# 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:** 25
**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:** [February 13, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/481 "2017-02-13T18:47:47Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > The problem with this from the perspective of “Team Trump” is that there’s no hard evidence of any untoward relationship between “Team Trump” and the Kremlin. The entire issue is 100% speculation. So there’s nothing to clarify. You can’t clarify that someone else’s speculation is incorrect, and you can’t stop anyone from speculating anything they want. > > There’s all sort of things that still need to be “clarified” about the Kennedy assassination, or Area 51 happenings, or the 9/11 attacks, and so on. But no one will ever succeed in “clarifying” any of it to the satisfaction of people who look at them differently. > > If any actual evidence emerges of Trump business or blackmail ties with Kremlin, then we’ll have something that genuinely needs to be clarified. Until then, it’s just smoke and mirrors. It is not 100% speculation that the US intelligence community believes that Putin sought to support Trump’s election, and intervened in the election to do so. The US intelligence community has made mistakes, to be sure, but the FBI, CIA, and so on are not “seeking clarification” of aliens and assassination plots. While nobody is vouching for the dossier that says that Trump hired prostitutes and whatnot in his trip to Moscow, it now seems pretty clear that Trump’s top national security adviser had some suspicious interaction with Russian officials, and it is being reported that there are transcripts to phone calls backing that up. But saying that these reasons for deep suspicions about Trump’s relations with Russia are “smoke and mirrors?” You know that smoke and mirrors are things used to obscure the truth, right? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/482 "2017-02-13T18:53:40Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Also, I should note that I’m not a progressive… It’s good to start with a public admission of error, it lends credibility. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/483 "2017-02-13T18:56:01Z")
> **[US investigators corroborate some aspects of the Russia dossier | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/10/politics/russia-dossier-update/)** > > For the first time, US investigators say they have corroborated some of the communications detailed in a 35-page dossier compiled by a former British intelligence agent, multiple current and former US law enforcement and intelligence officials tell... > [@](#): > > Washington (CNN)For the first time, US investigators say they have corroborated some of the communications detailed in a 35-page dossier compiled by a former British intelligence agent, multiple current and former US law enforcement and intelligence officials tell CNN If you believe CNN, the Dossier has been partially verified by reliable sources in the US intel community. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/484 "2017-02-13T19:18:30Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > They mean a person. > > If it was an electronic bug, that means someone in Trump’s administration planted it, which amounts to the same thing. So we have an actual spy in the White House and can’t do anything about it? That sounds crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/485 "2017-02-13T19:42:43Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > So we have an actual spy in the White House and can’t do anything about it? That sounds crazy. Doesn’t it though. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/486 "2017-02-13T20:01:34Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > It is not 100% speculation that the US intelligence community believes that Putin sought to support Trump’s election, and intervened in the election to do so. The US intelligence community has made mistakes, to be sure, but the FBI, CIA, and so on are not “seeking clarification” of aliens and assassination plots. > > While nobody is vouching for the dossier that says that Trump hired prostitutes and whatnot in his trip to Moscow, it now seems pretty clear that Trump’s top national security adviser had some suspicious interaction with Russian officials, and it is being reported that there are transcripts to phone calls backing that up. > > But saying that these reasons for deep suspicions about Trump’s relations with Russia are “smoke and mirrors?” You know that smoke and mirrors are things used to obscure the truth, right? What I said was that “_there’s no hard evidence of any untoward relationship between “Team Trump” and the Kremlin_”. You’re posting various things that are not “_hard evidence of any untoward relationship between “Team Trump” and the Kremlin_”, which therefore don’t contradict what I said. There’s overwhelming evidence that there was a grassy knoll close by to where Kennedy was assassinated. Whether that featured in the assassination is a bit more speculative … ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/487 "2017-02-13T20:13:08Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > They mean a person. > > If it was an electronic bug, that means someone in Trump’s administration planted it, which amounts to the same thing. Trump’s old phone (which he refuses to give up because switching to a properly secured device means no more Twitter) is easily compromised – just tweet him a “SECRET TO EIGHT-INCH HANDS IN EIGHT DAYS!!” message with a malware link, and bingo. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/488 "2017-02-13T20:18:33Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Trump’s old phone (which he refuses to give up because switching to a properly secured device means no more Twitter) is easily compromised – just tweet him a “SECRET TO EIGHT-INCH HANDS IN EIGHT DAYS!!” message with a malware link, and bingo. He’s still using his own phone after all the shit Hillary got? Damn, my head hurts again… ---
**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:** [February 13, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/489 "2017-02-13T20:50:21Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > What I said was that “_there’s no hard evidence of any untoward relationship between “Team Trump” and the Kremlin_”. You’re posting various things that are not “_hard evidence of any untoward relationship between “Team Trump” and the Kremlin_”, which therefore don’t contradict what I said. Ah yes, “hard evidence.” You’re not saying that Mike Flynn didn’t discuss sanctions with the Russian Ambassador, you’re just waiting to hear a tape recording of the phone call, otherwise it’s just “smoke and mirrors.” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/490 "2017-02-13T20:57:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Ah yes, “hard evidence.” You’re not saying that Mike Flynn didn’t discuss sanctions with the Russian Ambassador, you’re just waiting to hear a tape recording of the phone call, otherwise it’s just “smoke and mirrors.” And when Flynn is officially busted, I’m sure he was acting alone and without any knowledge from the rest of the administration. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/491 "2017-02-13T22:08:52Z")
There were way more than sufficient reasons for anyone with any sort of IQ above 80 to vote against Thrump, if not for HRC. Thrump was telling the truth about his ability to do or say anything and he would not lose his base. The important thing is that the Republican legislature knows that if they can keep Thrump in the WH long enough, they can succeed in destroying the fabrics of American society so that a theocracy can be born. Not that any of them are actual Christians, but, it would be even easier to raid the Treasury if dissent was outlawed. In other words, were being fucked, and we thought, until now, we could us a safe word any time it got to be uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/492 "2017-02-13T22:33:05Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > He’s still using his own phone after all the shit Hillary got? Damn, my head hurts again… Not only that, but the SDBM technorati that blasted HRC in multiple threads about email security have been strangely silent about this and other security lapses of the new administration … ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/493 "2017-02-13T22:36:37Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > And if the president claims executive privilege and refuses? It’s unclear to me that Congress has the authority to demand the president turn over his personal tax returns unless there is some overriding government interest. From the sound of it, that law doesn’t give Congress the power to demand the president do anything. Rather, they can demand that the IRS turn it over. I don’t know if executive privilege would come into play. What makes it moot at this time is Republican control of congress. > [@](#): > > And note that even if he were to comply, the law requires that the info be kept confidential. I have this feeling that it would leak out somehow. 🙂 > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > And when Flynn is officially busted, I’m sure he was acting alone and without any knowledge from the rest of the administration. Actually one reason Flynn is thought to be on very thin ice these days is because he apparently misled senior members of the administration about what was discussed on his calls. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/494 "2017-02-13T22:39:13Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Not only that, but the SDBM technorati that blasted HRC in multiple threads about email security have been strangely silent about this and other security lapses of the new administration … I’m not sure if I’m a member of the technorati, but I am an information security professional. I criticized Clinton for the email server thing. I haven’t yet criticized Trump for using the old, unsecured phone, but that’s only because there are just so many hours in the day. I have to carefully choose which Trump stupid/evil/bizarre things I get worked up about. But, yeah, the security lapses out of the White House are kind of crazy, and Trump should be getting more shit over them. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/495 "2017-02-13T22:55:40Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > The important thing is that the Republican legislature knows that if they can keep Thrump in the WH long enough, they can succeed in destroying the fabrics of American society so that a theocracy can be born. Not that any of them are actual Christians, but, it would be even easier to raid the Treasury if dissent was outlawed. This sounds a lot like the right-wing rantings that were sure Obama was going to bring about socialism and sharia law. ---
**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:** [February 13, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/496 "2017-02-13T23:15:54Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > … > Actually one reason Flynn is thought to be on very thin ice these days is because he apparently misled senior members of the administration about what was discussed on his calls. Was he making promises on the part of Trump without Trump’s knowledge? ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/497 "2017-02-14T00:03:04Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > This sounds a lot like the right-wing rantings that were sure Obama was going to bring about socialism and sharia law. Can you detail the workings of the Congress Republicans, not only for the last 6 years, but now, the last three weeks, and come to any conclusion other than the one I have reached? They are evil incarnate, IMHO. They are only mildly concerned about any sort of Deplorable’s backlash if they force them to work for their dole, go without medical help, etc… They don’t fear any backlash from Democrats because they have effectively boxed them out of any significant political power except in the minority of states. They are winning and they smell blood in the water, an iron odor, makes them salivate. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/498 "2017-02-14T02:08:25Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Actually one reason Flynn is thought to be on very thin ice these days is because he apparently misled senior members of the administration about what was discussed on his calls. They didn’t care when they were told about it three weeks ago: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-warned-white-house-that-flynn-could-be-vulnerable-to-russian-blackmail-officials-say/2017/02/13/fc5dab88-f228-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401\_story.html?tid=ss\_tw](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/justice-department-warned-white-house-that-flynn-could-be-vulnerable-to-russian-blackmail-officials-say/2017/02/13/fc5dab88-f228-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html?tid=ss_tw) ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/499 "2017-02-14T02:11:14Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Not only that, but the SDBM technorati that blasted HRC in multiple threads about email security have been strangely silent about this and other security lapses of the new administration … Did you see their amateur hour security fumbling over the weekend? [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846/500 "2017-02-14T02:24:41Z")
> **[The Kremlin Is Starting to Worry About Trump](https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/02/13/the-kremlin-is-starting-to-worry-about-trump/)** > > Vladimir Putin's entourage cheered the outcome of the U.S. election – until they saw exactly what they were dealing with. Here is an interesting article from Foreign Policy magazine that the Russians are starting to worry about Trump, that he is ushering a bizarre new world order that they are unprepared for. > [@](#): > > There is no way of knowing if Russian interference contributed decisively to Trump’s upset victory. But it’s fair to say that the Kremlin viewed the outcome as a divine gift. Since at least 2011-2012, when Russia witnessed widespread popular protests, and particularly after the Ukrainian Maidan uprising — events that elicited heartfelt praise and encouragement from then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — Russia’s leadership had been convinced that her election would spell disaster for Russia and that it might even lead to war. So Russians did what they could to prevent Clinton from getting into the White House. But while they welcomed her defeat, they were wholly unprepared for the ensuing regime change in Washington. > > Now that Trump is in power, political elites in Moscow have stopped cheering. They recognize that Russia’s position has become abruptly and agonizingly complex. > [@](#): > > What the Kremlin fears most today is that Trump may be ousted or even killed. His ouster, Kremlin insiders argue, is bound to unleash a virulent and bipartisan anti-Russian campaign in Washington. Oddly, therefore, Putin has become a hostage to Trump’s survival and success. This has seriously restricted Russia’s geopolitical options. The Kremlin is perfectly aware that Democrats want to use Russia to discredit and possibly impeach Trump while Republican elites want to use Russia to deflate and discipline Trump. The Russian government fears not only Trump’s downfall, of course, but also the possibility that he could opportunistically switch to a tough anti-Moscow line in order to make peace with hawkish Republican leaders in Congress. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaked-report-of-russian-blackmail-of-trump/776846.md?page=26)