Justice Department Issues Correction to Mueller Report on Trump
After lengthy legal disputes, the Justice Department has made a notable correction to former special counsel Robert Mueller’s report concerning President Trump and Russia, acknowledging significant mistakes in the controversial “golden shower” footnote.
This footnote, tucked away in the 2019 Mueller Report, suggested a link between Georgian-American businessman Giorgi Rutshiradze and Donald Trump’s alleged “tape” in Moscow, intensifying speculation on cable news about potential Russian leverage over Trump.
It related to one of the most sensational claims from the Steele Dossier, which was put together by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele leading up to the 2016 election. However, it contained substantial inaccuracies, which Rutshiradze claims had serious repercussions for him.
“This was a huge falsehood. Now that this correction is out, it’s clear we’re not Russian. They knew I was Georgian-American from the very beginning,” Rutshiradze expressed with frustration.
The report’s erroneous personal information further fueled salacious and unfounded claims that Trump had sexual encounters with a prostitute at a Moscow hotel during the 2013 Miss Universe pageant, also linking Rutshiradze’s dealings with former Trump attorney Michael Cohen as potentially damaging evidence.
These amendments mark the only official updates to the 448-page report, which was central to a political tempest during Trump’s initial term, and come as Trump attempts to address the fallout from it. Interestingly, the Justice Department has not formally notified the public about this correction.
In 2020, Rutshiradze filed a defamation lawsuit against Mueller and the U.S. government. According to reports, the Justice Department issued a significant correction to footnote 112 in December.
“The Justice Department acknowledges that its investigative report into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election incorrectly identified Mr. Rutshiradze as a ‘Russian businessman’… while he is actually a Georgian-American,” the department stated.
The amendment, while clarifying Rutshiradze’s nationality, does not address the unsupported allegations regarding Trump. Nevertheless, Rutshiradze believes the revisions undermined critical elements of the narrative, damaging his reputation by portraying him as a Moscow affiliate.
Originally from a former Soviet republic troubled by conflicts with Moscow, Rutshiradze is a U.S. citizen now. He claims that the emails he exchanged with Cohen were merely in jest and were based on rumors circulating in Moscow.
In a notable footnote, Rutshiradze mentions to Cohen that he “stopped the flow of tapes from Russia.” The report’s omission of the word “some” — according to Rutshiradze — altered the message’s intent.
A businessman who once collaborated with Trump on a tower project in Georgia, Rutshiradze has taken his defamation case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He may not have received any monetary compensation, but he seeks to recover legal fees, following a ruling that confirmed he had the legal standing to pursue the case.
“Everyone knew this was false. Mr. Mueller was aware of it. They recognized the truth because I spent 25, 30 hours being questioned,” he stated, suggesting that prosecutors were probing for angles the entire time.
Rutshiladze alleges the prosecutors aimed to tarnish Trump’s reputation. “They kept hinting at whether I was aware of Trump wanting to meet with Putin or if Trump had ever engaged in inappropriate behavior while we were in Georgia. All these questions felt like intimidation tactics,” he remarked.
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comments. Jeannie Lee, a former prosecutor on Mueller’s team who met Rutshiradze in 2018, also did not return inquiries.
Cohen has referred to the Justice Department’s corrections positively. “I’m pleased they took the steps to correct the record,” he said, expressing disappointment over the time it took to reach this conclusion.
George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign aide who faced legal troubles regarding Russian contacts, shared his empathy regarding Rutshiradze’s struggles with the Justice Department. “They can ruin lives if they choose to,” he noted, referring to the significant power wielded by special prosecutors.
In addition to his legal battle, Rutshiradze has attempted to engage key figures within the Trump administration to clarify his position. He has now expressed the view that the inaccuracies in the report have caused significant harm both to him and his family.
Having ended his contract with the Trump Organization after the 2016 election win, Rutshiradze has reflected on the damage the narrative did to himself and the relationships of many innocent parties who were involved in the project in Georgia.
