The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021

by Peter Baker

McCain grudgingly endorsed Trump after he won the nomination, but then withdrew it when the Access Hollywood tape was released, saying he was considering a write-in vote for his “old, good friend” Graham instead.[16] Less than two weeks after Trump won, McCain attended an international security forum in Halifax where he was approached by a British friend who told him that a former intelligence officer had collected damning evidence of Trump’s ties to Russia. McCain was seized by the tip and instructed an adviser, David Kramer, to fly to London to check it out. “Time is of the essence,” McCain said. Mulling it over, McCain said, “You know what this means if it’s true? It means Mike Pence becomes president.” Kramer flew to Britain and met with the former spy, Christopher Steele, who had assembled what would become the infamous dossier on Trump, working first for Republican opponents and later for Clinton’s campaign. Kramer brought it back and gave it to McCain, who consulted his old friend. Graham was intrigued and urged him to turn it over to the FBI, which he did. Behind the scenes, Graham also passed along tips to colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee, pressing them to investigate Trump. “Go get him,” he told them.