# 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:** 34
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/663 "2017-07-11T01:14:16Z")
Trump Jr. was informed before the meeting that the supposed information was from Russia. Dude should be in bunking next to Aldrich Ames. > **[Trump Jr. Was Told in Email of Russian Effort to Aid Campaign (Published 2017)](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/us/politics/donald-trump-jr-russia-email-candidacy.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share)** > > The president’s son was told in an email that the Russian government wanted to help Donald J. Trump’s election bid last year. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/664 "2017-07-11T01:26:46Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Trump Jr. was informed before the meeting that the supposed information was from Russia. > > Dude should be in bunking next to Aldrich Ames. > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/us/politics/donald-trump-jr-russia-email-candidacy.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/us/politics/donald-trump-jr-russia-email-candidacy.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share) Again: “During this busy period, Robert Goldstone contacted Don Jr. in an email and suggested that people **had information concerning alleged wrongdoing by Democratic Party front-runner, Hillary Clinton, in her dealings with Russia** ,” he said to The Times in an email on Monday. “Don Jr.’s takeaway from this communication was that someone had information potentially helpful to the campaign and it was coming from someone he knew. Don Jr. had no knowledge as to what specific information, if any, would be discussed.”” How surprising and concerning that that information about “alleged wrongdoing by Democratic Party front-runner, Hillary Clinton, in her dealings with Russia” would come from (gasp!) Russia! Wow. I know leftists don’t like actually putting money where their mouth is but: I will make a bet with anyone for $100 that there was nothing criminal in this affair. Come on, you’re so excited about it. Take the bet. If, within 2 years, there is no indictment of Don Jr. for this - I win. Is 2 years good 'nuff? ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/665 "2017-07-11T02:26:06Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > How surprising and concerning that that information about “alleged wrongdoing by Democratic Party front-runner, Hillary Clinton, in her dealings with Russia” would come from (gasp!) Russia! Wow. It’s funny how easily you believe changing stories. Yesterday, TrumpJr literally said the meeting was about adoptions. Then they said it was a trick and the meeting was set up by Democrats. Now that it’s known that a Trump friend set it up and that he specifically told Trump Jr that the Russians were wanting to help with Sr’s campaign, the story is that the meeting was to uncover illegal activity by Hillary. That’s a laughably lame story. I can’t believe you fell for it. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/666 "2017-07-11T02:32:34Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > It’s funny how easily you believe changing stories. Yesterday, TrumpJr literally said the meeting was about adoptions. Then they said it was a trick and the meeting was set up by Democrats. Now that it’s known that a Trump friend set it up and that he specifically told Trump Jr that the Russians were wanting to help with Sr’s campaign, the story is that the meeting was to uncover illegal activity by Hillary. > > That’s a laughably lame story. I can’t believe you fell for it. Rachel Meadow played a clip tonight of about twenty instances of high ranking Trump officials, including Trump, Pence, and Conway denying ANY meetings with Russians by anyone in the campaign. that’s a lot of denying if there was nothing wrong with having that meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/667 "2017-07-11T02:51:27Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Rachel Meadow played a clip tonight of about twenty instances of high ranking Trump officials, including Trump, Pence, and Conway denying ANY meetings with Russians by anyone in the campaign. that’s a lot of denying if there was nothing wrong with having that meeting. Trump Sr., Pence and Conway knew nothing, NOTHING about what these low level operatives were up to. Trump Jr., Manafort and Kushner were just minor players in the campaign. Why, Trump Sr. barely even knew them! ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/668 "2017-07-11T02:52:28Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > nothing criminal in this affair. Aaaand we pivot back from “everybody does it” to “it’s not technically criminal”. It is to laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/669 "2017-07-11T02:53:20Z")
The NYT piece linked in post #662 by Snarky\_Kong deserves a whole quote: > **[Trump Jr. Was Told in Email of Russian Effort to Aid Campaign (Published 2017)](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/us/politics/donald-trump-jr-russia-email-candidacy.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=65555680&pgtype=Homepage&_r=0)** > > The president’s son was told in an email that the Russian government wanted to help Donald J. Trump’s election bid last year. > [@NYT piece revealing that Donald Trump Jr knew that the Russians were aiding his father's election efforts](#): > > WASHINGTON — Before arranging a meeting with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer he believed would offer him compromising information about Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Jr. was informed in an email that the material was part of a Russian government effort to aid his father’s candidacy, according to three people with knowledge of the email. > > The email to the younger Mr. Trump was sent by Rob Goldstone, a publicist and former British tabloid reporter who helped broker the June 2016 meeting. In a statement on Sunday, Mr. Trump acknowledged that he was interested in receiving damaging information about Mrs. Clinton, but gave no indication that he thought the lawyer might have been a Kremlin proxy. > > Mr. Goldstone’s message, as described to The New York Times by the three people, indicates that the Russian government was the source of the potentially damaging information. It does not elaborate on the wider effort by Moscow to help the Trump campaign. The article goes on to say that there’s no evidence that the alleged dirt on Hillary came via the Russian hacking efforts [presumably because there isn’t any dirt on Hillary vis a vis Russia] but notes that the timing of all this was a week before the Russian hacking efforts became public. the article goes on to say: > [@that article again](#): > > But the email is likely to be of keen interest to the Justice Department and congressional investigators, who are examining whether any of President Trump’s associates colluded with the Russian government to disrupt last year’s election. American intelligence agencies have determined that the Russian government tried to sway the election in favor of Mr. Trump. The email from Goldstone is evidence that Donald Trump Jr knew even before the meeting that the Russian Government was working to influence the election in his Dad’s favor. Junior went to that meeting expecting to get info from the Russian governement and he brought Kushner and Manafort with him. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/670 "2017-07-11T02:53:21Z")
Drip, drip, drip…let’s see: No collusion. Fake news. Anonymous sources. No meetings with Russians. Seven meetings with Russians (known so far). Oh, I forgot. I didn’t know. I did know, but I didn’t give it any credence. Everyone does it. Hillary and the DNC have no moral compass for (allegedly) doing it. It’s the Democrats. Oh wait, it was actually a friend of mine. She came to talk about adoptions. Oh wait, she also mentioned something about Hillary colluding with the Russian government. I dismissed it all. I have no knowledge. I didn’t read that email. Anyway, it’s not a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/671 "2017-07-11T03:06:01Z")
So - no one would put their money where their mouth is? How surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/672 "2017-07-11T03:12:28Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Dear Mr. Wapo: > > We thank you for the opportunity to read the outline for your proposed “political thriller” novel. We regret to advise that it is our opinion that the plotline is ridiculous, and reads like something Ian Fleming would have been ashamed to publish. We wish you much success in any other endeavor, please forget our address. > > The Editors > Remainder House Books By-the-by - I saw this mentioned on Reddit and I thought of this. > **[Annotated Dossier](http://annotateddossier.com/#page27)** > > Annotations of the Steele Dossier > [@The Annotated Steele Dossier](#): > > COMPANY INTELLIGENCE REPORT 2016/113 > > RUSSIA/US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION- REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE TRUMP’S PRIOR ACTIVITIES IN ST PETERSBURG > > Summary > > — Two knowledgeable St Petersburg sources claim Republican candidate TRUMP has paid bribes and engaged in sexual activities there but key witnesses silenced and evidence hard to obtain > > — Both believe Azeri business associate of TRUMP, Araz AGALAROV will know the details > > Detail > > 1. Speaking to a trusted compatriot in September 2016, two well-placed sources based in St Petersburg, one in the political/business elite and the other involved in the local services and tourist industry, commented on Republican US presidential candidate Donald prior activities in the city. > > 2. Both knew TRUMP had visited St Petersburg on several occasions in the past and had been interested in doing business deals there involving real estate. The local business/ political elite figure reported that TRUMP had paid bribes there to further his interests but very discreetly and only through affiliated companies, making it very hard to prove. The local services industry source reported that TRUMP had participated in sex parties in the city too, but that all direct witnesses to this recently had been “silenced” i.e. bribed or coerced to disappear. > > 3. The two St Petersburg figures cited believed an Azeri business figure, Araz AGALAROV (with offices in Baku and London) had been closely involved with TRUMP in Russia and would know most of the details of what the Republican presidential candidate had got up to there. > > 14 September 2016 This is [the dossier prepared by ex-MI6 operative, Christopher Steele](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump%E2%80%93Russia_dossier) (who, hopefully, has a sexy lady alarm clock that whispers, “Mr. Steele - you’re needed”, every morning). It was released January 10th and claims that the Russians were helping Donald get elected. The Annotate Dossier, linked above, is the dossier with interpolated notes. The Annotation for the entry above reads: > [@Annotated Dossier](#): > > ``` > Aras Agalarov is an Azerbaijani businessman and real estate developer. He, along with his son, persuaded Trump to hold the 2013 Miss Universe pageant at one of their properties in Moscow, for which Trump traveled to the city. Agalarov was also involved in plans to construct a Trump Tower in Russia, which ultimately fell through. > > It has not been confirmed that Trump traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia. However, in 2008, Donald Trump Jr. "told investors in Moscow that the Trump Organization had trademarked the Donald Trump name in Russia and planned to build housing and hotels in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi, and sell licenses to other developers..." As one of three locations mentioned, a visit by Trump to St. Petersburg to conduct due dilligance is possible. > > ``` Ron Goldstone, who wrote the email to Don Jr telling him that the Kremlin wanted to help his Dad’s campaign, and asking Junior to meet with Veselnitskaya, works for Aras Agalorov and his son, Russian Pop Sensation [Emin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emin_Agalarov). Now, how about that book advance, please, Mr. Fancy Pants Publisher. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/673 "2017-07-11T03:18:57Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Drip, drip, drip… The last step is “we had to work with Russia to save America from crooked Hillary.” ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/674 "2017-07-11T03:21:51Z")
I want a piece of this Nothing Burger action. I also don’t think their will be any trials and furthermore I posit that every “smoking gun” in this Bolshie burger is hurting the Dems more and more. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/675 "2017-07-11T03:23:47Z")
Learn the difference between ‘there’ and ‘their’ first. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/676 "2017-07-11T03:37:07Z")
“Bolshie burger”? Nothing remotely Bolshevik about PutinCo, Intl. Far closer to St. Ayn of Leningrad than Trotsky. Which causes me to wonder: this year is the anniversary? They gonna party like its 1917? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/677 "2017-07-11T03:39:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Learn the difference between ‘there’ and ‘their’ first. Sorry Ace I’m typing on my phone and dealing with my two kids acting up right now. I was going to type the possessive version in that “their trials will happen”…but got distracted. I can only aspire to be so perfect. Again, I apologize for any offense I have made and feelings I have hurt. You’res cincerely Dale Sams esq. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/678 "2017-07-11T03:40:34Z")
10 days after DJTjr met with Russian lawyer, connections made daily to that mysterious server shot up in number: > ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/679 "2017-07-11T03:49:25Z")
Can’t wait to hear Trump explain that he barely knows Donald Trump Jr. > [@Okrahoma](#): > > So - no one would put their money where their mouth is? > > How surprising. I give you credit for your persistence and loyalty. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/680 "2017-07-11T06:41:07Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 10 days after DJTjr met with Russian lawyer, connections made daily to that mysterious server shot up in number: > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/TeaPainUSA/status/884253235418193920) While I’ll grant that the campaign may have seemed like an eternity, I think it’s reasonable to say that the few months of period between Trump winning the Republican nomination and winning the Presidency are short enough that it’s reasonable to think that there’s no particular correlation between this timing. And two random events in that time frame are not unlikely to be within a few days of one another. Is 10 more magical than 15 or -10? Note: I am not pro-Trump and I have little doubt that he wouldn’t have been out there working hand-in-hand with the Russians if he had been able to, even if he in fact didn’t. I’m just pointing out that you’d need more to link these two events. Why would one lead to the other, in that specific order, and why at that time delay? ---
**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:** [July 11, 2017, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/681 "2017-07-11T06:44:23Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > So - no one would put their money where their mouth is? > > How surprising. You’re determined to dig that hole as deep as possible, aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/682 "2017-07-11T06:57:25Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Democrats would have RUSHED to do the same thing […]. Cite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=35)