# 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:** 72
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1423 "2017-07-20T01:41:55Z")
“Whats this? A Dior gown and a crude drawing of Pepe the Frog?” “Its a batshit message. Melania Trump sleeps with the Fascists.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1424 "2017-07-20T02:00:21Z")
“Whats this? A perfectly horrid pair of women’s shoes and a couple of fried pies?” “Its from Jared. Melania Trump sleeps with the _knishes_.” ---
**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 20, 2017, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1425 "2017-07-20T05:38:26Z")
I suspect the Committee wants to hear things without having Jared claim clearance in a public hearing. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1426 "2017-07-20T06:02:09Z")
Sheesh, that’s right, he does have a security clearance, doesn’t he? ---
**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 20, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1427 "2017-07-20T06:03:26Z")
More’s the pity, yes. ---
**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 20, 2017, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1428 "2017-07-20T06:47:20Z")
It still counts if it’s written in crayon? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1429 "2017-07-20T15:09:28Z")
Trump [warns Mueller not to look at his finances.](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/20/trump-warns-mueller-against-looking-into-his-family-finances-apart-from-russia-investigation.html) Mueller promptly [expands the probe](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-20/mueller-is-said-to-expand-probe-to-trump-business-transactions?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social) to include Trump’s finances. Fiveyearlurker invests in popcorn futures. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1430 "2017-07-20T15:15:30Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump [warns Mueller not to look at his finances.](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/20/trump-warns-mueller-against-looking-into-his-family-finances-apart-from-russia-investigation.html) Mueller promptly [expands the probe](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-20/mueller-is-said-to-expand-probe-to-trump-business-transactions?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social) to include Trump’s finances. The word “promptly” is misleading. ---
**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 20, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1431 "2017-07-20T15:18:46Z")
Bloomberg reports that Mueller is looking into Trump’s business practices, focusing on the 2013 Miss Universe competition among other things. [https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-07-20/mueller-is-said-to-expand-probe-to-trump-business-transactions](https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-07-20/mueller-is-said-to-expand-probe-to-trump-business-transactions) ETA: Ninja’d ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1432 "2017-07-20T15:20:53Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump [warns Mueller not to look at his finances.](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/20/trump-warns-mueller-against-looking-into-his-family-finances-apart-from-russia-investigation.html) Mueller promptly [expands the probe](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-20/mueller-is-said-to-expand-probe-to-trump-business-transactions?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social) to include Trump’s finances. Fiveyearlurker invests in popcorn futures. At this point Mueller should simply ask Trump if there are any other things Trump doesn’t want him to investigate. Think of the time it would save. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1433 "2017-07-20T15:21:08Z")
I can understand the temptation to think Donald Trump is a mad genius. A lot of people are convinced he’s playing politics at a level no one else can comprehend, and that’s why he’s so hard to comprehend. I really can sympathize with that - because the alternative is to admit the United States is led by a person so hopelessly ignorant that he is an existential threat to the country. Sadly, the United States is led by a person so hopelessly ignorant that he is an existential threat to the country. “He’d better not look at my finances” is literally the stupidest damn thing Trump could possibly say. It’s like the cops were searching my home for a gun, and I said “By all means look around… but don’t look in THIS drawer. Nuh uh.” Of course it’s the first one they’ll open. Furthermore, if you had any respect left for Jeff Sessions, it’s time to abandon it. Whatever you think of his politics, at least, maybe, the guy had some pride or something. No longer. What Trump said about him could only have resulted in one honorable course of action; he should have resigned, immediately. He didn’t, so he’s a spineless, sycophantic cretin. ETA: My wife has offered the longshot possibility Sessions is taking this shit because he serves as a buffer between Trump and Mueller; her theory is that Sessions, being recused from the Russia mess, cannot fire Mueller. If he resigns, Trump can appoint a Trumpist AG who is not recused from the Russia investigation and can then fire Mueller; by remaining in place, Sessions makes it impossible for Trump to order the AG to fire Mueller, without going through the PR-dumpster-fire act of first getting rid of Sessions. I find this unlikely, but admit it is theoretically sound. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1434 "2017-07-20T15:35:55Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump [warns Mueller not to look at his finances.](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/20/trump-warns-mueller-against-looking-into-his-family-finances-apart-from-russia-investigation.html) Mueller promptly [expands the probe](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-20/mueller-is-said-to-expand-probe-to-trump-business-transactions?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social) to include Trump’s finances. Fiveyearlurker invests in popcorn futures. _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia theme music starts playing_. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1435 "2017-07-20T15:45:07Z")
Following up on my prior post, which may have been a bit too cryptic, if you actually read the article, it’s obviously impossible for Bloomberg to be reporting on an investigation expansion that took place after Trump’s interview. The Bloomberg came out today, but from the reporting it’s obvious that it’s about Mueller investigations that have been going on long before the latest Trump interview in which he said not to look past Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Crybaby\_Boobie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crybaby_boobie/32/545_2.png) [@Crybaby\_Boobie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crybaby_Boobie)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1436 "2017-07-20T15:53:10Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > At this point Mueller should simply ask Trump if there are any other things Trump doesn’t want him to investigate. Think of the time it would save. Again, further proof that there has to be a pee tape. Because he said there isn’t a pee tape. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1437 "2017-07-20T15:55:40Z")
How much can Trump influence what Mueller can and can’t look at? I never fully understood how Clinton’s special prosecution started at a Whitewater investigation and lead to impeachment over lying about a BJ. It seems like a special prosecutor is essentially given authority to look into anything and everything about the President as long as they can link all the steps back to whatever the original investigation was about. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1438 "2017-07-20T15:56:55Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I can understand the temptation to think Donald Trump is a mad genius. A lot of people are convinced he’s playing politics at a level no one else can comprehend, and that’s why he’s so hard to comprehend. I really can sympathize with that - because the alternative is to admit the United States is led by a person so hopelessly ignorant that he is an existential threat to the country. > Sadly, the United States is led by a person so hopelessly ignorant that he is an existential threat to the country. To be fair, he _is_ playing politics at a level no one else can comprehend…because it’s so incredibly stupid. > [@](#): > > “He’d better not look at my finances” is literally the stupidest damn thing Trump could possibly say. It’s like the cops were searching my home for a gun, and I said “By all means look around… but don’t look in THIS drawer. Nuh uh.” Of course it’s the first one they’ll open. Random anecdote: an auditor for a regulatory body once told me about an audit where they went in to look through boxes of files. The first box he opened, someone had put a big label on top of the inside saying **"DO NOT SHOW THESE FILES TO [THE REGULATOR]**". He said he nonchalantly closed the box and carried it off to his car (yes, they were authorised to take files away, before you ask). He didn’t give details but said the contents were “very enlightening”. > [@](#): > > Furthermore, if you had any respect left for Jeff Sessions, it’s time to abandon it. Whatever you think of his politics, at least, maybe, the guy had some pride or something. No longer. What Trump said about him could only have resulted in one honorable course of action; he should have resigned, immediately. He didn’t, so he’s a spineless, sycophantic cretin. > > ETA: My wife has offered the longshot possibility Sessions is taking this shit because he serves as a buffer between Trump and Mueller; her theory is that Sessions, being recused from the Russia mess, cannot fire Mueller. If he resigns, Trump can appoint a Trumpist AG who is not recused from the Russia investigation and can then fire Mueller; by remaining in place, Sessions makes it impossible for Trump to order the AG to fire Mueller, without going through the PR-dumpster-fire act of first getting rid of Sessions. I find this unlikely, but admit it is theoretically sound. I find it more likely that Sessions thinks he’s better protected against being investigated and/or being forced to answer awkward questions as a sitting AG than as a former one. Sessions isn’t protecting Trump; he’s protecting himself IMO. ---
**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 20, 2017, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1439 "2017-07-20T16:01:55Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > To be fair, he _is_ playing politics at a level no one else can comprehend…because it’s so incredibly stupid. You don’t really need that “else” in there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1440 "2017-07-20T16:05:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I can understand the temptation to think Donald Trump is a mad genius. A lot of people are convinced he’s playing politics at a level no one else can comprehend, and that’s why he’s so hard to comprehend. I believe that number to be dwindling. Don’t know whether it is, but I _have to_ believe it. ---
**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 20, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1441 "2017-07-20T16:10:01Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I believe that number to be dwindling. Don’t know whether it is, but I _have to_ believe it. Heh and I believed that there were enough reasonable people in the country not to make a crybaby sociopath President. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1442 "2017-07-20T16:10:46Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > How much can Trump influence what Mueller can and can’t look at? I never fully understood how Clinton’s special prosecution started at a Whitewater investigation and lead to impeachment over lying about a BJ. It seems like a special prosecutor is essentially given authority to look into anything and everything about the President as long as they can link all the steps back to whatever the original investigation was about. Kenneth Starr was operating in a different role and under different legislation.The [United States Office of the Independent Counsel](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Office_of_the_Independent_Counsel) died in 1999. … You guys are frankly insulting Mueller acting like he needed Trump to remind him to look at Trump’s finances. I mean come on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=71) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=73)