# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/122 "2017-03-31T07:01:40Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Time will tell. Hopefully soon, but the signs are that this will drag out. It’s already moving faster than I expected it to. Of course, it would have been nice if this reporting happened, oh, six months ago. But I assumed that after the election, it was all a dead issue. Of course, if they weren’t such a pack of twitchy, lying, morons, it probably _would_ be dead. If they _all_could have refrained from chasing after the Russian ambassador like he was The Bachelor, it would be a different story. If even a few of them had managed not to lie about when asked, we wouldn’t be here. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/123 "2017-03-31T09:35:55Z")
I’m sure Flynn knows stuff that will link all the parts together. Going backwards a bit: The Russian diplomat and spy Mikhail Kalugin at the Russian embassy in New York and his banking practices were what was under surveillance by the FBI. Kalugin is the one (of the ones) that passed the money from Russia to Americans here on American soil. Kalugin got called back home last fall because Putin was afraid he was about to be exposed. The FBI had identified an “established operational liaison between the Trump team and the Kremlin” and it was this liason was being watched. The liason is most likley Manafort. Manafort is the one : \*Who has been on the Russian payroll for 10 million dollars a year since 2005 “to promote Russian interests in the US”, \*had the money laundering bank accounts in Cyprus, \*and had the apartment in the Ukraine with his personal belongings and the ledger showing the missing 12(?) million dollars last August (or September- I forgot), \*and had/has the money laundering real estate purchases in New York, \*and who also lives in the Trump Tower, is one of Trump’s best friends, and was Trump’s campaign manager. If Trump or Trump campaign folks (such as Manafort, Flynn and/or Trump, etc.) were picked up by the FBI in a “wiretap” at the Trump Tower, it’s because they were involved with Kalugin and/or Manafort. Trump himself could have been an “incidental” in these recordings. I’m pretty sure Trump has very little knowledge about all this stuff swirling around him. Bannon and Fox news sure won’t tell him. I think this is where Flynn comes in- he knows some of this stuff, and maybe a lot of this stuff, but not all of this stuff. He also has his own ties to Russia- dinner with Putin, being paid by RT, discussions (probably about sanctions) with the Ambassador (and his meeting with Austrian neo-nazi leader Heinz-Christian Stracheand who also has ties to Putin). Yates told the Trump team that Flynn might be compromised. The Trump team tried to let it blow over until they couldn’t anymore. Then both Flynn and Yates were let go. So, Flynn may not know all, but I’m sure he knows a lot that will link the chain together. He’s worried enough about his future to offer info. But the IC may already know what he wants to offer and may not be interested in making a deal with him. ---
**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 31, 2017, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/124 "2017-03-31T12:33:36Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > I’m pretty sure Trump has very little knowledge about all this stuff swirling around him. I think that is probably a fair statement in pretty much any circumstances. ---
**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 31, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/125 "2017-03-31T15:50:53Z")
I’d like to say that the rats are deserting the sinking ship, but I have to wonder why the Orangutan is behind granting Flynn immunity. Also, he could have gone through back channels with his opinion. Why the thinly-veiled attempt at influencing FBI and Justice publicly? (Maybe he thinks Comey is too much of a white-hat to be influenced…at this point, who knows? Except, of course, for some of those inside the WH.) ---
**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 31, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/126 "2017-03-31T16:23:11Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > I’m sure Flynn knows stuff that will link all the parts together. > > Going backwards a bit: The Russian diplomat and spy Mikhail Kalugin at the Russian embassy in New York and his banking practices were what was under surveillance by the FBI. Kalugin is the one (of the ones) that passed the money from Russia to Americans here on American soil. Kalugin got called back home last fall because Putin was afraid he was about to be exposed. > > The FBI had identified an “established operational liaison between the Trump team and the Kremlin” and it was this liason was being watched. > > The liason is most likley Manafort. > Manafort is the one : > \*Who has been on the Russian payroll for 10 million dollars a year since 2005 “to promote Russian interests in the US”, > \*had the money laundering bank accounts in Cyprus, > \*and had the apartment in the Ukraine with his personal belongings and the ledger showing the missing 12(?) million dollars last August (or September- I forgot), > \*and had/has the money laundering real estate purchases in New York, > \*and who also lives in the Trump Tower, is one of Trump’s best friends, and was Trump’s campaign manager. > If Trump or Trump campaign folks (such as Manafort, Flynn and/or Trump, etc.) were picked up by the FBI in a “wiretap” at the Trump Tower, it’s because they were involved with Kalugin and/or Manafort. Trump himself could have been an “incidental” in these recordings. I’m pretty sure Trump has very little knowledge about all this stuff swirling around him. Bannon and Fox news sure won’t tell him. > > I think this is where Flynn comes in- he knows some of this stuff, and maybe a lot of this stuff, but not all of this stuff. He also has his own ties to Russia- dinner with Putin, being paid by RT, discussions (probably about sanctions) with the Ambassador (and his meeting with Austrian neo-nazi leader Heinz-Christian Stracheand who also has ties to Putin). > > Yates told the Trump team that Flynn might be compromised. The Trump team tried to let it blow over until they couldn’t anymore. Then both Flynn and Yates were let go. > > So, Flynn may not know all, but I’m sure he knows a lot that will link the chain together. He’s worried enough about his future to offer info. But the IC may already know what he wants to offer and may not be interested in making a deal with him. If donald doesn’t know anything then who is Flynn going to give up? Is Manafort enough bait for the govt? Unravelling a lot of crimes among many as opposed to getting the big fish? ---
**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 1, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/127 "2017-04-01T21:10:17Z")
Lawfare is suggesting that Flynn is offering to talk because he knows that he’s basically clear from prosecution on anything, but he might be able to use the opportunity to give a big pro-Trump show if he’s brought in, in front of Congress. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/128 "2017-04-01T22:05:48Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Lawfare is suggesting that Flynn is offering to talk because he knows that he’s basically clear from prosecution on anything, but he might be able to use the opportunity to give a big pro-Trump show if he’s brought in, in front of Congress. That would explain Trump’s tweet supporting immunity for Flynn; if Flynn were _genuinely_ a danger to Trump, the tweets would be about what a liar Flynn is and how no deal should be made. ---
**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:** [April 1, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/129 "2017-04-01T22:24:32Z")
I didn’t want to start a new thread for this, so I put it here. Russian foriegn ministry having a little fun on April Fool’s day through their Facebook or their Twitter or whatever the kids are calling it: > ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/130 "2017-04-03T23:05:09Z")
OK, [this officially got surreal](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/blackwater-founder-held-secret-seychelles-meeting-to-establish-trump-putin-back-channel/2017/04/03/95908a08-1648-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html): Blackwater founder (and Betsy DeVos’ brother) Erik Prince met with a Putin confidant in the Seychelles to open a back channel between Trump and Moscow, in a January meeting brokered by the United Arab Emirates. What I want to know is, who in the damn wingnut galaxy _isn’t_ part of a back channel between Trump and Putin? ---
**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 4, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/131 "2017-04-04T00:26:56Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > OK, [this officially got surreal](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/blackwater-founder-held-secret-seychelles-meeting-to-establish-trump-putin-back-channel/2017/04/03/95908a08-1648-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html): > > Blackwater founder (and Betsy DeVos’ brother) Erik Prince met with a Putin confidant in the Seychelles to open a back channel between Trump and Moscow, in a January meeting brokered by the United Arab Emirates. > > What I want to know is, who in the damn wingnut galaxy _isn’t_ part of a back channel between Trump and Putin? Eh, for Trump to reach out to make a deal with Putin, after being nominated President, doesn’t really bother me. Dealing with Russia might be unpopular, but it is the platform he ran on and, while not quite yet President, by the 11th of January there’s no real reason for the President-elect not to start reaching out to foreign leaders. Collusion with Russia, in the aim of getting elected, is treasonous. Making a deal with Russia as the lawfully elected leader of the nation is no worse than for Obama to have made a deal with Iran. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/132 "2017-04-04T01:13:04Z")
He wasn’t the lawfully elected leader at the time, though. And who elected Erik Prince? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/133 "2017-04-04T01:54:25Z")
Sure, a President negotiating with Russia is not concerning per se. A President negotiating with Russia through a convoluted back channel apparently designed for secrecy is a bit of a problem. What could they do via a bizarre back channel that they couldn’t do by calling each other on a secure phone and telling their aides to leave the room? Why the additional layer of cloak and dagger? Also, Blackwater?! Those fuckers had to crawl out of the woodwork again? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/134 "2017-04-04T02:57:24Z")
And the horses upon which they rode. That Blackwater even existed is a stain on our flag. Who’s idea was that dollar-store Tom Clancy name? Modern mercenaries are Advanced Security Dynamics and Compliance Induction Specialists! Doe this Prince guy have an obnoxiously pampered fuzzy white cat that he feeds orphans to? Lord God, who _are_ these people? _What_ are these people? What _are_ these people? What are these, _people_? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/135 "2017-04-04T03:44:38Z")
Black water, smooth above the weir Like starry velvet in the night Though ruffled once would soon appear The same as ever to the sight. That doesn’t have much to do with the topic at hand. I just like that bit of poetry. > **[The Mill by Edwin Arlington Robinson | Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44977/the-mill)** > > The miller's wife had waited long, ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/136 "2017-04-04T05:09:34Z")
Who could forget the plumbic verse of E.A. Robinson, try as they might. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/137 "2017-04-04T07:47:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Who could forget the plumbic verse of E.A. Robinson, try as they might. Of course, when we recall “Richard Cory,” many of us can only remember [the Simon & Garfunkel version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwqwAy85CgY). ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/138 "2017-04-04T13:50:33Z")
Robinson could be a bit heavy handed. I do like “The Mill” a lot though. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/139 "2017-04-06T14:24:47Z")
[Nunes “temporarily” steps down from Russia probe](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/nunes-to-step-aside-from-russia-probe-236951): > [@](#): > > House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) will temporarily step aside from an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, including interactions between Moscow and the Trump campaign. > > The probe will be taken over by Reps. Michael Conaway (R-Texas), Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) and Tom Rooney (R-Fla.). > > Nunes will remain chairman of the Intelligence Committee. Finally. Hopefully Nunes stays out. Anyone know much about his replacements with respect to their relationship to Trump and their opinion of Nunes’ behavior? ---
**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:** [April 6, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/140 "2017-04-06T14:52:42Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Robinson could be a bit heavy handed. I do like “The Mill” a lot though. Was that the guy who wrote “Kill my landlord?” I like his stuff. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/141 "2017-04-06T16:22:30Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > [Nunes “temporarily” steps down from Russia probe](http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/nunes-to-step-aside-from-russia-probe-236951): > > Finally. Hopefully Nunes stays out. Anyone know much about his replacements with respect to their relationship to Trump and their opinion of Nunes’ behavior? Don’t worry, he isn’t stepping down because of wrong doing, but because of “left wing activists”. Party of personal responsibility. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=8)