618 concerns about security and capacity. On April 25, 2016, Saunders booked event rooms at the Mayflower to host 619 both the speech and a VIP reception that was to be held beforehand. Saunders understood that the reception—at which invitees would have the 620 chance to meet· candidate Trump—would be a small event. Saunders decided who would attend by looking at the list of CNI’s invitees to the speech 621 itself and then choosing a subset for the reception. CNI’s invitees to the 622 reception included Sessions and Kislyak. The week before the speech Simes had informed Kislyak that he would be invited to the speech, and that he would 623 have the opportunity to meet Trump. When the pre-speech reception began on April 27, a receiving line was 624 quickly organized so that attendees could meet Trump. Sessions first stood next to Trump to introduce him to the members of Congress who were in 625 attendance. After those members had been introduced, Simes stood next to Trump and introduced him to the CNI invitees in attendance, including 626 Kislyak. Simes perceived the introduction to be positive and friendly, but 627 thought it clear that Kislyak and Trump had just met for the first time. Kislyak also met Kushner during the pre-speech reception. The two shook hands and chatted for a minute or two, during which Kushner recalled Kislyak saying, 628 “we like what your candidate is saying . . . it’s refreshing.” Several public reports state that, in addition to speaking to Kushner at the pre-speech reception, Kislyak also met or conversed with Sessions at that 629 time. Sessions stated to investigators, however, that he did not remember any 630 such conversation. Nor did anyone else affiliated with CNI or the National Interest specifically recall a conversation or meeting between Sessions and 631 Kislyak at the pre-speech reception. It appears that, if a conversation occurred at the pre-speech reception, it was a brief one conducted in public view, similar to the exchange between Kushner and Kislyak. The Office found no evidence that Kislyak conversed with either Trump or Sessions after the speech, or would have had the opportunity to do so. Simes, for 632 example, did not recall seeing Kislyak at the post-speech luncheon, and the