# Leaked report of Russian blackmail of Trump **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 10, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846 "2017-01-10T23:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/361 "2017-01-13T20:11:42Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > This may not be entirely related but the rest of Congress wss briefed today on the election hack and democrats came out of the briefing absolutely furious at Comey. > > [http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/314161-dems-outraged-with-comey-after-house-briefing](http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/314161-dems-outraged-with-comey-after-house-briefing) > > Interesting that all the intel guys agreed that Comey had to be the one to give trump a solo brief on the memos. > [@nate](#): > > Wow, I’m really curious about what went on in those “last 15 minutes” of the meeting that caused such a stir. The explanation is pretty mundane. > **[Angering Congress, James Comey won't address Trump-Russia inquiry privately](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/13/fbi-investigation-donald-trump-russia-james-comey-congress)** > > FBI director’s refusal to clarify potential investigation was met with frustration from lawmakers who recall his interjections about Hillary Clinton during election ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/362 "2017-01-13T20:26:53Z")
The news about Flynn being making several phone calls to the Russian ambassador on the day Obama announced sanctions and booted some of their agents from the country is very interesting. Trumpland is saying that Flynn was setting up phone calls for Trump post-inauguration. But why would Flynn be tasked with setting up the schedule of the future POTUS. What’s interesting to me is that this information leaking is that it would likely only be known if Flynn’s communications were being monitored. Which means he would be the subject of a FISA warrant. Which would end up confirming somewhat the bit in the dossier regarding Trump’s people being monitored, no? For the record - The Flynn story has been reported on by the AP as well as David Ignatius and Trumpland does not disupute that Flynn was in contact w/ the Russian ambassador. [http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ba462d64c12d4692b8381cb7076d34ab/ap-source-trump-aide-frequent-contact-russia-envoy?utm\_campaign=SocialFlow&utm\_source=Twitter&utm\_medium=AP\_Politics](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ba462d64c12d4692b8381cb7076d34ab/ap-source-trump-aide-frequent-contact-russia-envoy?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Politics) ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/363 "2017-01-13T21:16:42Z")
So Rush Limbaugh is claiming that the whole dossier was written by a former planned parenthood employee. Where is he getting that? Is there even a kernel of truth to it? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/364 "2017-01-13T21:42:34Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > So Rush Limbaugh is claiming that the whole dossier was written by a former planned parenthood employee. Where is he getting that? Is there even a kernel of truth to it? You have to ask? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/365 "2017-01-13T22:57:32Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > What’s interesting to me is that this information leaking is that it would likely only be known if Flynn’s communications were being monitored. Which means he would be the subject of a FISA warrant. Which would end up confirming somewhat the bit in the dossier regarding Trump’s people being monitored, no? That’s a horrible set of assumptions. If I had to guess, the Administration has been talking to the transition team about various matters, and some transition team staffer said something about these phone calls. Letting slip that Flynn’s phone is tapped is the most ludicrous explaination for how this came to the press’ attention. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/366 "2017-01-13T23:04:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Flynn’s conversations were first reported by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. The official was not authorized to confirm the contacts publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump has personally pissed off the entire US intelligence community - many different agencies. Not a very clever thing for him to before he even takes office. Not a good idea at all. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/367 "2017-01-13T23:58:08Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > The explanation is pretty mundane. > > [Angering Congress, James Comey won't address Trump-Russia inquiry privately | FBI | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/13/fbi-investigation-donald-trump-russia-james-comey-congress) I don’t see that as the least bit mundane. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Trump has personally pissed off the entire US intelligence community - many different agencies. Not a very clever thing for him to before he even takes office. Not a good idea at all. Flynn too. He was kicked out of intel for being a fuck up and it seems to be widely accepted that he’s going to gut the agencies as revenge. Lotta folk not keen on being gutted. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/368 "2017-01-14T00:01:24Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Trump has personally pissed off the entire US intelligence community - many different agencies. Not a very clever thing for him to before he even takes office. Not a good idea at all. One would guess that Trump has confidence that his fans will automatically adopt his position (‘the “Intelligence” community is incompetent/hostile’). This might not all be explainable by Trump’s pique over the leaked Russia-connection stuff. It might be a tactic. It may be that Trump et al believe they will need someone to blame for something that might go massively wrong within the USA. (Yes, _of course_ that sounds all conspiracy-theory-ish. And _of course_, too, no decent President-Elect would be planning, with select members of his transition, to make a grab for power beyond that normally granted to a President. No _decent_ President-Elect would be doing that. So any speculation on those lines must, surely, be nutty. Because Trump, Steve Bannon, and Mike Flynn are without question _decent_ men.) ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/369 "2017-01-14T00:52:15Z")
> **[Former spy Chris Steele's friends describe as a real James Bond](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4117040/I-introduced-wife-James-Bond-Former-spy-Chris-Steele-s-friends-shadowy-007-figure-MI6-bosses-brand-idiot-appalling-lack-judgement-Trump-dirty-dossier.html)** > > The 'showy' former British agent's reputation as the UK's top operative in Russia meant that he was even introduced as a real-life 007 - but his work on Trump has upset MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger, pictured. Steele has been described as ‘reliable, meticulous and well-informed’ by former colleagues but another told The Times he is ‘more showy and less grounded in reality than you might expect a former SIS person to be’. … The scandal appears to have caused a major rift with MI6 too, whose angry bosses believe he is an ‘idiot’ for taking on the work. Current MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger is said to be livid that Steele agreed to take on the work and has caused worldwide embarrassment to British secret services. One senior intelligence source called him ‘an idiot’ and told The Sun: 'Chris should never have accepted this bit of work. ‘It was always going to come out at some stage, as was his involvement with it, and that is deeply embarrassing to the service.’ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/370 "2017-01-14T04:25:42Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > … Lotta folk not keen on being gutted. Liposuction with extreme prejudice. Involuntary _seppuku_. You know, dress it up a little. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/371 "2017-01-14T04:55:16Z")
Max the vool wrote: “So Rush Limbaugh is claiming that the whole dossier was written by a former planned parenthood employee. Where is he getting that?” Where he gets all of his information: From the BRB (the Bureau of Rush’s Behind). ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/372 "2017-01-14T06:41:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Liposuction with extreme prejudice. Involuntary _seppuku_. You know, dress it up a little. Given the [“Kanye’s Mom”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanye_West#Mother.27s_death) treatment? ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/373 "2017-01-14T14:40:03Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Sure, as long as were clear that’s _your_ contribution. > > Well, you could safely consider that particular mission accomplished and follow the lack of inclination you expressed in post 326. > > Meantime, I have to admit that even if Trump has dipped a toe in the pool of Russian stoogery, it may not matter - _if_ he turns out to be an otherwise effective and productive president. I daresay some degree of corruption is inevitable and if by 2018, hypothetically, the American credit rating is back to AAA and the Dow is at 25000 and the American unemployment rate has dropped another 3 percentage points and the budget is balanced and gay marriage and abortion remain legal, I’m prepared to re-evaluate my opinion of Trump and even make allowances for a fair amount of boorish and childish behaviour and maybe even a little bit of light treason. In other words, you hope he will accomplish what HRC wanted to accomplish, as well. The difference is that HRC would have done it without bankrupting the country, involving us in another mid east war, and destroying the health system of the USA. In that case, I would overlook a bit of horrible behavior on her part, such as using a private server for reasons of convenience and security. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/374 "2017-01-14T16:32:00Z")
Not a matter of “overlooking” for me. I know I’m choosing between whores, but I pick the one without open sores. The _right_ to choose is the _duty_ to choose, as repugnant as it may be. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/375 "2017-01-15T17:58:07Z")
Deleted ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/376 "2017-01-15T18:04:27Z")
More fun: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/bd/81/b4/bd81b4be8806b6645497954474fd2084.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/bd/81/b4/bd81b4be8806b6645497954474fd2084.jpg) [https://external-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe\_image.php?d=AQBTvkpXcYYm6Fq6&w=395&h=395&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs526x395%2F16105581\_10154312186501275\_431132015475355404\_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dabae148a4b752eacbb141ab4740569f0%26oe%3D58DCA515&cfs=1&upscale=1&\_nc\_hash=AQB79KeXEF9y\_xwK](https://external-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBTvkpXcYYm6Fq6&w=395&h=395&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft1.0-0%2Fs526x395%2F16105581_10154312186501275_431132015475355404_n.jpg%3Foh%3Dabae148a4b752eacbb141ab4740569f0%26oe%3D58DCA515&cfs=1&upscale=1&_nc_hash=AQB79KeXEF9y_xwK) [https://heavyeditorial.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/screen-shot-2017-01-11-at-10-32-08-am.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780](https://heavyeditorial.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/screen-shot-2017-01-11-at-10-32-08-am.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780) [https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16114263\_10154910136798518\_5387945155280474886\_n.jpg?oh=794b0371e12c7ca1e38e2cc57fbd4b0e&oe=590BA9EF](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16114263_10154910136798518_5387945155280474886_n.jpg?oh=794b0371e12c7ca1e38e2cc57fbd4b0e&oe=590BA9EF) [https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15940903\_10154082179227791\_5938407484724013757\_n.jpg?oh=d45e1b29ae31dc6f9c03420d41389836&oe=5923E55A](https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15940903_10154082179227791_5938407484724013757_n.jpg?oh=d45e1b29ae31dc6f9c03420d41389836&oe=5923E55A) [![](https://lgbtqnation-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/2017/01/trump-gs-1-400x400.jpg) ](https://lgbtqnation-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/2017/01/trump-gs-1-400x400.jpg) [![](http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/028/964/4b3.jpg) ](http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/028/964/4b3.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/377 "2017-01-15T19:09:04Z")
I’m so glad this board doesn’t allow pictures in posts. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/378 "2017-01-15T20:49:54Z")
“Report: CIA set up task-force in 2016 to investigate possible Russian funding of Trump’s campaign” > **[Report: CIA set up task-force in 2016 to investigate possible Russian funding...](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/report-cia-set-task-force-162553783.html)** > > A US counterintelligence task force was established by the CIA in 2016 to investigate possible... > [@](#): > > A US counterintelligence task force was established by the CIA in 2016 to investigate possible Russian funding of President-elect Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, the BBC reported on Friday. > The task force included the FBI, the Treasury and Justice Departments, the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Security Agency (NSA). > It was set up after the director of the CIA, John Brennan, received a recording of a conversation about money from the Kremlin going into Trump’s campaign coffers, the BBC’s Paul Wood reported. The recording was apparently passed to the CIA by the intelligence agency of one of the Baltic States. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/379 "2017-01-15T21:09:38Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > “Report: CIA set up task-force in 2016 to investigate possible Russian funding of Trump’s campaign” > [Report: CIA set up task-force in 2016 to investigate possible Russian funding of Trump's campaign](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/report-cia-set-task-force-162553783.html) They need to release that recording. I don’t know if it would keep the Trumpettes from shouting “fake news!”, but perhaps it would convince the confused and ambivalent that we aren’t dealing with unsubstantiated rumors. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/380 "2017-01-15T21:18:24Z")
I find it interesting that we suddenly have all of these leaks being reported. It seems like someone somewhere is trying to get the public’s attention, but has to do it through leaks. Is there some sort of internal battle going on within US and European intelligence agencies? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846.md?page=20)