# 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:** 51
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1003 "2017-07-14T15:22:17Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Trump&Co LIED and continue to LIE about it. Let me guess: the DNC’s servers being attacked on behalf of Russian intelligence five days later was just a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1004 "2017-07-14T15:24:26Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Let me guess: the DNC’s servers being attacked on behalf of the Kremlin five days later was just a coincidence. Of course not. You see, the Russians needed permission from Trump to do that. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1005 "2017-07-14T15:30:14Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > nm nm as well then. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1006 "2017-07-14T15:30:19Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > No, I find nothing suspicious at all. There were literally hundreds if not thousands of meetings, and this was a dud, which is probably why it was not immediately remembered. If, as promised, the lawyer was bringing proof, from Russians, that they were funding DNC and Hillary, it would have been a success. A smashing success, actually. Even if we roll our eyes and agree that he “forgot” this meeting, that doesn’t dismiss that he actively went along with the meeting in the first place. The purpose is spelled out in the very first email–meet with Russians to get damaging information to Hillary obtained by the Russian government. I could absolutely understand if the initial email was about adoption and the meeting went no where and he forgot about it. But in that case, he would be assuming he’s going to a meeting about adoption. Forgetting about the meeting could actually be true–maybe Jr. has a terrible memory–but that doesn’t justify why he even went to the meeting in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1007 "2017-07-14T15:30:50Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > No, I find nothing suspicious at all. There were literally hundreds if not thousands of meetings, and this was a dud, which is probably why it was not immediately remembered. If, as promised, the lawyer was bringing proof, from Russians, that they were funding DNC and Hillary, it would have been a success. A smashing success, actually. There were “literally hundreds if not thousands of meetings” involving Jr., Kushner, Manafort & Russian lawyers/lobbyists? Do tell. ---
**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 14, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1008 "2017-07-14T15:32:40Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > No, I find nothing suspicious at all. There were literally hundreds if not thousands of meetings, and this was a dud, which is probably why it was not immediately remembered. If, as promised, the lawyer was bringing proof, from Russians, that they were funding DNC and Hillary, it would have been a success. A smashing success, actually. "I could not remember meeting with a Russian lawyer and a former KGB operative in a meeting that was advertised in writing as "obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump. Just slipped my mind." Come on. Even Donnie Half Scoop is not that stupid. And “smashing success?” Sure. In the same way that breaking into the Watergate Hotel to get DNC info was a “smashing success.” Despite what Donnie Two Scoops says, everyone would not have taken that meeting. The new head of the FBI would not have, for example. No Republican senator on record would have, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1009 "2017-07-14T15:33:37Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > No, I find nothing suspicious at all. There were literally hundreds if not thousands of meetings, and this was a dud, which is probably why it was not immediately remembered. If, as promised, the lawyer was bringing proof, from Russians, that they were funding DNC and Hillary, it would have been a success. A smashing success, actually. Does anyone besides Okrahoma believe that Putin and his billionaire buddy arranged a meeting with Trump with the stated purpose of giving them high level “ultra sensitive” Russian government intelligence, arranged for the lawyer and a former KGB officer to act as couriers, then had them show up to the meeting empty handed? ---
**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 14, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1010 "2017-07-14T15:34:09Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Of course not. You see, the Russians needed permission from Trump to do that. _Incentive_ and _agreement_, not permission. No reason to go through all that effort if Trump isn’t going to be your bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1011 "2017-07-14T15:34:27Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I could absolutely understand if the initial email was about adoption and the meeting went no where and he forgot about it. But in that case, he would be assuming he’s going to a meeting about adoption. Which, in itself, would be a problem because it was attended by a “former” Russian intelligence agent who lobbies to get rid of the Magnitsky Act, then the DNC was attacked on behalf of Russian intelligence five days later. ---
**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:** [July 14, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1012 "2017-07-14T15:34:41Z")
> [@](#): > > There were “literally hundreds if not thousands of meetings” involving Jr., Kushner, Manafort & Russian lawyers/lobbyists? Do tell. Maybe there are. Maybe there really is nothing unusual here. Maybe Republicans do this all the time and we just haven’t heard about it. It’s not as if such things are beneath Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1013 "2017-07-14T15:35:40Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Even if we roll our eyes and agree that he “forgot” this meeting, that doesn’t dismiss that he actively went along with the meeting in the first place. The purpose is spelled out in the very first email–meet with Russians to get damaging information to Hillary obtained by the Russian government. If you say “provided” instead of “obtained”, I’d agree. “Obtained” implies the original information did not come from Russian government. Why would Don Jr. think it was “obtained”? This meeting was before any hacking scandals. > [@](#): > > Forgetting about the meeting could actually be true–maybe Jr. has a terrible memory–but that doesn’t justify why he even went to the meeting in the first place. Huh? He went to the meeting because he was hoping it would provide information on Hillary or DNCs criminal misdeeds. Not because he wanted to talk about adoptions. When he saw that no such information was forthcoming, the meeting was ended. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1014 "2017-07-14T15:38:32Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I could absolutely understand if the initial email was about adoption and the meeting went no where and he forgot about it. But in that case, he would be assuming he’s going to a meeting about adoption. Even then, he should have known that it was about US sanctions against Russia. He’s had business dealings with Russia, he must have known that “talk about adoptions” meant talking about the Magnitsky Act. ---
**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 14, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1015 "2017-07-14T15:38:41Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Even if we roll our eyes and agree that he “forgot” this meeting, that doesn’t dismiss that he actively went along with the meeting in the first place. The purpose is spelled out in the very first email–meet with Russians to get damaging information to Hillary obtained by the Russian government. I could absolutely understand if the initial email was about adoption and the meeting went no where and he forgot about it. But in that case, he would be assuming he’s going to a meeting about adoption. > > Forgetting about the meeting could actually be true–maybe Jr. has a terrible memory–but that doesn’t justify why he even went to the meeting in the first place. The meeting might have slipped his mind, until the Russia Thing blew up. I’m sure he remembered it before he gave his angry denials. > [@](#): > > The same day [July 24, 2016], CNN State of the Union host Jake Tapper puts the Clinton campaign’s allegations to Donald Trump Jr. > > “Well it just goes to show you their exact moral compass,” Trump Jr says. “They’ll say anything to be able to win this. > > “This is time and time again, lie after lie, you notice he [Mook] won’t say, ‘Well I say this … ‘We hear experts’ – his house cat at home once said this is what’s happening with the Russians. It’s disgusting, it’s so phoney. I watched him bumble through the interview … I can’t think of bigger lies. But that exactly goes to show you what the DNC [Democratic National Committee] and what the Clinton camp will do. They will lie and do anything to win.” > > He continues: “These lies and the perpetuating of that kind of nonsense to gain some political capital is just outrageous.” ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1016 "2017-07-14T15:38:50Z")
> [@Fubaya](#): > > Does anyone besides Okrahoma believe that Putin and his billionaire buddy arranged a meeting with Trump with the stated purpose of giving them high level “ultra sensitive” Russian government intelligence, arranged for the lawyer and a former KGB officer to act as couriers, then had them show up to the meeting empty handed? Sure, I believe that. Putin loves children so much and was distraught that the adoption program was blocked. He knew Trump’s team was indifferent to that cause, so he created a “Mission Impossible” type of team and they came up with the idea of saying they had damning info on Hillary so that they could get in the door. Then once they were in front of Trump’s team, they pleaded their case about the needy Russian children. But Jr didn’t bite and the Russian team went home empty handed. Putin cried himself to sleep that night wondering if anyone would care for Russian orphans. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1017 "2017-07-14T15:40:19Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Not on the same subject. As I explained, I choose my bets so I don’t lose them. Which just shows that your confidence is far, far less than your rhetoric. If you really as confident as you’re portraying, you’d give me much better odds than 5-1 for Trump being out by 2019. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1018 "2017-07-14T15:42:43Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Which just shows that your confidence is far, far less than your rhetoric. If you really as confident as you’re portraying, you’d give me much better odds than 5-1 for Trump being out by 2019. 'sok. I found someone who took 5:1. Why would I give you more? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1019 "2017-07-14T16:01:11Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > 'sok. I found someone who took 5:1. Why would I give you more? Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Trumple Motion. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1020 "2017-07-14T16:07:51Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > If you say “provided” instead of “obtained”, I’d agree. “Obtained” implies the original information did not come from Russian government. Why would Don Jr. think it was “obtained”? This meeting was before any hacking scandals. From the email: > [@](#): > > This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr Trump - helped along by Aras and Emin. It would seem like that would imply that the information came from the Russian government. I guess it’s possible to quibble over whether the information was “provided” or “obtained” by the Russian government. Does the difference really matter? Jr. is going forward to meet with Russians to obtain information damning to Hillary as part of Russia’s support for Trump. > [@Okrahoma](#): > > Huh? He went to the meeting because he was hoping it would provide information on Hillary or DNCs criminal misdeeds. Not because he wanted to talk about adoptions. When he saw that no such information was forthcoming, the meeting was ended. Doesn’t that make Jr. look even worse? I suppose the only way it doesn’t make him look bad is if you believe there is nothing wrong with meeting with Russians to obtain opposition information coming from the Russian government. ---
**Author:** ![Evin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Evin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1021 "2017-07-14T16:08:48Z")
I usually check the odds after each “seismic” event. The market seems to be inured to the Ginger Pig’s shenanigans. > **[Politics Betting | Ladbrokes.com | Sports News](https://sports.ladbrokes.com/news/politics/)** ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1022 "2017-07-14T16:17:28Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I suppose the only way it doesn’t make him look bad is if you believe there is nothing wrong with meeting with Russians to obtain opposition information coming from the Russian government. I suppose nothing, even Trump admitting that his entire campaign was a ploy to not get elected, would get his core supporters to admit that there’s something wrong with this administration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=50) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=52)