# 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:** 78
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1543 "2017-07-21T23:59:51Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Can’t remember if I said this on this MB or to a friend recently, but I’ll repeat myself: If I were Manafort, I’d be shopping around for friendly Eastern European countries to flee to. Kushner can probably fall back on Israel if he has to. I’ve made this observation myself, although with less specificity about which no-extradition country they should pick. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see Trump employ the same tactic. I wonder if the pilots for Air Force One have any obligation to notify somebody if they are directed by the president to make an unscheduled trip to Paraguay. (I’m only half kidding.) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1544 "2017-07-22T00:49:11Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Considering the **predominate** personality in this administration, he’s probably just as racist. **PREDOMINANT** That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1545 "2017-07-22T01:59:49Z")
And the co-founder of Fusion GPS - the Democrat opposition research company that is behind the infamous “Trump dossier”, when faced with a subpoena, [takes the fifth](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/21/fusion-refusal-co-founder-firm-behind-trump-russia-dossier-to-plead-fifth.html). ---
**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:** [July 22, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1546 "2017-07-22T02:03:25Z")
I thought republicans started that dossier research. > **[Steele dossier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump%E2%80%93Russia_dossier)** > > The Steele dossier, also known as the Trump–Russia dossier, is a controversial political opposition research report written from June to December 2016, containing allegations of misconduct, conspiracy, and cooperation between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and the government of Russia prior to and during the 2016 election campaign. The dossier has since been described as "largely discredited", "deeply flawed", and "largely unverified". Several key allegations made in June 201 The doss... “The dossier was produced as part of [opposition research](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_research) during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The research was initially funded by [Republicans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29) [who did not want Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Trump_movement) to be the [Republican Party nominee for president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_presidential_primaries,_2016). After Trump won the primaries, a [Democratic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29) client took over the funding; and, following Trump’s election, Steele continued working on the report _[pro bono](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_bono)_ and passed on the information to British and American intelligence services.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1547 "2017-07-22T02:15:29Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > …I’d say Trump is going to the mattresses… Ya know, the guy who sets up the straight line bears some responsibility. Like, if a Doper were to succumb to the temptation of a prurient and juvenile joke about Moscow hookers and mattresses. It would be partly your fault. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1548 "2017-07-22T02:19:52Z")
If you want collusion - there is your collusion. A [company that mostly does work for Democrats](http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-sordid-history-of-the-firm-behind-the-trump-russia-dossier/article/2006254) paying foreigners who then pay Russian intelligence operatives to provide information (that is so far considered all faked up) on a Presidential candidate. No wonder Fusion GPS head is taking the fifth. ---
**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 22, 2017, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1549 "2017-07-22T02:29:12Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > And the co-founder of Fusion GPS - the Democrat opposition research company that is behind the infamous “Trump dossier”, when faced with a subpoena, [takes the fifth](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/21/fusion-refusal-co-founder-firm-behind-trump-russia-dossier-to-plead-fifth.html). After the dossier was published, Steele went into hiding for a few months. So you think that this was because, a) he thought it would be hilarious to deprive reporters of a chance to interview him, or b) because he had little desire to be murdered by the FSB? It’s probably a bad career and life choice to talk about your secret Russian sources, as a general rule. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1550 "2017-07-22T02:38:16Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > If you want collusion - there is your collusion. A [company that mostly does work for Democrats](http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-sordid-history-of-the-firm-behind-the-trump-russia-dossier/article/2006254) paying foreigners who then pay Russian intelligence operatives to provide information (that is so far considered all faked up) on a Presidential candidate. No wonder Fusion GPS head is taking the fifth. Great. If that hypothesis pans out, then I hope those guilty parties get nailed to the wall. Until then, we are dealing with the Trump issue that continues to pan out in spectacular form. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1551 "2017-07-22T03:15:22Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Ya know, the guy who sets up the straight line bears some responsibility. Like, if a Doper were to succumb to the temptation of a prurient and juvenile joke about Moscow hookers and mattresses. It would be partly your fault. LOL, I’d be pleased to take the blame and play the straight guy to anyone who wanted to succumb to such a temptation. I could do with some levity at the moment. Go for it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1552 "2017-07-22T03:21:30Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > And now Donnie Half-Scoop and Manafort have canceled their appearances before the Senate Judiciary Committee next Wednesday. > > I’d say Trump is going to the mattresses. > > ETA: I guess they’re meeting privately with the committee members first, so maybe not so egregious. Right. They have promised to provide documents and submit to private interviews. They apparently are still subject to later subpoena if the committee feels they are not being sufficiently forthcoming. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1553 "2017-07-22T03:30:46Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Right. They have promised to provide documents and submit to private interviews. They apparently are still subject to later subpoena if the committee feels they are not being sufficiently forthcoming. Yes. But meantime, it’s this I’m worried about: [Efforts made by Chuck Grassley to deflect attention from and muddy the waters regarding the Russia investigation by Mueller](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/322553-grassley-probes-fbis-ties-to-british-spy-who-investigated-trump). The plan appears to be to use Trump’s old projection technique. Whatever he’s doing, he accuses the other side of doing instead. It’s actually the _Democrats_ who are colluding with Russians, you see? His base will buy it, despite all evidence to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1554 "2017-07-22T03:38:41Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Yes. But meantime, it’s this I’m worried about: [Efforts made by Chuck Grassley to deflect attention from and muddy the waters regarding the Russia investigation by Mueller](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/322553-grassley-probes-fbis-ties-to-british-spy-who-investigated-trump). > > The plan appears to be to use Trump’s old projection technique. Whatever he’s doing, he accuses the other side of doing instead. It’s actually the _Democrats_ who are colluding with Russians, you see? > > His base will buy it, despite all evidence to the contrary. As evidenced by some rather frantic attempts at deflection along just those lines by a certain poster who I’m quite sure is not a shill of some kind for the administration. 🙂 Meanwhile, Trump Jr., Manafort, and now Sessions clearly have some ‘splainin’ to do in the near future, but none of this yet looks like anything that’s likely to take down Big Orange hisself. OTOH, Trump Sr’s increasingly weird obsession with obscuring his financial history makes it difficult not to think there is some particularly embarrassing nugget of data in there somewhere. Hey, maybe it’s just some expense receipts from a Russian brothel or two, but the smoke certainly seems to be getting thick enough that flames may shortly be visible. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1555 "2017-07-22T04:08:52Z")
What’s especially disturbing to me is the extent to which Trump is doing his utmost to emulate Putin. Attempts to control the media and establish a Pravda (Fox “News”); Creates enemies against whom he must “protect” us; Puts his own cronies in all positions of power, most of them oligarchs and persons who are loyal only to him, not the country; Disregards all laws that don’t suit him and basically makes a mockery of our entire system of government; Demonizes and attempts to crush all opposition. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it. He dreams of being Putin. If he could get away with assassinating his enemies, he’d do it in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1556 "2017-07-22T04:57:33Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Yes. But meantime, it’s this I’m worried about: [Efforts made by Chuck Grassley to deflect attention from and muddy the waters regarding the Russia investigation by Mueller](http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/322553-grassley-probes-fbis-ties-to-british-spy-who-investigated-trump). > > The plan appears to be to use Trump’s old projection technique. Whatever he’s doing, he accuses the other side of doing instead. It’s actually the _Democrats_ who are colluding with Russians, you see? > > His base will buy it, despite all evidence to the contrary. OLD NEWS - Sorry but that story is from March. If it were going to go anywhere it would have by now. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1557 "2017-07-22T05:12:26Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > OLD NEWS - Sorry but that story is from March. If it were going to go anywhere it would have by now. :smack: Sorry. Grabbed a wrong link. Here’s the story I meant: [More Recent Grassley Efforts](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chuck-grassley-trump-russia-dossier_us_596e6ce8e4b0000eb19694fa). ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1558 "2017-07-22T07:50:47Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > :smack: Sorry. Grabbed a wrong link. > > Here’s the story I meant: [More Recent Grassley Efforts](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chuck-grassley-trump-russia-dossier_us_596e6ce8e4b0000eb19694fa). Like I mentioned in the Pit thread on this, I don’t see much at that link to make me think this is a current thing. Most of those links are to statements Grassley put out in March or April. The bit about hearings doesn’t look like they will be about Democrats since Donnie Jr and Manafort are going to voluntarily testify or be subpoenaed. It looks to me like Grassley is near the end of his rope with Trumpian hijinks. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1559 "2017-07-22T12:47:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Can’t remember if I said this on this MB or to a friend recently, but I’ll repeat myself: If I were Manafort, I’d be shopping around for friendly Eastern European countries to flee to. Kushner can probably fall back on Israel if he has to. Israel has an extradition agreement with the U.S., and Israeli citizens are not exempt. ---
**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 22, 2017, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1560 "2017-07-22T13:03:11Z")
When all is said and done, Trump will be found to be broke as a joke and up to his eyeballs in Russian mobsters. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1561 "2017-07-22T13:32:14Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Israel has an extradition agreement with the U.S., and Israeli citizens are not exempt. Is Kushner an Israeli citizen? I like that stupid criminals often get legal advice from TV. They often come here to escape and are shocked when they’re promptly sent back home to face the music. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/1562 "2017-07-22T14:03:56Z")
Trump tends to broadcast his punches, and if so, he’s planning to use what he calls his "[complete power to pardon](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/us/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions.html), (which, apparently “all agree” he has) in the near future. I’m sure that a few members of the GOP will be “concerned” about this when it happens, and express it deeply and ineffectually. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=77) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=79)