# Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian Intelligence **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 15, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874 "2017-02-15T02:33:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/1 "2017-02-15T02:33:39Z")
[Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian Intelligence](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/us/politics/russia-intelligence-communications-trump.html?emc=edit_na_20170214&nl=breaking-news&nlid=43071900&ref=cta&_r=0) Breaking… [QUOTE=NYTimes] Phone records and intercepted calls show that members of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election, according to four current and former American officials. American law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the communications around the same time that they were discovering evidence that Russia was trying to disrupt the presidential election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee, three of the officials said. The intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to influence the election. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > The officials said that one of the advisers picked up on the calls was Paul Manafort, who was Mr. Trump’s campaign chairman for several months last year and had worked as a political consultant in Russia and Ukraine. The officials declined to identify the other Trump associates on the calls. > [@](#): > > As part of the inquiry, the F.B.I. is also trying to assess the credibility of information contained in a dossier that was given to the bureau last year by a former British intelligence operative. The dossier contained a raft of salacious allegations about connections between Mr. Trump, his associates and the Russian government. It also included unsubstantiated claims that the Russians had embarrassing videos that could be used to blackmail Mr. Trump. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/2 "2017-02-15T02:43:59Z")
Steven King meets Tom Clancy. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/3 "2017-02-15T02:47:29Z")
Thanks Comey… ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/4 "2017-02-15T02:53:22Z")
“You got your Trump in my Reason.” “You got your Reason on my Trump.” "Hey… lets call it… … **Rump!** _But only because Russia hasn’t been FORMALLY declared an enemy of the United States._\* \*Interpretation by individuals not appointed to SCOTUS are not legally binding, no matter How often they get repeated as talking points. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/5 "2017-02-15T02:54:13Z")
Don’t worry. Don’t you recall the throngs of people shouting, “Lock her up! Lock her up!” over some silly email situation that never rose past the level of carelessness? Surely those concerned patriots wouldn’t look past such a serious breach in the face of outright maliciousness. You know … all those law and order voters. Everything is sure to be cool. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/6 "2017-02-15T02:57:08Z")
iokiyar ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/7 "2017-02-15T03:40:44Z")
As one wag put it on Twitter: Deep State vs. Derp State ---
**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:** [February 15, 2017, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/8 "2017-02-15T05:55:03Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Don’t worry. Don’t you recall the throngs of people shouting, “Lock her up! Lock her up!” over some silly email situation that never rose past the level of carelessness? Surely those concerned patriots wouldn’t look past such a serious breach in the face of outright maliciousness. You know … all those law and order voters. Everything is sure to be cool. Right. Those same people are sure concerned about Trump’s unsecured cell phone, open to hacking… . . . \ And they were quite vocal when Trump had an impromptu briefing on N. Korea missiles in the middle of a hotel party, where people were taking selfies… . . . \ So I’m sure they will not be impressed that several of Trump’s closest people were in contact with Russian government intelligence officers before and after the election…and they will NOW speak up. . . . ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/9 "2017-02-15T06:03:51Z")
I think the “bed of nails” effect is desensitizing us to the daily revelations about Trump. We should not let it. This is a thousand times worse than Watergate. This is probably the biggest scandal in American history. The most dictator-like president is working for the Russians. It seems so outlandish that I think we have a hard time truly accepting it. I think we’re all actually desensitized so much to Trump’s fuckups that we don’t understand how profound this is. People should hang for this. This is not hyperbole. We’ve killed people for collaborating with Soviet intelligence at much lower levels. Do not succumb to outrage fatigue. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/10 "2017-02-15T06:49:56Z")
I don’t think we have, actually, not since the Rosenbergs. I am frequently impressed with the intelligence and calm judgement of Josh Marshall of _Talking Points Memo_. Most recently, he posted the following, which I urge upon fellow Dopers. **Flynn Doesn’t Matter. This Is About Trump** [http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/flynn-doesn-t-matter-this-is-about-trump](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/flynn-doesn-t-matter-this-is-about-trump) Succinct and clarifying. And mercifully brief. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/11 "2017-02-15T12:05:22Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > Thanks Comey… The 2016 election - where the KGB, the KKK and the FBI were all supporting the same candidate. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/12 "2017-02-15T12:23:33Z")
[Well](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Yeltsin) turn about is [fair play I suppose](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/us-agents-helped-yeltsin-break-coup-1436470.html). The Bear is having his revenge for having Yeltsin placed over it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/13 "2017-02-15T12:34:52Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I think the “bed of nails” effect is desensitizing us to the daily revelations about Trump. We should not let it. > > This is a thousand times worse than Watergate. This is probably the biggest scandal in American history. The most dictator-like president is working for the Russians. It seems so outlandish that I think we have a hard time truly accepting it. I think we’re all actually desensitized so much to Trump’s fuckups that we don’t understand how profound this is. > > People should hang for this. This is not hyperbole. We’ve killed people for collaborating with Soviet intelligence at much lower levels. > > Do not succumb to outrage fatigue. I entirely agree. But- there are maybe 25% of the electorate that still thinks Hillary’s emails were worse and that Cheeto can do no wrong. The question is: will Republicans in Congress put country in front of party and get to the bottom of this, following wherever in leads? I hope and pray that if the shoe was on the other foot, Democrats would do the right thing. Mike Pence got the biggest gift of his life, being presented thus far as completely in the dark. He’s going to get the presidency because of the fact that he was outside the inner circle. I don’t think this administration is going to last until Memorial Day. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/14 "2017-02-15T12:45:20Z")
Will William Henry Harrison’s record be finally broken? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/15 "2017-02-15T13:10:40Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Will William Henry Harrison’s record be finally broken? He’s only got a few days. WHH lasted March 4 - April 4, 1841. ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/16 "2017-02-15T16:32:58Z")
Before we get too excited, there are a few caveats in the article: > [@](#): > > The intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to influence the election. > > The officials interviewed in recent weeks said that, so far, they had seen no evidence of such cooperation. > [@](#): > > Several of Mr. Trump’s associates, like Mr. Manafort, have done business in Russia. And it is not unusual for American businessmen to come in contact with foreign intelligence officials, sometimes unwittingly, in countries like Russia and Ukraine, where the spy services are deeply embedded in society. Law enforcement officials did not say to what extent the contacts might have been about business. So, I still think there might need to be more of a smoking gun to prevent the Republicans who control the legislative branch from burying it. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/17 "2017-02-15T19:55:09Z")
> [@jshore](#): > > So, I still think there might need to be more of a smoking gun to prevent the Republicans who control the legislative branch from burying it. I agree that in the end this may actually lead to anything, but I don’t think its something the Republicans can ignore. If there is anything we have learned about Americans, particularly Republican voters, is that they don’t handle subtlety well. If your point takes more than a 15 word sound bite to explain people aren’t going to pay attention. “Trump campaign staff talked to Senior Russian Intelligence Officials during the campaign” Fits into a nice easy narrative. “Trump campaign staff talked with high level Russians operatives but it isn’t clear that they knew that they were intelligence operatives at the time, and they were just discussing general business since they have Russian ties but not any ties that was a conflict of interest and t, even though the Russians did try to assist Clinton, there is no evidence that they did so under the direction or in coordination with Trump campaign” Doesn’t grab attention the same way. Hard core Trumpites won’t care, and educated conservatives like Bricker may be able to work through the rationale and decide that despite a bit of smoke there is no fire but I think run of the mill Republicans aren’t going to like the idea of their president under the thumb of a foreign power (especially a commie one) and are going to ask that their representatives to look into it. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/18 "2017-02-15T20:00:15Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Hard core Trumpites won’t care, but I think run of the mill Republicans aren’t going to like the idea of their president under the thumb of a foreign power (especially a commie one) and are going to ask that their representatives to look into it. IOKIARSULOTR “It’s OK If A Republican Sells Us Out To Russia” ---
**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:** [February 15, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/19 "2017-02-15T20:02:23Z")
> [@jshore](#): > > Before we get too excited, there are a few caveats in the article: > > So, I still think there might need to be more of a smoking gun to prevent the Republicans who control the legislative branch from burying it. One article I read seemed to indicate that the “there have been communications” statement is based on logs of calls being made. The calls themselves were not intercepted. There’s no record of what was actually said. As such, it would be impossible for anyone to state, definitively, that there was collusion. My guess would be that the leaks have been put out there to give the NSA more time to search through transcripts and see if they can find a smoking gun, before Trump can replace their boss with someone who will try to shut down the investigation. They’re probably also hoping that the tax records will be investigated. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874/20 "2017-02-15T20:51:52Z")
Funny how we didn’t hear anything about this investigation until several months after the election, but Hillary’s emails were bantered all over the place. Not a whiff. Just a stink to high heaven. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-campaign-aides-had-repeated-contacts-with-russian-intelligence/779874.md?page=2)