# 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:** 202
**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:** [March 8, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4024 "2018-03-08T22:27:03Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I don’t know how significant that is. When you have a special counsel looking at everything with a fine tooth comb, there’s going to be people arrested for doing things that other people have done without consequence. > > Sort of like the premise of this story: [Dozens race to register as foreign lobbyists since start of Mueller inquiry, fearful of Manafort’s fate](http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-foreign-lobbying-mueller-20180301-story.html) While it’s possible that Mueller is picking up people left and right, and it’s simply not getting into the news, given the indictments that we’ve seen, I think it’s more reasonable to assume that he’s picking up people who are relevant to his primary concern or at least relevant to a crime sufficiently noteworthy as to merit splitting the resources at his command to deal with it. Mueller has (as I recall) 17 people. The FBI has tens of thousands. Mueller isn’t likely to be the one to go on a tear through foreign lobbyists that aren’t connected to Trump, Russia, or Flynn/Turkey. ---
**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:** [March 8, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4025 "2018-03-08T22:52:20Z")
I know a guy who served some time recently (about a year, IIRC) for his involvement with a big-time swindler. (His involvement was that he brokered a deal involving that guy. He claimed he didn’t know it was a swindle but he admitted to overselling how secure it was.) According to him (as told to a mutual friend) the FBI people told him “we don’t set out to get guys like you. We’re after sharks, and you’re a guppy. But if we cast our net for a shark and a guppy gets swept up in that same net, we haul in the guppy too”. [The comparison to the FISA issue was limited to the notion that there are some laws that are widely honored in the breach and no one does anything about them. But that can change in a hurry. The lobbyists scrambling to register are concerned that there will be renewed focus on this issue in the wake of the Trump scandal. But in the case of guys actually swept up in Mueller’s net, it doesn’t take anything more than that to result in an arrest.] ---
**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:** [March 8, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4026 "2018-03-08T23:11:41Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I don’t know how significant that is. When you have a special counsel looking at everything with a fine tooth comb, there’s going to be people arrested for doing things that other people have done without consequence. > > Sort of like the premise of this story: [Dozens race to register as foreign lobbyists since start of Mueller inquiry, fearful of Manafort’s fate](http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-foreign-lobbying-mueller-20180301-story.html) Manafort’s fate is about brazen and huge money-laundering; the not registering thing was just an initial attempt at pressuring him that didn’t work. But if it brings more under-the-radar foreign lobbyists out of the woodwork, so much the better. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2018, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4027 "2018-03-09T11:24:13Z")
> [@fotheringay-phipps](#): > > i know a guy who served some time recently (about a year, iirc) for his involvement with a big-time swindler. (his involvement was that he brokered a deal involving that guy. He claimed he didn’t know it was a swindle but he admitted to overselling how secure it was.) > > according to him (as told to a mutual friend) the fbi people told him “we don’t set out to get guys like you. We’re after sharks, and you’re a guppy. But if we cast our net for a shark and a guppy gets swept up in that same net, we haul in the guppy too”. 17 \< 100 \< 1,000 \< 10,000 \< 35,000 Let’s also note that among the 35,000, some number are interns and rookies. Among the 17, not so much. ETA: I don’t know why my phone de-capitalized your name. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4028 "2018-03-09T16:50:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Right, because what a Democrat did over half a century ago has anything to do with what a Republican does now. :rolleyes: Hey! That was their best argument of the week. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4029 "2018-03-09T21:02:52Z")
Trump’s lawyers would like to cut a deal with Mueller. Terms unclear at this time, but might possibly involve limited parameters concerning the scope of a hypothetical Trump interview, and knowing just exactly when the investigation will stop investigating already. Boo hoo. > **[Trump Lawyers Seek Deal With Mueller to Speed End of Russia Probe](https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyers-seek-deal-with-mueller-to-speed-end-of-russia-probe-1520625944)** > > President Donald Trump’s lawyers are seeking to negotiate a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller that uses an interview with the president as leverage to spur a conclusion to the Russia investigation, according to a person familiar with the... ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4030 "2018-03-09T21:35:03Z")
“I’ll sit down with you for a few minutes and spew a bunch of bullshit if you promise to stop investigating me.” I’m sure Mueller will _jump_ at the chance. ---
**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:** [March 9, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4031 "2018-03-09T22:34:56Z")
Well, at least he didn’t ask for a pony. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4032 "2018-03-13T00:50:13Z")
[House Republicans break with intelligence community on Russia](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/politics/house-republicans-russia-conclusions/index.html) and unilaterally shut down their Russia investigation. My response: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSB7QpldGTQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSB7QpldGTQ) ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4033 "2018-03-13T01:52:45Z")
Makes you wonder what a republicans have to hide? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2018, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4034 "2018-03-13T07:13:30Z")
> [@dgrdfd](#): > > Makes you wonder what a republicans have to hide? We already know what they’re trying to hide. They just need a cover story for the base and so that Il Douche can fire Mueller. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2018, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4035 "2018-03-13T08:50:31Z")
It’s probably for the best. Maybe they can find something to investigate where the members can come to a constructive result. I’m not hopeful on that front, mind you. But it is what I would _hope_ for. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4036 "2018-03-13T09:08:33Z")
I’m confused at this “House Russia” probe quitting. What does this mean for Mueller’s investigation? Will he interview them? Do they turn over their “150-page report”? Couldn’t the republicans quash the investigation because of their little wishful-thinking report from their committee? ---
**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:** [March 13, 2018, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4037 "2018-03-13T10:12:20Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I’m confused at this “House Russia” probe quitting. What does this mean for Mueller’s investigation? Will he interview them? Do they turn over their “150-page report”? Couldn’t the republicans quash the investigation because of their little wishful-thinking report from their committee? I don’t think it really means anything for this thread. The Republicans will issue a report on policy to implement against Facebook and such, probably keeping it within the realm of things that others have already recommended, so as to keep their heads low. The Democrats will issue a report about some questionable things they saw the Trump people do/say that they wanted to investigate further that will fuel the conspiracy flames but not actually provide much new (since everyone was already leaking everything already). There might be some hope that the Shearer dossier, the second Steele dossier, or other scandalous documents will be released, but I expect that anything with actual merit against Trump will be held back since the Senate and FBI are still investigating them. Anything which is released would, presumably, be of questionable veracity and so should probably be ignored (regrettably). Though, I suppose, it might give us some sense of reality via negation, if my hypothesis of what will and won’t be released is correct. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2018, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4038 "2018-03-13T12:00:58Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I’m confused at this “House Russia” probe quitting. What does this mean for Mueller’s investigation? Nothing. > [@](#): > > Will he interview them? The House Intelligence committee? Doubtful. > [@](#): > > Do they turn over their “150-page report”? I believe it will be made public. > [@](#): > > Couldn’t the republicans quash the investigation because of their little wishful-thinking report from their committee? No. Only Rosenstein can shut down Mueller. That or his replacement if Trump fires Rosenstein. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4039 "2018-03-13T12:47:46Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I’m confused at this “House Russia” probe quitting. Political posturing, and not very skilled at that, but on the day of a critical House by-election. For the GOP base, it lets the fact-based investigations be dismissed as the \*real \*political posturing. You saw Nunes try the same thing with the FISA “memorandum”, and it worked just as well. No effect on Mueller’s criminal investigation, the “real” one if you like. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4040 "2018-03-13T17:22:37Z")
The new book by Michael Isikoff and David Corn ,Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump, came out today, but it is being overshadowed (understandably) by other news. > [@](#): > > According to Isikoff and Corn’s new book “Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump,” Papadopoulos told Mueller that during a March 31, 2016 foreign policy meeting, he informed Trump of his ability to arrange a meeting with Putin—an idea Papadopoulos claims Trump found “interesting.” > > As Yahoo News reports, “Trump looked at Sessions, as if he expected him to follow up with Papadopoulos, and Sessions nodded in response, the authors write.” [Link](https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/papadopoulos-reportedly-told-mueller-trump-encouraged-him-arrange-putin-meeting) Hmm… this is not at all what Jeff Sessions said happened. Or the revised version of what Jeff Sessions said happened. Or even the revised revised version. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4041 "2018-03-13T17:26:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > We already know what they’re trying to hide. They just need a cover story for the base and so that Il Douche can fire Mueller. After all this time there no evidence of collusion. This Russian business was based on shoddy reporting using words like allegedly or according to sources. The was never any proof. Don’t let the media formulate your opinions, no matter how much you want it to be true. Maybe some fact like this would be nice. Now should we investigate how Hillary Clinton spent 25 million from Iran and Saudi Arabia, and find out her quid quo pro with Russia paying her husband 1/2 million dollars for a speech too? I say pass, but if the left keeps beating these drums, why not. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2018, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4042 "2018-03-13T17:36:07Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > After all this time there no evidence of collusion. This Russian business was based on shoddy reporting using words like allegedly or according to sources. The was never any proof. > > Don’t let the media formulate your opinions, no matter how much you want it to be true. > > Maybe some fact like this would be nice. > > Now should we investigate how Hillary Clinton spent 25 million from Iran and Saudi Arabia, and find out her quid quo pro with Russia paying her husband 1/2 million dollars for a speech too? I say pass, but if the left keeps beating these drums, why not. Well done! Perfect imitation of the deranged right. ---
**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:** [March 13, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4043 "2018-03-13T17:40:32Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > After all this time there no evidence of collusion. Quite a bit of evidence of collusion is publicly known at this point. I’m curious what definition of evidence you are using that leads you to conclude that there is none. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=201) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=203)