# 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:** 204
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4064 "2018-03-18T00:43:59Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > We used to have a blowjob smiley (if my memory is correct). I remember the Orthodox Jew smiley, but I’m drawing a blank on the blowjob. Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk ---
**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 18, 2018, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4065 "2018-03-18T02:09:29Z")
Currently available information would imply that the Russians used Cambridge before ever caring about Trump, but it is suspicious that they’re both denying and lying about their interactions with Russian companies. [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378970-trump-linked-data-firm-met-with-russian-executives](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378970-trump-linked-data-firm-met-with-russian-executives) I feel like we’re going to hear more on this, with a possible connection to Trump and/or - which would cause the UK to go bonkers - Brexit. Farage is already looking suspicious with his ties to WikiLeaks. If Cambridge was getting busy with Russia, that ain’t going to end pretty on the EU side of things. > [@alphaboi867](#): > > I remember the Orthodox Jew smiley, but I’m drawing a blank on the blowjob. > > Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk Confirmation that it existed. No image though. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-716855.html](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-716855.html) [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-525090.html](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-525090.html) If you ask in ATMB, probably someone can find the image. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4066 "2018-03-18T02:33:47Z")
It was supposed to be a surprised smiley, but some thought that the O-shaped mouth made it look like it was giving a blowjob. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4067 "2018-03-18T02:54:21Z")
Please to remember The 6th of November: Republican treason and plot. I see no reason Why Donald Trump’s treason Should ever be forgot. ---
**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 18, 2018, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4068 "2018-03-18T04:26:18Z")
Sounds like Mueller’s initial set of questions for Trump to answer was already enough to spook both Trump and his lawyer: > **[Mueller gives Trump’s legal team questions for potential interview: report](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378980-mueller-gives-trumps-legal-team-questions-for-potential-interview/)** > > Special counsel Robert Mueller has presented President Trump’s legal team with a list of questions as investigators seek an interview with the president.The New York Times reported … While Mueller is still negotiating the terms of his interview with Trump, and so there still is some chance for an in-person questioning, I feel like it was a bad idea to have done this. For as much as I like the idea that Trump is scared, it would be more useful for him to have an in-person deposition, and that’s less likely if he’s scared out of accepting it. That is, unless Mueller is hoping that the answers he gets back might somehow allow him to subpoena Trump? ---
**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:** [March 18, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4069 "2018-03-18T21:56:20Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Please to remember > The 6th of November: > Republican treason and plot. > I see no reason > Why Donald Trump’s treason > Should ever be forgot. Really, it could become a new American tradition: the burning of the Don, with happy and excited children dancing 'round the November 6 bonfire. Hallmark would be all in; another holiday requiring greeting cards could only help the bottom line. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4070 "2018-03-18T22:02:41Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Really, it could become a new American tradition: the burning of the Don, with happy and excited children dancing 'round the November 6 bonfire. > > Hallmark would be all in; another holiday requiring greeting cards could only help the bottom line. Could even burn the cards as part of the celebration. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4071 "2018-03-18T22:04:37Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Could even burn the cards as part of the celebration. _Hey!_ That’s the good old American entrepreneurial spirit! ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4072 "2018-03-22T17:09:58Z")
Trump’s lead lawyer for Russia quit [https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/john-dowd-white-house/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/john-dowd-white-house/index.html) ---
**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:** [March 22, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4073 "2018-03-22T17:48:53Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Sounds like Mueller’s initial set of questions for Trump to answer was already enough to spook both Trump and his lawyer: > > [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378980-mueller-gives-trumps-legal-team-questions-for-potential-interview](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378980-mueller-gives-trumps-legal-team-questions-for-potential-interview) > > While Mueller is still negotiating the terms of his interview with Trump, and so there still is some chance for an in-person questioning, I feel like it was a bad idea to have done this. For as much as I like the idea that Trump is scared, it would be more useful for him to have an in-person deposition, and that’s less likely if he’s scared out of accepting it. > > That is, unless Mueller is hoping that the answers he gets back might somehow allow him to subpoena Trump? As I understand it, these are _potential_ interview questions. In any case, I suspect that Trump’s legal team would prepare well in advance for any and all possible questions. This might be Mueller’s way of getting Trump to be in a more cooperative mood in advance of questioning, or it might be just to test his reaction to the proposed questions. ---
**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 22, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4074 "2018-03-22T18:39:08Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Trump’s lead lawyer for Russia quit > > [https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/john-dowd-white-house/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/politics/john-dowd-white-house/index.html) I think we’re definitely starting to narrow in on the end-times. Maybe not of Mueller’s investigation but at least of Trump’s ability to keep his cool. Once he loses it, he’s going to completely destroy himself. But even as is, he’s causing all of the sane people around him to go away and having to pull in second and third rate replacements, who are just going to do a worse job of protecting him from himself. I feel like John Kelly may be hanging in more because he feels that he needs to be there to tackle Trump before he can go for the nuclear football than because he feels a duty to follow the orders of the President. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4075 "2018-03-22T19:53:58Z")
like someone said on another thread he may go in the mode of “I ordered the code red!” ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4076 "2018-03-23T00:13:29Z")
The Daily Beast[is reporting](https://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-lone-dnc-hacker-guccifer-20-slipped-up-and-revealed-he-was-a-russian-intelligence-officer?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark) the Guccifer2.0 has been confirmed as a Russian Intelligence Officer. I’ve said it before, but we are going to have to remove the “may” from this post. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4077 "2018-03-23T02:03:50Z")
And in possibly related [news](https://www.vox.com/2018/3/22/17153918/dnc-hacker-guccifer-2-0-russia-mueller)… > [@](#): > > Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and other top law enforcement officials are hosting a press conference Friday morning to cover a “major cyber law enforcement announcement.” It is reportedly not related to Mueller’s investigation, but the timing sure is interesting. Other details [here](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/22/1751298/-BREAKING-Rosenstein-Schneiderman-to-Make-Major-Cyber-Law-Announcement-Tomorrow). ---
**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:** [March 23, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4078 "2018-03-23T02:10:53Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > And in possibly related [news](https://www.vox.com/2018/3/22/17153918/dnc-hacker-guccifer-2-0-russia-mueller)… > > Other details [here](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/22/1751298/-BREAKING-Rosenstein-Schneiderman-to-Make-Major-Cyber-Law-Announcement-Tomorrow). I look forward to seeing this. Interesting, though. If it’s not related to the Mueller investigation, then why is it Rosenstein heading up the announcement and not Sessions? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4079 "2018-03-23T02:15:19Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > The Daily Beast[is reporting](https://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-lone-dnc-hacker-guccifer-20-slipped-up-and-revealed-he-was-a-russian-intelligence-officer?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark) the Guccifer2.0 has been confirmed as a Russian Intelligence Officer. > > I’ve said it before, but we are going to have to remove the “may” from this post. You just have to love this [post](https://stonecoldtruth.com/roger-stone-the-smoking-gun-aims-fires-misses/) by Roger Stone last year where he posts conversation he had with Guccifer 2.0 and then says: > [@Roger Stone](#): > > To reiterate, I myself had no contacts or communications with the Russian State, Russian Intelligence or anyone fronting for them or acting as intermediaries for them. None. Nada. Zilch. I am not in touch with any Russians, don’t have a Russian girlfriend, don’t like Russian dressing, and have stopped drinking Russian Vodka. ---
**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 23, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4080 "2018-03-23T04:02:09Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I look forward to seeing this. Interesting, though. If it’s not related to the Mueller investigation, then why is it Rosenstein heading up the announcement and not Sessions? In terms of cyber law, cryptocurrencies are also a big topic but also, potentially, something that Sessions might have delegated to Rosenstein, while he focuses on drugs and immigrants. Of course, it’s also possible that they’re denying that it’s Mueller related so that Trump Jr./Roger Stone/etc. don’t try to leave the country over the night. I’m betting that it’s going to be cryptocurrencies or something else like that, unrelated to Trump, though. ---
**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 23, 2018, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4081 "2018-03-23T14:11:33Z")
Not Russia. It was Iranian IP theft: > **[Nine Iranians charged, sanctioned over sweeping hacking campaign](https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/379911-treasury-sanctions-nine-iranians-for-hacking-into-us-universities/)** > > Hackers allegedly breached computer systems belonging to universities in the U.S. and elsewhere on behalf of Iran’s government. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4082 "2018-03-23T15:06:48Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > You just have to love this [post](https://stonecoldtruth.com/roger-stone-the-smoking-gun-aims-fires-misses/) by Roger Stone last year where he posts conversation he had with Guccifer 2.0 and then says: Going back to the issue of “collusion,” which as we’ve discussed before isn’t a crime in and of itself, it would seem that this revelation actually brings us closer to having evidence of actual crimes, such as conspiracy. I’m guessing that the feds long ago found Roger Stone’s footprints somewhere deep in Russian territory, which probably makes him a cooked turkey. I doubt it ends there. As we’ve already hashed out on various threads, there’s obviously a reason that the Republican party seems invested in stifling Bob Mueller’s investigation. The conspiracy to defraud the American people of a free and fair election is much broader than just a few hatchet guys and tricksters working a single campaign. Putin has deeply and broadly infiltrated the American political system - probably much more than we ever could have imagined initially. I wouldn’t even be completely surprised if Putin went beyond conservatives and even reached out (and perhaps bought) some rabid Bernie Bros or Jill Steiners. I’m not saying it happened, just that I wouldn’t be completely surprised if it did. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4083 "2018-04-03T04:29:52Z")
This thread seems to have fallen behind. Updated court filing against van der Zwaan, based on information from Gates: > **[3-27-18-US-Sentencing-Memo-Van-Der-Zwaan.pdf](https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/4424919/3-27-18-US-Sentencing-Memo-Van-Der-Zwaan.pdf)** > > 57.84 KB Ted Malloch issued a subpoena: > **[FBI questions Ted Malloch, Trump campaign figure and Farage ally](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/30/fbi-questions-ted-malloch-trump-campaign-figure-and-farage-ally)** > > American once touted as possible ambassador to EU tells of being detained at Boston airport and subpoenaed by Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia inquiry The van der Zwaan stuff seems to not be garnering much interest in the media, but it seems likely to be the largest evidence that Trump himself may have been working with Russia. The one defense that the President may have had was that, as he learned about Russian contacts, he fired people: Manafort, Page, Flynn, etc. But Gates stayed on for quite a while after Manafort left and, pretty clearly, was a proxy for whatever Manafort may have been up to at any moment. It seems unlikely that Trump would have been unaware that the ties had really been severed between him and Manafort. (And, of course, none of that is helped by the fact that Trump kept in communication with Manfort, Stone, etc. after they were outed.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=203) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=205)