# 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:** 192
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3824 "2018-02-12T15:58:06Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > None of this had any connection to the dossier. (The Flynn stuff actually post-dated it.) > [@Steele memo 2016/101](#): > > 1. Speaking separately, also in early August 2016, a Kremlin official involved in US relations commented on aspects of the Russian operation to date. its goals had been threefold - asking sympathetic US actors how Moscow could help them; gathering relevant intelligence; and creating and disseminating compromising information (‘kompromat’). This had involved the Kremlin supporting various US political figures, including funding indirectly their recent visits to Moscow. S/he named a delegation from Lyndon presidential candidate Jill STEIN of the Green Party; TRUMP foreign policy adviser Carter and former DIA Director Michael Flynn in this regard and as successful in terms of perceived outcomes. Nope, nothing there. (As an aside, the text version is about as crappy as it’s possible to be. I had to edit the hell out of the text paste to make it match the photographic copies.) And you specifically stated that nothing had come out about Manafort \* since\* the Steele dossier. Also didn’t even begin to deal with the 500+ pages of Simpson’s testimony. > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > [Good article from the WaPo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/10/25/what-the-trump-dossier-says-and-what-it-doesnt/?utm_term=.384798dad3d7) summarizing the dossier and the extent to which it’s been borne out by subsequent events and evidence. I don’t need an article to tell me what was in the dossier…I actually, you know, read it myself. ---
**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 12, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3825 "2018-02-12T16:00:59Z")
What has come out about Manafort since the dossier? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3826 "2018-02-12T16:07:44Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > What has come out about Manafort since the dossier? Uh, hello? [Indictments against Manafort and Gates](https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000015f-6d73-d751-af7f-7f735cc70000) ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3827 "2018-02-12T16:08:15Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > That’s interesting, because one thing that’s been remarked about WRT the dossier is how little there is about Don Jr., Papadopoulus, Flynn, Kushner, etc. It was focused on people like Carter Page, Paul Manafort, and Michael Cohen, about whom little or nothing has since emerged, and virtually ignored these people. Yeah, that’s the entire point of my post. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3828 "2018-02-12T16:09:18Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Then why is the US media relaying it? Why is the news reporting on news? Not sure I follow the question. ---
**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 12, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3829 "2018-02-12T16:09:36Z")
As for Flynn, I didn’t say that he (and the others) wasn’t mentioned at all, only that it didn’t focus on him and had little about him. (By way of example, the Wiki article on the dossier has no references at all to Flynn.) As previous, the actions he was indicted for took place after the dossier had already been written. He was not indicted for anything described in the dossier. > [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Uh, hello? > > [Indictments against Manafort and Gates](https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000015f-6d73-d751-af7f-7f735cc70000) Again, not for anything connected to the dossier. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3830 "2018-02-12T17:22:13Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What evidence do you have Putin isn’t pretty smart? He’s done pretty well for himself. He’s pretty smart. Just like lots of people. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3831 "2018-02-12T17:41:50Z")
Just curious, Republicans: Do you think Flynn’s guilty plea had anything to do with the dossier? Do you think Manafort’s indictment had anything to do with the dossier? Do you think Gates’ indictment had anything to do with the dossier? Do you think Papadopolous’ guilty plea had anything to do with the dossier? Do you think the meeting at T\*\*\*p Tower had anything to do with the dossier? Do you think anything in the dossier has been proven false? Is so, what? Why do you give a shit who paid for the dossier, either initially or subsequently? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3832 "2018-02-12T18:38:07Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Just curious, Republicans: > > Do you think Flynn’s guilty plea had anything to do with the dossier? > > Do you think Manafort’s indictment had anything to do with the dossier? > > Do you think Gates’ indictment had anything to do with the dossier? > > Do you think Papadopolous’ guilty plea had anything to do with the dossier? > > Do you think the meeting at T\*\*\*p Tower had anything to do with the dossier? > > Do you think anything in the dossier has been proven false? Is so, what? > > Why do you give a shit who paid for the dossier, either initially or subsequently? Because I have nothing else. Why are you being such a brute to me? I’m a person too, with my own politics, which is mine. And why do they focus on the winner all the time. What about the loser? Have you ever heard Bob Dylan: “The loser now will be later to win” And it will happen if we don’t act now! Liberalism is a mental illness. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3833 "2018-02-12T20:44:58Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Because I have nothing else. Why are you being such a brute to me? I’m a person too, with my own politics, which is mine. > > And why do they focus on the winner all the time. What about the loser? Have you ever heard Bob Dylan: “The loser now will be later to win” And it will happen if we don’t act now! Liberalism is a mental illness. OK, I’ll bite. What is it about the liberal platform that makes you think liberals are mentally ill? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3834 "2018-02-12T21:13:19Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > OK, I’ll bite. What is it about the liberal platform that makes you think liberals are mentally ill? He was not being serious. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3835 "2018-02-12T21:15:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > What evidence do you have Putin isn’t pretty smart? He’s done pretty well for himself. When it comes to acquiring and holding power, ‘the ability to murder people’ can be substituted for actual IQ points to a surprising degree. (Absent that ability, you really do need to have the IQ.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3836 "2018-02-12T22:46:09Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > As for Flynn, I didn’t say that he (and the others) wasn’t mentioned at all, only that it didn’t focus on him and had little about him. (By way of example, the Wiki article on the dossier has no references at all to Flynn.) So? > [@](#): > > As previous, the actions he was indicted for took place after the dossier had already been written. He was not indicted for anything described in the dossier. Again, not for anything connected to the dossier. And again, not what you said, if you’ll read your own statement again. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3837 "2018-02-12T23:19:52Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > When it comes to acquiring and holding power, ‘the ability to murder people’ can be substituted for actual IQ points to a surprising degree. (Absent that ability, you really do need to have the IQ.) As far as we know, Trump hasn’t murdered anyone. What does that say about his IQ, given his demonstrated ability to acquire power? ---
**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:** [February 13, 2018, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3838 "2018-02-13T00:03:25Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > As far as we know, Trump hasn’t murdered anyone. What does that say about his IQ, given his demonstrated ability to acquire power? I guess it says he was at least smart enough to accept the help of someone who _has_ murdered people. (If you can call that ‘smart.’) ---
**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:** [February 13, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3839 "2018-02-13T03:05:02Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > As for Flynn, I didn’t say that he (and the others) wasn’t mentioned at all, only that it didn’t focus on him and had little about him. (By way of example, the Wiki article on the dossier has no references at all to Flynn.) > > As previous, the actions he was indicted for took place after the dossier had already been written. He was not indicted for anything described in the dossier.Again, not for anything connected to the dossier. What point do you think you’re making? Is it that Manafort and Gates are innocent because they aren’t mentioned in the dossier? Or is it that the dossier is untrue because it doesn’t specifically mention Manafort and Gates? So far as I can tell, your statements amount to nothing more than meaningless twaddle. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3840 "2018-02-13T06:47:26Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > As far as we know, Trump hasn’t murdered anyone. What does that say about his IQ, given his demonstrated ability to acquire power? To quibble with the basis of your point, Prime Minister Putin didn’t clearly murder or order the murder of anyone prior to him assuming the office of President of the Russian Federation when Yeltsin resigned unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve 1999. It was only after he acquired power that the abuses truly began. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3841 "2018-02-13T07:34:36Z")
> [@ganthet](#): > > To quibble with the basis of your point, Prime Minister Putin didn’t clearly murder or order the murder of anyone prior to him assuming the office of President of the Russian Federation when Yeltsin resigned unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve 1999. It was only after he acquired power that the abuses truly began. how do you know this? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3842 "2018-02-13T09:56:42Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > What point do you think you’re making? > > Is it that Manafort and Gates are innocent because they aren’t mentioned in the dossier? > > Or is it that the dossier is untrue because it doesn’t specifically mention Manafort and Gates? Actually, Manafort is mentioned numerous times in the dossier…probably the only one who’s mentioned more is Bad Vlad himself. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/3843 "2018-02-13T11:26:40Z")
> [@ganthet](#): > > To quibble with the basis of your point, Prime Minister Putin didn’t clearly murder or order the murder of anyone prior to him assuming the office of President of the Russian Federation when Yeltsin resigned unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve 1999. It was only after he acquired power that the abuses truly began. He was head of the KGB. Of course he murdered people, it’s right in the position description when he applied for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=191) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=193)