Russian ambassador told Moscow that Kushner wanted secret communications channel with Kremlin https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...0a14b4-422d-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports. Ambassador Sergei Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, son-in-law and confidant to then-President-elect Trump, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications. The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser. The White House disclosed the fact of the meeting only in March, playing down its significance. But people familiar with the matter say the FBI now considers the encounter, as well as another meeting Kushner had with a Russian banker, to be of investigative interest. . . . [Follow link. The details are bleak.] ------ If we had trusted congressional oversight and an independent DOJ, I doubt so many details would be leaked. But, man, each drip is almost as astonishing as the last. These Trump administration and their party are compromised. Putin, in helping Trump get elected, pulled off a feat that historians will write about for decades.
Perhaps there is nothing nefarious about Kushner's intent to open channels with the Russians, but to actively initiate a SECRETE channel with a known U.S. adversary is the very least disturbing. My impression is that Kushner has nothing but dollars signs in mind in regards to this matter. I am not sure about the Russians. Things are developing fast, so we'll soon learn a lot more.
At what point can the president issue a pardon? When the charges are filed or does it need to wait until a potential conviction?
This is crazy. Kushner proposed secret communication link with our adversary the Russians, and he wanted to rely on the Russians to set up the apparatus for that. Furthermore, Kushner, elected to not include this in his disclosed information on the paperwork he's required to fill out. This is insane. Of course in the @Bobbythegreat lingo that only translates to "known facts: Kushner wanted to talk to Russians" (nothing to see here)
I think this took place during the transition period. This is a lot different than forming it during the campaign. They were private citizens but at the end of the day they were going to be in the White House.
Yeah, it's only pay for play for a son in law that should even be holding office in the first place. Not a big deal if that's the case...move along.
You know this is serious because the intelligence agencies have revealed their ability to intercept communications between the Russian ambassador and the Kremlin to get this out there. They did not do this lightly.
The more information becomes public, the more the Steele dossier is verified. The dossier claims that it is about dollar signs. A 0.5% brokerage fee from the Rosneft sale upon the lifting of Russian sanctions. I think it significant that yesterday the Republican administration was waffling on lifting sanctions, but today, as more news drops, administration officials are claiming that the Trump administration may keep the sanctions in place or even strengthen them. The IC leaks are cornering Trump such that it would be too much confirmation if he lifted sanctions soon. Anyway... I am concerned about Trump's desire to be a strongman. It jibes too much with the RNC leader ship desire for pure power. Trump and Kushner getting their debts square may justness be the tip of the iceberg. Kleptocracy is just a part of authoritarianism.
It's all about the money for Kushner and the Trumps, isn't not? Man, I have thought for a few weeks now that Flynn was the only one going to prison. He may have company along the way. Possible corruption didn't even wait long to take place in the new White House. Thanks for the Intel community for leaking it out. How else would stiffs like me would find out?
If I remember correctly, this was reported a couple months ago. Only thing new, is Kushner's name attached to the event - a trusted Trump adviser.
From Reuters: http://mobile.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-fbi-kushner-exclusive-idUSKBN18N018 . . . FBI investigators are examining whether Russians suggested to Kushner or other Trump aides that relaxing economic sanctions would allow Russian banks to offer financing to people with ties to Trump, said the current U.S. law enforcement official. The head of Russian state-owned Vnesheconombank, Sergei Nikolaevich Gorkov, a trained intelligence officer whom Putin appointed, met Kushner at Trump Tower in December. The bank is under U.S. sanctions and was implicated in a 2015 espionage case in which one of its New York executives pleaded guilty to spying and was jailed. The bank said in a statement in March that it had met with Kushner along with other representatives of U.S. banks and business as part of preparing a new corporate strategy. . . .
every Trump-Russia story starts with bs inuenndo from anonymous sources, then ends with something like this (they know people don't read till the end)
Yep it is all designed to play to the echo chamber and the left is eating it up. We may have to put some of them on a suicide watch if nothing comes of this since the echo chamber has them so worked up about this.
Or maybe the agencies that Trump waged war against (the media and intelligence agencies) are trying to pay Trump back for publicly waging war. This proverbial "Left" is a ploy by right wing talk radio that you are happily reciting. Trump asked for this and everyone knows it. Don't freaking blame and mock democrats and independents who happened to vote differently than you. What's more sad than Trump and co's treasonous behavior (allegedly of course), is right wingers like you turning on, mocking, and villianizing fellow Americans. Suicidal... far from it dude. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The gutter that folks like yourself have tried to sink everyone else down into will only make American progression that much stronger in the long run. Turning to Trump to solve the problems of the Right was a bad choice and while you won't admit it, you all know it will be damning ultimately to your agenda in the long run. Nobody will be worse for Trump fans than Donald Trump. Case in point... go check out his health bill that victimizes Trump voters more than anyone else. It's time to wake up man and start talking to each other like intelligent adults that have mutual interests in problem solving rather than adolescent tribal finger pointing.
You can spin it however you want, and I'm sure you will, but the state of US intelligence agencies right now is just flat out embarrassing with all the leaks. A well needed purge is very likely about to happen in just about every intelligence agency with several people possibly ending up in jail till another Democrat can get in office to pardon them. Honestly it's probably the worst condition US intelligence has ever been in. Democrats will praise it because the only thing that is important to them right now is partisan politics and they are looking to score some cheap political points, but those who actually care about the country should be concerned about how absolutely pathetic the leaks make the country look.
In shake-up, Trump to set up 'war room' to repel attacks over Russia probe http://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/idINKBN18M2O4 Once U.S. President Donald Trump returns from his overseas trip, the White House plans to launch its most aggressive effort yet to push back against allegations involving Russia and his presidential campaign, tackling head-on a scandal that has threatened to consume his young presidency. Trump's advisers are planning to establish a "war room" to combat mounting questions about communication between Russia and his presidential campaign before and after November's presidential election, while bringing new aides into the White House, administration officials and persons close to Trump told Reuters. The strategic shake-up comes as Republicans in Washington increasingly have fretted that the probe, continued chaos in the West Wing and Trump's steady slide in opinion polls will derail the president's drive to reform healthcare, cut taxes and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. Upon Trump’s return, the administration will add experienced political professionals, including Trump's former campaign manager, and possibly more lawyers to handle the Russia probe, which has gained new urgency since the Justice Department appointed a special counsel to head the investigation, the sources said. Beyond pushing back at suggestions that Moscow is unduly influencing Trump’s administration, the messaging effort will also focus on advancing Trump’s stalled policy agenda and likely involve more trips out of Washington that will feature the kind of raucous rallies that were the hallmark of Trump’s campaign. A person in regular touch with the White House said it needed a different structure to focus on the “new reality” that there would be continued leaks to the media from the law enforcement and intelligence communities, leaks that have increased in frequency since Trump fired former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey on May 9. “Since the firing of Comey, that really exposed the fact that the White House in its current structure ... is not prepared for really a one-front war, let alone a two-front war,” the person said. “They need to have a structure in place that allows them to stay focussed” while “also truly fighting back on these attacks and these leaks.” The White House declined to comment on plans for a "war room" but said Trump will be looking to expand on momentum it believes it has built up during the president’s trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Europe. A White House official confirmed plans to hold more rallies. Trump returns to Washington on Saturday from his first trip abroad as president. “The president has had an incredibly successful trip overseas and the White House looks forward to continuing an aggressive messaging strategy to highlight his agenda when we return to D.C.,” said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. KUSHNER, BANNON INVOLVED IN 'WAR ROOM' Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to Trump, will be involved in the new strategic messaging operation, as will Steve Bannon, another top adviser who specializes in managing Trump’s populist appeal and shaping his political image, the sources said. Bannon and Trump’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus, have been laying the groundwork for the plan this week, they added. On Thursday, NBC News and the Washington Post reported that Kushner, who held several meetings with Russian officials following the election, is a focus of the probe, making him the first current White House official to be caught up in it, although Kushner, who is Trump's son-in-law, has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, is also expected to be part of the effort. Lewandowski, who has been seen in the White House recently, could join the administration as early as next week, a source close to him said. Lewandowski was fired by Trump in June 2016 over concerns that he was not experienced enough to oversee the general election fight against Democrat Hillary Clinton, but has remained a trusted adviser to Trump and a steadfast defender of the president on news programs. This month, the Justice Department named Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as an independent special counsel in the probe. . . . Trump has scheduled a political rally for next week in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The White House said other similar events are in the planning stages. Republicans in Congress are aching for Trump to leave the distraction of the Russia probe aside and focus on legislation and nominating officials to fill the hundreds of vacant slots across the administration. “What we really want to be able to do is tend to our business,” Mike Rounds, a Republican Senator from South Dakota, told Reuters. "We've got a healthcare bill we're working on. We've got tax reform that we think is important.” Some of Trump’s donors, too, say they are concerned. Stanley Hubbard, a billionaire radio mogul from Minnesota, said he worries that the White House continues to be distracted by the Russia scandal, but laid some of the blame on Trump himself. “He talks when he shouldn’t," he said. Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said this week that Trump's time in office has been a "complete disaster" aside from foreign affairs. Boehner, a fellow Republican, told an energy conference he supported efforts to "get to the bottom" of any potential interactions between Trump associates and the Russian government but described any calls to impeach Trump as the purview of "the crazy left-wing Democratic colleagues of mine." ----------- The RNC isn't interested in pursuing the investigation. At least, not while they still have tax cuts to pass and an agenda to push. That the tribal party loyalty has rendered checks and balances and congressional oversight meaningless is why the intel agencies are leaking. You don't collude with Russia, wage war on the security agencies, and then fire a respected career agent who was investigating the activities of a hostile power that involve you and think you are gonna get away clean. Gonna take more than rallies to rile up the base to hold on to power. The only question is how far are Trump and RNC leadership willing to go to stop the investigations and/or get away with it? And at what point do Trump and party loyalists start putting country first and demand no more interference in the probes?
