Support NeoGAF

[B-Dubs]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...ac8b446820a_story.html?utm_term=.167f1311b367

Jared Kushner and Russia's ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump's transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports.

Ambassador Sergei Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, then President-elect Trump's son-in-law and confidant, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications.

The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser.

The White House disclosed the fact of the meeting only in March, playing down its significance. But people familiar with the matter say the FBI now considers the encounter, as well as another meeting Kushner had with a Russian banker, to be of investigative interest.

Kislyak reportedly was taken aback by the suggestion of allowing an American to use Russian communications gear at its embassy or consulate — a proposal that would have carried security risks for Moscow as well as the Trump team.

The FBI closely monitors the communications of Russian officials in the United States, and maintains near-constant surveillance of its diplomatic facilities. The National Security Agency monitors the communications of Russian officials overseas.

Current and former U.S. intelligence officials said that though Russian diplomats have secure means of communicating with Moscow, Kushner's apparent request for access to such channels was extraordinary.

”How would he trust that the Russians wouldn't leak it on their side?" said one former senior intelligence official. The FBI would know that a Trump transition official was going in and out of the embassy, which would cause ”a great deal" of concern, he added. The entire idea, he said, ”seems extremely naïve or absolutely crazy."

The discussion of a secret channel adds to a broader pattern of efforts by Trump's closest advisors to obscure their contacts with Russian counterparts. Trump's first national security adviser, Flynn, was forced to resign after a series of false statements about his conversations with Kislyak. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from matters related to the Russia investigation after it was revealed that he had failed to disclose his own meetings with Kislyak when asked during congressional testimony about any contact with Russians.

 

[Zophar]

Holy shit.

 

[Beer Monkey]

Late scoop for a long weekend.

Fuck Kushner.

Edit: MSNBC covering it now.

 

[danm999]

The Orange telephone.

 

[kris.]

Kush and Flynn are beyond fucked.

 

[Leona Lewis]

fake news

Show me any proof that Jared Kushner is even real.

I thought so

 

[Vincent Alexander]

Uuuuuuummmmmmmmm.....this seems like a big deal. Is this a big deal? My nipples are hard, so this must be a big deal.

 

[Bleepey]

How much proof do you need.

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

Isn't this old? I remember hearing this last week... Or was that speculation last week and this is now stating that it actually happened?

 

[Septimus Prime]

Secret channel used only for the up-and-up. Makes sense?

 

[F0rneus]

Kushner and Trump need to die in prison. Traitors.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

Lock 'em up!

 

[slit]

Yep saw that pop up in my feed. Absolutely disgusting! A lot of people though Kushner was wanted more as a witness by the FBI. This takes the roof off of that line of thinking.

 

[entremet]

Ivanka's hubby may be in jail for s long time.

 

[jack_package_200]

fake news

Show me any proof that Jared Kushner is even real.

I thought so

We have never even heard the guy speak.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Wow. It just never stops. This administration is tainted, it has to be removed ASAP. God, Republicans are so pathetic.

 

[Dynamite Shikoku]

What the fuck is with that family and Russia

 

[Vectorman]

 

[Tagyhag]

"What's wrong with being friends with Russia? Better than all of us nuking each other isn't?"

That TIME cover makes even more sense now.

 

[Funky Papa]

Kislyak reportedly was taken aback by the suggestion of allowing an American to use Russian communications gear at its embassy or consulate

When you are so fucking brazen that Russian officials think you must be out of your mind.

 

[platakul]

What the fuck is with that family and Russia

$$$$$

 

[Fancy Clown]

Ivanka's hubby may be in jail for s long time.

Cool he can hang out with his dad

 

[PandaPandaPanda]

Kushner and Trump need to die in prison. Traitors.

don't forget ivanka

she doesn't deserve a free pass

 

[shadow_shogun]

Mmmm...Bueno

 

[x24hrs2livex]

Not surprising.

One question though that's semi off topic, I thought Kislyak was expelled by Obama? Why was he allowed back in the country?

 

[FTF]

How much more proof do you need.

ftfy

But seriously, there's got to be enough by now! Keep digging though, keep peeling those layers.

 

[Muffin1611]

Гребаный идиот

 

[Hazzuh]

Is this a crime?

 

[Vincent Alexander]

When you are so fucking brazen that Russian officials think you must be out of your mind.

Lmao. Too true.

Is this a crime?

By itself, no. Combined with all the other shit though, it is bad. It shows intent, and makes it near impossible for Kushner to claim ignorance to his Russian relationships.

 

[wenis]

low level drug dealers are better at concealing illegal activity than this administration. did no one watch the wire?

 

[Syncytia]

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

 

[Feep]

fake news

Show me any proof that Jared Kushner is even real.

I thought so

All liberals are holograms

 

[Zaraki_Kenpachi]

When you are so fucking brazen that Russian officials think you must be out of your mind.

Definitely the most interesting part of the article. I really want to see how Republicans react to this when this was such a bombshell that even Russia was in shock and awe of what was happening.

 

[Permanently A]

Secret channel so libcucks can't interfere and sabotage plans, of course.

 

[Balphon]

It's time for everyone's favorite game show: Treasonous or Stupid?

 

[Trojita]

Yeah, this is REALLY BAD.

 

[The Adder]

Cool he can hang out with his dad

And hopefully his father in law soon after.

 

[Kusagari]

Holy shit.

Even Kislyak was like, "are these fuckers serious?"

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

When is the hearing again or did it already happened.

 

[Funky Papa]

Is this a crime?

Somebody put Ja Rule McCain on the phone.

 

[Lord Frieza]

Also worth noting that it broke a few months ago that Betsy DeVos's brother, who was the founder of Blackwater, was also trying to start a secret channel to the Kremlin, though I'm not sure what became of that since I don't recall much follow up. That very well could be related, he may have been doing this on behalf of, or in conjuncture, with Kushner. No way that's a coincidence

 

[RC0101]

I imagine it will only get worse. So Flynn is talking I assume?

 

[slit]

Yeah, this is REALLY BAD.

I feel like I keep hearing this and then it gets even worse every day.

 

[RumblingRosco]

When you are so fucking brazen that Russian officials think you must be out of your mind.

At some point you have to wonder whether Russian agents were suspicious that the Trump team wasn't setting them up.

Of course, those fears are obviously unfounded.

 

[The Adder]

It's time for everyone's favorite game show: Treasonous or Stupid?

Always the same answer: Yes.

 

[sunshine and gasoline]

It's time for everyone's favorite game show: Treasonous or Stupid?

I vote for both.

 

[Tovarisc]

Isn't this old? I remember hearing this last week... Or was that speculation last week and this is now stating that it actually happened?

I think a lot of this stuff is speculated / assumed by people here on GAF as stories unfold, so when stuff like this is actually revealed /confirmed it feels like old news.

 

[gruenel]

Isn't this old? I remember hearing this last week... Or was that speculation last week and this is now stating that it actually happened?

Yeah I've read about this before.

 

[Kevtones]

Obviously this was just an emergency channel to show they were able to create the secret channel and have no talks on it (further solidifying their non-relationship). This was a massive display of discipline in the mostly patriotically ethical way.


This is further proof that Kushner is an American hero.

 

[royalan]

Ok....

It's time to start seeing some people in handcuffs.