# 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:** 138
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2744 "2017-10-28T06:04:04Z")
> [@computergeek](#): > > I expect it to be Manafort; I’ll be surprised if it’s not him, Flynn or Page because I’ve been expecting the first two to be charged with a bunch of things since this thing heated up I’ll guess Flynn. Boente resigned, for no reason stated. He was one of the people Comey went to when Comey was being pressured to drop the Flynn investigation. He was also involved in investigating Flynn. I suspect Boente resigned to be a witness against Flynn. Flynn had also previously offered to testify in exchange for immunity. I’d guess that the indictment will be on Flynn, for a less than treason charge, in exchange for Flynn rolling. We’ll see in the coming days. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2745 "2017-10-28T15:06:04Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > A few thoughts: > > 1. There is no ‘there’ there with regard to Hillary Clinton. Whether we’re talking about the uranium deal that required the approval of multiple agencies or supposedly paying for the golden shower dossier, this is just part of an ongoing attempt by an authoritarian regime to use distraction to its advantage. Hillary’s involvement in the dossier should be investigated though. I hope it comes out that Hillary paid the full-bladdered Russian hookers personally. Then maybe Don Jr will tweet out the pee video as evidence against her. Because he really is that stupid. ---
**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 28, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2746 "2017-10-28T16:10:51Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Hillary’s involvement in the dossier should be investigated though. I hope it comes out that Hillary paid the full-bladdered Russian hookers personally. Then maybe Don Jr will tweet out the pee video as evidence against her. Because he really is that stupid. I find it hard to believe that it hasn’t already been reported somewhere in the financials. If it hasn’t, then yeah, I’m all for investigating it and meting out the appropriate penalties against the campaign for failure to disclose. But we already know that the Trump campaign has “forgotten” to disclose things in their required paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2747 "2017-10-28T16:29:09Z")
> [@digs](#): > > So, wouldn’t it be great if everyone who _thinks_ it _could_ be them flees the country over the weekend? > > And if the Commander-In-Chief let his pilots know that he’d be needing Air Force One for a 2 am flight? One-way, to a quiet little dacha on the Volga… LOL, I thought of that and enjoyed a little giggle. 😃 I think it’s probably Manafort, but I’d love for it to be Kushner. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2748 "2017-10-28T17:20:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Hillary’s involvement in the dossier should be investigated though. I hope it comes out that Hillary paid the full-bladdered Russian hookers personally. Then maybe Don Jr will tweet out the pee video as evidence against her. Because he really is that stupid. I read about the prison some of the Watergate prisoners ended up in (Lompoc). No tennis courts anymore, but back in those days… I expect anyone really powerful that goes to prison is going to end up in a [“country club prison”](http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/31/us/famed-country-club-prison-is-to-house-violent-inmates.html) like it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2749 "2017-10-28T18:28:52Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > I read about the prison some of the Watergate prisoners ended up in (Lompoc). No tennis courts anymore, but back in those days… > > I expect anyone really powerful that goes to prison is going to end up in a [“country club prison”](http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/31/us/famed-country-club-prison-is-to-house-violent-inmates.html) like it used to be. From what I remember from driving past both Boron and Lompoc, those being moved from Lompoc will not be very pleased… ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2750 "2017-10-28T18:39:07Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > From what I remember from driving past both Boron and Lompoc, those being moved from Lompoc will not be very pleased… Yeah, the article is from 1990, I just needed a description of what Lompoc used to be and that’s the first one that came up on Google. ---
**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 28, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2751 "2017-10-28T19:36:25Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/d7Uy0Uznw4E/maxresdefault.jpg "It's Mueller Time! Trump Administration Season Ending") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Uy0Uznw4E) Enjoy! It’s Mueller time! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2752 "2017-10-28T22:04:26Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > Yeah, the article is from 1990, I just needed a description of what Lompoc used to be and that’s the first one that came up on Google. Actually, I meant the difference between a spot near the ocean and one in the middle of a desert. Ocean breezes vs dust devils. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2753 "2017-10-29T04:38:07Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [https://youtu.be/d7Uy0Uznw4E](https://youtu.be/d7Uy0Uznw4E) > > Enjoy! It’s Mueller time! That was frikkin awesome. Superbly stitched together. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2754 "2017-10-30T12:29:19Z")
So, Manafort, who was the favorite, “won.” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2755 "2017-10-30T12:34:11Z")
So, have we left the “nothingburger” phase behind now? I’m not hearing that term as much anymore. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2756 "2017-10-30T12:38:38Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > So, have we left the “nothingburger” phase behind now? I’m not hearing that term as much anymore. Check the comments on Fox News. This is apparently a nothingburger. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2757 "2017-10-30T13:06:44Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Check the comments on Fox News. This is apparently a nothingburger. I like that their lead story on the website is “Mueller gets his man” as though the investigation is complete, and Manafort is the only criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2758 "2017-10-30T13:16:58Z")
Um, charges seem pretty significant: [Conspiracy against the United States](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/former-trump-campaign-chairman-paul-manafort-indicted-as-part-of-russia-election-probe-nyt.html) ---
**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 30, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2759 "2017-10-30T13:20:15Z")
The Manafort indictment has been expected and widely reported for some time. Key question remains: are the indictments for anything that Manafort (and/or Gates) did on behalf of the Trump campaign? Or is it for unrelated work that they did independently of their Trump roles? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2760 "2017-10-30T13:22:51Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > The Manafort indictment has been expected and widely reported for some time. Key question remains: are the indictments for anything that Manafort (and/or Gates) did on behalf of the Trump campaign? Or is it for unrelated work that they did independently of their Trump roles? [Here it is.](https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4163373/Manafort-Gates-Indictment-OCR.pdf) Apparently, Manafort is a pretty shady dude. Who could have known? ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2761 "2017-10-30T13:23:30Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Um, charges seem pretty significant: [Conspiracy against the United States](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/former-trump-campaign-chairman-paul-manafort-indicted-as-part-of-russia-election-probe-nyt.html) That’s what the headline says. Which surprised me, as I was just expected financial crimes. But the body of the article doesn’t reference a specific change and says the charges are likely tax-related (like they don’t know what they specifically are yet). What’s going on? ---
**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 30, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2762 "2017-10-30T13:25:03Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Um, charges seem pretty significant: [Conspiracy against the United States](https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/former-trump-campaign-chairman-paul-manafort-indicted-as-part-of-russia-election-probe-nyt.html) I think you may be wrong about this. “Conspiracy against the United States” sounds like some sort of treasonous activity, which is what you seem to be implying. But I think it covers any two guys acting in concert to defraud the government. Sounds like tax charges to me. (See e.g. [https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-923-18-usc-371-conspiracy-defraud-us](https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-923-18-usc-371-conspiracy-defraud-us)) Time will tell, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/2763 "2017-10-30T13:28:46Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I think you may be wrong about this. “Conspiracy against the United States” sounds like some sort of treasonous activity, which is what you seem to be implying. But I think it covers any two guys acting in concert to defraud the government. Sounds like tax charges to me. (See e.g. [https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-923-18-usc-371-conspiracy-defraud-us](https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-923-18-usc-371-conspiracy-defraud-us)) > > Time will tell, I suppose. I linked the indictment. There are a lot of charges. A quick perusal indicates there is a lot of evidence. Manafort is either flipping or spending the rest of his life in jail, his family penniless (“forfeiture” features in the indictment). Not to mention the optics of having your campaign manager go down on a charge of “Conspiracy against the United States”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=137) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=139)