# 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:** 276
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5505 "2019-01-18T07:06:39Z")
As per a Buzzfeed story tonight: Michael Cohen has apparently indicated that Trump himself instructed Cohen to lie to Congress about the Trump Tower Moscow project. > **[President Trump Directed His Attorney To Lie To Congress About The Moscow...](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/trump-russia-cohen-moscow-tower-mueller-investigation?ref=hpsplash)** > > Trump received 10 personal updates from Michael Cohen and encouraged a planned meeting with Vladimir Putin. UPDATE: The Mueller report found that Trump did not direct Michael Cohen to lie. Here's our note on our reporting. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5506 "2019-01-18T09:07:31Z")
Is lying to the House as big an offence as [misleading parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misleading_of_parliament) is in Westminster systems? ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5507 "2019-01-18T11:58:35Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Is lying to the House as big an offence as [misleading parliament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misleading_of_parliament) is in Westminster systems? Up to five years in prison kind of serious, yes. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5508 "2019-01-18T12:13:23Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > With these poll revelations, looks like Trump was paying for Fake News. He’s projecting yet again. “\*\*I do it so everyone else must be, too.” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5509 "2019-01-18T12:48:56Z")
Key graf: > [@](#): > > The special counsel’s office learned about Trump’s directive for Cohen to lie to Congress through interviews with multiple witnesses from the Trump Organization and internal company emails, text messages, and a cache of other documents. Cohen then acknowledged those instructions during his interviews with that office. So if this story is accurate, it isn’t just Cohen’s word here - this is Cohen being shown the documentary evidence and confirming that that’s how it went down. If House investigators can verify this, they have to impeach, if impeachment is to continue to mean anything. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5510 "2019-01-18T13:42:25Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Key graf: > So if this story is accurate, it isn’t just Cohen’s word here - this is Cohen being shown the documentary evidence and confirming that that’s how it went down. > > If House investigators can verify this, they have to impeach, if impeachment is to continue to mean anything. An ABC journalist was on twitter claiming Mueller hasn’t interviewed any Trump Org people. SDNY interviewed someone, but not the Mueller’s office. I see no reason why the interviews couldn’t be secret though. Just trying to be cautious in my optimism. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5511 "2019-01-18T14:19:37Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > An ABC journalist was on twitter claiming Mueller hasn’t interviewed any Trump Org people. SDNY interviewed someone, but not the Mueller’s office. > > I see no reason why the interviews couldn’t be secret though. Just trying to be cautious in my optimism. That’s because you don’t interview suspects until you are ready to charge them with something. Were I involved in any trump circles, I would be very nervous if Mueller didn’t want to talk to me. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5512 "2019-01-18T14:24:19Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > That’s because you don’t interview suspects until you are ready to charge them with something. > > Were I involved in any trump circles, I would be very nervous if Mueller didn’t want to talk to me. Which is completely besides the point. Buzzfeed says Trump Org people were interviewed, ABC says nobody was interviewed. It’s a reason to be cautious about the report. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5513 "2019-01-18T14:30:18Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Key graf: > So if this story is accurate, it isn’t just Cohen’s word here - this is Cohen being shown the documentary evidence and confirming that that’s how it went down. > > If House investigators can verify this, they have to impeach, if impeachment is to continue to mean anything. Nothing means anything any more. The public hearings that go with impeachment would be illuminating and probably entertaining too, but any efforts at removing Trump would die on the vine because of Republicans in the senate. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5514 "2019-01-18T14:32:29Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > **An ABC journalist was on twitter claiming Mueller hasn’t interviewed any Trump Org people**. SDNY interviewed someone, but not the Mueller’s office. > > I see no reason why the interviews couldn’t be secret though. Just trying to be cautious in my optimism. Did he forget about Allen Weisselberg? He was the CFO of the Trump Org and has been granted immunity. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5515 "2019-01-18T14:36:30Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Which is completely besides the point. Buzzfeed says Trump Org people were interviewed, ABC says nobody was interviewed. It’s a reason to be cautious about the report. Could it hinge on the specific definition of “Trump Organization”? Wikipedia defines that as: > [@](#): > > The Trump Organization is the collective name for a group of approximately 500 business entities of which Donald Trump, the current U.S. President, is the sole or principal owner. There is still, in theory at least, a difference between the group that oversees Trump’s business interests, and the group that helped run his campaign for president. Mueller’s investigation has been into the latter. Maybe Buzzfeed is using “Trump Org” as a non-specific term for all the advisers in Trump’s orbit. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5516 "2019-01-18T14:36:57Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Did he forget about Allen Weisselberg? He was the CFO of the Trump Org and has been granted immunity. No, he didn’t. Weisselberg was interviewed by the Southern District of New York, not the special counsel. I’m not actually concerned about this. It’s just something curious to be aware of. I mean SDNY could have just forwarded info, or the interviews might have been secret. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5517 "2019-01-18T14:59:04Z")
Lawfare post on the topic: [The Latest Revelation From BuzzFeed News: Trump Reportedly Directed Cohen to Lie to Congress - Lawfare](https://www.lawfareblog.com/latest-revelation-buzzfeed-news-trump-reportedly-directed-cohen-lie-congress) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2019, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5518 "2019-01-18T16:00:17Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Lawfare post on the topic: [https://www.lawfareblog.com/latest-revelation-buzzfeed-news-trump-reportedly-directed-cohen-lie-congress](https://www.lawfareblog.com/latest-revelation-buzzfeed-news-trump-reportedly-directed-cohen-lie-congress) Excellent summary — thanks. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5519 "2019-01-18T17:52:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Obviously, the President and any other official can commit obstruction in this classic sense of sabotaging a proceeding’s truth-finding function. Thus, for example, if a President knowingly destroys or alters evidence, **suborns perjury** , or induces a witness to change testimony, or commits any act deliberately impairing the integrity or availability of evidence, then he, like anyone else, commits the crime of obstruction. That’s from the William Barr memo. My bold. ---
**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:** [January 18, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5520 "2019-01-18T20:37:17Z")
This is an update to a ten months-ago post: > [@A Thread for the Mueller Investigation Results and Outcomes (Part 1)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-the-mueller-investigation-results-and-outcomes-part-1/800093/2834): > > [Well, well, well… what have we here](https://apnews.com/7ebe25d613a745b18404c41980511eac/Jailed-Instagram-model-wants-to-trade-secrets-for-freedom)? I just noticed [this headline](https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/russia-seizes-model-who-made-trump-claim/ar-BBSqP1i): > [@](#): > > A Belarusian model [Anastasia Vashukevich, aka Nastya Rybka, who was deported by Thailand and placed on a flight transiting Moscow] who said she had evidence of Russian collusion with Donald Trump’s election campaign is now in Russian police custody. … A woman resembling her and looking sedated struggles as four men push her into a wheelchair [at Moscow’s main airport], then carry her. > … [She] had planned to get a connecting flight to Minsk, the Belarusian capital, but had been seized and dragged from the transit zone on to Russian territory, then whisked away to a police station. > … While in custody [in Thailand], Rybka and Kirillov sought help from the US embassy, fearing extradition to Russia… > **Rybka said she had evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election campaign** , allegedly obtained through an acquaintance with Russian billionaire industrialist Oleg Deripaska. Russia didn’t want that evidence to get out? ---
**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:** [January 19, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5521 "2019-01-19T01:28:04Z")
Mueller releases a statement saying that he has no information nor documents saying that Cohen was directed to lie to Congress by Trump: > **[Special counsel issues rare statement disputing explosive Cohen report](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/426128-special-counsel-issues-rare-statement-disputing-buzzfeeds-cohen/)** > > The outlet’s story said that investigators have evidence that President Trump had told his former lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress. I’m curious who the “Federal law enforcement officers” were who gave BuzzFeed the original information… ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5522 "2019-01-19T16:10:03Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Mueller releases a statement saying that he has no information nor documents saying that Cohen was directed to lie to Congress by Trump: > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/426128-special-counsel-issues-rare-statement-disputing-buzzfeeds-cohen](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/426128-special-counsel-issues-rare-statement-disputing-buzzfeeds-cohen) > > I’m curious who the “Federal law enforcement officers” were who gave BuzzFeed the original information… I am making no claims about what the Mueller statement means, but a point to keep in mind is that Cohen is being prosecuted by SDNY, not Mueller’s team, and all of these claims in the media about what evidence Mueller has may be pointing at the wrong office. Could this be the source of the push back? That the information is not from Mueller’s office, but SDNY? ---
**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:** [January 19, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5523 "2019-01-19T16:13:50Z")
> [@SingleMalt](#): > > I am making no claims about what the Mueller statement means, but a point to keep in mind is that Cohen is being prosecuted by SDNY, not Mueller’s team, and all of these claims in the media about what evidence Mueller has may be pointing at the wrong office. Could this be the source of the push back? That the information is not from Mueller’s office, but SDNY? Mueller, based on all reports, is not the sort to be coy. I presume that he issued the notice because he knew who it was who was talking to BuzzFeed and the release served as a slap to them, preventing other journalists from trusting them. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/5524 "2019-01-19T17:09:32Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Mueller releases a statement saying that he has no information nor documents saying that Cohen was directed to lie to Congress by Trump: Here’s the statement by spokesman Peter Carr: > [@](#): > > Buzzfeed’s description of specific statements to the Special Counsel’s Office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s Congressional testimony are not accurate. I see nothing in that statement that states that the Mueller team has no information saying that Cohen was directed to lie to Congress by Trump. I’m not sure how you can draw your conclusion from Carr’s statement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=275) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=277)