CIA, FBI, State Department and other agencies, and were the xe2x80x9clargest and most organizationally diverse group of experts ever deployed for transition briefings,xe2x80x9d according to the document.xc2xa0

Overall, Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s briefings began with a delay, because his team xe2x80x9cwas not fully prepared to launch transition operations, apparently having not expected to win the election,xe2x80x9d Helgerson writes. xc2xa0

And while the earliest sessions were substantive, they could also be meandering, according to former Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper, who said Mr. Trump xe2x80x9cwas prone to fly off on tangents; there might be eight or nine minutes of real intelligence in an hourxe2x80x99s discussion.xe2x80x9d xc2xa0

Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s already charged relationship with the intelligence community took a turn for the worse after he was briefed on the contents of a dossier xe2x80x93 whose most salacious claims have since been discredited xe2x80x93 that was compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. Despite efforts by Clapper to explain that the intelligence community had not relied on the dossier to arrive at its assessments of Russiaxe2x80x99s 2016 election interference xe2x80x93 and had not leaked the document to the media xe2x80x93 Trump remained unpersuaded and embittered. xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cGistaro recalled that when they met for their next PDB briefing session, Trump xe2x80x98vented for 10 minutes about how we [the IC] were out to destroy him.xe2x80x99 Gistaro did not believe that Trump ever accepted subsequent IC disavowals of responsibility for the dossier,xe2x80x9d Helgerson writes, using an abbreviation for xe2x80x9cintelligence community.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

Still, Clapper also said that Mr. Trump, despite more negative public bluster, sometimes complimented the intelligence community, praising and expressing gratitude for the work of his briefers. The book notes that he was particularly appreciative of the CIAxe2x80x99s material on foreign leaders with whom he was dealing in the early weeks of his time in office. xc2xa0

Overall, Helgerson writes that behind closed doors, Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s interactions with intelligence officials were more amicable than was apparent on Twitter, where the president often expressed frustration with what he called a xe2x80x9cDeep Statexe2x80x9d seeking to undermine his presidency.xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cEven during times when President Trump publicly expressed great irritation with the ICxe2x80x94most notably in 2019 when an [intelligence community] employee filed a whistle-blower complaint concerning the presidentxe2x80x99s efforts to have Ukraine investigate a political opponent, Joe Bidenxe2x80x94briefings continued as usual and Trumpxe2x80x99s demeanor during the sessions remained the same,xe2x80x9d Helgerson notes. xc2xa0

Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s briefings were most frequent at the beginning of his administration; they averaged 2.5 sessions a week and lasted between 40-60 minutes, but tapered off over time. In what marked a break from recent convention, Trump was not briefed on covert action programs for the first several weeks of his administration, though other members of his administration, including CIA Director nominee Mike Pompeo, were. xc2xa0

Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s intelligence briefers customized his PDB to his preferred format and consumption habits, as is traditionally done for incoming presidents. xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cOn most days, Trumpxe2x80x99s PDB comprised three one-page items describing new developments abroad, plus brief updates of ongoing crises in the Middle East,xe2x80x9d the account says. xe2x80x9cThe goal was to make the PDB shorter and tighter, with declarative sentences and no feature-length pieces.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

Though the PDB was published every day, Mr. Trump only received an oral briefing two to three times a week, when xe2x80x9che relied on the briefer to orally summarize the significance of the most important issues,xe2x80x9d the account states. xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cA few subjects and areas of the world were notable by their relative absence. Regarding Europe, only NATO budget issues, Turkey, and approaching elections in France and Germany stimulated much discussion. Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia received almost no attention,xe2x80x9d Helgerson writes. xc2xa0

Of Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s approach to the PDB, Gistaro, his first briefer, said, xe2x80x9cHe touched it. He doesnxe2x80x99t really read anything.xe2x80x9d Gistaroxe2x80x99s successor, Beth Sanner, adopted a xe2x80x9cstory-tellingxe2x80x9d approach to the briefings that included a one-page outline and a set of graphics, Helgerson recounts. xc2xa0

Sanner also led Mr. Trumpxe2x80x99s last briefing before he left for Mar-a-Lago for the holidays in 2020. He received no briefings in the final month of his presidency, and notably none following the January 6 attack on the Capitol. xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cTrump had his own way of receiving intelligence informationxe2x80x94and a uniquely rough way of dealing publicly with the ICxe2x80x94but it was a system in which he digested the key points offered by the briefers, asked questions, engaged in discussion, made his own priority interests known, and used the information as a basis for discussions with his policy advisers,xe2x80x9d Helgerson observes, adding, xe2x80x9cThe system worked, but it struggled.xe2x80x9d xc2xa0

nn

n Got a tip? You can email <a href=”mailto:tips@buzzfeed.com”>tips@buzzfeed.com</a>. To learn how to reach us securely, go to <a href=”http://tips.buzzfeed.com”>tips.buzzfeed.com</a>.n

n

nn

When the F.B.I. interviewed Mr. Danchenko in 2017, he told the bureau that he thought the tenor of the dossier was more conclusive than was justified; for example, Mr. Danchenko portrayed the blackmail tape story as rumors and speculation that he was not able to confirm. He also said a key source had called him without identifying himself, and that he had guessed at the sourcexe2x80x99s identity. The indictment accuses Mr. Danchenko of lying about that call and of concealing that a Democratic Party-linked public relations executive was his source for a claim about Trump campaign office politics.

Did the F.B.I. open the investigation because of the dossier?

No. Mr. Trump and his allies have insinuated that the F.B.I. based the Russia investigation on the dossier. But when counterintelligence agents launched the effort on July 30, 2016, they did not yet know about the dossier. An inspector general report established that Mr. Steelexe2x80x99s reports reached that counterintelligence team on Sept. 19, 2016.

The basis for the investigation was instead that WikiLeaks had disrupted the Democratic National Convention by releasing Democratic emails believed to have been stolen by Russian hackers, and that an Australian diplomat said a Trump campaign foreign policy adviser had bragged to him about apparent outreach from Russia involving an offer to help the campaign by anonymously releasing information damaging to Mrs. Clinton.

Did the F.B.I. take any investigative step based on the dossier?

Yes. The F.B.I. took the dossier seriously based on Mr. Steelexe2x80x99s reputation, and used some of it xe2x80x94 without independent verification xe2x80x94 for a narrow purpose that led to a dead end and became a political debacle. It included several claims from Mr. Steelexe2x80x99s memos in applications to wiretap Carter A. Page, a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser with ties to Russia. In 2019, the Justice Departmentxe2x80x99s inspector general sharply criticized the F.B.I. for numerous flaws in those wiretap applications.

While the dossier-tainted wiretap of Mr. Page has received significant attention, it was a small part of the overall investigation, which issued more than 2,800 subpoenas, executed nearly 500 search-and-seizure warrants, obtained more than 230 orders for communications records, made 13 requests to foreign governments under mutual legal assistance treaties, and interviewed about 500 witnesses. Mr. Page was not charged with a crime, and only a handful of the 448 pages in the Mueller report focus on him.

Did investigators rely on the dossier for their findings?

No. The Mueller report does not present claims from the dossier as evidence, and many of the issues focused on by investigators did not come up in the dossier.

The dossier makes no mention, for example, of a July 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between Russians and senior campaign officials including Donald Trump Jr., who eagerly accepted the request for a meeting after being told they were bringing dirt on Mrs. Clinton.