# Trump associates may have coordinated with Russians, according to US officials **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 23, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799 "2017-03-23T00:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 131
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2604 "2017-10-19T11:38:55Z")
I am surprised to see that the name of Viktor Medvedchuk, Putin’s evil bosom buddy, doesn’t appear anywhere at SDMB. > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > OK, but that’s just speculation. Anyone can speculate all they want. [Here’s a report by Rachel Maddow several months ago.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpDw8fswwRM) It details — with facts, not speculation — contact between Trump’s people and Putin’s people including Viktor Medvedchuk. Mike Pence has made several blatant lies about these contacts and related matters. @ **Fotheringay-Phipps** : Would you be willing to speculate on Ms. Maddow’s report? ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2605 "2017-10-19T15:20:01Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Would you be willing to speculate on Ms. Maddow’s report? Minor nitpick. That should be Dr. Maddow. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2606 "2017-10-19T17:15:35Z")
Where does the sheer naked insanity of this administration end? > **[Trump suggests FBI may have ‘paid for’ dossier alleging Russia ties](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-suggests-fbi-may-have-paid-for-dossier-alleging-russia-ties/2017/10/19/2d5fa476-b4c9-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html?utm_term=.eb1c1d39bb63)** > > In a tweet, the president asks whether Russia, FBI or Democrats were involved in helping fund the document. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2607 "2017-10-19T17:16:04Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > James Comey’s secret twitter account [tweeted](https://twitter.com/FormerBu/status/920783485413060608) for the first time in a long time. As usual, the internet is reading into it. This thread is littered with posts of this sort, with assorted omens of impending Big News. Still waiting for one to pan out. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2608 "2017-10-20T02:05:37Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > This thread is littered with posts of this sort, with assorted omens of impending Big News. Still waiting for one to pan out. Seems impossible that you’ve missed all the big news. [This](https://www.reddit.com/r/TrumpInvestigation/wiki/doc) might get you up to speed on all the big news that has already been disclosed. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2609 "2017-10-23T14:55:26Z")
No, as I said, the “big news coming soon!!!” has consistently failed to pan out. On another and more significant note, it’s worth paying attention to articles like this one: [Mueller Now Investigating Democratic Lobbyist Tony Podesta](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-now-investigating-democratic-lobbyist-tony-podesta-n812776) > [@](#): > > Tony Podesta and the Podesta Group are now the subjects of a federal investigation being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, three sources with knowledge of the matter told NBC News. > > […] > > The sources said the investigation into Podesta and his company began as more of a fact-finding mission about the ECMU and Manafort’s role in the campaign, but has now morphed into a criminal inquiry into whether the firm violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, known as FARA. The reason this type of thing is significant is not because of any importance of Tony Podesta or his lobbying group or the seriousness of the allegations. Rather, it’s because as the investigation has dragged on it has become increasingly unlikely that the outcome will be genuine actual collusion by anyone, and the most likely upshot will be various Trump-connected people being charged with crimes that are remarkably similar to what the Podesta Group is apparently being investigated for. The political impact of such less sensational crimes will vary greatly depending on whether they all involve Trump-connected people versus an assortment of lobbyists and political fringe characters some of whom have no connection at all to Trump. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2610 "2017-10-23T15:02:42Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > No, as I said, the “big news coming soon!!!” has consistently failed to pan out. > > On another and more significant note, it’s worth paying attention to articles like this one: [Mueller Now Investigating Democratic Lobbyist Tony Podesta](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-now-investigating-democratic-lobbyist-tony-podesta-n812776)The reason this type of thing is significant is not because of any importance of Tony Podesta or his lobbying group or the seriousness of the allegations. Rather, it’s because as the investigation has dragged on it has become increasingly unlikely that the outcome will be genuine actual collusion by anyone, and the most likely upshot will be various Trump-connected people being charged with crimes that are remarkably similar to what the Podesta Group is apparently being investigated for. The political impact of such less sensational crimes will vary greatly depending on whether they all involve Trump-connected people versus an assortment of lobbyists and political fringe characters some of whom have no connection at all to Trump. Cool, anyone who colluded with a foreign govt to sway the election, throw the book at 'em. It would be disappointing if there are those “on my side” who were also breaking laws, but I offer no defense for them if is is shown that they did. Anyone involved should be prosecuted. My number one concern is not what happened, but how to prevent it from happening in the future. If prosecuting both republican and democrats for violating election law means that election law is less likely to be violated in the future, great. That just makes our elections more integral. I welcome mueller looking into whatever needs to be looked at, whether it be DNC or RNC. Do you agree? ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2611 "2017-10-23T15:16:12Z")
Of course. But the reason this thread has over 2,600 posts is not because people have that level of concern over violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2612 "2017-10-23T15:50:43Z")
The State Department has revoked the visa of noted Putin critic and vocal Magnitsky Act supporter (the “adoptions” issue), [Bill Browder](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/23/559463071/state-department-reportedly-revokes-visit-of-magnitsky-act-campaigner). Moscow has pushed for this for a long time (this is their fifth attempt at this). It’s hard to come up with a legitimate reason that US would do this. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2613 "2017-10-23T16:35:48Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Of course. > > But the reason this thread has over 2,600 posts is not because people have that level of concern over violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. No, it’s about something more fundamental, the importance of democracy and outrage over hijackings of it, combined with outrage over those whose preferred reaction is both-sides-ism, like what we’ve just seen. The consequences to the nation and the world of that hijacking and attempts to minimize its significance play a role as well. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2614 "2017-10-23T17:24:01Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The State Department has revoked the visa of noted Putin critic and vocal Magnitsky Act supporter (the “adoptions” issue), [Bill Browder](http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/23/559463071/state-department-reportedly-revokes-visit-of-magnitsky-act-campaigner). Moscow has pushed for this for a long time (this is their fifth attempt at this). It’s hard to come up with a legitimate reason that US would do this. Trump ignored the Russian sanctions passed by the House and Senate. He imposed the American sanctions passed by Putin. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2615 "2017-10-23T18:40:14Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > This thread is littered with posts of this sort, with assorted omens of impending Big News. Still waiting for one to pan out. Are you kidding? That account is YUUUUGE news! What other reason could James Comey reveal his secret Twitter account with a picture of him in Iowa, other than JAMES COMEY IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020!! > **[Social Security payments: First half of monthly $1,682 supplemental payment...](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2638236/social-security-payments-first-half-of-monthly-1682-supplemental-payment-to-be-sent-in-just-seven-days/)** > > Recipients of Supplemental Security Income will receive their first of two $841 checks in the month of September in only seven days. The first of the two checks will be sent out to eligible recipients on Sept. 1, with the second check of identical... ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2616 "2017-10-23T18:45:10Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > This thread is littered with posts of this sort, with assorted omens of impending Big News. Still waiting for one to pan out. It would be wrong in many ways for Mueller to make interim reports public. The fact that he hasn’t made his report yet is hardly a cause for your comfort, particularly if it means there’s a lot of material for him to cover. Do please note the number of WH staffers, Trump and Pence especially included, who have lawyered up over this. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2617 "2017-10-23T18:52:39Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > No, as I said, the “big news coming soon!!!” has consistently failed to pan out. > > On another and more significant note, it’s worth paying attention to articles like this one: [Mueller Now Investigating Democratic Lobbyist Tony Podesta](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mueller-now-investigating-democratic-lobbyist-tony-podesta-n812776)The reason this type of thing is significant is not because of any importance of Tony Podesta or his lobbying group or the seriousness of the allegations. Rather, it’s because as the investigation has dragged on it has become increasingly unlikely that the outcome will be genuine actual collusion by anyone, and the most likely upshot will be various Trump-connected people being charged with crimes that are remarkably similar to what the Podesta Group is apparently being investigated for. The political impact of such less sensational crimes will vary greatly depending on whether they all involve Trump-connected people versus an assortment of lobbyists and political fringe characters some of whom have no connection at all to Trump. I’m pretty sure that finding other people who are guilty of the same crime as you does not absolve you of your criminal guilt. If Podesta and Trump go down for the same thing well…darn? I guess they shouldn’t have broken the law. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2618 "2017-10-23T18:55:29Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > This thread is littered with posts of this sort, with assorted omens of impending Big News. Still waiting for one to pan out. I think that the last Tick Tick Tick style Tweet that someone linked to didn’t lead to anything. The previous ones seemed to, though. There were two Russian meetings revealed and the Comey letters. Kushner’s back channel request, while lost to the memory of most, is still a big deal and I would expect it to resurface once everything is brought together, rather than left to the goldfish-like memories of the public. The Magnitsky meeting is still a big deal. The attempt to obstruct justice is a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2619 "2017-10-23T18:56:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The fact that he hasn’t made his report yet is hardly a cause for your comfort, particularly if it means there’s a lot of material for him to cover. ETA: And \*most \*particularly if it means he’s taking the time to make sure all the indictments are bulletproof. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2620 "2017-10-23T19:05:39Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I’m pretty sure that finding other people who are guilty of the same crime as you does not absolve you of your criminal guilt. That’s why I wrote “the political impact such less sensational crimes …” (emphasis added). > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I think that the last Tick Tick Tick style Tweet that someone linked to didn’t lead to anything. The previous ones seemed to, though. There were two Russian meetings revealed and the Comey letters. I don’t recall those being publicized in the wake of signs and omens of this sort. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2621 "2017-10-23T19:42:32Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I don’t recall those being publicized in the wake of signs and omens of this sort. The Comey papers were, at least. I’d certainly suggest double checking before making a blanket denouncement. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2622 "2017-10-23T19:52:53Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I think that the last Tick Tick Tick style Tweet that someone linked to didn’t lead to anything. The previous ones seemed to, though. There were two Russian meetings revealed and the Comey letters. All of Benjamin Wittes Tick, tick tweets turned out to be very large news. He’s a friend of Comey’s and editor in chief of Lawfare. He’s not just some ham and egger with a twitter account. There are definitely some crackpots out there in the twitterverse that get breathless followers based on nothing (Mensch/Taylor), but Wittes isn’t one of them. By the way, the secret twitter account that might be Comey’s (also hinted by Wittes), [is totally Comey’s](http://www.npr.org/2017/10/23/559545666/comey-fesses-up-claims-ownership-of-suspected-twitter-account). ---
**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:** [October 23, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2623 "2017-10-23T20:51:07Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > The Comey papers were, at least. > > I’d certainly suggest double checking before making a blanket denouncement. It’s very difficult to read through a 53 page thread to completely confirm that none of the breathless anticipations ever panned out, and certainly not worth my while. That’s my recollection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=130) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=132)