I am sickened that day after day these people are allowed to be in the White House, from trump on down, and that nothing is being done by Congress to reverse the course the United States is on. That Kushner has not had his security clearance revoked is just astonishing. That Junior is not barred from the W.HG. is just wrong. There is so much that is bizarre and confusing.
105
I applaud the first rate job the media is doing to keep us informed about the nefarious activities of what I consider to be an illegitimate administration.
109
Now it turns out that what was fake wasn’t the news but the Trump denials, that the truly scandalous emails were in the Trumps’ own servers and that the person who may have committed a felony is actually Donald J. Trump Jr.
59
“This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump.” The key word in this email message is “PART” of Russia support for Trump, which begs the question “what other part[s] do we not know about
71
It's easy to see how this can happen. The Republicans treat the Democrats like they are criminals. The Russians are the informants. Not entirely clean themselves, but useful.
14
Trump could still pardon Flynn, Kushner etc. That would be fun to watch.
16
As someone who held a TS-SCI security clearance for 30 years and had first-hand knowledge of employment dismissals and denials of clearances for violations of the rules involving same, I'm wondering now if the precedent being set by allowing Kushner to retain his clearance won't give individuals legal cause to try to reverse unfavorable decisions that prevented them from getting one. I've known of individuals who were denied access and/or lost their jobs/were denied jobs for doing far less than what Kushner did. This is a travesty that opens the door to a number of unfavorable outcomes. Begs the question - why are we treating outright criminals with kid gloves?
80
Kushner's "leaving early" and Manafort's preoccupation with his cell phone sure seem to create plausible deniability of any realization that, say, a flash drive changed hands during the meeting.
39
Flynn
Page
Manafort
Trump Junior
Kushner
Batter up!
Page
Manafort
Trump Junior
Kushner
Batter up!
30
Kushner's role as adviser to the president is taking on the specter of self-preservation. It feels like the opening act of a Shakespearean tragedy.
17
Trump has been dirty for years so why would he change and he has sucked his family into his drama.
68
Frankly, lacking any previous, government, diplomatic, military or intelligence experience one wonders what possible use a security clearance would be for Kushner. He even lacks the sense not to lie on the application. Yank it.
84
Personally, the more the Times' editorialists hate Trump and his family, the fonder I grow of them. I'm sick of hating stuff. It's such a downer.
13
Let's stop pretending that he didn't get what he wanted. That the Russian lawyer discussed adoptions. And that Trump didn't know. In fact, he was probably on speakerphone and Mueller likely has the recording.
It's go time. And a whole bunch of rich, treasonous thugs and creeps are going to be tried for it.
It's go time. And a whole bunch of rich, treasonous thugs and creeps are going to be tried for it.
48
Kristof is right. Get past Trump Jr. and go after the bigger problems. It is clear that the Trump team broke the law. The GOP has nothing to lose by going after Trump.
43
So if Trump and his republican congress get away with this I can see future elections involving increased spying and dirty tricks involving China, Russia, Mexico, Canada, whoever want favors from the next prez. Democrats must be tired of playing by the rules and their opponents doing anything to win.
25
Anyone else share my opinion that one reason Trump fired Comey was because he had documented these Kushner shenanigans?
34
Like it would otherwise okay if Kushner colluded with some well connected D.C. PR firm or Superpac to win. Politics can be as dirty as it can be so long as it's strictly American dirt, is what I take away from this. So fault Trump for not living up to his America First pledge and shut up about Russia.
5
I do not believe that this was a nothing meeting as Donald Jr. says. In fact why should we believe anything he says about a meeting he's desperately trying to downplay. Does anyone believe that a high powered Russian attorney, one described in the email string as an agent of the Russian Government, would fly from Moscow to NYC to meet with the Trump campaign and deliver a 20 minute dud. There is no way that this meeting was not helpful to the Trump campaign.
80
Where are our leaders calling for resignations? Why aren't our best and fairest Republicans not putting country over power? It's as if we are watching animals escape from the zoo, but there are no zookeepers to be found. We are on our own. Gulp.
68
Hey are letting Mueller do the lifting, and ultimate damage.
Remember all those Fox and Limbaugh fans? They will not believe it until Mueller's work finished.
But the security clearance for Kushner: I bet the next FBI director will yank it, if Kushner not gone by then.
Remember all those Fox and Limbaugh fans? They will not believe it until Mueller's work finished.
But the security clearance for Kushner: I bet the next FBI director will yank it, if Kushner not gone by then.
17
The Donald trumpets family. So let's review: Jared Kushner's father, Charles, is an ex-convict for having committed "18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations." (NYTimes 2005) Despite his billions, Charles Kushner served 14 months in the Big House, much to the credit of prosecutor Chris Christie's at his finest moment. Fast forward to 2017 and Jared-the-son would do payback when his father-in-law "won" the presidency. What else did he do?
The apple. The tree.
The apple. The tree.
59
Trump and Co are "Nothing Burghers".
26
The person whose security clearance should be revoked is yours.
The undisguised glee with which you reel off this list of circumstantial nonsense eliminates any reason to bother with any of it.
If criminality occurred, no doubt Mueller will find it.
How about this for a plan of action: let Mueller do his job, and then report on what he finds?
And if the best you can do is find an email which YOU say emanated from the Kremlin, or which YOU say amounts to an attempt to establish a "back channel" to the Kremlin - rather than simply establish the usual informal relations with a foreign power - how about keeping it all in perspective, and reporting in a way that accurately reflects the significant - or non-significance - of those statements and/or events, while playing it appropriately in your lineup?
What on earth is wrong with you. Do you not have any idea how ridiculous you sound, how utterly lacking in credibility your reporting on this issue is?
Perhaps you could try covering the news? Which seems to be increasingly absent from your pages? You know - real events? Things like, Yellen claiming there won't be another crisis in our lifetimes even though the consensus view on Wall St. is that the biggest crash in history lies waiting around the corner?
You have forgotten what news is.
The undisguised glee with which you reel off this list of circumstantial nonsense eliminates any reason to bother with any of it.
If criminality occurred, no doubt Mueller will find it.
How about this for a plan of action: let Mueller do his job, and then report on what he finds?
And if the best you can do is find an email which YOU say emanated from the Kremlin, or which YOU say amounts to an attempt to establish a "back channel" to the Kremlin - rather than simply establish the usual informal relations with a foreign power - how about keeping it all in perspective, and reporting in a way that accurately reflects the significant - or non-significance - of those statements and/or events, while playing it appropriately in your lineup?
What on earth is wrong with you. Do you not have any idea how ridiculous you sound, how utterly lacking in credibility your reporting on this issue is?
Perhaps you could try covering the news? Which seems to be increasingly absent from your pages? You know - real events? Things like, Yellen claiming there won't be another crisis in our lifetimes even though the consensus view on Wall St. is that the biggest crash in history lies waiting around the corner?
You have forgotten what news is.
9
We can't wait for Mueller to find criminality. This is security clearance at the highest levels of the government. Let's remember that he conveniently "forgot" to list the meeting on his clearance application. That's either a lie or the height of incompetence. Who doesn't remember that? Since there is evidence that a crime may have been committed, the least the White House should do is revoke his clearance. Mueller's investigation could take months or even years. You do not let someone who may have colluded with a nation hostile to the United States to have security clearance for months or years. What's wrong with you?
13
You remind of the time I drove right through a stop sign even though I was looking right at it. My brain just didn't recognize the sign I was looking at.
26
Um, I believe Mr Kristof's piece is an editorial — to be read as his opinion of current facts, and not to be read as reportage of current facts.
28
Mr Kristof, we're tired of this. this is like a reality series that's long overdue to be finished. Give us a break!
7
What hurts 45 is real, what helps 45 is fake,
6
Shady people in power of the U.S. The Bible teaches and warns us about these type of people.
9
the United States of Embarrassment
25
Oh please some one stand up and insist that
3
You can feel it in the air . . . the trump house of cards is about to fall . Every day more evidence is revealed about the sleazy , perhaps illegal (naturally unethical) behavior of the nasty trump clan . Our marvelous country and its brilliant democratic basis needs to erase this horribly flawed stain we are currently enduring . Haven't they already made enough money ? It's time for our country to heal itself . . . and move on .
29
I am sure Mueller is looking at Manafort's cell phone/text records for the 20 minutes of that meeting Donald, Jr. set up. Minutes that we are told Manafort stayed focused on phone.
16
"Second, explore how Trump Jr.’s attempt at collusion with Russians may relate to the bizarre effort by Kushner to set up a secret communication channel with the Kremlin."
This was just one more bizarre mini-explosion in the murk when it happened. It was reported, people wondered, and then it disappeared into the oncoming blizzard as so many things dt* and his regime do.
I wonder if this will have a far bigger backstory now?
This was just one more bizarre mini-explosion in the murk when it happened. It was reported, people wondered, and then it disappeared into the oncoming blizzard as so many things dt* and his regime do.
I wonder if this will have a far bigger backstory now?
17
The more I hear about Kushner, the more I think it was a terrible mistake for Donald to allow him to marry his daughter.
He should have adopted him. They're soul mates.
He should have adopted him. They're soul mates.
31
I understand that a significant percentage of America is tired of everything Trump--certainly a majority of Time's readership--and thereby distrustful of and angry at Jarad Kushner.
But, I gotta tell ya, America owes this young man a great deal. He checkmated Chris Christie--made sure the Gov was not a part of this administration. Can you imagine saying, "Vice President Christie?" (particularly now)
Hey! Things could always be worse.
I apologize for making light of the current Washington situation; but the same things that make you laugh make you cry. Why not laugh?
But, I gotta tell ya, America owes this young man a great deal. He checkmated Chris Christie--made sure the Gov was not a part of this administration. Can you imagine saying, "Vice President Christie?" (particularly now)
Hey! Things could always be worse.
I apologize for making light of the current Washington situation; but the same things that make you laugh make you cry. Why not laugh?
10
The criminals presently in the White House must pay for their sordid actions. I have a bottle of red Bordeaux, 1996 vintage. I have been waiting for a special occasion to uncork it. The day Trump, his family and assorted cronies are driven from power I will do so. Hopefully, the wine has not turned into vinegar. I have gotten enough vinegar from The Great Leader and his unethical associates to last me the rest of my days.
25
The problem is that we don't know how far this goes. Sessions certainly smells. And Pence may not be as squeaky clean as he pretends. But I hope you get to drink that wine - and soon!
19
The father, the son and the "holy" ghost, are innocent. They were only involved in a business deal. Remember: "The Art of the Deal". In Italian, there is a saying: "to sell fried air". Well, they wanted to find out whether Russia was willing to buy back Alaska. They were expecting trillions of dollars, with a small commission for themselves. The business of America is Business. Trump was elected to further the business interests of big businesses. Except for the busy bodies of the CIA, who spoilt the deal. You cannot FIRE him for that!!!
3
I blame the 46% who did not vote. Now do you believe your vote counts.
42
Precisely!
13
With so many references to Don and Don Jr. and falling apples, trees, etc. - never forget. There's more than one tree in this orchard.
Kushner's father served time in Federal prison, after being convicted of tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering.
Jared learned from a pro.
Kushner's father served time in Federal prison, after being convicted of tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering.
Jared learned from a pro.
47
If the FBI yanks Kushner 's security clearance, it will unravel part of Trump's security blanket.
Tillerson has had to put up with Kushner being imposed on him in functions that should have those of State Department.
Tillerson has had to put up with Kushner being imposed on him in functions that should have those of State Department.
33
Until the Republicans are willing to abandon a sinking ship, nothing will happen to Trump unless he is caught with a live boy or a dead girl, as the saying goes. Even then, I wonder.
26
Some nothing-burger, huh?
21
Trump without Kushner is an old real-estate salesman.
Kushner without Trump is a young real-estate salesman.
How dare you suggest breaking up such a happy family?
Kushner without Trump is a young real-estate salesman.
How dare you suggest breaking up such a happy family?
11
They both make Nixon look like a Boy Scout.
13
Enough unthinking country dwellers voted to tip the Electoral College, violating the wishes of the decent national voters majority. This after listening to a Billionaire parasite tell them we weren't spending enough on the Defense of the USA, while at the same time telling them that his deliberate not contributing to paying anything himself for that critical Defense was "Smart".
27
The Electoral College also conveniently forgot the Founders' intent when adding the EC provision to the Constitution. That is, it is meant as a block if someone who is dangerous to the country has a chance to win the presidency. I wonder if any of them wished they had voted differently now.
14
really the problem here is that the Trump administration may implode too quickly. Better for him to be be badly ensnarled, but still in office in 2020 so we can kick him out. Otherwise Pence ascends to the presidency part-way through Trump's term and gets the benefit of the 'at least he's not Trump' vote in 2020.
23
I'd much rather have that problem.
7
Very good point.
6
Too much power in WH. Scared of what could happen with this fellow.
3
They will probably get away with all this where if we did it we would go to prison. djt always gets away with more things. I laugh at how he is defining what is wrong or right.
6
Kushner has the most to gain by turning state's evidence: he is young enough to still have a life after the federal pen while Trump, Pence, Sessions and Flynn will be very old men when and if they get out. Any indictment needs to go after Trump Sr though or he will just pardon the whole rabble. Trump Jr is also young but would never turn evidence against his father.
15
Jr. & The Russian both say there was not incriminating Clinton evidence was revealed. Both could be lying about the true nature of the meeting. Why do we so blindly believe Junior's version of meeting?
15
The whole Trump family is a criminal organization and needs to be prosecuted.
38
I wonder what the pillow talk is like these days in the Kushner and Trump (Jr.) homes...Hopefully they are not sleeping well and having nightmares with premonitions of incarceration.
18
Trump's ideology is clear:
"I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you."
"I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you."
11
What I'm curious about is who in the administration is leaking this material. Who stands to benefit if Trump and his family go down? The Vice-President perhaps? He already appears to be planning his campaign in 2020 and I suspect the GOP would be quick to support him if they finally decide to ditch Trump. Maybe it's time for a bit more scrutiny of Mike Pence - and his policies.
25
The American people would be the beneficiaries if Trump tanked.
4
No. Pence is staying out of it, doing nothing to support or undermine.
My guess is it is some of the people around Prebius, who know that having to modify security application form once, then Twice, now three times is 3 times more than allowed.
They are patriots who want his security clearance yanked, and want the incompetents out of the White House.
My guess is it is some of the people around Prebius, who know that having to modify security application form once, then Twice, now three times is 3 times more than allowed.
They are patriots who want his security clearance yanked, and want the incompetents out of the White House.
4
What's our biggest threat? Russia hacking? Our media has long been silent on our worse domestic collusion---between our biggest corporations, billionaires, Supreme Court and political parties. This is the takeover of power that truly weakens We the People.
Our own highest court in 2010 Citizens United etc, has undermined our precious democracy worse than any computer hacking from a foreign adversary. It solemnly legalized big money corruption in elections distorting our own Constitution, with the 'free speech' blatant lie.
And Gop actions to suppress votes, and gerrymander to its power advantage are worse for our democracy than any Russian hacking.
These are all like disguised attacks from within, leaving us defenseless, rationalized by lawmakers we elect and by the media who are supposed to inform us. It’s more pernicious than actions of a foreign adversary, because the Court is supposed to PROTECT our rights, not undermine them.
Issue polls show citizen majorities differ from corporations and super rich donors, but we the people have no way of translating our political will into political action. Re health care, campaign finance, jobs, taxes, rules on Wall St, guns, wages, family leave, union membership. All off the table.
Princeton’s Gilens & Page compiled congressional records proving it’s the preferences of the elites that direct our lawmaking, while the citizen majority is ignored.
No media coverage of this vs 24/7 of Russia and Trump.
Our own highest court in 2010 Citizens United etc, has undermined our precious democracy worse than any computer hacking from a foreign adversary. It solemnly legalized big money corruption in elections distorting our own Constitution, with the 'free speech' blatant lie.
And Gop actions to suppress votes, and gerrymander to its power advantage are worse for our democracy than any Russian hacking.
These are all like disguised attacks from within, leaving us defenseless, rationalized by lawmakers we elect and by the media who are supposed to inform us. It’s more pernicious than actions of a foreign adversary, because the Court is supposed to PROTECT our rights, not undermine them.
Issue polls show citizen majorities differ from corporations and super rich donors, but we the people have no way of translating our political will into political action. Re health care, campaign finance, jobs, taxes, rules on Wall St, guns, wages, family leave, union membership. All off the table.
Princeton’s Gilens & Page compiled congressional records proving it’s the preferences of the elites that direct our lawmaking, while the citizen majority is ignored.
No media coverage of this vs 24/7 of Russia and Trump.
21
Yes u are right.the people in this country Will not give. Mr. Trump a change to do anything.the media and the democrats and part of the gop just want to condemned the president and anyone associated with this group.they are not smooth talking policy makers and don't know the ropes around d.c. people give them a chance instead of spending time complaining.stand together .the Russians are thinking we are nuts and they are right too.
Appreciate your concerns but look at Trump's behavior. Who is he putting in government? Is he concerned about the healthcare of his working and middle class supporters or is he concerned more with tax cuts on the the 1 % ($200,000 or 250,000 or more)? Is he pushing for free or reduced college costs for kids?
4
I definitely want to hear more from regular people who have security clearance and what they have gone through to get it. From the comments here, it seems like a lot was overlooked with Kushner and he is continuing to get a pass.
Whatever the re-review process is, it needs to happen ASAP.
Whatever the re-review process is, it needs to happen ASAP.
22
And remove Ivanka from the White House immediately, too (although this will obviously leave the president flailing away on his own).
22
People that voted for Trump should not be suprised by Don Jr, the clueless and Jared, the wise (guy).
Trump, Junior, and Jared will always buy big and then are compelled to sell big. The Russians with money are whales.
The Trump Empire must have whale meat or else .. implosion. If they are lucky, they can show someone holding their debt, that they have some whales nibbling around a hook.
The Trump empire is interested in any and every whale. Period. It's survival.
Trump voters can believe every dream their President feeds them, but it doesn't change the math. The Trump empire is about whales.
All of this Trump stupidicy will make sense to the Trump base when they realize that it has always been about the whales.
Trump, Junior, and Jared will always buy big and then are compelled to sell big. The Russians with money are whales.
The Trump Empire must have whale meat or else .. implosion. If they are lucky, they can show someone holding their debt, that they have some whales nibbling around a hook.
The Trump empire is interested in any and every whale. Period. It's survival.
Trump voters can believe every dream their President feeds them, but it doesn't change the math. The Trump empire is about whales.
All of this Trump stupidicy will make sense to the Trump base when they realize that it has always been about the whales.
11
The Trumps and the Kushners are American oligarchs. They think like the Russians. They are 100% in it for themselves. They are selfish takers, and will cut any corner and circumvent any law to get more - and more.
These people are the worst of us. It is no wonder that they talk admiringly of the Russians. They are jealous of what the Russians can get away with, and how easily they can lie about everything.
The one thing Donald Trump can't do, which Vladimir Putin can, is murder his enemies. Trump is stuck with trying to Twitter them to death.
What a pitiful shame it all is.
These people are the worst of us. It is no wonder that they talk admiringly of the Russians. They are jealous of what the Russians can get away with, and how easily they can lie about everything.
The one thing Donald Trump can't do, which Vladimir Putin can, is murder his enemies. Trump is stuck with trying to Twitter them to death.
What a pitiful shame it all is.
47
Great comment! I think a term that aptly describes the non-giving, non-value-producing takers among the nation's obscenely rich is "parasite". They exist at the expense of their host, and harm the host in the process. The harm people like Trump and Kushner do is immeasurable, and very likely irreparable.
As for other politically active parasites, think of the gambling magnates, the fossil fuel magnates, the pyramid scheme magnates. Betsy DeVos- what good has Amway done for this country? And she has all kinds of plans for reinventing education.
What has happened to the minds of so many otherwise decent Americans to make them so blind to the enormous con they have bought into?
As for other politically active parasites, think of the gambling magnates, the fossil fuel magnates, the pyramid scheme magnates. Betsy DeVos- what good has Amway done for this country? And she has all kinds of plans for reinventing education.
What has happened to the minds of so many otherwise decent Americans to make them so blind to the enormous con they have bought into?
10
In his quote, Kristof omits part of the email to Trump Jr,, that the information to be provided at the meeting, "would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia". Kristof seems to have no interest in how Clinton's dealings with Russia would incriminate her. I suppose that's because the Russians were lying and there was no such evidence and that the entire purpose of the meeting was to lobby the Trump team about US government sanctions against Russia. That's something the Russian lawyer was doing on behalf of her private client and was doing with congressman from both parties. In fact she was in the country on a special visa to defend her client from the sanctions in federal court.
2
The actual purpose of the meeting for the Ruskies is irrelevant. Trump & Co. believed the meeting was about getting campaign dirt from the Russian government, which was helping Trump. Their intent shows a clear interest to conspire with Russia to win the election. Be patient. More is coming.
7
Clinton lost; get over it.
2
It was a dangle. The Russians were seeing how far Trump, Kushner and Manafort would go. They got their answer -- all the way.
5
This scenario is like: The perpetrator goes to robe a bank, but all the cash was transfers and no one was hurt so nothing happened? another nothing burger? Tell it to the judge!
12
Here's an alternate theory: never ascribe to evil intent something which can be equally explained by incompetence. President Trump and his whole crew have exactly zero government experience among them, but they've won the election so now they have to run things. A lot of what Kushner and Trump Jr have done suggests they think they're some kind of slick, high-speed political operators, when all they really are is mediocre businessmen who owe their successes to family money. When a Russian contact wanted a meeting to discuss information damaging to Hillary, they probably just said OK, and the idea that there might be something illegal about it simply never occurred to any of them. Even a lot of the President's words and actions don't suggest criminal intent so much as stupendous ignorance of the way things are done in politics and international relation. Bring back the Experts!
9
So if they were simple naive and illegal acts never occurred to them, why did Trump & Co. deny at least 20 times -- often in fiery rhetoric insisting that such a thing was ridiculous -- that any meeting like this had ever happened? Sorry, John, your theory does not compute,
13
Ignorance of the law is no excuse, even if it's stupendous ignorance.
3
Doesn't matter. They are security risks whether intentionally dishonest or just dumb.
Don't forget, people cannot even get Top Secret clearance if they have had speeding tickets, or bounce checks, etc.
Don't forget, people cannot even get Top Secret clearance if they have had speeding tickets, or bounce checks, etc.
13
If Russian officials had told Clinton that they had incriminating evidence against Trump, she would have said "I love it" and so would you. The duplicity here is transparent and the claims of criminal wrongdoing are not credible.
5
She would never have said "I love it." Way too intelligent.
And of course they would never have approached her in the first place. Clinton was a supporter of Russian protests against the Putin regime. Way too ethical.
And of course they would never have approached her in the first place. Clinton was a supporter of Russian protests against the Putin regime. Way too ethical.
14
Goodness, she was under investigation for e-mails, she was under investigation regarding fundraising and she was under investigation regarding Benghazi. Sure she wasn't convicted in these matter, but Trump hasn't been convicted either. All you've got is bias. Most folks who've been under investigation 3 times are not "too ethical." This applies to both Trump and Clinton. Your bias clouds your judgment.
1
Excuse me, but did you figure out a way to insert yourself into Hillary's brain? I think not, stating what you think Hillary may have done has no place here. The Russians did not approach Hillary, besides hating her, because they knew she would refer the contact to the proper authorities. You have been so thoroughly brain washed with Hillary hate that you fill in the script mindlessly. This right wing news propaganda machine is a complete coup of our democracy.
19
As we call Republican senators to tell them we do NOT want this so-called health care bill, we should also be telling them that it is high time to stop backing and defending this sham of an administration. They should be Demanding the removal of security clearances, at a Minimum.
It is all to painfully obvious that the Republicans aren't going to do what they know is right without a massive push from the citizens of this once great nation. We should remind them of the significance of Bastille Day, which is tomorrow. (Very ironic that the president is in Paris for the celebrations.)
It is all to painfully obvious that the Republicans aren't going to do what they know is right without a massive push from the citizens of this once great nation. We should remind them of the significance of Bastille Day, which is tomorrow. (Very ironic that the president is in Paris for the celebrations.)
14
Just how many lies does it require to remove a high level security clearance?
Kushner at one point was vetting agenda items for the National Security Council. How does that work with this Russian collusion?
One of Trump's earliest directives was a lifetime ban on administration officials working on behalf of a foreign government or political party. So is Kushner included in this?
Where is McMaster, the National Security Adviser? Earlier he defended the back channel communication set up that Kushner tried to create with the Russians, despite its obvious complete compromise of national security and its implication that illegal activities were involved since Kushner was going to a ridiculous length to cut out normal intelligence agencies and law enforcement oversight.
Kushner has been called the shadow secretary of state or defense. He whispers in the president's ears and causes various political downfalls among the professional staff.
Some of these people need to go to jail. Kushner is a good candidate.
Kushner at one point was vetting agenda items for the National Security Council. How does that work with this Russian collusion?
One of Trump's earliest directives was a lifetime ban on administration officials working on behalf of a foreign government or political party. So is Kushner included in this?
Where is McMaster, the National Security Adviser? Earlier he defended the back channel communication set up that Kushner tried to create with the Russians, despite its obvious complete compromise of national security and its implication that illegal activities were involved since Kushner was going to a ridiculous length to cut out normal intelligence agencies and law enforcement oversight.
Kushner has been called the shadow secretary of state or defense. He whispers in the president's ears and causes various political downfalls among the professional staff.
Some of these people need to go to jail. Kushner is a good candidate.
20
Looks to me as if we had better start looking more deeply into trump's (few) high-level appointees to see what they may not have disclosed as Kushner, Manafort et al. "forgot" to.
10
Funny how they all seem to have forgotten the same meetings.
8
the trump-kushner mantra has always been "me, me, me "
To think that our national security and our future are in the hands of two morally bankrupt and marginally intelligent beings is frightening. The Republican party's complicity in this nightmare will be its (or our) undoing
To think that our national security and our future are in the hands of two morally bankrupt and marginally intelligent beings is frightening. The Republican party's complicity in this nightmare will be its (or our) undoing
18
The odious, illegitimate president has always used what psychologists call Projection or Transference. What he says about Hillary - the emails, illegal contributions, friendliness with foreign countries, etc. - all point back to him and his family's greedy, selfish, myopic intentions. SAD!
22
Yes read books on sociopathic behavior it is easy to identify.
7
So, When is something actually going to be done about the corruption? We're all so weary of living in Westeros.
16
Take away his security clearances now. He is a traitor and a lair and a risk to our national security
15
LINDA
EXPLAIN WHY, PLEASE.
EXPLAIN WHY, PLEASE.
1
Thing I fear the most is from all the Trump and Kushner real estate dealings and efforts in Russia, are they in the hole fiscally to the point that Russia has been dictating all the actions, decisions and policies since Trump became a serious candidate?
Having a White House leveraged financially and essentially vulnerable to blackmail (would make Flynn concern the "nothingburger") by your main adversary is scarier than any political novel I've read and a scenario I struggle to comprehend
Having a White House leveraged financially and essentially vulnerable to blackmail (would make Flynn concern the "nothingburger") by your main adversary is scarier than any political novel I've read and a scenario I struggle to comprehend
11
IGCURRALL
LET US NOT SPIN FANTASIES.
LET US NOT SPIN FANTASIES.
1
The Russians have won their propaganda battle.
If Trump wants to stay alive, he needs to convene the Dems and Repubs and announce that he is ordering the FBI New York office (who has it in for Hillary)
to investigate ALL interactions between foreign reps and US politicians. So everyone goes down...Trump, Hillary, Bill, Obama, Holder, Lynch, Comey. You can also incude the WaPO, NYT, Politico, Huffington, Breitbart, Fox, MSNBC, and all other MSM in the mix. Drain the swamp.
Drain the swamp please, DRAIN the SWAMP.
If Trump wants to stay alive, he needs to convene the Dems and Repubs and announce that he is ordering the FBI New York office (who has it in for Hillary)
to investigate ALL interactions between foreign reps and US politicians. So everyone goes down...Trump, Hillary, Bill, Obama, Holder, Lynch, Comey. You can also incude the WaPO, NYT, Politico, Huffington, Breitbart, Fox, MSNBC, and all other MSM in the mix. Drain the swamp.
Drain the swamp please, DRAIN the SWAMP.
3
Only Trump can take away Kushner's security clearance, which means that probably won't happen anytime soon.
I wish I could believe that laws and constitutional amendments will be put into place after these frauds leave D.C. to prevent such unashamed familial spoils system and all of its associated evils from ever happening again. But how likely is that, given the reluctance of the GOP Congress to admit there's even a problem in the first place?
The constant smirk on Kushner's face enrages me every time I see it. It's the look of a smartaleck who thinks he's pulled a fast one over the rest of us, and it's the look of someone who believes he is above the rules, and the law.
This man is just the tip of the gigantic iceberg that is the sleaze of Trump, Inc. But we have to start somewhere to muck out this stable, and Kushner will more than suffice -- for now.
I wish I could believe that laws and constitutional amendments will be put into place after these frauds leave D.C. to prevent such unashamed familial spoils system and all of its associated evils from ever happening again. But how likely is that, given the reluctance of the GOP Congress to admit there's even a problem in the first place?
The constant smirk on Kushner's face enrages me every time I see it. It's the look of a smartaleck who thinks he's pulled a fast one over the rest of us, and it's the look of someone who believes he is above the rules, and the law.
This man is just the tip of the gigantic iceberg that is the sleaze of Trump, Inc. But we have to start somewhere to muck out this stable, and Kushner will more than suffice -- for now.
18
Out of curiosity: Does anyone recall whether any of the articles about the odd Alfa Bank/Trump server DNS lookups ever specified the rate of lookups in June 2016 around the times at which the Trump, Jr. meeting was being arranged and took place?
9
PLEASE investigate for the sake of our Elections...Quote: (from an article read on June 9th, 2017 while everyone was riveted on Mr. Comey's testimony.) "Authorities haven't described the report or named the news outlet, but the Justice Department announced Ms. Winner's arrest Monday as The Intercept reported it had obtained a classified National Security Agency report suggesting Russian hackers attacked a U.S. voting software supplier before last year's election."
Jailed, was a former Air Force linguist with top secret clearance working as a government contractor in Augusta. I've been waiting for news of this software supplier...and hoping this hacked election (by the Russians...or,) would find a much more important platform than a constant focus on the sick, failed, shameful Trump Family Circus Act.
For all the people... and so many states directly affected, and so much at stake for Democratic process, we CANNOT wait for, nor trust Congress to solve this problem.
May Journalists continue to search for the 'threads which connect'...and in doing so... bring forth truth for which the people may rally to action.
Jailed, was a former Air Force linguist with top secret clearance working as a government contractor in Augusta. I've been waiting for news of this software supplier...and hoping this hacked election (by the Russians...or,) would find a much more important platform than a constant focus on the sick, failed, shameful Trump Family Circus Act.
For all the people... and so many states directly affected, and so much at stake for Democratic process, we CANNOT wait for, nor trust Congress to solve this problem.
May Journalists continue to search for the 'threads which connect'...and in doing so... bring forth truth for which the people may rally to action.
8
Nicholas Kristof is having a frenzy blowing up the incident of the supposed information about Hillary that some individual had indicated was available during the campaign. The fact that some of the Trump campaign personnel wanted to find out if there was any truth to the rumor appears to assume the magnitude of an ax murder to Mr. Kristof. Actually the matter was dropped on investigation. The campaign personnel might otherwise have been accused of not checking up on political rumors that they should have known about and brought to the public's attention. There was no ax murder Mr. Kristof so calm down and find out, if you can, what Hillary and Podesta were doing making politics and money working in Russia's front doorstep.
It was so upright for Kushner and Junior to volunteer to cooperate with the investigation. I can't wait to hear their testimony, under oath!
3
" Volunteer"?!!!! Ha! That was just verbiage of people who knew they were going to be called to give accounts.
3
Remember Jeff Sessions' testimony under oath?
Neither do I. All I remember is how much he couldn't remember. I suspect the same thing will happen here. Offering to testify and actually doing so are two different things.
Neither do I. All I remember is how much he couldn't remember. I suspect the same thing will happen here. Offering to testify and actually doing so are two different things.
4
How can Trump be removed from office without giving the presidency to a more dangerous and generally evil man, Vice President Mike Pence? If Trump is impeached, the Vice President becomes POTUS. If Trump resigns does the vice president automatically become president? If Trump is convicted of a major felony and sent to prison is Pence still the next legal replacement? Pence is the answer to the prayers of all Congressional Republicans. There are a lot of crossed fingers up on the Hill. Pence can do much more damage to the humanistic soul of America because, unlike Trump, he is intelligent, well-spoken and an actual statesman. He is capable of making the hateful Conservative Agenda of the Republican right-wing, the Law of the Land.
They must both be replaced and all the family members must be sent back to Trump Tower to weep and re-count their stolen gold.
How can we get rid of these guys?
They must both be replaced and all the family members must be sent back to Trump Tower to weep and re-count their stolen gold.
How can we get rid of these guys?
8
We get rid of them one at a time.
2
These silver spoon NYC real estate scoundrels have no respect for the law. All they sought to do was win at all costs. The Trumps were very clear that they were going to run this country like their family business. So that means lie and con your way to the top, ignore the law and blame the press for reporting facts and blame the opposition party that has zero power in D.C. Jr and Kushner must face consequences. And I'm not sitting hear waiting for the GOP to stand up for the USA, so this country turns its lonely eyes to Robert Mueller. Only he can restore credibility to the rule of law
12
Muller is more dishonest that anyone too.he wants the glory
1
Nick wrote:
In 1960, the Kremlin made a similar offer to support the candidacy of John F. Kennedy against Richard Nixon, but the Kennedy campaign rebuffed it. Likewise, when the Al Gore campaign in 2000 received confidential materials relating to the George W. Bush campaign, it called the F.B.I.
I wish he had provided links to articles about those two instances.
In 1960, the Kremlin made a similar offer to support the candidacy of John F. Kennedy against Richard Nixon, but the Kennedy campaign rebuffed it. Likewise, when the Al Gore campaign in 2000 received confidential materials relating to the George W. Bush campaign, it called the F.B.I.
I wish he had provided links to articles about those two instances.
2
To put things into context for Americans, and mainly Trump supporters, I am Canadian and every time I travel to the US, I have to fill out a Customs Declaration form. One of the questions on the form ask: The primary purpose of this trip is business?...Yes or No. If I was to lie knowingly on the form and was discovered after the fact, I most likely will be detained by US Customs and Border Protection. But apparently, nothing happens when Kushner, working at the highest level of US government, knowingly lie on a security clearance questionnaire about meeting with a 'representative' of a hostile foreign power.
Banana republic indeed!
Banana republic indeed!
18
Mr. Kristof or anyone else can call for pulling Kushner's clearance, but DJT cannot let it happen. If it does, it will be momentous and the house of cards will fall.
8
I have had jobs that required low level security clearances. If I even said hi to a Russian national in a bar I would have been fired and in trouble.
15
And to think, Bill Clinton even confessed to a Russian national T.V. audience that he prefers boxers to briefs...
2
In the murky world of espionage with adversaries, how often is the evidence for collusion better? Yet we would act on anyone else who established this many links to the Russians, this many hints about things to come, this many examples of micro-targeting, this many attempts to establish clandestine communications channels with an adversary....
The simplest explanation is that from at least 2015, the Trumps were listening to the Russian offers of help in his presidential run. The Russians provided substantial aid, including providing Trump's campaign manager (for a while), money to Trump (see the bizarre purchase of a useless property from Trump to provide him with a much needed infusion of cash), hacking, paid trolls, fake news, ....
Did the Russians expect Trump to win? Maybe not--but they knew his run would be massively destabilizing, just like Trump's utterly bogus claims about Obama's legitimacy was destabilizing. A destabilized adversary is much less likely to be able to effectively resist Russian acts like grabbing the Crimea, or starting a war in the Ukraine. The self-destruction of our State Department was probably just an additional bonus.
We now have a political party and a fake news organization who prefer Treason and Putin to working with Democrats or dealing with facts. To the Russians, Trump's victory is just a bonus, appreciated, but unexpected.
The simplest explanation is that from at least 2015, the Trumps were listening to the Russian offers of help in his presidential run. The Russians provided substantial aid, including providing Trump's campaign manager (for a while), money to Trump (see the bizarre purchase of a useless property from Trump to provide him with a much needed infusion of cash), hacking, paid trolls, fake news, ....
Did the Russians expect Trump to win? Maybe not--but they knew his run would be massively destabilizing, just like Trump's utterly bogus claims about Obama's legitimacy was destabilizing. A destabilized adversary is much less likely to be able to effectively resist Russian acts like grabbing the Crimea, or starting a war in the Ukraine. The self-destruction of our State Department was probably just an additional bonus.
We now have a political party and a fake news organization who prefer Treason and Putin to working with Democrats or dealing with facts. To the Russians, Trump's victory is just a bonus, appreciated, but unexpected.
30
You know, I can buy into the "Lock her up!" mantra if only they would change the gender.
11
Doesn't it seem passing strange that the emails to Jr. laid out a perfect indictment of collusion requiring only Jr.'s acquiesce. All the hot button words were in there. It's almost as though someone who had crafted that email might have been hoping that Jr. would respond in the affirmative to the offer, thereby stupidly putting his neck in the noose so nicely presented to him. That incoming email was simply too artfully crafted to accomplish exactly what it did, to tie Jr. to collusion with eh Russian government.
It is not entirely unreasonable to believe that in a nation of chess players someone thought that having POTUS' son admit in writing to a willingness to collude might be an awfully nice card to have in the hole. They are likely quite amazed that there exists any copy other than the one in its KGB file, since it is fairly stupid for anyone to have left copies of such incriminating evidence on their own servers. Thinking that Jr. would have destroyed his copies of those emails, they were free to play their card when it suited their interests. The fact that he was dense enough to leave extant a copy of these emails was likely something they did not consider.
They made a noose for him, he dutifully placed it around his own neck, and then released the trap door.
Likely the Kremlin is finding out, just as the American public is, that apparently you don't have to be that quick on your feet to make money in the New York real estate world. Whodda thunk?
It is not entirely unreasonable to believe that in a nation of chess players someone thought that having POTUS' son admit in writing to a willingness to collude might be an awfully nice card to have in the hole. They are likely quite amazed that there exists any copy other than the one in its KGB file, since it is fairly stupid for anyone to have left copies of such incriminating evidence on their own servers. Thinking that Jr. would have destroyed his copies of those emails, they were free to play their card when it suited their interests. The fact that he was dense enough to leave extant a copy of these emails was likely something they did not consider.
They made a noose for him, he dutifully placed it around his own neck, and then released the trap door.
Likely the Kremlin is finding out, just as the American public is, that apparently you don't have to be that quick on your feet to make money in the New York real estate world. Whodda thunk?
12
Whoever wants to work in government these days is crazy and needs to have their head examined.
4
Actually, they need to be wiling to serve the United States interests and not their own.
As do most government employees.
However, if you decide to meet with people who state they are working for the Russian government, then you need to accept the consequences.
As do most government employees.
However, if you decide to meet with people who state they are working for the Russian government, then you need to accept the consequences.
7
The people working for Secret Service, FBI, EPA despite attempts to shut them down, CDC, and countless other organizations are holding up so much of our public safety, despite attempts to hinder that.
Especially now, we owe them much.
Especially now, we owe them much.
5
Soliciting anything of value from a foreign source for use in a U S election is a crime.
Donnie Jr received an offer of opposition information about HRC for use in the 2016 election, and the source was identified as Russian (the Russian attorney Veselnitskaya, passing along information from other Russians).
Donnie Jr accepted the offer in an email in which he agreed to a face to face meeting at Trump Tower.
Donnie Jr acted to show confirmation of his acceptance by inviting Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort to join him in the meeting.
All three did go to the meeting.
That they got nothing (according to Donnie Jr's assertion, which may or may not be true) is legally IRRELEVANT. Donnie Jr accepted an offer of campaign "dirt" for use in a US election, knowing it was being offered by a Russian source. That is ILLEGAL. Period.
Parenthetically, if YOU were offered drugs for small money if you showed up at a street corner at midnight, if you sent back an agreement to show to do the deal, and you actually showed up there, the cops would have a case against you for soliciting the purchase of drugs. Same if the deal were for sex. (How many "gotcha" tv shows have covered exactly that scenario, using supposed [fictional] underage girls?) Or stolen goods.
Looks to me like Donnie Jr should get arrested as a common criminal. Live on reality tv.
Donnie Jr received an offer of opposition information about HRC for use in the 2016 election, and the source was identified as Russian (the Russian attorney Veselnitskaya, passing along information from other Russians).
Donnie Jr accepted the offer in an email in which he agreed to a face to face meeting at Trump Tower.
Donnie Jr acted to show confirmation of his acceptance by inviting Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort to join him in the meeting.
All three did go to the meeting.
That they got nothing (according to Donnie Jr's assertion, which may or may not be true) is legally IRRELEVANT. Donnie Jr accepted an offer of campaign "dirt" for use in a US election, knowing it was being offered by a Russian source. That is ILLEGAL. Period.
Parenthetically, if YOU were offered drugs for small money if you showed up at a street corner at midnight, if you sent back an agreement to show to do the deal, and you actually showed up there, the cops would have a case against you for soliciting the purchase of drugs. Same if the deal were for sex. (How many "gotcha" tv shows have covered exactly that scenario, using supposed [fictional] underage girls?) Or stolen goods.
Looks to me like Donnie Jr should get arrested as a common criminal. Live on reality tv.
15
Would that apply to the media as well? Could the media use information it had gained from a foreign source in its news reporting to influence the outcome of an election?
Whenever the media report "anonymous sources," how are we sure these aren't coming from some Kremlin operation that has the White House bugged to the hilt?
Whenever the media report "anonymous sources," how are we sure these aren't coming from some Kremlin operation that has the White House bugged to the hilt?
It is easy to tell the difference... What helps 45 is fake, what hurts 45 is real.
Two slum lord families representing USA to the world.
Perhaps time for Jared to contact his dad about handling life locked up!
Perhaps time for Jared to contact his dad about handling life locked up!
13
What about the report that a server in Trump Tower the Russian Alfa Bank???
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/10/was_...
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/10/was_...
1
Somewhere there are memo's or recordings of these meetings...Find them!
4
The Russian's plan: President Trump would be easier to sabotage than President Clinton. Americans running in circles and tripping over their own feet and don't know what to think. In Russia, they don't have that problem. Putin tells them what to think and that's what they do. That's called the "consent of the governed" over there. Americans are free to reject the truth, call it fake, and enjoy moonshine and government subsidized opioids and call it patriotism. It's not getting better, anytime soon, is it?
7
The other thing we know about Kushner is that it is ALL about the money. Kushner, as well as Trump, are part of that entitled, greedy, grasping, obnoxious strata of society for whom one's moral superiority, indeed, one's very value as a human being, is based upon one's net worth. The sources of that worth are irrelevant, it is all about "How much?" Kushner desperately needs a bailout for his underwater ownership of 666 Fifth Avenue and does not care where it comes from - Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, anywhere really, because if he doesn't get it, 666 Fifth Avenue goes under and the entire world will know what a stupid, callow, ignorant spoiled little rich baby he really is.
15
Even if you accept every lame excuse this Grifter Cult spews out - he's young, naive, not a politician, unsophisticated in politics, etc., - their ignorance and idiocy has already helped Russia achieve its main objectives. We are a divided, angry, sinking and impotent nation.
The revocation of the crown prince's security clearance should have been done yesterday.
The revocation of the crown prince's security clearance should have been done yesterday.
15
And meantime, this perhaps temporary government does huge damage daily.
Things skip past us in the midst of this madness. For example, there's an orchestrated fight against solar power, with the Koch Brothers intimately involved. There was a column on this in yesterday's NY Times. What a nothing story...except, well no, it isn't is it?
People are keeping lists of all the things of this nature, from the Supreme Court oddball appointment to dropping out of the Paris Accord to Trump's hotel deal in Azerbaijan with ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard to trying to dump the ACA against the wishes of more than 2/3 of Americans. The list is already very, very long and disastrous. How can we erase this damage that an illegitimate government has done and is doing?
One way is to keep in mind that clearing house isn't clearing house at all if we get stuck with right-wing radicals like DeVoss and Perry and Pruit and you name it---that is not a solution. These are the people we'd normally be fighting. And our new president, Mr Pence--we need to be emphasizing right now who he is.
Pence? No, not a good ending. No! Not elected--just a right-wing political religious wacko leftover of an illegitimate government. Box him in now!
Things skip past us in the midst of this madness. For example, there's an orchestrated fight against solar power, with the Koch Brothers intimately involved. There was a column on this in yesterday's NY Times. What a nothing story...except, well no, it isn't is it?
People are keeping lists of all the things of this nature, from the Supreme Court oddball appointment to dropping out of the Paris Accord to Trump's hotel deal in Azerbaijan with ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard to trying to dump the ACA against the wishes of more than 2/3 of Americans. The list is already very, very long and disastrous. How can we erase this damage that an illegitimate government has done and is doing?
One way is to keep in mind that clearing house isn't clearing house at all if we get stuck with right-wing radicals like DeVoss and Perry and Pruit and you name it---that is not a solution. These are the people we'd normally be fighting. And our new president, Mr Pence--we need to be emphasizing right now who he is.
Pence? No, not a good ending. No! Not elected--just a right-wing political religious wacko leftover of an illegitimate government. Box him in now!
15
Apparently the apple falls right under the tree. Kushner's father is a convicted felon and given Jared's complicity in seeking Russian aid in sabotaging the Clinton campaign, the only way he can get out of this is to be pardoned by his father-in-law. By that time, his father-in-law may no longer be in office.
12
Een if I believed it, which I do not, the "defense" that Kushner, Trumps Jr. and Sr. et al are too uninformed and naïve to have realized this wasn't okay, is one I find extremely unreassuring.
6
Trump is a true Manchurian candidate. Hillary was right to call him a puppet of the Kremlin. It is clear that Trump and Kushner (and who kbows who else in the administration) are compromised and open to blackmail.
This is a clear and present danger to our country. It must be halted in any way possible.
This is a clear and present danger to our country. It must be halted in any way possible.
19
To me the question is: Was this Putin's warning to Trump delivered in a way that significantly damages his family but still leaves Trump plausible deniablity (as threadbare as it is). Or is this Putin slowly pulling the plug in a way to ensure maximum pain for Trump and maximum embarrassment to the US.
Something tells me there are a whole lot more people than the usual suspects not getting a lot of sleep these days.
Something tells me there are a whole lot more people than the usual suspects not getting a lot of sleep these days.
4
Bravo, Mr. Kristof. Thank you for putting that together. It has been considered so rude and horrible to even suggest a direct line from one of these supposed nothingburgers to another, that I think people have been reluctant to bring it all out. Yes, it is shocking but we'd better be willing to look for all the truth here.
3
Until things are settled, the security clearances of all these clowns need to be taken away--including, perhaps especially, the security clearance of Trump himself.
15
Can someone please explain how, realistically, this could be done? Who has the authority to initiate this move?
1
It is doubtful if anyone connected in any way with Trump and/or his administration is principled or honest. In fact, I suspect that "honesty" equals "stupidity" in the Trump lexicon.
11
THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH BY ANOTHER DEEP THROAT: Are all the despicable and treasonous dots now surfacing and connecting?........Russian Money.... .. to Putin's Russian Military Spy operations........... by enriching Donald's campaign stooges ( Donad Jr., campaign chief Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner, son-in-law and temporary White House adviser, Mike Pennce, V.P.,Michael Flynn, National Security advisor, Reince Priebus Chief of Staff, Counselor Steve Bannon and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, all of whom "seem" to have some specific memory lapses of knowing who and when anyone had meetings involving Putin's Russians spies or Oligarchy & mobsters )...........then, getting caught in lies & collusion (perjury).. .........to compromise our Presidency.... ..... ...to allow Putin to threaten to attack the National Security and Interests of United States??? So now a "Trusted member of Trump's inner circle has told family & friends that he knows both he & POTUS are going to prison." Word from deep inside the Trump camp believes that the boss will end up in prison when it’s all said and done. "Along with all of crimes he may have committed while colluding with Russia to fix the election, Trump has now been a party to obstruction of justice along with witness tampering, and this on top of his shady finances being brought to light."
2
Do believe absolutely every conspiracy theory about Republicans and conservatives you hear? Because you managed to get most of them into your one post.
What helps republicans is fake, what hurts them is real.
1
Donald Jr. & Kushner made the Trump Admistration open to Russian blackmail by taking the meeting with the Russian lawyer. Trump Sr. has been paying the piper through his efforts to roll back sanctions on Russia.
4
Lock them up!
10
The current most repeated comment by Republicans: "That's okay. We'll give him a pass on that."
6
Oh, the irony.
I believe that's entirely the Dem mantra where it comes to anything Clinton.
I believe that's entirely the Dem mantra where it comes to anything Clinton.
Don Jr is inexperienced naive and in his eagerness to help his dad perhaps committed this blunder and not with the intention of treason against USA as some are accusing him. I will leave it to law enforcement agencies to figure out if he broke any laws.
But the biggest problem I see for the Trumps and our country in this episode is the possibility that Russian Lawyer who met Don Junior, Manafort and Kushner may have secretly recorded the conversation that took place at Trump Tower. No one knows that but if they have recorded contents of meeting which show collision, then unfortunately for our country, Russians can blackmail Trump team.
But the biggest problem I see for the Trumps and our country in this episode is the possibility that Russian Lawyer who met Don Junior, Manafort and Kushner may have secretly recorded the conversation that took place at Trump Tower. No one knows that but if they have recorded contents of meeting which show collision, then unfortunately for our country, Russians can blackmail Trump team.
4
Although it is irrelevant to the issue at hand, we only have Donald Jr's word that Kushner left after 10 minutes. Why would anyone believe anything he says?
6
I can't look at him without thinking... Damien.
6
The BIG road, death, may be widening as trumps walks around. While giving his speech in Paris today, trump looked exhausted, harried, angry, and just plain out of it. He could barely get through his speech. Heart attack or stroke may be closing in.
How would things go if this happened? Would this mess simply fade away? Good, except we will have the guy who certainly has the number 666 burned into his skin some where on his body.
No winning until 2020. Everybody vote!
How would things go if this happened? Would this mess simply fade away? Good, except we will have the guy who certainly has the number 666 burned into his skin some where on his body.
No winning until 2020. Everybody vote!
3
Like father, like son. Kushner needs to follow in his father's footsteps, straight to federal prison.
4
One next step is clear: Take away Nicholas Kristof's computer and writing materials immediately; he starting to break apart as he suffers from fantastical and strange hallucinations.
2
"One next step is clear: Take away Jared Kushner’s security clearance immediately."
Absolutely! Paid or not, we don't need a so-called advisor in the White House who played any part in potentially illegal and definitely underhanded shenanigans. The fact that he, Jr. and Manafort ended up with no information is irrelevant. They expect to get some and were eager for it.
Mr. Kushner is now at least as big an embarrassment to America as his father-in-law.
Absolutely! Paid or not, we don't need a so-called advisor in the White House who played any part in potentially illegal and definitely underhanded shenanigans. The fact that he, Jr. and Manafort ended up with no information is irrelevant. They expect to get some and were eager for it.
Mr. Kushner is now at least as big an embarrassment to America as his father-in-law.
9
Seems to have been remarkably easy for Putin to rig an election and populate the White House with this crowd of greedy dimwits. Same for the Republican caucuses to be inhabited by cyphers bought and paid for by a clutch of sociopathic billionaires. And for enough people in enough States to swallow the toxic cocktail of coded racism, xenophobia, quack economics and jingo nationalism they put out there, a motley cross section of Americans whose single most common trait is an appalling lack of education and fear of the other. Russia 3, America nil. Two are own goals. Result: destabilization globally and disgrace at home.
10
Excuse me? "Take away his security clearance?" That's all you got? Let's try hounding him out of the White House and into prison. I gather that would be legacy. "If intentional" his omission would be a felony? Really! And, how does one determine his intention vs. selective memory, or just plain old lying? Take his word for it? A lie detector test? Omission of all foreign contacts in a security vetting (obviously NOT "extreme.") is a felony. This fellow needs to testify in Congress and be forced to take the "5th" or claim executive privilege on record. Let's see if he is any more convincing than Sessions at sticking his foot in his mouth. Methinks Mr. Kristof doesn't protest enough.
Kushner's actions may be tantamount to setting up a Gestapo type rogue organization that functions outside of the intelligence agencies and the law. I only hope that the wheels of justice are, in fact, grinding slowly and that this does not end up as a big, fat, "nothingburger" with respect to prosecution. There are no plausible explanations for this dark prince's shadowy behavior on behalf of his father-in-law/Commander-in-Chief. Seeing which Trump turns on the others is a plot twist that only Shakespeare would conceive. The beauty of all of this is that the Russians played the Trumps much like Robert Shaw got played in "The Sting." If Trump claims plausible deniability, he should be impeached for the inability to "control" his goons and respect the rule of law. Can't wait!
Kushner's actions may be tantamount to setting up a Gestapo type rogue organization that functions outside of the intelligence agencies and the law. I only hope that the wheels of justice are, in fact, grinding slowly and that this does not end up as a big, fat, "nothingburger" with respect to prosecution. There are no plausible explanations for this dark prince's shadowy behavior on behalf of his father-in-law/Commander-in-Chief. Seeing which Trump turns on the others is a plot twist that only Shakespeare would conceive. The beauty of all of this is that the Russians played the Trumps much like Robert Shaw got played in "The Sting." If Trump claims plausible deniability, he should be impeached for the inability to "control" his goons and respect the rule of law. Can't wait!
1
I read countless remarks on countless articles about Trump and his dysfunctional cabinet and presidency. To his supporters he truly is "Teflon Don". He said it himself, he could stand in the street of NY and shoot someone and still be president.
If anyone out there truly is worried and cares about our democracy no matter what side of the aisle you are on, you will remove him and his steal from the poor and give to the rich band of merry nutjobs. Each one of his voters needs to wake up and smell the coffee! He is not your friend. He is not there to help the average American, ESPECIALLY those in rural areas. This guy is a city person and always will be. He is there for himself, his family, his ego and his rich business friends - period. The sooner all those who voted for him realize this the sooner they will vote out the GOP (who is enabling him) in 2018 and him out no later than 2020. I just hope we all survive the next 3.5 years.
If you really want to see someone who helps the average American vote Independent, but a vote for the GOP will guarantee you don't have health insurance, unemployment insurance or a clean environment to sustain life!
If anyone out there truly is worried and cares about our democracy no matter what side of the aisle you are on, you will remove him and his steal from the poor and give to the rich band of merry nutjobs. Each one of his voters needs to wake up and smell the coffee! He is not your friend. He is not there to help the average American, ESPECIALLY those in rural areas. This guy is a city person and always will be. He is there for himself, his family, his ego and his rich business friends - period. The sooner all those who voted for him realize this the sooner they will vote out the GOP (who is enabling him) in 2018 and him out no later than 2020. I just hope we all survive the next 3.5 years.
If you really want to see someone who helps the average American vote Independent, but a vote for the GOP will guarantee you don't have health insurance, unemployment insurance or a clean environment to sustain life!
7
The truth may be hiding in the explanations. The "information" would be in the form of files, not discussions. An envelope contains a few thumb drives, with the HRC emails, is given to Jared. He leaves. Adoption is discussed. The rest is drip drip drip, Jared to middleman to Wikileaks, every few weeks.
3
If our major intelligence agencies have all concluded that the Russians were involved in interfering with the elections in 2016, why has our POTUS not acted on it?
What action do our congressional leaders have to take? Why are they so silent about it?
As Mr. Kristof has suggested in his opinion today, the Security Clearance of Jared Kushner should be withdrawn or suspended immediately.
The Russian story continues to dominate the every day news, and it is becoming more bizarre.
What action do our congressional leaders have to take? Why are they so silent about it?
As Mr. Kristof has suggested in his opinion today, the Security Clearance of Jared Kushner should be withdrawn or suspended immediately.
The Russian story continues to dominate the every day news, and it is becoming more bizarre.
6
As bad as the DJ Jr. meeting is, we will look back upon it as significant only in the sense that obliterated Mafia Don's claims that "this whole Russia thing is a hoax."
As has been widely reported, Mueller has assembled a team of investigators with a lot of expertise regarding money laundering. Real estate investors like Trump and Kushner depend on access to large amounts of capital (especially when they make enormous stupid investments like Kushner did). Putin and the oligarchs have that capital. Kushner's meeting with Putin's banker along with the secret communications chanel is much more important than the DJ Jr. meeting.
Much more will be revealed.
I am not surprised by any of this.
What suprises me is the willingness of all but a couple of Republicans to look the other way. Of course the Whitehouse is completely corrupt. But if an entire political party is incapable of taking a stand against this level of malfeasance and treason, we are in desperate times.
As has been widely reported, Mueller has assembled a team of investigators with a lot of expertise regarding money laundering. Real estate investors like Trump and Kushner depend on access to large amounts of capital (especially when they make enormous stupid investments like Kushner did). Putin and the oligarchs have that capital. Kushner's meeting with Putin's banker along with the secret communications chanel is much more important than the DJ Jr. meeting.
Much more will be revealed.
I am not surprised by any of this.
What suprises me is the willingness of all but a couple of Republicans to look the other way. Of course the Whitehouse is completely corrupt. But if an entire political party is incapable of taking a stand against this level of malfeasance and treason, we are in desperate times.
12
The man who cried "witch hunt" over his and his children's persecutions spent the entire last year conducting one about Hillary Clinton.
He is still not done attacking her.
He can go to
He is still not done attacking her.
He can go to
9
Not to mention years of his racist birther attacks on President Obama
5
The whole "we're new to government so don't understand all the rules" act just doesn't work anymore .
6
Everybody, call your senators and push for the withdraw of Kushner's clearance, subpoena of DT Jr.'s emails, and against health plan.
Every day.
Every day.
7
The U.S. government is controlled by an organized crime cabal.
That is for sure.
And we have no one to blame but ourselves.
We Americans richly deserve whatever destruction the Trumps reek on our nation.
That is for sure.
And we have no one to blame but ourselves.
We Americans richly deserve whatever destruction the Trumps reek on our nation.
4
The Fox News, which controls the minds of 62 million zombies responsible for this mess, begs to differ. Consequently, the 62 million zombies believe, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that you are lying, or blowing a "nothing burger, or just smearing a fine young man whom also shoots baby elephants for pleasure, or at most, Russians are our friends, they always have been except for the period of the Cold War which really was not a Russian thing but a Soviet design. And so long as we have Fox News, and the likes, and 62 million zombies and did I mention opportunists in the Republican Party such as Ryan and McConnell who have compromised their patriotism in favor of ideological agenda, this United States of America shall slide down the slopes of autocracy to the depth of irrelevance despite 11 aircraft Carriers and $700 billion Military Budget
10
The statement that the meeting only lasted 20 mins is believable. It would only take 20 mins to tell the 3 stooges when, how, what, and where the "incriminating" data would be leaked, i.e., wikileaks e-mails hacked from the DNC server. It would only take 5 mins for Manafort to use his cell phone to transfer the funds from his Swiss bank account to the Russian bank account in Cypress, or vice versa.
7
Jared graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in government in 2003, although his real estate developer had to donate plenty of money to get Jared into Harvard.
Maybe Harvard should ask for its degree back. This Harvard grad didn't really learn anything about government, and given his meetings with the Russians and lying about it, Jared obviously: (a) doesn't have any respect for his own government; and (b) doesn't appear to have a conscience.
Jared is a security risk to this country.
Maybe Harvard should ask for its degree back. This Harvard grad didn't really learn anything about government, and given his meetings with the Russians and lying about it, Jared obviously: (a) doesn't have any respect for his own government; and (b) doesn't appear to have a conscience.
Jared is a security risk to this country.
14
It is untenable that Jared Kushner has a security clearance, He has had at least 3 meetings with Russians, which he did not report. I believe that he should be prosecuted. He has proven to be as dishonest, as his father-in-law and his own father. These people are liars and cheats, in all their endeavors. They will stop at nothing to further their own interests. Our democracy is in jeopardy.
8
The Trump people looked under every stone to get something on Hillary to lock her up. The server, the emails, the Benghazi hearings added to decades of demonizing, starting with WW ending with Pizza Gate and they could not come up with a thing.
Hillary has her flaws, but they are making her look better every day. She should sit back and watch it all come apart.
Hillary has her flaws, but they are making her look better every day. She should sit back and watch it all come apart.
9
If "all roads now lead to Kushner" just follow the money trail. He made a bad deal in 2007 when he acquired 666 Fifth Avenue for a record-breaking $1.8 billion. The timing was terrible, because within a few months, the financial crisis hit real estate. Credit dried up.
Kushner then sold off the building's retail space as two separate properties. The first sold in 2008 for $525 million. Then the market began picking up and the second parcel sold in two pieces, in 2011 and 2012, for a total of $1.05 billion.
He needs cash constantly to keep the business afloat and will borrow from anyone - Russians and mobsters from the underworld etc.
Kushner then sold off the building's retail space as two separate properties. The first sold in 2008 for $525 million. Then the market began picking up and the second parcel sold in two pieces, in 2011 and 2012, for a total of $1.05 billion.
He needs cash constantly to keep the business afloat and will borrow from anyone - Russians and mobsters from the underworld etc.
8
Is it possible that Kushner has actually been recruited as a Russian spy, and is a White House mole? With the direction events have been moving in Trump World lately, any normally far-fetched scenarios seem downright plausible.
3
Why wasn't the whole Trump family listed among the many on the Emmy nomination list today? All of the Trumps should be nominated for their roles as best actors in a limited series for outstanding collusion, delusion, corruption and ineptitude. There is no competition other than the whole republican party vying for the award.
7
Why should we believe Jared Kushner only spent 10 minutes at that meeting? As Mr. Kristof concludes, the Trump credibility is in tatters. And how do we know that more wasn't said? At this point, I don't believe anything any of them says.
6
Whether it was criminal or not, Kushner reportedly failed to report his Russian contact when his security clearance was being issued. The suspension of a security clearance is an administrative matter and if I were in his shoes I'd rather be indicted by a Federal Grand Jury: You can convince a jury you didn't have intent and might get acquitted. Good luck getting that clearance back. You lose that and you'll never get in the front door of any Federal building again.
5
Donald Trump Jr doesn't cross the street without knowledge and/or approval by Donald Trump Sr. The corruption and collusion goes all the way to the top.
8
You write that Kushner "apparently" left that meeting after a short time in attendance. Not convinced that is "apparent". It's reported by Jr that kushner left after the short time but can't believe a word Jr says... like father like son.
7
Let's go back to the campaign. I remember two candidates saying, "The system is rigged" but meaning different systems. Trump was talking about the electoral system (he should know) and Sanders was talking about the governing system bought and controlled by big corporations and wealthy donors. I sure hope hard-working, taxpaying middle Americans are paying attention to how all this rigging gets done behind the scenes, divulged only when a fearless pitbull press drags the culprits out of their black limousines, private jets and glass towers around the globe. I also hope they don't hesitate to demand a few perks for themselves, like healthcare and maybe college tuition for the kids. Oh yes they can afford it.
3
Did the Russians use voter registration data obtained from hacked election systems in order to weed out independent voters to target them in their social media disinformation campaign? Did the Trump campaign know about it? Did they play along?
9
Did Jared Kushner, Trump campaign electronics man, feed micro targeting information to Russia for its disinformation leg of its attack on Hillary Clinton -- collaboration?
3
Something to bear in mind as we assess all of this – the legal definition of conspiracy, which is a crime.
As noted in this overview from the Congressional Research Service, "The essence of conspiracy is an agreement of two or more persons to engage in some form of prohibited conduct. The crime is complete upon agreement, although some statutes require prosecutors to show that at least one of the conspirators has taken some concrete step or committed some overt act in furtherance of the scheme.” But as the overview later states, "Most have no such explicit overt act requirement.” And of course, ignorantia juris non excusat.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41223.pdf
As noted in this overview from the Congressional Research Service, "The essence of conspiracy is an agreement of two or more persons to engage in some form of prohibited conduct. The crime is complete upon agreement, although some statutes require prosecutors to show that at least one of the conspirators has taken some concrete step or committed some overt act in furtherance of the scheme.” But as the overview later states, "Most have no such explicit overt act requirement.” And of course, ignorantia juris non excusat.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41223.pdf
6
I didn't attend the meeting.
I was interested in what she had to offer, so I went.
I wasn´t interested in what she had to offer, so I left.
I never borrowed her pot.
It was already broken when she lent it to me.
I have already returned it.
I was interested in what she had to offer, so I went.
I wasn´t interested in what she had to offer, so I left.
I never borrowed her pot.
It was already broken when she lent it to me.
I have already returned it.
5
Kushner is surely an important target of inquiry given his current key role. But I'm guessing his history of Russian dabbling is relatively recent and limited to campaign interests.
The guy with the long, complicated and highly profitable role is Manafort. It's hard to imagine he is not the ultimate catalyst for the relationship. Does anyone believe he was paid more than $12 million just to do PR work for Putin's puppet Yanukovych? Does anyone imagine that he volunteered to work the Trump campaign for free? Maybe no Trump money was involved, but perhaps well laundered Russian money was.
One simple theory that explains most of the facts is this: At some time the free-wheeling Trump empire experienced a cash flow problem and was bailed out by Russian money. Manafort was the go-between for the bailout and later delegated the oversight job of being the onsite Putin representative in the campaign. Stonewalling the tax returns is thus mostly about Trump hiding Russian loans.
We're still well within the realm of speculation here, but this analysis explains most of the key behaviors. Does anyone have a better hypothesis?
The guy with the long, complicated and highly profitable role is Manafort. It's hard to imagine he is not the ultimate catalyst for the relationship. Does anyone believe he was paid more than $12 million just to do PR work for Putin's puppet Yanukovych? Does anyone imagine that he volunteered to work the Trump campaign for free? Maybe no Trump money was involved, but perhaps well laundered Russian money was.
One simple theory that explains most of the facts is this: At some time the free-wheeling Trump empire experienced a cash flow problem and was bailed out by Russian money. Manafort was the go-between for the bailout and later delegated the oversight job of being the onsite Putin representative in the campaign. Stonewalling the tax returns is thus mostly about Trump hiding Russian loans.
We're still well within the realm of speculation here, but this analysis explains most of the key behaviors. Does anyone have a better hypothesis?
20
I buy your speculation about Manafort. Add to this, however, the fact that Kushner needed (and still needs) $1.2 billion (and more) to bail out his money losing building at 666 Fifth Avenue whose interest-only mortgage has to be paid in full in 1-2 years. He needed Trump elected and sanctions lifted on the VEB bank who had once before bailed out a Trump associated property in Toronto. Once sanctions were lifted, VEB could lend Kushner the money he needed. So Russian help getting Trump elected makes a lot of sense from that perspective.
8
Don't forget that Kushner is literally travelling the world trying to find a $500 million loan. Access to the White House and shape foreign policy could help in that quest. And since we have not seen Don's taxes as you point out, we don't know what kind of debt he is in or whether he needs a big loan as well.
5
Totally agree with you. Follow the money!
3
correction:
Jared graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in government in 2003, although his real estate developer father had to donate plenty of money to get Jared into Harvard.
Maybe Harvard should ask for its degree back. This Harvard grad didn't really learn anything about government, and given his meetings with the Russians and lying about it, Jared obviously: (a) doesn't have any respect for his own government; and (b) doesn't appear to have a conscience.
Jared is a security risk to this country.
Jared graduated from Harvard with a B.A. in government in 2003, although his real estate developer father had to donate plenty of money to get Jared into Harvard.
Maybe Harvard should ask for its degree back. This Harvard grad didn't really learn anything about government, and given his meetings with the Russians and lying about it, Jared obviously: (a) doesn't have any respect for his own government; and (b) doesn't appear to have a conscience.
Jared is a security risk to this country.
26
If I never see or hear "nothingburger" again, it will be too soon. Kushner is in a bad place but I would hate to see him as the only one who takes a fall for the old man.
18
It's a cringe inducing neologism for me too.
2
What the heck is a "nothingburger" ??? Originally served in the cafeteria at Trump university?
23
My guess is it's frat-boy/sports term.
Google it Slow, I'm too lazy to do it for you.
Google it Slow, I'm too lazy to do it for you.
Mr. Kushner seems always to be held to a remarkably low standard.
but then, what can you expect of a slumlord?
meanwhile, he overpaid for the Tishman Building, hoping to swing some kind of deal based on the underlying land value and replacing it with a bigger building. don't know if Shraftt's even exists any more, but Kirshner has been trying to leverage this deal for a while... and there's mountains of moolah in Russia and it doesn't even need the smartest home if the deal is sweetened with some other juicy emolument.
but then, what can you expect of a slumlord?
meanwhile, he overpaid for the Tishman Building, hoping to swing some kind of deal based on the underlying land value and replacing it with a bigger building. don't know if Shraftt's even exists any more, but Kirshner has been trying to leverage this deal for a while... and there's mountains of moolah in Russia and it doesn't even need the smartest home if the deal is sweetened with some other juicy emolument.
7
The whole situation is unsettling, but more unsettling is watching the GOP in it's complicity to normalize the Trump faction and justify their actions as not corrupt or conspiratorial. There is blatant espionage and collusion occurring between Trump and Putin. The old adage if this was the Clinton's - the knives would have been out months ago and we would be in the middle of impeachment hearings.
The GOP lack of concern and efforts to normalize Trumps behavior is just as disturbing as the Trumps behavior is. What does Trump or Russia have on the GOP that would have them lose their ability to differentiate between right and wrong?
The GOP lack of concern and efforts to normalize Trumps behavior is just as disturbing as the Trumps behavior is. What does Trump or Russia have on the GOP that would have them lose their ability to differentiate between right and wrong?
24
Congratulations! Excellent reporting.
10
"Their credibility is in tatters.". That credibility has been questioned for some time and many discounted it prior to Trump's ascendency to our highest office. Yet, over the past six months or so, Trump's administration, with the explanation of "alternative facts" and other stories that are questionable, and many enablers in our Congress, in supporting the Trump Fairy Tales, have affirmed the credibility is gone, if it ever existed.
Kushner is just another of the cabal that can't even measure up to Nixon's attempts to hide wrongdoings from us.
Kushner and Junior are the low-hanging fruit of this whole Trump mess he, and a few others, call and "administration" and "presidency".
Kushner is just another of the cabal that can't even measure up to Nixon's attempts to hide wrongdoings from us.
Kushner and Junior are the low-hanging fruit of this whole Trump mess he, and a few others, call and "administration" and "presidency".
7
Remember when we were all so surprised that Trump won the election. All the polls turned out to be wrong. I think even Trump's camp was surprised. Is there something even more deep that we have still not uncovered? Not just emails but ..... Look I didn't vote for any of the candidates for President so I don't have a bone in this fight but how were so many people so wrong?
10
The public notification of the Russian's attack on our democracy has come out at a snail's pace. We have only relatively learned that the hacking went into the voter registration mechanisms. I have to wonder if we just haven't been told Yet that the Russian's Did reach their ultimate goal, but we haven't been told for fear of riot and revolt.
One thing that the article, and so many news reports seem to keep avoiding, is the long time relationship Trump has had with Russia. Decades. I do not believe that the plan to overthrow the election started with this meeting, but goes back ages.
One thing that the article, and so many news reports seem to keep avoiding, is the long time relationship Trump has had with Russia. Decades. I do not believe that the plan to overthrow the election started with this meeting, but goes back ages.
1
It's a sad day indeed when Jared the son-in-law is less trustworthy than Jared from Subway.
16
Has anyone seen Jared S-i-L and Jared Subway in the same room at the same time?
That's all proof I need.
That's all proof I need.
We should give Jared a pass on this because he is going to bring peace to the Middle East and transform the federal government any day now.
11
Thank you, keep up the great work.
The Free Press!!
The Free Press!!
14
Jared, you've got some 'splaining to do.
10
If the law required us to account for our meetings in, say 2016, that wouldn't be a problem for most of us. We'd simply review our cloud schedulers and appointment books as well as follow-up emails, correspondence and notes. Isn't record-keeping is standard practice for any mildly capable person in business, to be able to review who we met and what was discussed? If the law demanded, I could find when my car got an oil change last year. Yet Jared-the-wunderkind would have us believe he relies on his amazing feats of recall and whoops, he merely slipped in his understandable transition to new responsibilities. His stories strain all credibility.
26
Loved this quote:
"The writer Stephen King put it this way: 'The news is real. The president is fake.'"
"The writer Stephen King put it this way: 'The news is real. The president is fake.'"
15
Great bumper sticker, no?
2
King always had a gift for the wisecrack, but this may be his masterpiece.
1
From the perspective of the right, their dominant deflective memes are:
1) Obama was guilty of governing while black;
2) Hillary is pilloried for how she MIGHT have governed;
3) Don't pay any attention to how Trump is "governing", he is a rookie (but neither black nor female, so its all cool).
Meanwhile, the swamp gets deeper and darker and Democracy is on the run. Trump is so caught up in legitimizing his razor thin victory (which he calls a "landslide") that he is both failing to govern and is fomenting nonsense like the Kobach voter suppression debacle and floating balloons such as the joint Russia/US cyber-thingy.
He is a serial prevaricator
He is a serial philanderer
He is a serial sexual assaulter
He is a serial cheater of contractors
He is a serial breaker of Presidential social norms
He is a serial breaker of the emoluments clause
He is a serial user of executive orders to substitute for legislation
He is supported by the very people his governance will impoverish
He is supported by evangelicals who love Mammon more than faith
He is supported by fellow Republicans who find him to be a useful fool
He is surrounded by bumbling sycophants
He is "counseled" by a nepotistic framework of his own creation
He is the worst thing to ever happen to our Democracy which may not survive his felonious assault on what we took to be incontrovertible truths.
1) Obama was guilty of governing while black;
2) Hillary is pilloried for how she MIGHT have governed;
3) Don't pay any attention to how Trump is "governing", he is a rookie (but neither black nor female, so its all cool).
Meanwhile, the swamp gets deeper and darker and Democracy is on the run. Trump is so caught up in legitimizing his razor thin victory (which he calls a "landslide") that he is both failing to govern and is fomenting nonsense like the Kobach voter suppression debacle and floating balloons such as the joint Russia/US cyber-thingy.
He is a serial prevaricator
He is a serial philanderer
He is a serial sexual assaulter
He is a serial cheater of contractors
He is a serial breaker of Presidential social norms
He is a serial breaker of the emoluments clause
He is a serial user of executive orders to substitute for legislation
He is supported by the very people his governance will impoverish
He is supported by evangelicals who love Mammon more than faith
He is supported by fellow Republicans who find him to be a useful fool
He is surrounded by bumbling sycophants
He is "counseled" by a nepotistic framework of his own creation
He is the worst thing to ever happen to our Democracy which may not survive his felonious assault on what we took to be incontrovertible truths.
36
@R.Will
Your comment is not only valid it is extremely informative. If only those "Christian conservatives" would pull their heads out their as- actual fake bibles and true fake fox presented news- and had the ability to read this maybe it would inspire some spark of truth or integrity that they've long lost. Yet, that is doubtful! Thank you for your well-written piece. I only could dream that it were posted on all media and social commenting sites.
Your comment is not only valid it is extremely informative. If only those "Christian conservatives" would pull their heads out their as- actual fake bibles and true fake fox presented news- and had the ability to read this maybe it would inspire some spark of truth or integrity that they've long lost. Yet, that is doubtful! Thank you for your well-written piece. I only could dream that it were posted on all media and social commenting sites.
2
2449 Tracy Pl. 20008 is a lovely house. My relatives lived there for 35 years until 2007. However, of all the houses in D.C. that Kushner could have moved into, I wonder if it's mere coincidence that he chose this one, previously owned by Dan Rapoport, a Latvian immigrant, and his Russian wife Irina.
13
Gets the tax returns. Follow the money. Voila!
27
Jared Kushner, a smug, secretive scoundrel if I ever saw one. Each day confirms my opinion more and more.
24
What is the difference between leaks published by WikiLeaks and leaks published by the New York Times?
3
The former were stolen, the later freely offered.
26
Wikileaks: Stolen by a foreign government looking to destroy American democracy.
NYTimes: Provided by patriots seeking to preserve American democracy
NYTimes: Provided by patriots seeking to preserve American democracy
8
We're pretty sure the Russians aren't manipulating the New York Times.
5
I've no doubt that Jared Kushner, abetted by the campaign's digital director Brad Parscale, are at the center of it. I've also no doubt that the President's favorite child, who happens to be Kushner's wife, knew what was going on. Does anyone seriously believe that Jared never mentioned any of this to Ivanka?
22
The "Donald" knows everything at all times.
Vote 2018
Vote 2018
9
But it’s only a coincidence. Right? Fox News declared that Obama deliberately did the entire thing, just to make poor Donald like bad. Must to so?
I disagree with the conclusion that Kushner's security clearance be revoked. We can't revoke the President's so why bother with anyone else? The laughable part is that the DOJ has a friendly person in charge by the name of SESSIONS. His ability to obstruct any DOJ investigation is clear. If it ran the way it should we would have very close surveillance on both Sessions and Kushner. How the FBI manages to keep it a secret from them is real interesting but given the fact that both lied under oath concerning Russian involvement I am sure there is a way. The historical account of this time period would allow for volumes of titillating books. I for one wish it was in my past. reading it in historical context is one thing. living thru it is another.
14
I'm glad Nick brought up blackmail. That seems to me to be what the Russians were really after. Jr. might be dumb enough to put his intent to commit a crime in an email, but the Russians would only do that on purpose. After all, if anyone understands the vulnerability of emails, it's the Russians. That's also the best explanation for why Jr. would authenticate the emails on Twitter. He blew his best legal and political defense (he could have kept quiet and let lawyers and surrogates question the authenticity of the emails), but he also freed himself from any blackmail attempts.
20
I'm 100% positive that if there was a fair investigation and trial, DT Junior (a.k.a. Fredo Corleone) would find himself behind bars. However, how is he going to get that when Papa Trump can just obstruct the investigation, fire the investigators, and if all else fails, pardon the boy?
"But what about impeachment?" you say. You need to control the Senate to impeach, which the Republicans do. And if you've watched Fox News lately, you'll see that they are defending Fredo completely. No Republican is going to vote for impeachment.
Welcome to the new corrupt idiocracy that is Trump's America.
"But what about impeachment?" you say. You need to control the Senate to impeach, which the Republicans do. And if you've watched Fox News lately, you'll see that they are defending Fredo completely. No Republican is going to vote for impeachment.
Welcome to the new corrupt idiocracy that is Trump's America.
24
Does your confidence that Trump Jr would go to jail for this extend to McCain and his attempts to get trash on Trump or Hillary for her non-reporting of some of the foreign funds that came into the Foundation, her email tampering or her Russian-uranium deal she greased for Putin... maybe Obama for setting up the meeting Trump Jr had w the Russian attorney.
The Clinton Foundation is not the Clinton campaign, her email was vetted thoroughly by the FBI and found not to be criminal, any deal she made for uranium has been thoroughly debunked.
The newest right wing conspiracy is that Obama arranged for the lawyer to meet with Trump, Jr. So, we're supposed to believe Obama forced Trump Jr to meet with an acquaintance of his family?
The newest right wing conspiracy is that Obama arranged for the lawyer to meet with Trump, Jr. So, we're supposed to believe Obama forced Trump Jr to meet with an acquaintance of his family?
3
You are precisely and exactly correct!
1
According to the Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, Mr. Kushner "was only present in the meeting for probably the first seven to 10 minutes", and Mr. Manafort seemed to be disengaged in the conversation, with his focus on his cell phone...."
If that was how the meeting went on, Trump Jr.'s claim that "nothing happened" in that meeting should be taken with a few heaps of salt. As his released emails indicate, the meeting was intended for passing on "some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary". Passing on such information is never done verbally and those familiar with intelligence work would tell you that seconds are more than enough for that.
Let us assume that, if there were documents and information to pass on, they were stored on a small flash memory stick. Then, upon reception, some immediate questions arise: Is this genuine?; Could there be viruses in there? Is there actually any useful information in there?; And, the most basic one, can we actually see its content on our US-made machines?
So, what do you do? Obviously, you give the flash memory to the guy in charge of the IT organization (Kushner was/is running Trump's digital operation) and ask him to go and check such issues and report the result by a text message to someone inside the meeting (in this case Mr. Manafort). That indeed explains why Mr. Manafort was seen "... focused on his cell phone" in the meeting.
If that was how the meeting went on, Trump Jr.'s claim that "nothing happened" in that meeting should be taken with a few heaps of salt. As his released emails indicate, the meeting was intended for passing on "some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary". Passing on such information is never done verbally and those familiar with intelligence work would tell you that seconds are more than enough for that.
Let us assume that, if there were documents and information to pass on, they were stored on a small flash memory stick. Then, upon reception, some immediate questions arise: Is this genuine?; Could there be viruses in there? Is there actually any useful information in there?; And, the most basic one, can we actually see its content on our US-made machines?
So, what do you do? Obviously, you give the flash memory to the guy in charge of the IT organization (Kushner was/is running Trump's digital operation) and ask him to go and check such issues and report the result by a text message to someone inside the meeting (in this case Mr. Manafort). That indeed explains why Mr. Manafort was seen "... focused on his cell phone" in the meeting.
27
Everything about the many contacts between Trump associates and Russia since he won the Republican nomination is suspect.
Trump won by doing things his way (flouting norms and conventions). Why stop now? Kushner's apparent normalcy and calmness (and Ivanka's) were supposed to give Trump a veneer of respectability.
Well it seems the whole crew isn't much different than the boss. It's sad that feckless Republicans in Congress are enabling the travesty of the Trump administration. History will not be kind to the Republican party.
Trump won by doing things his way (flouting norms and conventions). Why stop now? Kushner's apparent normalcy and calmness (and Ivanka's) were supposed to give Trump a veneer of respectability.
Well it seems the whole crew isn't much different than the boss. It's sad that feckless Republicans in Congress are enabling the travesty of the Trump administration. History will not be kind to the Republican party.
13
Why is it illicit for a president-elect and his staff to meet with foreign dignitaries? You imply that such meetings alone are inappropriate - an activity every modern president-elect has done.
Really Diane? "Every modern president-elect" and each of their team members has NOT met with ONLY Russian foreign dignitaries. Why are there not meetings with Spanish, Croatian, Argentinian, Kenyan, Belgium, Thai, or Australian dignitaries??
And what previous administration has had so many of its high-level members have such STRONG connections with soley one country -- in this case Russia? Its dangerously foolish to 'normalize' this completely abnormal political behavior.
And what previous administration has had so many of its high-level members have such STRONG connections with soley one country -- in this case Russia? Its dangerously foolish to 'normalize' this completely abnormal political behavior.
4
. . . because, Diane, the meeting with foreign "dignitaries" was ostensibly about trying to throw the election. Sorry you have such little grasp of the bedrock of our Experiment in Democracy. I do not doubt that you would sell our National Soul to the highest bidder, just like these unprecedentedly morally bankrupt republicans in Washington. Disgraceful. Deplorable.
1
Trump and his cronies do excel in one area: hypocrisy. No, make that two areas: prevarication. Unfortunately, while we continue to peel back layers of the conspiracy the one thing that is not "fake" is the damage that the Trump Administration is doing to our institutions, protections, and, most importantly our country. In this area he truly excels so I guess that makes three. We need a key player, who still has a semblance of a conscience, to step forward with definitive proof so we can put an end to this abomination.
12
What damage? How has he damaged institution's, protections and the country?
Diane, if you cannot see the damage, I hold out little hope that you will even get anyone trying to explain to you how Trump has shown a shocking lack of regard for facts, for people, for history, and has unleashed a whole sacking of the American treasury by those republican tax-cut clowns while he throws up screens and blocks on Twitter. Trump has coarsened the dialogue, attacked his truly intelligent and classy predecessor, Trump is that repulsive sleazeball who wants to "date" your daughter, and here you are, "you kids have fun".
4
When one thinks of Jared Kushner, doesn't the phrase "Like Father. Like Son." come to mind?
5
You don't really understand. There is no truth. Ever since the collapse of Building Seven on 9/11 it has been clear that truth does not matter. Trump lies, The Democratic party stole the right to a nomination from Bernie. Bill Clinton was a master of deceit and on it goes. At least the Republicans try to have a moral compass.
For us lower class people believing that justice will be done is tantamount to a 3 year old believing in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. It will not happen. The bigger question is having gotten away with Trump what will be the next outrage.
For us lower class people believing that justice will be done is tantamount to a 3 year old believing in the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus. It will not happen. The bigger question is having gotten away with Trump what will be the next outrage.
1
Republicans try to have a moral compass. Hahahahaha. Thanks for the laugh.
10
"At least the Republicans try to have a moral compass." Did you think you would not be challenged by this ludicrous claim? I don't remember you celebrating Al Gore's turning over attempts to sway his election to the FBI. I don't remember you celebrating Obama's taking a major hit to the chin to restore the cost of the Iraq War to the books just so those repulsive republicans could then slam HIM for increasing the debt. No seriously, did you really really think you could slip that laughable lie past the readership of the New York Times?
7
This whole report on Trump Jr. is bizarre. When he first heard about the offer, why didn't he do something like contact either a knowledgeable attorney or law enforcement? Why was he so eager about this? Didn't he understand that any Russian representative should be viewed with great suspicion and would insist on some sort of quid-pro-quo? Is Trump Sr. this rash in his own dealings with Russians? With this sort of recklessness the Trump family could land this country in huge trouble.
7
I blame Hilary Clinton's election loss on the pouting Bernie Sanders supporters and the silly jealousy women perpetrate upon each other, ala "she, Hilary, has trust issues." By Dems and progressives creating a polarizing division within the larger Democratic Party, we now have to live with shameful Republicans and an amoral president to everyone's detriment.
14
OK. You just might want to re-think that women's jealousy part.
Clinton had massive support among women voters...except of course, not among self-styled "Sandernistas", and those who wanted a (white) man in the White House after having Obama.
We're now seeing where that all went...
Clinton had massive support among women voters...except of course, not among self-styled "Sandernistas", and those who wanted a (white) man in the White House after having Obama.
We're now seeing where that all went...
2
Cut it out. Hillary earned three million more votes than Trump. Trump "won" on a technicality. Don't turn against the Democrats for this one, it only furthers the atrocious consequences. Hillary had unprecedented headwinds, like John Kerry did with the swift-boaters, and you just pile on the wrong team instead of waking up to the true depravity of the republican wealth and power party.
1
I blame pouting Third Way apparatchiks pushing the Democrat Party to the right for the failure of producing a candidate capable of defeating a nothing-burger (sorry Slow Burn) like Trump.
Having seen and read so much about working-class Trump supporters having buyer's remorse, I'm convinced that most of them would have voted for Bernie who would have had a better chance to beat Trump.
Ever notice that the Clinton campaign "H" logo had an arrow pointing to the right? Totally intentional.
Having seen and read so much about working-class Trump supporters having buyer's remorse, I'm convinced that most of them would have voted for Bernie who would have had a better chance to beat Trump.
Ever notice that the Clinton campaign "H" logo had an arrow pointing to the right? Totally intentional.
1
Trump's response to the entire Russia saga has be odd from the beginning. I don't think anyone believes his illogical suggestion that it is because Democrats are trying to delegitimize the election. After all, if there is no there there, who cares what the Dems are trying to do, just govern.
Which led many of us to guess that there IS something there. Maybe this is it? And if it is all there is, it certainly doesn't seem reason enough to tank his entire agenda by focusing on Russia as Trump has.
People will suspect Trump knew from the beginning, as his relationship with his son on serious matters would lead to that conclusion that Jr kept Sr informed. But the only people who have real exposure can be pardoned. No one will give Trump Sr up. Hardly seems worth his efforts to shut down the investigation thus far.
Unless, there is even more there there.
Which led many of us to guess that there IS something there. Maybe this is it? And if it is all there is, it certainly doesn't seem reason enough to tank his entire agenda by focusing on Russia as Trump has.
People will suspect Trump knew from the beginning, as his relationship with his son on serious matters would lead to that conclusion that Jr kept Sr informed. But the only people who have real exposure can be pardoned. No one will give Trump Sr up. Hardly seems worth his efforts to shut down the investigation thus far.
Unless, there is even more there there.
5
Trump says there was no collusion with the Russians. The same uninformed people that voted for him believe him. He has done far worse than shoot someone on 5th Ave. by selling us out to the Russians, but they couldn't care less. That says a lot about the Republicans.
The majority of Americans see the dirty election of 2016 for what it was. Will 90 million voters stay home again like they did in 2016? After all that Trump has done to destroy the reputation of our country and to undermine our security? Let us hope not.
The majority of Americans see the dirty election of 2016 for what it was. Will 90 million voters stay home again like they did in 2016? After all that Trump has done to destroy the reputation of our country and to undermine our security? Let us hope not.
14
Totally agree with closing sentence: "Take away Kushner's security clearance immediately."
That would be such a restrained and indeed conservative act. Where are the conservatives on this? Where on the spineless-corrupt spectrum should they be placed? Sad!
That would be such a restrained and indeed conservative act. Where are the conservatives on this? Where on the spineless-corrupt spectrum should they be placed? Sad!
10
Why bother? That would be totally ineffective. Trump is blurting out all our secrets to the Russians anyway and Kushner will get them again from the Russians.
Nothing gained by it.
Nothing gained by it.
2
It is not about "gain". It is about principle. Just because your kid is likely to go out and get in trouble, you don't pre-emptively give up and hand over the car keys. Geeze.
1
Everyone is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence in criminal matters, but handling of security clearances is an administrative process and not part of the legal system. It may be that Jared Kushner is innocent of any act that would be a reason to take his clearance away permanently, but until that's been determined, the only safe and reasonable course is to temporarily suspend his clearance and cut off his access to classified material until we do know whether he participated in collusion with a foreign power.
When I was on active duty with a clearance and responsible for classified information and equipment, if any question had come up about my possibly having been in unreported communication, let alone collusion, with a foreign power - especially an unfriendly one - my commanding officer would have immediately suspended my clearance and access and the NCIS would have been all over me 15 minutes later. Someone working in the White House shouldn't be held to a lower standard.
When I was on active duty with a clearance and responsible for classified information and equipment, if any question had come up about my possibly having been in unreported communication, let alone collusion, with a foreign power - especially an unfriendly one - my commanding officer would have immediately suspended my clearance and access and the NCIS would have been all over me 15 minutes later. Someone working in the White House shouldn't be held to a lower standard.
15
Mr. Finley, how many times were you allowed to amend a security clearance application after you affirmed that all information was true and correct? I believe that is one of the issues at hand. Did he willfully and knowingly omit the information that was provided later through amendments. If that was the case he should be prosecuted. I lean toward the willful omission of pertinent information concerning foreign contacts.
7
I hope you feel the same way about Hillary, her bathroom server, her emailing top secret documents on an unsecured network, her Russian uranium deal and failure to disclose donations from foreign entities to her foundation. Now that is one lady who has indeed earned jail time - but... the party elite circle their wagons and Hillary goes home.
AND, Kushner (with the help of Brad Pascale) managed the digital marketing of ideas throughout the Trump campaign.
He hired leading-edge IT folks to target campaign messaging VERY strategically to particular voters (notably those in Pennsylvania and Michigan late in the campaign).
They used "simplistic language" and messaging to appeal very specifically to the emotions of the people they believed who elect Trump.
They also, we now know, had a little help from Russia in this messaging effort.
He hired leading-edge IT folks to target campaign messaging VERY strategically to particular voters (notably those in Pennsylvania and Michigan late in the campaign).
They used "simplistic language" and messaging to appeal very specifically to the emotions of the people they believed who elect Trump.
They also, we now know, had a little help from Russia in this messaging effort.
18
I don't see how this is such a murky issue because it's very obvious if you connect the dots. But it's impossible to prove the counterfactual, that is, if not for the Russians, Clinton would now be President. If we wait for Mueller to sort this out, we could be in the run up to the 2020 presidential election and still not know how deep the Russian malignancy is or how to excise it so that it never happens again. If the base in flyover country thinks that this is all just made up liberal angst, how do we ensure election integrity going forward?
9
Hillary is not president because she is a singularly unlikable and unscrupulous individual. Russians did not make her that way - she arrived on her own and over the years has provided plenty of ammo to her opposition. To find or provide dirt on her is neither a crime nor hard to do. Russians very well may have meddled - much like Obama did in the Israeli election. Doesn't change the outcome.
July 13, 2017
Bravo for this article and how many bravo's for senior leaders and high ranking politicians under oath. All the news fit ...and those fit to honor their oath - flaws in the decisions and worst denial and cover up will only delay those that fail to notice the media reality for professional deliverance. Kushner more a symbiotic meddler for the Trump dysfunction to demonstrate independent statue and the making for the serving in high office of public leadership - and needed to say never studied, trained or believe in the worth of honorable public servant - trust!
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
Bravo for this article and how many bravo's for senior leaders and high ranking politicians under oath. All the news fit ...and those fit to honor their oath - flaws in the decisions and worst denial and cover up will only delay those that fail to notice the media reality for professional deliverance. Kushner more a symbiotic meddler for the Trump dysfunction to demonstrate independent statue and the making for the serving in high office of public leadership - and needed to say never studied, trained or believe in the worth of honorable public servant - trust!
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
4
Mr. Kristof - Thank you for a perfectly well research article.
The only change I can add is that the headline should be your last sentence:
TAKE AWAY JARED KUSHNER'S SECURITY CLEARANCE.
The subtitle should be "
LOCK UP JARED KUSHNER
(and the rest of the Trump Family, Manafort, Page, and many others)
The only change I can add is that the headline should be your last sentence:
TAKE AWAY JARED KUSHNER'S SECURITY CLEARANCE.
The subtitle should be "
LOCK UP JARED KUSHNER
(and the rest of the Trump Family, Manafort, Page, and many others)
16
Apparently James Comey and Senator McCain, hand received a dossier with Russian attempts to derail Trump. Why do they still have security clearances? A Stanford Professor analyzed the letter and determined it was written by the KGB. Did Comey and McCain collude with Russia? And the Clintons colluded in a Russian election, according to Time Magazine, and Obama colluded by providing resources to defeat Netanyahu. Nothing new in world politics here.
4
Keep up the great analysis, Mr. Kristof. In this and other pieces, you've been tying together the threads of this fabric of deceit in some very illuminating ways.
Nevertheless, I'll differ a bit with your op-ed title's pronouncement that all roads lead to Kushner. For one thing, as I suspect you'll agree, all roads lead to President Trump. But even aside from that, there's the reality that we still don't know nearly enough about where the various roads go. It could well be that, even beyond the main suspects currently and justifiably caught in the glare of media coverage (Flynn, Trump Jr., Kushner, Manafort), the involvement of others such Pence, Bannon or Ivanka could yet come to light. And that's not even taking account of what will happen (or likely is already starting to happen) as the members of the circular firing squad that's the Trump political family circle start shooting at each other.
Nevertheless, I'll differ a bit with your op-ed title's pronouncement that all roads lead to Kushner. For one thing, as I suspect you'll agree, all roads lead to President Trump. But even aside from that, there's the reality that we still don't know nearly enough about where the various roads go. It could well be that, even beyond the main suspects currently and justifiably caught in the glare of media coverage (Flynn, Trump Jr., Kushner, Manafort), the involvement of others such Pence, Bannon or Ivanka could yet come to light. And that's not even taking account of what will happen (or likely is already starting to happen) as the members of the circular firing squad that's the Trump political family circle start shooting at each other.
12
For all of the apologists defending Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner as political novices who don't have much experience, and therefore it explains why they would take a meeting with Russians offering damaging information about Hillary Clinton, one political commentator noted that Paul Manafort also attended this meeting with the Russians, and he has several DECADES of dealing with political campaigns and foreign governments, so you would have to assume that he would know better, and advise Don Jr. and Kushner accordingly.
27
Yes, but wasn't told what the meeting was about and walk out almost immediately after the purpose of the meeting was revealed.
Who could argue with a straight face that Kushner forgot about this meeting too? (Oh yeah, that one where we met with the Russian government lawyer to talk about Putin's plan to interfere with the election? Slipped my mind.) It's extraordinary (I know, nothing's extraordinary any more; it's all just depressing, repetitive, and infuriating) that Kushner will likely not be indicted or better yet sent down for this additional felony. How many times are these people allowed to lie under oath (with ludicrous defenses) before anyone in the GOP actually cares?
24
Excellent article. As MSNBC has suggested, Kushner is mostly likely the person behind the leak of Jr.'s emails to the media--pre-empting and thereby neutralizing criticism for his apparent criminal failure to disclose the Russian meetings. And he cleverly put the focus on Jr.'s stupidity. Kushner needs to be put under oath now. Where is the Democratic leadership and a sustained, focused outrage? Don't talk impeachment yet. It's brick by brick. With one voice, the current chorus should be "Remove Jared and release tax returns."
26
"One next step is clear: Take away Jared Kushner’s security clearance immediately" We have MOBSTERS in OUR WH for sure.
26
Even if we allow that only Russian adoptions were discussed at this meeting, Ms. Veselnitskya established for her presumed client, the FSB, the willingness of the Trump campaign, at the highest levels, to use Russian intelligence against Hillary. She also created a fact, the meeting itself, that might prove very embarrassing for the campaign.
The notion that the FSB would not exploit those facts, particularly given all of its other efforts to affect the election, is absurd.
The notion that the FSB would not exploit those facts, particularly given all of its other efforts to affect the election, is absurd.
12
It's evident that Kushner is on the hustle without a grain of allegiance to the American people.
24
The best liars incorporate as much of the truth as possible to keep from slipping up. Theory: At the meeting Natalia offers the Podeska emails in return for settlement of the 239M Russian money laundering lawsuit if DJT is elected. Russia then gets Assange to drip the Podeska emails while Kushner tries to set up a line of communication thru the Russian embassy to coordinate the digital release of the emails and social media fake news. Trump gets elected, Trump fires all the attorneys general to hide the fact he is firing Preet Bhara, who is heading the money laundering lawsuit so Sessions can then settle the lawsuit for $6M without requesting admission iof wrongdoing. Don't the puzzle pieces fit?
20
But Kushner will use his having left after 10 minutes — even though it's pretty obvious he did so when he realized the promise of anti-HRC dirt was only an excuse to push ending sanctions — as a defense. He'll also maintain that, since he left so early, he didn't see the need initially to note the meeting on his clearance form.
And it will probably work.
And it will probably work.
5
Who cares if he left after 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 3 minutes!?!
The issue is that he saw the emails, and then went ahead and SHOWED UP , thinking the Russian government wanted to help one side in an American election!!
And gosh, did he absolutely know he better not put that on a security application!!!
The issue is that he saw the emails, and then went ahead and SHOWED UP , thinking the Russian government wanted to help one side in an American election!!
And gosh, did he absolutely know he better not put that on a security application!!!
3
These people lie the way most people sweat. They cannot discriminate between factual information and an adventitious position. If an idea or deed gains them money or power, they will use it. If a counter idea or deed weakens their position, they will disclaim its veracity and call it a lie or fake, or attempt to direct attention away from it. Truth has no role in their business one way or the other. That may all be fine in corporate America, but this now is government--by the people, for the people. Let's hope there is still enough justice in this country to teach them that they (or any others to follow) cannot get away with this behavior.
13
None of this is going to end well for American working people.
17
I want to know about the 17 (wish it was 18) minute gap between receiving and responding to Goldstone's email!!
13
We're just coming to realize that the ultimate source or arbiter of classifications is the president. So all our bellyaching won't change his feelings about his top advisors, especially Jared. We can expect ongoing high security clearance till the guy is charged with something on obstruction, collusion or racketeering. Even then, with Trump the way he has few friends and acts as a one-man-band, we might not see any removal of security clearance.
Trump and company are finding all the loopholes in law and customary practice with the presidency. Combined with his so far true mantra about shooting somebody in NYC and retaining his supporters, he's sitting pretty--and standing pat. I'm dismayed, not at this issue but another related one.
Trump is inexorably moving toward articles of impeachment for his lawbreaking and Constitution dumping. So are many Oval Office officials. So where are the partisan Democrats, the legal eagles demanding allegiance to law and order and/or the Constitution with draft 'articles' and charges. Surely it's not too early to aim for Trump et al removal from office or at least a list of violations for everyone to think about and aim for. Anyone taking bets yet on a resignation date? Can the nation afford to wait past 2018 elections? Who's yet to counter a Trump-supportive Harvard man, Alan Dershowitz, who finds every reason to retain this outlaw in office?
Trump and company are finding all the loopholes in law and customary practice with the presidency. Combined with his so far true mantra about shooting somebody in NYC and retaining his supporters, he's sitting pretty--and standing pat. I'm dismayed, not at this issue but another related one.
Trump is inexorably moving toward articles of impeachment for his lawbreaking and Constitution dumping. So are many Oval Office officials. So where are the partisan Democrats, the legal eagles demanding allegiance to law and order and/or the Constitution with draft 'articles' and charges. Surely it's not too early to aim for Trump et al removal from office or at least a list of violations for everyone to think about and aim for. Anyone taking bets yet on a resignation date? Can the nation afford to wait past 2018 elections? Who's yet to counter a Trump-supportive Harvard man, Alan Dershowitz, who finds every reason to retain this outlaw in office?
9
Why is Jared Kushner not in federal custody right now, given the proven omissions on his security clearance form? The form clearly states:
Penalties for Inaccurate or False Statements The U.S. Criminal Code (title 18, section 1001) provides that knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines and/or up to five (5) years imprisonment.
Penalties for Inaccurate or False Statements The U.S. Criminal Code (title 18, section 1001) provides that knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines and/or up to five (5) years imprisonment.
22
For Kushner to be in federal custody right now, he'd have to be related to Obama.
22
Nothing about the Trump Tower meeting was illegal. It remained secret only because the anticipated documents never materialized. If attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya had produced documents showing the Clinton campaign accepted illegal foreign campaign contributions, the Trump campaign would have provided copies to the FBI, Fox News, New York Times, Washington Post and other media outlets. What do people expect? Should Donald Trump Jr. have called a press conference to announce he attended a meeting at which no incriminating evidence about the Clinton campaign surfaced?
4
You have to look beyond party loyalty and what is best for the country. These were people who were always bringing up Hillary's e-mails, and chanting "lock her up", where as in reality they were the ones meeting with people who promised "juicy" stuff on Hillary. And this buffoon swallowed that "hook, line and sinker".
7
That's like hiring a hit man and claiming that it was perfectly OK if the guy didn't actually kill the person.
17
That's like saying you broke into her house to rob it but found nothing there so you are not guilty of anything
13
Kushy saw the email with specific language and showed up at the meeting so the significance of the meeting was clear. So what if he only stayed 10 minutes? Then repeated denials of meeting with the Russians. These high-rolling business type high jinks may work in some other domain. Hope he receives the full force of the law. His dad was a jail bird, so he will hopefully follow suit. I wonder if Ivanka will bring the kids to visit him in the pokey? He will have lots of time to write his book.
16
I have a feeling that Trump may be wishing he never signed on to this presidency thing and would like to find a way to get out. There ain't no way now, he's got to stay in office to pardon his family members.
16
I distinctly remember, during the 2016 presidential campaign, seeing a video of Candidate Trump standing at a podium addressing a group of people and saying that he did not want to be President, he did not want to run, but he felt he had to, because the country was in such dire straits. His statement that he did not really want to be doing this really struck me at the time. In hindsight, I don't know if we could take that at face value, or if it was a backhanded way of trying to elicit support.
1
To back up, just in case you’ve been stuck on a desert island
----
Nothing like insulting your readers.
----
Nothing like insulting your readers.
2
So Kushner has updated his SF-86 three times now? How many strikes does he get before he's out?
36
The Trump regime is so stupid. If they were smart, they would have waited until way after the election before starting to work with Russian mafia types. But, no, they couldn't wait and wanted to dive into that cookie jar ASAP. Well, that was good for us because now the cookie jar has been closed and moved to a higher shelf where the children can't reach. However, let's check their pockets for cookies, and if we find them, send them to bed without dinner.
6
Putin, sitting at the chess board (or is it a poker table?), called the world, wanted an incompetent buffoon on the other side. That's what he now has. Checkmate is inevitable, it's now just a matter of time.
13
Forget Russia for a few days. The Senate health bill is a death sentence for many, if passed. Ted Cruz and his buddies are the masters of death panels.
17
No. DON'T forget about Russia for a few days. They aren't.
Remember both!!!
Remember both!!!
2
Does any know if does anyone question whether an interpreter was called for the Donald Jr. meeting or does this Russian only speaks Russian to the media?
13
I have had a security clearance in the past, and there is NO WAY Kushner should have one!
23
Let's not pretense that the US stands for government transparency, is against corruption, nepotism, and cronyism. Let's not lecture other governments about human rights and women rights. Let's recognize that our government and elected representatives are no longer represent the people and work for the common goods. Let's accept the fact that, despite the fact that the US is the oldest democracy in the world, Americans have failed at democracy.
8
If the Trumps and the Republicans were to apply the "rookie mistake" alibi to all transgressors of the law, the prisons would be emptied by this afternoon.
19
Maya Angelou's wise words come to mind..."Politicians must set their aims for the high ground and according to our various leanings, Democratic, Republican, Independent, we will follow. Politicians must be told if they continue to sink into the mud of obscenity, they will proceed alone." WE The PEOPLE must hold ALL Politicians and those aspiring to political power ACCOUNTABLE for their actions. This Mess is playing out like a trashy novel. The problem is "THIS MESS" isn't fiction or fake news. Contrary to popular belief, A Presidential Election isn't a "GAME". We must get to the bottom of this and I applaud ALL the journalists who are tirelessly working to identify fact and fiction. Truth will emerge. I hope and pray that ALL People involved in this mess are held liable for their behavior. It is getting and ugly and I fear about to get uglier but if we seek the truth, the American Democracy will become stronger.
15
It's not that murky to anybody with a brain and some common sense. It's treason - extending from the Trump family/gang to the leadership of the Republican Criminal Organization (Pence, Ryan, McConnell on down) who knew all about Trump's collusion with the Russians but went right along with it so they could push through their agenda of reducing Americans to serfs on behalf of their owners, the Koch Brothers. You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to figure it out; the two Trumps and many of their minions (Roger Stone among them) have admitted it publically. Investigate, indict, arrest, try, judge, sentence and punish them up to and including the limit of the statute:
18 U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason
Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
18 U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason
Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 807; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(2)(J), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
23
Kushner's relationship with Roman Abramovich, the Russian head of North American pipeline producer Evraz steel bears examination. Evraz was heavily in debt to the Russian National bailout bank VTB as well as to Alfa bank. Alfa famously and 'mysteriously' was in communication with a Trump server from May through September of 2016. One of the Presidents very first acts was to push through the Dakota Access and Keystone pipelines, a major blessing for Evraz. More pipelines, more fracking will continue to profit that company.
15
Who has the power to take away Kushner's security clearance and what's his or her phone number? We, the People, are having to step up on the health care debacle, etc. etc., maybe we'll just have to handle this, too.
13
Rest assured: the Trump family members will claim to their dying days that they were victims. Because that's what you do when you have enough money to buy and sell the House and Senate (but apparently, not the judiciary).
13
Looks like, you missed crooked Hillary.... wake up Sir, it's all fair in love and politics...
"crooked Hillary" is largely a fiction produced of the right wing delusional mind set. What you seem to have missed is, crooked or not, Hillary is not President, Trump is and he has to answer for what he and his team have done.
8
Hillary is not in office. Try to keep up with what the adults are discussing.
9
Ironic that emails will lead to Trump's impeachment as he used the issue to get elected. I laugh to think Jr. Trump under oath saying daddy didn't know. This is going to put our country at a standstill until it's resolved. Very damaging for our democracy. Instead of legislation for infrastructure we will learn about other interactions the Trumps have with Russians. And Pence even if unwittingly was elected because of Russian manipulation we will need to choose an interim president like Ford.
7
It should be clear to everyone that the whole Trump clan has committed felonies along the path to the fake presidents' election. At the same time he was throwing stones at the Clinton campaign, his family and associates were committing worse crimes. Anytime the media criticized him he claimed they were the enemy of the people and they disseminated fake news. The only fake news comes from the Trumps. Of course, Republicans will never stand up for what is right and impeach the president and send his cohorts to prison. They would rather sit in silence while their fake president fires anyone who gets near the truth. It is impossible to believe this is the USA, it is more like the dictatorships that Trump so admires. While Trump is using the presidency to enrich his hotel empire, the rest of us have to suffer the childish, temper- tantrum throwing tweeter in the White House. When will the GOP finally stand up for decency? I will not hold my breath.
21
Mr. Kristof says, "The meeting gave the Kremlin potential blackmail material against the Trumps, and thus possibly leverage over them." That's an interesting point. Perhaps it did; if so, what did they want in exchange for not using their "leverage?" Did they get what they wanted? If not, well, what's the point of blackmail if not to make good on the threat? The White House is reportedly furious over leaks, the source(s) of which they cannot find. Maybe they're looking in the wrong place.
8
The Washington Post just noted that 14 Trump hotels have been hacked within the last few months. Could this be a warning to the Trumps? Comply with Russia or else?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/07/11/hackers-have-...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/07/11/hackers-have-...
7
I keep hearing Republicans say that Americans don't care about 'the Russia thing'.
Those of us who are disturbed by this must contact their Republican Senator(s) and Congressional representatives and demand Kushner lose his security clearance.
I keep asking my Senator, Susan Collins, when is she going to channel Margaret Chase Smith? We desperately need a common sense, reasonable voice push back at this president. Someone in the Republican party has got to be be first, so I say to my senator: choose the correct side of history. Not speaking out against Trump now, right now, with what we know today, puts our country in deep peril. Choose the correct path and stand up and out against this criminal president - and his entire mafiosi clan.
Those of us who are disturbed by this must contact their Republican Senator(s) and Congressional representatives and demand Kushner lose his security clearance.
I keep asking my Senator, Susan Collins, when is she going to channel Margaret Chase Smith? We desperately need a common sense, reasonable voice push back at this president. Someone in the Republican party has got to be be first, so I say to my senator: choose the correct side of history. Not speaking out against Trump now, right now, with what we know today, puts our country in deep peril. Choose the correct path and stand up and out against this criminal president - and his entire mafiosi clan.
19
Everyone cares about these falsehoods except the folks who are on the Trump payroll. It appears that this family has a lawyer for everything ,They never found a person who they haven't tried to corrupt and destroy their reputation in the process.
3
hmmmm - so we are going to find out if we live in a banana republic -
6
When Vice President Pence becomes the Commander in Chief God help us all.
8
There's no way that Pence is innocent in all this.
6
Amen to that. Because that would also mean Paul Ryan moves up next in line.
7
In the Carter administration, I worked in positions at the Defense Department and the Department of Energy that required high clearances. I had an uncle in the then-Soviet Union whom I had never met or spoken to. When I applied for my security clearance, I disclosed every last bit of information I had concerning my uncle.
I got my clearances, but if I had concealed this information I would have expected them to be denied and, perhaps, for me to be prosecuted for lying to the government.
When did the rules change?
I got my clearances, but if I had concealed this information I would have expected them to be denied and, perhaps, for me to be prosecuted for lying to the government.
When did the rules change?
413
When Obama got elected, according to the GOP.
2
The rules change every time there is a Republican in the WH.
4
When did they change, good question. Wealthy Americans can now do criminal things and pretty much get away with it. "I don't pay taxes because I'm smart," the President said and apparently many Americans thought it was a good thing. I think this reverence for riches has been coming along gradually and for a long time so we hardly noticed it; My first alarm was Reagan busting the air traffic controller union, no good reason except a severe poke in the eye for unions and now we don't have strong unions. The greediness become fashionable and grew in that era. Now, many Americans are running scared if they aren't wealthy. It's like the Stockholm Syndrome: poor or modest people in this country are now identifying with their wealthy oppressors.
4
Kushner is just following in his father's footsteps. He'll end up in prison along with Don Jr. As for Trump he will have a major meltdown and move in with Vlad. They deserve each other.
12
I'd be willing to bet a lot that there are a substantial number of Republican politicians out there right now that are thinking to themselves that it might have been much better for them if Hillary Clinton was residing in the White House.
After playing offense for eight years, they're now having to play defense about their own incompetence in Congress and the clear indication that their party's leader, President Donald Trump, is not only a bumbling idiot, but a traitor to American democracy. Not a good look for them.
After playing offense for eight years, they're now having to play defense about their own incompetence in Congress and the clear indication that their party's leader, President Donald Trump, is not only a bumbling idiot, but a traitor to American democracy. Not a good look for them.
17
Do you seriously think any of Trump's children are not going to immediately run to their father & tell him something they are proud of accomplishing that would benefit him and diminish his opponent?
Mr. President, you & your loyalty-oath, have taught us well. We won't forget.
Mr. President, you & your loyalty-oath, have taught us well. We won't forget.
20
Thanks again, NYT for doing such a fantastic job of bringing the underworld activities of the seamy Trump team out into the light of day where, scoff and lie as much as they and their minions are wont to do, noone much anymore believes their protestions of innocence. Every day that passes makes it look more and more like anyone who backs the Trump administration is complicit in treason. America has been hung out to dry by Putin and his operative Trump, and Republicans in congress seem to be allied with Russia instead of the U.S. That is just the kind of political party the Republicans are.
18
Something that is not getting emphasized enough, it seems to me, is that when Donald Jr. admits his meeting with the Kremlin lawyer was about "adoptions," he is admitting that the meeting was about sanctions -- and sanctions are the stuff of the quid pro quo which, when proved, will make out criminal collusion. Donald Jr. may think saying "adoptions" makes the meeting seem innocent, but that's only because he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. The "adoptions" in question refer to a cruel policy to cut off all further adoptions by Americans of Russian orphans which Putin in place to retaliate against the Magnitsky law enacted by Congress. And the Magnitisky law is a SANCTIONS law -- passed by Congress to punish Kremlin higher ups who used a fraudulent scheme to steal more than $ 200 million from American-linked companies and then conspired to have the brave Russian auditor who blew the whistle on this scheme, Magnitisky, locked up and eventually killed in prison. So there you have it: the elements of a quid pro quo were fully present at Donald Jr.'s meeting. The Kremlin lawyer wanted to talk about having Trump elected so he could lift the Magnitsky sanctions and Trump, through his son, wanted to talk about getting hacked Hillary emails to help him get elected. Or as Stephen Colbert brilliantly put it: Donald Jr. brought a gun to the meeting and the Kremlin lawyer brought a bullet -- both of them eager to make smoke.
24
A really superb post. You had me at: "Something that is not getting emphasized enough, it seems to me, is that when Donald Jr. admits his meeting with the Kremlin lawyer was about "adoptions," he is admitting that the meeting was about sanctions -- and sanctions are the stuff of the quid pro quo which, when proved, will make out criminal collusion."
8
I was going to ask how difficult it will be to tie the Trumps to the leaks of stolen DNC material, but now I think they probably left all kinds of tracks and candy wrappers along the way, they'll soon be telling us all about it and bragging about it--hey, the country needed to see all that dirt on Clinton!
3
Kristoff makes a point that seems self-evident but tends to get lost in the deluge of chatterbox coverage that passes for news on TV: what is already definitively known about the meeting of Don Jr., Kushner, Manafort with with the Russian shows an unsavory, corrupt, and unacceptable association with the Russians that dealt a body blow to America's basic moral and democratic values. We do not have to wait until a solid verdict is delivered on whether the meeting also constituted a crime. Mueller will get to the bottom of that. What we already know is enough to establish that the Trumpites have been caught telling multiple lies and have put the interests of Donald Trump and themselves above the interests of their country. The Trumps, Kushner, and Manafort have sold out America to the Russian thug Putin. That is what we know, and that makes them unfit to hold high office in the United States.
16
Certainly we cannot trust Kushner now, on anything. Son-in-law of a witch! Needs to be under oath soon, and Manafort too.
8
In the words of Flynn, "lock him up."
The pallid youngster has committed crimes, and is a danger to himself, and to our country.
The pallid youngster has committed crimes, and is a danger to himself, and to our country.
7
Could it be that Kushner came to the meeting precisely because he thought the Russian lawyer was going to dish dirt on Clinton, thus accepting Russian help to disrupt a US election - and left empty-handed because the lawyer actually wanted to speak about adoptions? This meant his boss-cum-father-in-law couldn't carry out his promise to tell his base the 'very, very interesting' news about Clinton. I remember being puzzled when that promise fizzled out. Now it makes sense.
The Republican defence that anyone would accept dirt on their political opponent, arrived at by any means at all, is given the lie because (according to Kristof) both the Kennedy and Gore campaigns turned down similar offers in their time.
The Republican defence that anyone would accept dirt on their political opponent, arrived at by any means at all, is given the lie because (according to Kristof) both the Kennedy and Gore campaigns turned down similar offers in their time.
10
Can we take t rump's security clearance away too?
We must not leave out the story of t rump's meeting with the top Russian spy in the White House with only the Russian media to witness.
The face of this administration is corruption.
The face of the republican party is....corruption.
t rump and the republican party are one and the same.
That is the real story that must come out in the next year.
No longer can we allow the false equivalence that both parties are even political parties. Democrats for sure, just look how disorganized it is.
republicans are just a crime family of vast proportions.
We must not leave out the story of t rump's meeting with the top Russian spy in the White House with only the Russian media to witness.
The face of this administration is corruption.
The face of the republican party is....corruption.
t rump and the republican party are one and the same.
That is the real story that must come out in the next year.
No longer can we allow the false equivalence that both parties are even political parties. Democrats for sure, just look how disorganized it is.
republicans are just a crime family of vast proportions.
11
Let's not be blinded by the statements of the Trumps, who have been proven liars over and over, regarding what happened during the meeting with the Russian lawyer.
Trump Jr. has undertaken a strategy that is so common among wrongdoers. He has admitted the things he had to admit (after being confronted with evidence contradicting prior statements), i.e., the meeting with the Russians, but has altered the associated facts that are harder to independently verify.
Once you accept this as a likely first principle, what likely happened at the meeting is obvious when looking at the totality of admitted facts. The Russians told Trump, et. al., about the bounty of stolen e-mails and other activities they could undertake to undermine Clinton. The Russians, of course, do not offer such assistance without a quid pro quo. Trump promised to drop the sanctions if he were elected. It was a no-lose proposition for the Kremlin: If Trump won, they would have a helpful stooge in the White House, if he lost, Hillary would still be undermined.
While there is yet no proof of this yet, in my mind at least, it is a much more plausible scenario than the one offered up by Trump, i.e., that the Russian sent their point person on sanctions to a meeting without the goods necessary to make a deal.
I think Mr. Kristof is right about Kushner being the linchpin. And when he is facing jail time, he will squeal, and the Trump family will wish it had stuck to managing golf courses.
Trump Jr. has undertaken a strategy that is so common among wrongdoers. He has admitted the things he had to admit (after being confronted with evidence contradicting prior statements), i.e., the meeting with the Russians, but has altered the associated facts that are harder to independently verify.
Once you accept this as a likely first principle, what likely happened at the meeting is obvious when looking at the totality of admitted facts. The Russians told Trump, et. al., about the bounty of stolen e-mails and other activities they could undertake to undermine Clinton. The Russians, of course, do not offer such assistance without a quid pro quo. Trump promised to drop the sanctions if he were elected. It was a no-lose proposition for the Kremlin: If Trump won, they would have a helpful stooge in the White House, if he lost, Hillary would still be undermined.
While there is yet no proof of this yet, in my mind at least, it is a much more plausible scenario than the one offered up by Trump, i.e., that the Russian sent their point person on sanctions to a meeting without the goods necessary to make a deal.
I think Mr. Kristof is right about Kushner being the linchpin. And when he is facing jail time, he will squeal, and the Trump family will wish it had stuck to managing golf courses.
10
Very compelling and this would all make for a great spy novel if it wasn't playing out in real time. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up. However, none of these daily shockers matter if the Republicans in Congress don't wake up from their narcissistic torpor and decide to take responsibility for the three branches government that they are, de facto, running. But chances are they won't, until they've exhausted every effort to enrich the wealthiest amongst us and ensure that the poorest are left destitute.
11
Can we please remove "nothingburger" from our national lexicon?
It's stupidity makes me cringe. Especially when this buzzword is all you hear no matter what is on either side of the word in discourse. It reinforces the idea that this is much ado about nothing, when it now seems there is much ado about something.
It's stupidity makes me cringe. Especially when this buzzword is all you hear no matter what is on either side of the word in discourse. It reinforces the idea that this is much ado about nothing, when it now seems there is much ado about something.
10
We'll know Republicans about serious about cutting federal spending when they insist that Jared Kushner don his daddy's orange jumpsuit.
5
Drip, drip, drip...as the water rises everyone in the administration is looking over their shoulders to make sure they have a lifeboat in sight...but no one is making a move yet. Lawyered up, they are building walls around themselves, pointing fingers, and leaking. Is Flynn talking? Manafort? Not fake news, all lies. From the "President" on down, they have all said there was no contact or collusion with Russian operatives. If the meetings were all so innocent why didn't Fredo...sorry, JR or Kushner come forward to prevent all of them from lying on the record? Did they ALL know? Of course they did. Drip, drip, gush.
8
Republicans will do nothing about this and no one will be accountable or lose a security clearance or be charged. In fact, our DOJ just settled a case of Russian money laundering involving this same lawyer for a pittance of what the settlement would have been had it gone to trial. Sessions is being questioned about this but I'm sure he won't answer--he only answer questions from Republicans anyway. My point? This situation is high and wide and out of control as far as the Russian influence is concerned. I don't believe it's just the Trump Administration that is involved--there are those in Congress in up to their necks as well. This why there will be no impeachment, no charges, no thorough committee hearings in either House or Senate. It's all a game--and the GOP and probably the Russians are in charge of the rules and the process.
10
We should all know by now that where there is smoke, there is a fire burning. Yet team Trump insists there is no smoke while we all choke and gag. Gotta laugh!
8
There are several unknowns about this meeting but a few things are clear from the e-mails. One said that the Kremlin had "offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary.." The meeting with the material was to be with a "Russian government attorney". As it turns out we now know that an attorney did in fact show up. We also know that she was a bright savvy prominent lawyer who traveled a great distance and was supposed to have with her "very high level and sensitive information". The unknowns missing from this piece are whether she read and looked at the stuff she was supposed to be carrying. Did she enter the room with a brief case and pull out documents? Did she show the docs to others in the room? Are we supposed to be idiots out here? When you wake up in the morning and there is snow on the ground can't we reasonably infer that it snowed during the night, if there was none on the ground when you went to bed. Thus, I intend to reasonably infer that the attorney showed up with documents and material which she had read before hand and that the stuff was "high level and sensitive" enough to make the trip, deserving, I might add to be circumstantially inferred as "of value" in connection with the American election. The only critical unknown that I cannot circumstantially infer is whether any of these docs were left with the recipients. Help me with this Nick so we can close this case. Thank you.
6
You know your cat, when it catches a bird or squirrel, will bring the trophy to the doorstep to show you what they've done? Well it is nearly impossible to imagine that Don Jr. and Jared wouldn't have brought this information to daddy and to gain his tacit approval and praise for a job well done. The stink of corruption runs deep on this one. It's the John Dean cancer now metasticized now to the president himself
14
Never expose your handler.
3
There are numerous threads that connect the Trumps to Russia and Russian investors. The affinity and the business connections the Trumps have with Russia and Russians is clear and unequivocal, and clearly explains why Don Jr. had the meeting with the Russian lawyer who was representing both the interests of the Russian government, i.e, Putin, and the legal interests of a couple of Russian money launderers that she was attempting to protect in court. She was in court representing the money launderers before she met with Don Jr, Kushner and Manafort.
What has not been completely clear has been Kushner's Russian connection. However I think we can get some understand of the Kushner-Russian connection through the window of a meeting he had at Vnesheconombank, or VEB, a bank wholly owned by the Russian state and closely tied to Russian intelligence.
Kushner is not only in legal trouble, he's in serious financial trouble when Kushner over paid for the 666 5th Ave. building in NYC. That building is a financial albatross for the Kushner and could lead him down the road to financial ruin. So it appears that he may be taking a page out of Trump's handbook, get money from the Russians: clean or dirty, laundered or not. Just get it and save himself. I'm sure his father would approve.
What has not been completely clear has been Kushner's Russian connection. However I think we can get some understand of the Kushner-Russian connection through the window of a meeting he had at Vnesheconombank, or VEB, a bank wholly owned by the Russian state and closely tied to Russian intelligence.
Kushner is not only in legal trouble, he's in serious financial trouble when Kushner over paid for the 666 5th Ave. building in NYC. That building is a financial albatross for the Kushner and could lead him down the road to financial ruin. So it appears that he may be taking a page out of Trump's handbook, get money from the Russians: clean or dirty, laundered or not. Just get it and save himself. I'm sure his father would approve.
11
So much of the conversation around this scandal is political. Everyone is in a frenzy over whether this will be a win for Democrats or a blow to the GOP. People don't seem to realize that we are facing a grave national security risk. We need to remove Trump and his entire cabinet NOW. I don't agree with Paul Ryan's politics, but at least he's not working for Putin (as far as we know).
8
Jared Kushner, despite his very questionable integrity, is a smart guy. Any omissions from his paper work for security clearance were intentional. I know I don't forget anything, and I guarantee Trump and Kushner don't either. Lock them up. They are turning our government into a cess pool. The oval office is going to have to be fumigated, deloused, and completely renovated to get the stench out of the place. God help us.
10
Trump will throw one of them under the bus to save himself. I predict it's Don jr.
7
Going to need a bigger bus...
4
Does kushner have any staff to go with his large portfolio? It seemed to me that his portfolio is empty but it gives him cover to go everywhere 45 goes. He seems more of a babysitter or caretaker for 45 who, aside from whatever psychiatric malady he suffers from, seems to be suffering from some level of dementia.
6
One of Nicolas Kristof's articles introduces Trump to a 2 year old: These series of events in the past 20 years point to the need for all of us to really get to know the real villain in the Trump comedy of Eros and Errors: The 2 year old that Donald Trump really is & has never grown out of.
The election of this buffoon really proves that what H.L. Mencken once said in the Baltimore Sun in the Thirties was so right on:"One can never go broke underestimating the poor taste of the American public."
Look at this whole tragicomedy in terms of Ockham's Razor and realize that stupid IS what stupid DOES.I am an American but my vote should not be held equal to cretins whose main sources of information are Fox News and the tabloids like Breitbart News.
Intelligence, education, and decisiveness all trump cretinism /populism and demagoguery.Cleanse this country of all the Republican bums governing it now and start all over with people like Whoopi Goldberg or the new Joe Scarborough..
The election of this buffoon really proves that what H.L. Mencken once said in the Baltimore Sun in the Thirties was so right on:"One can never go broke underestimating the poor taste of the American public."
Look at this whole tragicomedy in terms of Ockham's Razor and realize that stupid IS what stupid DOES.I am an American but my vote should not be held equal to cretins whose main sources of information are Fox News and the tabloids like Breitbart News.
Intelligence, education, and decisiveness all trump cretinism /populism and demagoguery.Cleanse this country of all the Republican bums governing it now and start all over with people like Whoopi Goldberg or the new Joe Scarborough..
3
Treason. No other word for it. T-R-E-A-S-O-N !!!! All three of them and probably daddy and Pence too. Indictment, trial, prison. No need to wait for Mueller. The justice department should be able to proceed. It is time to drain the swamp in the WH.
6
What this country needs more now than ever, to make the "no man is above the law" principal a noble reality.
If it can be proven that this president knowingly (let alone wantonly) colluded with the russians, that he be forced to resign, indicted and ultimately sent to jail.
And the others in his erratic orbit who are found guilty to join him.
If it can be proven that this president knowingly (let alone wantonly) colluded with the russians, that he be forced to resign, indicted and ultimately sent to jail.
And the others in his erratic orbit who are found guilty to join him.
13
Donald Trump said that the only secure method of communication in the modern age is handwritten notes carried by messenger. He is not a techie. Someone informed him about this situation...probably Vladimir Putin.
The Trumpsters are probably using non-electronic methods to communicate with the Russians. Donald Sr. revealed his knowledge of this method when he bragged about it. We need to find a way to trace the paper trail. Email is so passé.
The Trumpsters are probably using non-electronic methods to communicate with the Russians. Donald Sr. revealed his knowledge of this method when he bragged about it. We need to find a way to trace the paper trail. Email is so passé.
9
Trump's presidency is at the whim of Putin, he can release information that could get him out of office and put his family in jail. He wouldn't do that now, but imagine what effect this has had on Trump.
Trump was right when he said "I'm no puppet", he's a hostage.
Trump was right when he said "I'm no puppet", he's a hostage.
13
Does anyone think it remotely plausible that Jr. didn't tell Sr. that the campaign was about to receive some great dirt about Clinton? I'm betting that Mueller suspects Dad was informed pretty quickly. And, I'm betting there's a subpoena out now that demands Jr.'s phone and email records. Those will show a message to Dad.... "Dad, I love this! You will too..."
12
Any doubts - seriously, any doubts by any one at all - that a black man charged with a risky-dink crime would;t already be in jail with this much evidence against him?
But no. When the guy is white (like me), in a suit (like me) and - most importantly - super wealthy and connected ... he gets to spend literally months arguing for his own defense in the public, while 'the investigation continues'.
Normal people are arrested when there is even a credible whiff of a crime, and all allowed to defend themselves all they want, after being put behind bars and charged.
*That's* the difference. We are no longer equal in our country, and little crooks like Donny Jr. and Jared prove the point. My kid - your kid - would be IN JAIL now, with this much evidence of a crime. And so, the powerful do not fear justice. Welcome to Legal Apartheid in the good 'ol USA!
But no. When the guy is white (like me), in a suit (like me) and - most importantly - super wealthy and connected ... he gets to spend literally months arguing for his own defense in the public, while 'the investigation continues'.
Normal people are arrested when there is even a credible whiff of a crime, and all allowed to defend themselves all they want, after being put behind bars and charged.
*That's* the difference. We are no longer equal in our country, and little crooks like Donny Jr. and Jared prove the point. My kid - your kid - would be IN JAIL now, with this much evidence of a crime. And so, the powerful do not fear justice. Welcome to Legal Apartheid in the good 'ol USA!
8
I'd say Mr. Kristof has framed the crime very credibly and Mr. Parel has cast a proper and sarcastic exclamation point on the whole sordid story. As regards the Trump and Kushner men we can see a clear felonious case of "like father, like son".
5
Repeat after me:
Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica
READ THIS (it's not just about Brexit - it gets to U.S.):
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/07/the-great-british-bre...
Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica, Cambridge Analytica
READ THIS (it's not just about Brexit - it gets to U.S.):
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/07/the-great-british-bre...
3
We have been enduring the Russia collusion charade before and after DT became president. It is overwhelming just to keep up reading the news 24/7. A lot of talk, articles, gossip, interviews, press releases, revelations, drama, soap opera, lies.....etc. ... keep surfacing every day in the news; yet, NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE HAPPENS to the Trumps. They keep lying and committing serious crimes in plan view and with the GOP’s blessing. GOP loves DT and is blind and mute to the things happening under its nose. GOP controls everything in the government and nothing will happen to anyone in the WH or cabinet members no matter how people outside the government keep writing and screaming about. So, why to keep fusing about this endless situation? Something serious must happen to kick the trumps out of the WH and his incompetent cabinet out of the government buildings. But for now things are business as usual.
4
America waits for the next shoe to drop.
When did Dad learn about Jr's Kremlin outreach and did Dad's speech about emails encouraging more hacking hinge on Jr's meeting?
Mr. Manafort may help, if he gets a promise of immunity?
Jared? Will he turn "state's evidence" or do a jawthrust and face the music....if Dad promises to pardon him?
Those brave pillars of morality, ethics, and integrity in the Republican Senate haven't acted to protect National Security. Jared has not had National Security clearance revoked or even suspended. This is deeply troubling. Republican righteousness has become baseless, fraudulent. Lyndsey Graham was very righteous at the Wray hearings, demanding explicit directives from the nominee about what he wants to tell elected officials to do if approached by a foreign operative with OPO dirt. No calls from his office or any Republican office to suspend Jared's Security Clearance. This is suspicious given the rectitude and multiple hearings and investigations of the Clintons based on rumor or mental gymnastics.
Republicans, Jared has top clearance and he knowingly met with a Russian lawyer for the purpose of acquiring dirt on a Presidential candidate. Is any Republican concerned? Please call the NY Times or even FOX to share your concern about our National Security.
When did Dad learn about Jr's Kremlin outreach and did Dad's speech about emails encouraging more hacking hinge on Jr's meeting?
Mr. Manafort may help, if he gets a promise of immunity?
Jared? Will he turn "state's evidence" or do a jawthrust and face the music....if Dad promises to pardon him?
Those brave pillars of morality, ethics, and integrity in the Republican Senate haven't acted to protect National Security. Jared has not had National Security clearance revoked or even suspended. This is deeply troubling. Republican righteousness has become baseless, fraudulent. Lyndsey Graham was very righteous at the Wray hearings, demanding explicit directives from the nominee about what he wants to tell elected officials to do if approached by a foreign operative with OPO dirt. No calls from his office or any Republican office to suspend Jared's Security Clearance. This is suspicious given the rectitude and multiple hearings and investigations of the Clintons based on rumor or mental gymnastics.
Republicans, Jared has top clearance and he knowingly met with a Russian lawyer for the purpose of acquiring dirt on a Presidential candidate. Is any Republican concerned? Please call the NY Times or even FOX to share your concern about our National Security.
6
Pogo said it best! "I've seen the enemy and he is us"
3
They all are treasonists.
Remember that 67 creeps ended up being charged with criminal activity in Watergate. Watergate did not involve treason, Russiagate does.
Surely the denials and red-herrings will continue to flow, but now they each have to ask themselves: do I want to go to prison for Benedict Donald? Rats from a sinking ship. Couldn't happen to a more deserving disgusting creep.
Remember that 67 creeps ended up being charged with criminal activity in Watergate. Watergate did not involve treason, Russiagate does.
Surely the denials and red-herrings will continue to flow, but now they each have to ask themselves: do I want to go to prison for Benedict Donald? Rats from a sinking ship. Couldn't happen to a more deserving disgusting creep.
7
The dogs that didn't bark: 1. Why does no one on the chain say, "hey, what is this, Russian help? None seemed surprised by this -- as if it is part of a larger pattern unnecessary to explain. 2. Where is the follow-up to all of this saying "hey, Rob, she had nothing -- this was a waste of my time"? It was as if something went down that did't need to be said. 3. Rob said he would contact Don with the names of TWO visitors to Trump Tower. Where is that email with the names? What happened to the other person?
6
The key point here, and thanks for making it, is that candidate Trump in his usual fashion publicly stated that he was going to give a "major speech" on Clinton dirt the very next day after this meeting was to occur. Anyone with even the most rudimentary understanding about how this cabal operates can rightly infer that Junior and Jared went immediately to Trump with the news. Investigators will ultimately make this connection and someone, most likely Jared under pressure of felony charges will turn, and the truth will out. Then the real fun will begin as we watch the GOP "leaders" fail to follow through on their oath to protect America and impeach these quislings.
284
And then, how clean is Pence on the Russian question? And then Paul Ryan, Orrin Hatch, Rex Tillerson -- oops!
Obviously, no one in the Trump administration or his family ever watched an episode of THE AMERICANS. This is just the sort of thing Russian operatives, Phillip and Elizabeth would do to ensnare real Americans into helping them. It follows the show right down to having the Russian spy be young and pretty, a-la Keri Russell's character.
But who knew it would be so easy as to have the Russian spy say, in effect, 'I'm from the Russian government and I'm here to help.'
But who knew it would be so easy as to have the Russian spy say, in effect, 'I'm from the Russian government and I'm here to help.'
4
Great article Mr. Kristof and let's not forget about Mike Pence. He was on the transition team so he probably knew what was going on even though he lies about it constantly.
10
Let's not forget about Jared's closer personal friend Ezra Cohen-Watnick, the 30-year old kid who happens to be National Security Council DIRECTOR FOR INTELLIGENCE, and who last April was reported to have been involved in an effort to pass House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes with top-secret documents on government surveillance.
To call this puerile assemblage a "clown posse" would be charitable.
To call this puerile assemblage a "clown posse" would be charitable.
5
Alternatively, when was the last time that an ensemble of amateurs consistently provided this level of entertainment?
1
So much ink (sorry, I am still lost in the era of newsprint rather than web) has been spent on Kushner. And yet, I don't remember having EVER heard him speak. But, he is in charge of: Peace in the Middle East, Opioid Crisis Management, Government Reform, Data and Technology, Modernization of the VA, Infrastructure, Criminal Justice Reform, Liaison to Mexico, Israel and China as well as Liaison to the Muslim Community. Gee...except for Health Care Reform, looks like Jared is the President instead of the Donald. Yet we did not elect him, are not privy to his day-to-day activities, and have little if any idea of what he stands for. Factor that into the quiet maneuverings of Pence, the removal of rules and regulations, the nothing productive actions of the Pres and the back-room dealings of the GOP, and it looks like we, the American people who are paying the bills, have no idea what is up with our government....or if we even really HAVE a government. I think we are in even deeper water in this swamp than we are aware of, and both the vultures and the sharks are circling.
4
Kushner and Manafort were involved in a lot more than this meeting.
This was just the Russians locking in someone far closer to Trump than either of them- obviously with their direct assistance.
Snakes.
This was just the Russians locking in someone far closer to Trump than either of them- obviously with their direct assistance.
Snakes.
5
Several troubling things, here in many directions.
1. DTrumpJr and JKushner didn't seem to have the ethics to refuse the Russian information offer. JKushner has law school training. He should have known better and should have gotten the FBI involved prior to going to the meeting and should have gone with a wire.
2. What is apparent so far (may not be entirely completely honestly revealing) is that the Russian lawyer had no authorization from the Putin-hacking team, had no information from them, and, instead, was trying to bait the Trump campaign in order to try to get the Maginsky Act that put sanctions on some Russians reversed. I.e., the Trump campaign was scammed. That speaks to their naïveté but the fact that no follow up happened also suggests that they rapidly discarded this bunny path as worthless.
3. Nothing in this "scandal" appears to be illegal; just impropitious. That goes to the novice-politician direction and that inexperience is apparently what Trump supporters wanted...they do not like insiders, though, in this case, greater savvy would have saved the day.
4. The fawning of the press over this event convinces many of us that the Press is maliciously malignant, overly invested emotionally, too emotional to be balanced and fair. I agree that Trump is unfit to be POTUS but my sincere hope is that Mueller will do the unemotional, dry, legal assessment and present the unemotional evidence to Congress.
1. DTrumpJr and JKushner didn't seem to have the ethics to refuse the Russian information offer. JKushner has law school training. He should have known better and should have gotten the FBI involved prior to going to the meeting and should have gone with a wire.
2. What is apparent so far (may not be entirely completely honestly revealing) is that the Russian lawyer had no authorization from the Putin-hacking team, had no information from them, and, instead, was trying to bait the Trump campaign in order to try to get the Maginsky Act that put sanctions on some Russians reversed. I.e., the Trump campaign was scammed. That speaks to their naïveté but the fact that no follow up happened also suggests that they rapidly discarded this bunny path as worthless.
3. Nothing in this "scandal" appears to be illegal; just impropitious. That goes to the novice-politician direction and that inexperience is apparently what Trump supporters wanted...they do not like insiders, though, in this case, greater savvy would have saved the day.
4. The fawning of the press over this event convinces many of us that the Press is maliciously malignant, overly invested emotionally, too emotional to be balanced and fair. I agree that Trump is unfit to be POTUS but my sincere hope is that Mueller will do the unemotional, dry, legal assessment and present the unemotional evidence to Congress.
The swamp that Trump wanted to drain is alive and well, just with a different species of animal, the Trump family. Encoded with a vicious DNA that replicates itself and infects others.
2
A while back there was a report of a secret meeting in the Seychelles, less than two weeks before the inauguration, of Erik Prince, Jared Kushner, the UAE and a Russian representative, to set up a “back channel between Moscow and the new administration”. Is that story gone, or is it yet to come?
8
I keep coming back to Trumps braggadocio: he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose one voter.
What does it take to get one voter, one Republican Senator, one outspoken Republican House member outraged?
Why is repealing healthcare so much more important than investigating if we elected someone who is either so stupid he doesn't know what treason is if he trips over it, or so stupid he doesn't know that others in his family and on his staff are busily tripping over it?
Why are our legislators ignoring all this? Why is the prospect of out-right killing a whole lot of Americans by closing off their access to doctors and medicine more important than addressing the cancer of stupidity, cupidity and corruption in our White House?
And why, really why, is it true that Trump could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a single vote? What is wrong with us? Even Brazil, not known for its intolerance of corruption, managed to impeach their crook.
What does it take to get one voter, one Republican Senator, one outspoken Republican House member outraged?
Why is repealing healthcare so much more important than investigating if we elected someone who is either so stupid he doesn't know what treason is if he trips over it, or so stupid he doesn't know that others in his family and on his staff are busily tripping over it?
Why are our legislators ignoring all this? Why is the prospect of out-right killing a whole lot of Americans by closing off their access to doctors and medicine more important than addressing the cancer of stupidity, cupidity and corruption in our White House?
And why, really why, is it true that Trump could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a single vote? What is wrong with us? Even Brazil, not known for its intolerance of corruption, managed to impeach their crook.
7
Trump is selling us out to the Russians.
They obviously have really bad dirt on him; else why would he be the biggest Vladimir Putin supporter in the world?
Unless the Republlican Congress gets off their money-lusting seats, the Russians will win.
They obviously have really bad dirt on him; else why would he be the biggest Vladimir Putin supporter in the world?
Unless the Republlican Congress gets off their money-lusting seats, the Russians will win.
4
There is a reason that Trump, his family and other hangers on continually shout "fake news!". Leaving aside the 25 yr. campaign against Hillary Clinton and the Clintons generally, the most important factor deciding the 2016 election was fake news consisting of lies rumors and half truths spread over the internet, most specifically Facebook.
Putin said the false memes were likely the work of "patriotic Russian teenagers" upset with attacks on mother Russia. Yeah, right. And Mickey Mouse will appear tonight, in person, at the Bolshoi Theater.
This could be the very real smoking RPG of the Trump 2016 campaign. If they assisted the Russians in any way at all, the slightest assistance would do, in spreading fake news, it would be game over. Virtually all politicians have to some degree tried to use dirty tricks to push voters in their direction. To do it in cooperation with a foreign government in a way that was successful in changing the outcome of the election would be unprecedented, illegal and traitorous. Trump appears to be shouting "fake news!" in the hope that that designation does not fall at his feet or slap him across the face.
Putin said the false memes were likely the work of "patriotic Russian teenagers" upset with attacks on mother Russia. Yeah, right. And Mickey Mouse will appear tonight, in person, at the Bolshoi Theater.
This could be the very real smoking RPG of the Trump 2016 campaign. If they assisted the Russians in any way at all, the slightest assistance would do, in spreading fake news, it would be game over. Virtually all politicians have to some degree tried to use dirty tricks to push voters in their direction. To do it in cooperation with a foreign government in a way that was successful in changing the outcome of the election would be unprecedented, illegal and traitorous. Trump appears to be shouting "fake news!" in the hope that that designation does not fall at his feet or slap him across the face.
5
Mr. Kristoff, you and I are thinking along the same track.
As soon as we found out about the Donald, Jr. episode, I told my husband that surely there was a link to Kushner trying to set up secret communications at the Russian embassy.
Why in earth was anyone who wanted to use an enemy nation's embassy for secret talks directly to Moscow ever allowed to keep a security clearance? Why is such a person allowed to work in any capacity at the White House, let alone be part of the " in return circle"?!
Why, especially after the news of past week, hasn't Kushner even now lost his security clearance?
As soon as we found out about the Donald, Jr. episode, I told my husband that surely there was a link to Kushner trying to set up secret communications at the Russian embassy.
Why in earth was anyone who wanted to use an enemy nation's embassy for secret talks directly to Moscow ever allowed to keep a security clearance? Why is such a person allowed to work in any capacity at the White House, let alone be part of the " in return circle"?!
Why, especially after the news of past week, hasn't Kushner even now lost his security clearance?
7
Jared took a lot of notes while visiting dad in prison.
4
What is amazing is that Trump Sr. claims he was not made aware in advance of the Kushner/Trump Jr./Manafort meeting with the Russians.
Hard to believe.
But if true, it reveals (as if more revelation is needed) an administration out of control with no administrative structure or controls.
Hard to believe.
But if true, it reveals (as if more revelation is needed) an administration out of control with no administrative structure or controls.
3
There's dirty politics. Then, there's illegal politics. Then, there's treasonous politics. Then there's Bastille day when royals are beheaded.
4
I have always been a little creeped out by Kushner (Ivanka too, but that's another story.)
He appears in nearly every photo taken of "meetings" in the White House – but I've never heard his voice or seen him speak publicly. He went to Harvard and is supposed to be "smart" – but his jailed daddy bought him (for $2.8-million) both his entrance into Harvard and his (guaranteed) degree. And he appears to be - in the same vein as his father-in-law - one of those people whose success stems from what they've inherited rather than what they've been able to achieve on their own.
He appears in nearly every photo taken of "meetings" in the White House – but I've never heard his voice or seen him speak publicly. He went to Harvard and is supposed to be "smart" – but his jailed daddy bought him (for $2.8-million) both his entrance into Harvard and his (guaranteed) degree. And he appears to be - in the same vein as his father-in-law - one of those people whose success stems from what they've inherited rather than what they've been able to achieve on their own.
6
Thanks to Jr. there's some "beef" now to the nothing burger.
Should have had Jared's security clearance revoked long time ago when it was noted he didn't report meeting with sanctioned Russian banker.
Wonder what he put in his revised SF-86 form for his "purpose of contact" with Ms. Veselnitskaya.
Should have had Jared's security clearance revoked long time ago when it was noted he didn't report meeting with sanctioned Russian banker.
Wonder what he put in his revised SF-86 form for his "purpose of contact" with Ms. Veselnitskaya.
3
Lock them all. Trump Inc is not here to serve the interest of the American people regardless of those who voted for him or not but to enrich himself and his family.
6
In the 'They go low, we go lower' department, I offer this: were I making a movie called The Devil in Manhattan, I'd cast Jared Kushner in the lead, for looks alone. The fact that his fabled building is at 666 Fifth Avenue is frosting on the cake. Yep, 666. The biblical mark of the Anti-Christ.
2
The New York Times has now succeeded in doing something no one or no thing has ever done: Made me read the New York Post.
What are all you op-eds and beat reporters going to do when you can't write 'whodunnits' anymore?
The National Enquirer only has so many openings.
What are all you op-eds and beat reporters going to do when you can't write 'whodunnits' anymore?
The National Enquirer only has so many openings.
Trump Jr., Kushner, and Paul Manafort were in that meeting. Manafort was the campaign manager at the time, for crying out loud. He knew that the meeting was against campaign finance law. How much longer does Trump get away with being naive? He knows every bankruptcy and tax dodge in the book, but he can't be bothered with federal campaign law and the Constitution? Jr, Kushner, and Manafort knew or
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.
4
Connect the dots...
Smell the wood burning?
Thats Kushner trying to figure out a way to defect.
Land or sea? Difficult questions...
Smell the wood burning?
Thats Kushner trying to figure out a way to defect.
Land or sea? Difficult questions...
3
Two words. TED KENNEDY
https://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/ted-kennedy-soviet-union-ronald-reagan...
https://www.forbes.com/2009/08/27/ted-kennedy-soviet-union-ronald-reagan...
1
and what relevance does this have actions of the Trump team?
2
One word: deflection.
1
The connections that keep coming up are between the Trump/Kushner money before country clan and all the either illiberal or outright autocratic regimes, xenophobic, hyper nationalist, my tribe is superior to all others, tear down democratic and multinational institutions and the free press, the most extreme bigoted version of their religion and ethnicity - Putin's Russia, Netanyahu's Israel, Ergodan's Turkey, Sisi's Egypt, Saudi Arabia's Wahhabism, America's ultra Evagelicals and pre-2nd Vatican Catholics, Europe's far right - all in the most unholy alliance of hate, bigotry, power and money that is the biggest threat to the world.
2
Mr. Kristof is much too hard on poor Jared. He just forgot to mention his meeting on with the Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, on his security clearance form.
After all he met with hundreds of people during his daddy-in-law's campaign and afterwards.
How on earth would a meeting with a person who had an interpreter of Russian to English and vice versa in tow be different than the any other ones?
After all he met with hundreds of people during his daddy-in-law's campaign and afterwards.
How on earth would a meeting with a person who had an interpreter of Russian to English and vice versa in tow be different than the any other ones?
May I kindly suggest:
Lock them up!
Lock them up!
3
Many surveys have ranked US presidents from best to worst. The lists are remarkably consistent with some minor differences.
For example, The Institute for the Study of the Americas at the University of London rated the U.S. presidents and from McKinley on. The ranking from most to least successful American presidents was:
FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, Truman, Reagan, Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, JFK, William McKinley, Carter, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Richard Nixon, Gerry Ford, Howard Taft, Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, George W. Bush and Harding. (Obama was not included)
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/presidential-campaign/262749-hist...
Our most successful presidents from the 20th century on were lawyers or career politicians for many years before becoming president.
What do the worst ranked presidents have in common? The bottom 4 were all businessmen—like our bragging business deal-maker Donald J. Trump.
And what is the occupation of the lTrump family members whom businessman Big Daddy appointed to high positions in his White House--all business people.
Political sociologists and political scientists have pointed out that the values of business are incompatible with the values of public service, and that ethics is too often treated as a joke in the business world--as the Trumps prove 24/7
Breaking News: The business of government is not business
For example, The Institute for the Study of the Americas at the University of London rated the U.S. presidents and from McKinley on. The ranking from most to least successful American presidents was:
FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, Truman, Reagan, Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, JFK, William McKinley, Carter, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Richard Nixon, Gerry Ford, Howard Taft, Hoover, Calvin Coolidge, George W. Bush and Harding. (Obama was not included)
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/presidential-campaign/262749-hist...
Our most successful presidents from the 20th century on were lawyers or career politicians for many years before becoming president.
What do the worst ranked presidents have in common? The bottom 4 were all businessmen—like our bragging business deal-maker Donald J. Trump.
And what is the occupation of the lTrump family members whom businessman Big Daddy appointed to high positions in his White House--all business people.
Political sociologists and political scientists have pointed out that the values of business are incompatible with the values of public service, and that ethics is too often treated as a joke in the business world--as the Trumps prove 24/7
Breaking News: The business of government is not business
5
There is another question that has not been addressed. Was it Russia (Putin) who first persuaded Trump (and family) to run for President?
7
Putin was determined to prevent the Clinton, May and Merkel triumvirate by interfering in the US election. To maximize the return for their effort, the Trump team was notified of their plans. The KGB did not sign a contract instead back channels were used to relay their plans and their desired returns. Jr accepted Russia offer and told them when it would be most helpful. The campaign signaled their acceptance by sending two senior members of the Trump team. Further confirmation was signaled by the attempt to establish back channel communications. The sending of a lawyer working to end sanctions signaled a top priority for Putin. Nothing was signed or explicitly stated. At the very least the Russians hoped for a friendly president. The master negotiators of the Trump team either agreed to lift sanctions or set themselves up to be blackmailed. If they want to bring down the presidency they can always leak their official reports back to Putin. At the very least, Trump should recuse himself from all dealings with Russia. Sad.
7
Trump should recuse himself from the Presidency!
1
Think about this as well: the only account we have of what was said at that meeting is from Trump, Jr., who has, of course, repeatedly lied when discussing the issue.
My thoughts:
- Campaign chairs don't take meetings with random people
- Jr. said Kushner left quickly - see above, I don't believe anything Jr. says
- Jr. says he never discussed it with Sr. - see above.
It's entirely plausible that the meeting was about exactly what it was supposed to be about - a Russian offer of help to the Trump campaign - and that the offer was accepted and this was then communicated to the candidate. Having gotten the OK, the Russians then commenced sending documents to WikiLeaks.
Entirely plausible.
My thoughts:
- Campaign chairs don't take meetings with random people
- Jr. said Kushner left quickly - see above, I don't believe anything Jr. says
- Jr. says he never discussed it with Sr. - see above.
It's entirely plausible that the meeting was about exactly what it was supposed to be about - a Russian offer of help to the Trump campaign - and that the offer was accepted and this was then communicated to the candidate. Having gotten the OK, the Russians then commenced sending documents to WikiLeaks.
Entirely plausible.
9
You raise a good point(s): 1) prior interactions may have conditioned the attendees to act quickly; 2) the meeting need not have taken long if a handover of documents was accomplished; 3) there is no reason to think that all components of any given plan need to be accomplished in one meeting; 4) the Russian government may have rightly believed that having 3 senior Republican operatives in the same room at the same time would throw off enough of a stench that further action need not occur.
A big win for the Russians; Trump lost bigly (aka "big league" if you don't have stroke induced aphasia).
A big win for the Russians; Trump lost bigly (aka "big league" if you don't have stroke induced aphasia).
Well, the Trump Jr. allegations didn't stick, why now move to the other Trump.
Why not do a report on why NYT editor didn't want to run a real story about the late, great Ted Kennedy actually colluding with top Russian officials to unseat Reagan?
Evidence is real.
'The editor at the New York Times confessed to being "fascinated" by the piece but conceded that he wouldn't "be able to get it in."' Professor Kroger
Why not do a report on why NYT editor didn't want to run a real story about the late, great Ted Kennedy actually colluding with top Russian officials to unseat Reagan?
Evidence is real.
'The editor at the New York Times confessed to being "fascinated" by the piece but conceded that he wouldn't "be able to get it in."' Professor Kroger
Uh, the allegations against Trump, Jr. are sticking like super glue! Pay attention.
3
Seriously? You're bringing up Ted Kennedy? That has to be the worst attempt at deflection I've ever seen.
4
interesting, the second person trolling this Teddy Kennedy deflection line in as many minutes--the right wing/fake news contingent has their talking points all lined up already and spouted by their minions on cue.
1
The minority of the population who ever wanted Trump to be POTUS, will likely remain firm to the end. History has shown fallen leaders retained some supporters no matter the damage done or crimes committed by their 'dear leader'. The GOP rush to have DT sign legislation that meets their goals is fierce. Once most is accomplished they could care less about him.
5
Even if Kushner's security clearance was taken away, Trump would just allow him access, based on his giving classified information to the Russians under the theory that he can do whatever he wants.
They all need to be taken away, period, so we can get our country back from these traitors.
They all need to be taken away, period, so we can get our country back from these traitors.
6
Take a look at the article in the Business Insider. House Reps sent a letter to Sessions asking why a Russian money-laundering case was settled before going to trial. That same lawyer, who was at Trump, Jr's meeting, represented the defendant. "That attorney, Natalia Veselnitskaya, represents the family of Pyotr Katsyv, the former vice governor of the Moscow region, whose son, Denis, owns the real-estate company Prevezon. The DOJ had been investigating whether Prevezon laundered millions of dollars through New York City real estate when the case was unexpectedly settled two days before going to trial in May."
6
When the full accounting of this meeting is reckoned, it will be found that money laundering was at the core. If not involving the Trump's then via provision of "air cover" to some other launderer.
Oh, yes. Jared's little San Antonio project involving the Mercer family.
The Russians never had any "dirt" on Hillary. What they had was a sophisticated "news" creating apparatus operated by Mr. Kushner in a San Antonio warehouse where manufactured stories like pizza parlor pedophilia rings were invented and distributed to an unfortunately gullible section of the American populace.
The truly sad part of this whole sordid affair is that just enough progressives were influenced by the Karl Rove, Sean Hannity, Vladimir Putin ring of deceit to abandon probably the most qualified presidential candidate in American history and allow a monster in the White House.
They will do it again in 2020.
The Russians never had any "dirt" on Hillary. What they had was a sophisticated "news" creating apparatus operated by Mr. Kushner in a San Antonio warehouse where manufactured stories like pizza parlor pedophilia rings were invented and distributed to an unfortunately gullible section of the American populace.
The truly sad part of this whole sordid affair is that just enough progressives were influenced by the Karl Rove, Sean Hannity, Vladimir Putin ring of deceit to abandon probably the most qualified presidential candidate in American history and allow a monster in the White House.
They will do it again in 2020.
7
The Princeling will give up anyone if it means saving his skin, even his father-in-law. I can only wonder about the conversations that occur around the Kushner dinner table.
4
Mmm. Wanting to use the result of an adversary's espionage against the USA as a weapon to destroy the obvious fairness our election process.
Sounds very unAmerican to me. Do Trump supporters wish to act in an anti-USA manner also? And, is it treasonous?
Sounds very unAmerican to me. Do Trump supporters wish to act in an anti-USA manner also? And, is it treasonous?
5
New names: Tweedle D and Tweedle Dumber. Father and son.
5
Dig in and hurry, Mr. Mueller! Our country can't stand too much more of this Trump fiasco!
7
I have the creepy feeling that there is so much dirt on the various Trumps and their associates that it could take years to sort out. Eventually "all roads" will twist into the noose that captures and removes them, but as a country how long can we afford to wait?
6
Perhaps it is time to consider changing the name of "The White House" to "The Red House."
4
Sadly this a road well traveled by another famous family that felt they were above the law.
With the Trumps and the Clintons dishonesty and questionable behavior seems to be part of their DNA.
This a just a continued embarrassment and an ongoing distraction from the issues that are most important to our country.
With the Trumps and the Clintons dishonesty and questionable behavior seems to be part of their DNA.
This a just a continued embarrassment and an ongoing distraction from the issues that are most important to our country.
1
Nice try but not even close.
2
Why can't this whole election get thrown out? It's rotten to the core. We need a do-over.
6
How does anyone know what to believe from this band of thieves? I try to understand how one can believe anything the Trump family/team says about what happened in/at a meeting they hid from everyone! As I understand it, Kushner completed his security clearance paperwork only a few weeks after this meeting. How can ANYONE believe he forgot a meeting that promised to provide information that would create a potential advantage to the Trump campaign? Even IF the information was never delivered in the meeting.
This isn't naivete either or Kushner would have listed the meeting. He KNEW it was wrong at best and criminal at worst. Why else would he lie about this meeting for a year. Wiped clean from his memory banks? Hardly.
Our government has been kidnapped & held for ransom until Trump bilks as much money out of this country & its' citizens as they can. Mueller &
This isn't naivete either or Kushner would have listed the meeting. He KNEW it was wrong at best and criminal at worst. Why else would he lie about this meeting for a year. Wiped clean from his memory banks? Hardly.
Our government has been kidnapped & held for ransom until Trump bilks as much money out of this country & its' citizens as they can. Mueller &
4
This country has been hijacked by a bunch of thugs and traitors posing as public servants. Trump Sr. just made the biggest profit-making deal of his life by getting elected president. Anyone who was previously a skeptic can no longer ignore the truth of this travesty.
But perhaps he greatest betrayal is this: the The Trump Criminal Entourage is being aided and abetted by spineless, self-serving Congressional Republicans who see only very short-term gains for themselves by being loyal to their tribe. It is as though burglars have entered their house, while they stand by and watch, making excuses and justifications for the thugs while their house is being ransacked and destroyed. Incredible.
But perhaps he greatest betrayal is this: the The Trump Criminal Entourage is being aided and abetted by spineless, self-serving Congressional Republicans who see only very short-term gains for themselves by being loyal to their tribe. It is as though burglars have entered their house, while they stand by and watch, making excuses and justifications for the thugs while their house is being ransacked and destroyed. Incredible.
6
May Jared Kushner follow in his father's footsteps, wearing an orange jumpsuit.
4
The SCP was a repub when all this happened. As we know, whatever repubs do is patriotic, above reproach and never dishonest. Remember Nixon was not a crook, he told us so himself.
The SCP just told us that his son is innocent. Why can't we just take him at his word?
The SCP just told us that his son is innocent. Why can't we just take him at his word?
2
Would you do business with a company that lies, cheats, steals and doesn't pay taxes? That business is running our country.
4
Time to hire the best and brightest not to mentioned experienced attorney in the country to defend the President.
Even Schiff stated ethics and civic responsibility were possibly breeched, but he refused to say crimes were committed.
Time for President Trump to hire the former liberal democrat darling, Alan Dershowitz.
Even Schiff stated ethics and civic responsibility were possibly breeched, but he refused to say crimes were committed.
Time for President Trump to hire the former liberal democrat darling, Alan Dershowitz.
I so miss President Obama.
Not a perfect administration, but I never woke up in the morning wondering which family member was just 1 step ahead of indictment.
so so so sad we have come to this
Not a perfect administration, but I never woke up in the morning wondering which family member was just 1 step ahead of indictment.
so so so sad we have come to this
5
When the obvious Russian connections and troubling love affair with Putin became clear, I posted here during the RNC convention, "Are We Stupid"? because the connection was so obvious with Flynn and Manafort and GOP platform. One thing that has not changed one iota is that Trump has financial connections that lead straight to the Kremlin, and most importantly both Trump and the official GOP playbook do not mention bipartisan sanctions which are in effect. And the GOP in congress will not force Trump's hand on a pending stronger sanctions bill.
So I ask again "Are We Stupid?" We have a traitor as president compromising national security with the assistance of the Republican Party. There is no gray area here.
So I ask again "Are We Stupid?" We have a traitor as president compromising national security with the assistance of the Republican Party. There is no gray area here.
4
Perhaps equally interesting to contemplate is where the roads DON'T lead - yet. Where's Steve? I can't shake this mental image of Darth Bannon on bended knee, before a hologram of Darth Putin: 'Everything is going as planned, Master.'
4
Fantasy pot-boiler and TV serial writers must be fuming all over the world.
How on earth can they come up with anything sleazier and crazier than what our own, non-majority elected President and his family are doing in real time?
How on earth can they come up with anything sleazier and crazier than what our own, non-majority elected President and his family are doing in real time?
4
Good morning Nicholas! After all this only take away his security clearance? You got to be joking! If I were to do something like this I would be behind bars and would have been fired in an instant. The only reason he is where he is, is because he is married to this supposedly "intelligent" woman. Give me a break! This whole administration is a scam just as everything else the man in the whitehouse has done his entire life - The guy has not scarified anything except anyone who has come in contact with him! I never thought this will happen in America but we are no different from a "Banana Republic". I am ashamed!
3
When does someone of influence in the Republican party finally get a conscience and step forward? Have they all been bought, bribed and blackmailed to the extent that none of them can see the endgame here? Do they not understand that they will all go down with Trump when this all sees the light of day? Do they honestly think this whole charade won't see the light of day? These oh-so-holier-than-thou Christians, how do they go to church on Sunday -- or even look at their reflections in a mirror?
3
"or even look at their reflections in a mirror" Because vampires don't have a reflection? That would be my guess. Those folks are not about Christianity, they are about the gospel of prosperity and the attendant need to grab power wherever possible.
Well said. We are witnessing a nasty sequence of events that took place with the explicit intent to destroy Clinton's political ambitions...and surrender the presidency to a mafia orchestrated by Trump and family, a very dangerous move subverting our democracy. Crooked lying Trump was always a sneaky guy, and whose assault of the White House was based on constant lying, innuendos, fake news, insults and exaggerations 'a la Birtherism hysteria' the republicans celebrated with their complicit silence. That Trump Sr was involved shouldn't even be a question, Donald Jr would never have had the guts to act independently. It is as if Chris Christie's Bridgegate fiasco could have taken place without the governor's distinct approval. Personally, I am disappointed in Jared, with such an angelical innocent look as cover for his iniquities and low blows to support the unsupportable, the fraudster in chief's misrule...to our relentless loss.
2
Once again the acorn did fall far from the tree. Jared's father, Charles Kushner, spent time in federal prison for illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. Jared, like Donald and Jr, have shown to have the same morality and sense of values as their fathers'.
2
We do know that the phone call happened Mr Kristoff because he sent him an email thanking him.
2
I'm sure if there was real dirt to be shared in the meeting, Kushner wouldn't have left after just 10 minutes. He's as shady as they come and has no business having any security clearance.
2
Jan: not necessarily...."Mr. Kushner, here are the documents you were hoping to receive." "Thanks". That would clock in under 2 minutes.
I think Trump's tax filings will be the last station in this long and sinister journey. It'll show the Orange Oracle owes hundreds of millions to one or more Russian oligarchs. Nice going, America, for electing a liar and a cheat.
3
The tax returns won't be enough: one would need all of the supporting schedules of capital gains/losses as well as documents which reflect ownership in various entities. Once any entity ownerships are discerned, each of those entities has to be subanalyzed. It takes hundreds of employees of an accounting firm to audit a mulit-billion dollar enterprise and that doesn't happen over night. Even given full information, it might take many months or even years (given foreign privacy rules which are enacted specifically to protect money launderers) to fully analyze Trump's returns. Given that, it is none too soon to start. In fact, Trump is undoubtedly playing a delay of game strategy...he may submit returns so late in the game that he will be out of office before the stuff hits the fan.
Why should proven serial liars be given the benefit of the doubt?
1
I go one better, take away Trump from our presidency, and the rest of his nefarious, "we are above all laws" Clan Trump will follow.
1
Even now, Trump Jr. says that it is "a shame" that he didn't get what he expected to get out of that meeting (HRC info from the Russians). He has absolutely no sense that he did anything corrupt or unethical. Actually, he has absolutely no sense.
3
Kushner is the son of a Republican and the son-in-law of a crime Family president. The Republicans have been corrupt for many years since Nixon and then increasingly since Reagan.
Let's not forget that Reagan committed treason; trading arms to hostile states. And he was the dog whistle president that woke up the racist in America to turn from Democrat to Republican. All the Republicans after that have just gotten worse. It's a party that must be banished; they stand for nothing but criminality and hate. And now they have the king of criminality Donald Trump as their master.
Let's not forget that Reagan committed treason; trading arms to hostile states. And he was the dog whistle president that woke up the racist in America to turn from Democrat to Republican. All the Republicans after that have just gotten worse. It's a party that must be banished; they stand for nothing but criminality and hate. And now they have the king of criminality Donald Trump as their master.
4
- 'just in case you’ve been stuck on a desert island' - what makes you think I am a Trump supporter!
1
Let's face it... Kushner is the only Trumpster smart enough to have coordinated w Russia.
1
Deafening silence or"ho-hum" are the responses from the leadership and vast majority of the Republican Congress. For them, the concept of "Country First" and "Party First" are one in the same. For the hard-core Trump base, Trump is a cult figure, and if he told them to drink the kool-aid, many would do it (Jonestown, 1978). They will support him no matter what is revealed.
1
Check out comment threads on news on Facebook this week. There is a strangely large number of Nigerians (as per info on their profiles) interested in American politics and they all seem to be advancing this idea that up is down, Russia is the democrats problem, the Russian lawyer is Ciar connected not Kremlin. None of that is true but it's all the narrative trump et al trying to plant. Even as I type this the latest nytimes commenter cites this conspiracy theory as fact. Makes me wonder if Kushner or somebody hiring a group that provides troll work and partisan lies......
3
Yes, take it away NOW! What are you waiting for? For Russia to take over the government?
1
So here's my theory:
The Trump posse makes a deal with Russia that if Trump is elected they will change the equation with Russia in material ways, to their mutual benefit. Russia then offers their hacking expertise to influence key voting districts. Someone on the Trump team "accidentally" leaves their entire national voter database out there in the cloud, available to any hacker (wink, wink). Russian hackers grab the data and go to work on those districts, sowing mayhem, directing disinformation and disqualifying oppo voters. Result:
Trump wins the Electoral College by a mere 70,000 votes in key districts.
We got robbed! Special Election in 11/17! Maybe a 3rd Party Coalition Ticket of Sasse & Warren.
The Trump posse makes a deal with Russia that if Trump is elected they will change the equation with Russia in material ways, to their mutual benefit. Russia then offers their hacking expertise to influence key voting districts. Someone on the Trump team "accidentally" leaves their entire national voter database out there in the cloud, available to any hacker (wink, wink). Russian hackers grab the data and go to work on those districts, sowing mayhem, directing disinformation and disqualifying oppo voters. Result:
Trump wins the Electoral College by a mere 70,000 votes in key districts.
We got robbed! Special Election in 11/17! Maybe a 3rd Party Coalition Ticket of Sasse & Warren.
2
When I was younger and idealistic I contemplated a career in politics. I grew up working class/poor in the Bronx and thanks to passionate CUNY Lehman Political Science professors was convinced that all one had to do was care enough and work hard enough to be a force for positive change and improvement in society. But I'm the illegitimate child of a career criminal I never knew because he was killed when I was a baby. To be fair, he would have likely been in prison for most, if not all of my childhood anyway. And then there's the rest of my family... Makes those get to know you occasions a bit awkward.
Most of the top people in politics are from political and/or wealthy families. Going back to the Roosevelt's at least. The Trumps and the Kushners have only shined a light on the sordid nature of our government system. Trump has 5 kids with 3 wives and is a serial adulterer. Kushner's father plead guilty to 18 felonies and set up his own brother. But they are rich and famous (or infamous), so none of that matters. My father was a criminal, but he loved his brother. And my mother had somewhat awful taste in men, but no worse than Trump or his ex's.
Time for a changing of the guard in both parties and with more economic/class/generational variety and less family dynasties.
Most of the top people in politics are from political and/or wealthy families. Going back to the Roosevelt's at least. The Trumps and the Kushners have only shined a light on the sordid nature of our government system. Trump has 5 kids with 3 wives and is a serial adulterer. Kushner's father plead guilty to 18 felonies and set up his own brother. But they are rich and famous (or infamous), so none of that matters. My father was a criminal, but he loved his brother. And my mother had somewhat awful taste in men, but no worse than Trump or his ex's.
Time for a changing of the guard in both parties and with more economic/class/generational variety and less family dynasties.
4
i am very happy for you, that you found a good path...that you did not grow up angry and violent and ruin your own life...peace be with you.
Harvard should form a committee to rethink its admission policy preferences for children of donors . They could call it "the Kushner Committee." They may also want to consider the source of the donor's money.
4
All I can say to this guy, a Trump "no nothing," is just wait. It gets better literally every day.
Follow the money.
3
I, for one, am looking forward to re-elections. Because by now it has become very obvious that this is an illegitimate president who would have never won without the interference of a hostile government. That also means that the party of no would not be running the country into ruin.
Democrats, you better clean up your mess quickly and find a way to work with the progressives to propose policies that focus on the middle class that feels that you have abandoned it. Oh, and please get rid of your corporate masters, otherwise you will never win anything.
Democrats, you better clean up your mess quickly and find a way to work with the progressives to propose policies that focus on the middle class that feels that you have abandoned it. Oh, and please get rid of your corporate masters, otherwise you will never win anything.
7
And Donald Trump should release his Federal and State tax returns to public scrutiny !
6
absolutely...just do that ONE THING...release your tax returns Don the Con....that alone would shed light on all of this.
Nicholas, I would humbly suggest an alternate title for your article would be "All Roads Lead To Ukraine". Why don't we back up a minute and discuss what the really big picture was concerning the election. Was it about healthcare, taxes, inequality or was it about who would be less likely to lead us into War ? From Peter Bakers excellent article in today's Times "Conspiracy or Coincidence" I quote "The Republican Platform @ The Party Convention July 10th 2016 was crafted to keep OUT a call to provide arms to Ukraine to fight Russian Separtists:" put another way The Democrats wanted to provide arms to support The Russian/ Israeli oligarchs who gained control of The Ukraine after the Western sponsored coup and ouster of their duly elected President, which was in part directed by Hillaries Under Secretary for Eurasian Affairs and Uber neo con Victoria Nuland. It seems to me the conversation surrounding Trump/Putin/Russia/ Clinton and the election always involves innuendo and sensationalism and does not address what is to be gained if any of this is true. I would suggest this is bigger than people such as tabloid writer Goldstone and the Russian lawyer, it seems as though if there was a desire on the part of Russia to influence the election I think it would be a better crafted. There are no nice people in any of this, Hillaries Russia/Iran hawkishness, Kushners business interests and closeness to Netanyahu nor Trump for his unclear boorishness. Ukraine is a thread throughout.
3
Sure hope someone is screening tall olde Trump Tower for electronics that could capture many many electronic communications of businesses ,civilians and the whole gambit of government.
1
I am curious...does anyone have contact with Trump supporters that they are still talking to? Do they really not care that we are this far gone into being a Putin pawn? Do they not care that the GOP is supporting these traitors wholesale, and ignoring the very real threat to any possibility of honest elections in the future? This is mind-blowing. Never, never, never could I have dreamed those who scream "patriotism" and "against the law" the loudest would be this supportive of destroying our democracy.
2
Why are so many trump toadies, who have repeatedly behaved in violation of rules that are required for one to obtain and hold a security clearance, given security clearances in spite of their clear violation of plain and clear rules, and then are allowed to keep their ill-gotten security clearances despite repeated acts of further violation of said rules?
2
The Russian bots are a considerable crime against our democratic process. It is the same as if they tweet the voter turnout votes or changed voter's ballots. They managed to implement psychological warfare without declaring a War. The Trump team let them through the back door and Snowden, WikiLeaks and Russian hackers programmed the code. Treason! It is high time we face it. King Trump and Court used their connections and influence to rig the election their way. Guess what, they did not have to do it. Electoral College was already rigged their way. It was overkill to use Russian operatives. But it was not about the election. It is Czar Putin who wanted to test the waters and he got it right. He realized that the elite in this country are willing to commit treason for profit. Putin-1, Americans-0. The enemy is within and now they are inside our government. How much damage they do will be up to us.
How come, in the emails Trump Jr. released on his twitter feed, the first time the incriminating subject line shows up, it's as a "Re:"?
"Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 12:40 PM
To: Donald Trump Jr.
Subject: Re: Russia - Clinton - private and confidential"
I wonder where is the preceding email is, where the subject line would have been simply:
"Subject: Russia - Clinton - private and confidential"
"Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 12:40 PM
To: Donald Trump Jr.
Subject: Re: Russia - Clinton - private and confidential"
I wonder where is the preceding email is, where the subject line would have been simply:
"Subject: Russia - Clinton - private and confidential"
2
gail, you hit the nail on the head in the last line. Strip Kushner of his security clearance. We the people must know that the Trump family is not selling us down the river to Russia. To prove that to our citizen's satisfaction will require the Trump clique to be much much more transparent -- dare I say truthful == about the Russian connection than they have been willing to be so far.
Donald (both Sr. and Jr.), this land is our land. You have no right to wantonly destroy our country and collude with hostile powers. Ultimately, history will judge you. Do not expect much if any praise for your stewardship of the USA.
Donald (both Sr. and Jr.), this land is our land. You have no right to wantonly destroy our country and collude with hostile powers. Ultimately, history will judge you. Do not expect much if any praise for your stewardship of the USA.
1
I love your work! Can you add a link to the Gore/FBI info? I did not remember this and would be interested to read more. We need to hold up examples of politicians doing the right thing and putting ethics ahead of self-interest. That's why it's called public service.
Jared was caught trying to establish a secret comm-channel to the Russians, but his outlaw dad-in-law tried again to establish a secret impenetrable communications channel with the Russians under the guise of cyber security unit.
I find it interesting that the content of the fake news the Russian-Kushner Cyber-Team of internet bots and trolls was (and is) essentially word for word from alt-right, Republicans, Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, and Fox slander (talking) points, propaganda and diversion. The Russians did not come up with the attack narratives - Americans on the right did - the Russians just helped disseminate it while hacking and spying to expose what they could on Hillary and the DNC to feed to the trolls. Now the Trumps want the entire American voter roll and details to feed to the Russian-Kushner Cyber-Team.
The Trumps and family have no shame whatsoever, so the threat by Russia to expose their lies and coverups have no effect on them. Just look at what the real press has come up with and they're unfazed as they double-down. What the Russians have over the Trumps which really matters to the Trumps is a Trump Tower in Moscow, a Trump Resort Golf and Casino on Ukrainian territory in Crimea, and other business deals to be had with oligarchs listed in the Magnitsky act. That is all that matters to them.
I bet Stephen King is saying to himself he could not have come have conceived of such a horror and scary presidency as this one.
I find it interesting that the content of the fake news the Russian-Kushner Cyber-Team of internet bots and trolls was (and is) essentially word for word from alt-right, Republicans, Alex Jones, Rush Limbaugh, and Fox slander (talking) points, propaganda and diversion. The Russians did not come up with the attack narratives - Americans on the right did - the Russians just helped disseminate it while hacking and spying to expose what they could on Hillary and the DNC to feed to the trolls. Now the Trumps want the entire American voter roll and details to feed to the Russian-Kushner Cyber-Team.
The Trumps and family have no shame whatsoever, so the threat by Russia to expose their lies and coverups have no effect on them. Just look at what the real press has come up with and they're unfazed as they double-down. What the Russians have over the Trumps which really matters to the Trumps is a Trump Tower in Moscow, a Trump Resort Golf and Casino on Ukrainian territory in Crimea, and other business deals to be had with oligarchs listed in the Magnitsky act. That is all that matters to them.
I bet Stephen King is saying to himself he could not have come have conceived of such a horror and scary presidency as this one.
The eye of the storm:
Within the eye of the storm there is nothing but peace and quiet while all around it there is hysteria, fantasy but no crime to prosecute. Trump lives in the innocence of the eye of the storm. He does not live in a bubble and unlike Nixon, he really is not guilty .
Within the eye of the storm there is nothing but peace and quiet while all around it there is hysteria, fantasy but no crime to prosecute. Trump lives in the innocence of the eye of the storm. He does not live in a bubble and unlike Nixon, he really is not guilty .
it is you who are in a bubble: a bubble of denial and delusion.
"You don't need to see his identification; these are not the (traitorous) Droids you're looking for...." The Jedi mind tricks of the Drumpf clan are beginning to lose their effectiveness in the face of the exposure of their nefarious acts.
Multiple explanations of a meeting with representatives of an adversary power involving Junior, Jared and Manafort, range from "It never happened" to "Anyone would have had that meeting". That might work for the Prevaricator-in-Chief's slavish minions and unctuous Republicans, but the National Nightmare facing all of us is becoming fully apparent.
The duplicity of the Nepotism Administration is exceeded by a feckless McConnell and clueless Ryan. Despite a majority in Congress, occupation of the White House, and a SCOTUS tipped by a stolen nomination, there is no sign of governance. We are seeing an abdication of American leadership in the World, seriously damaging the Western Alliance while ceding economic policies and geopolitics to China, as well as Russia.
Apparently President Chaos and the GOP think the American government and economy are self-driven vehicles that can be left on "cruise". How long can we endure this, and where will we be when the adults resume control? At this point, we can only hope the damage will not be irreparable.
Multiple explanations of a meeting with representatives of an adversary power involving Junior, Jared and Manafort, range from "It never happened" to "Anyone would have had that meeting". That might work for the Prevaricator-in-Chief's slavish minions and unctuous Republicans, but the National Nightmare facing all of us is becoming fully apparent.
The duplicity of the Nepotism Administration is exceeded by a feckless McConnell and clueless Ryan. Despite a majority in Congress, occupation of the White House, and a SCOTUS tipped by a stolen nomination, there is no sign of governance. We are seeing an abdication of American leadership in the World, seriously damaging the Western Alliance while ceding economic policies and geopolitics to China, as well as Russia.
Apparently President Chaos and the GOP think the American government and economy are self-driven vehicles that can be left on "cruise". How long can we endure this, and where will we be when the adults resume control? At this point, we can only hope the damage will not be irreparable.
This editorial is at best an example of how desperate journalism has become. It is not based on evidence but instead hysteria arising from a 20 minute meeting that Jr was conned into going to with the prospect of dirt on HC. Instead, it was bait and switch. The lawyer was not from the Kremlin but she did have her own agenda. Again, there was nothing about HC and therefore nothing from Moscow or anywhere else. So, in fact, there was no collusion or Russian help. Had Russian been helping, maybe the Russian lawyer actually would have delivered something useful. As to Kushner, he left early. So, actually, contrary to the editorial nothing leads to Kushner or Trump. How about waiting to see if Mueller comes up with anything instead of the baseless accusations in the editorial.
there is nothing baseless about Jr/'s e-mails.
Where does this go next? There will likely be a "fall-guy", possibly a family member, to take the hit. Legal ramifications will play-out. The President will be shielded from harms way. His loyal followers will blame the liberal media and other aligned people. FOX and associated media will fire-up the Fake News channels to redirect blame onto liberal elites. In a theatre of darkness, DJT will play the role of King Lear. He will consider a resignation in the best interests of the nation, after pardoning his associated parties who stumbled across the line between civility and criminal behavior. In the end, DJT is looking for a win-win out to return to the business of deal-making without the annoyance of democracy and the acolytes, sycophants and apparatchiks that feed off the official and deep state. Although the President will appeal to the loyalists, he will be deposed by the deeper state wealthy elite that owns the Right-Wing Politics franchise in America.
Absolutely, take away his security clearance now. The man lied on his clearance application and cannot be trusted.
1
Very educational as to the functioning and power structure of Russian. After the Russian annexation of Crimea, the US initiated a travel ban against the Russian Oligarchs/Billionaires, who control the Russian government. It was one or more of the Russian billionaires that had their travel restricted that interfered with US presidential elections in hopes of having their travel restrictions lifted. I suppose it was far less expensive to expose the DNC for the scoundrels that they are than to make a $100 million, cough, cough, donation to the now defunct Clinton Global Initiative? Now we have the Billionaires who had supported Hillary Clinton via the Clinton Global Initiative have their political influence crash. So when President Putin stated that the Russian government did not interfered in the election process of our constitutional republic he was telling the truth. As is President Trump when he states that there was no collusion with the Russian government. Unfortunately for the Democrats, the legal definition of a foreign power does not fit the circumstances of this case and everybody knows that if it does not fit you must acquit. The story is a good one, but the case against President Trump is a nothing burger.
While it's still officially circumstantial, anyone who is still trying to say this story is a nothing-burger clearly has an agenda that does not include the welfare of this country. I remain dumbfounded by Republicans in congress who refuse to put party above country at this point. They all swore an oath to the constitution, not the GOP.
May every last one of them pay the heaviest possible price for dishonoring their constituents, their office and their country.
May every last one of them pay the heaviest possible price for dishonoring their constituents, their office and their country.
1
Duh! At the very least take away his security clearance. That is the most simple and obvious first step.
2
Mr. Kristof,
Is taking away only clearance enough? He should also be fired so that he cannot be blackmailed - who knows what other mischievous things they did to grab the . They have to also realize that government business is not like doing illegal real estate transaction, cheating the people and taking government's tax advantage.
Is taking away only clearance enough? He should also be fired so that he cannot be blackmailed - who knows what other mischievous things they did to grab the . They have to also realize that government business is not like doing illegal real estate transaction, cheating the people and taking government's tax advantage.
1
I listen to interviews with Trump supporters who are not following the Russian story except through Trump's tweets and likely Fox News. Their tendency to dismiss it's importance and relevance is striking when contrasted with their rabid focus on all things Trump during the election. I fear they have been poisoned by Trump's lies and disinformation for so long and real information that shows the intent of the Trumps and their associates to collude with Russia to manipulate the election is met with a shrug of their shoulders and an odd comfort they convey confirming their belief that ignorance is strength.
Robert Mueller's investigation is proceeding at a deliberate pace which would be appropriate if its subjects were not in control of the executive branch of US government including the military and law enforcement agencies.
If there comes a point when indictable offenses are uncovered on the part of the president and other officers and top advisers, should Mueller withhold those facts until the conclusion of the entire investigation? Or is there an intermediate step available? Pulling Jared Kushner's security clearance appears to me to be an urgent matter, but what process would be necessary?
If there comes a point when indictable offenses are uncovered on the part of the president and other officers and top advisers, should Mueller withhold those facts until the conclusion of the entire investigation? Or is there an intermediate step available? Pulling Jared Kushner's security clearance appears to me to be an urgent matter, but what process would be necessary?
6
The road leads the case AG Jeff Session quietly settled a couple weeks ago, we will find that the Trump's and the Kushner are money laundries for the Russians. This is the source of the money to build there condos.
As with watergate follow the money and it will lead you to the Trumps
As with watergate follow the money and it will lead you to the Trumps
6
After all those roads that lead to Kushner have merged, there better be a one-way road, with no off ramps, leading directly to a federal prison.
6
The Trump family swamp has a lot of water fowl in it that look like ducks, swim like ducks, and quack like ducks.
4
While the Republicans back and fill and the Democrats start their victory dance well short of the goal line, is anyone planning for the next election? We need viable candidates (for all offices) from each party who are not part of the clown college that American politics has become. People don't trust the Democrats and they don't like the Republicans. Poor options are what got us here in the first place.
3
Indeed! And we mustn't put all of our progressive eggs in Bernie Sanders' basket. We need a candidate who operates deftly in the 21st century.
From the frying pan into the
Fire: meet the next President, Mr. Vice-President!
Fire: meet the next President, Mr. Vice-President!
The apple doesn't fall far from the ethically challenged tree. A deplorable family that is perfectly ethically aligned with the Trumps.
A little recollection about Jared Kushner's dad, Charlie. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering when he retaliated against William Schulder, his brother-in-law, who was cooperating with federal investigators. Charlie, the religious man that he was, hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, arranged to record an encounter between the two, and had the tape sent to his sister.
Can you really get more deplorable than that to set up your brother-in-law and then send such a tape to your sister? Who does that? What an example to send to your so-called religious family.
Kushner was sentenced to two years in prison-- I'm hoping Jared gets at least that much time, for his undermining of our democracy
A little recollection about Jared Kushner's dad, Charlie. He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering when he retaliated against William Schulder, his brother-in-law, who was cooperating with federal investigators. Charlie, the religious man that he was, hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, arranged to record an encounter between the two, and had the tape sent to his sister.
Can you really get more deplorable than that to set up your brother-in-law and then send such a tape to your sister? Who does that? What an example to send to your so-called religious family.
Kushner was sentenced to two years in prison-- I'm hoping Jared gets at least that much time, for his undermining of our democracy
7
There are no secrets. Putin knows all and our President has already been thoroughly compromised. Regardless of his personal complicity, we must have some form of reset. The swamp called Trump/Pence must be drained from the White House now, even though the stench will remain for decades.
7
One of the first things I wondered about in the first days of this administration, is HOW and WHY both Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were on the National Advisory Council.
After all, it's not like they had any experience, or even showed any previous interest in what that meant -- which may now in part, explain the mess with Russia we're seeing now.
The moment Jared Kushner was caught trying to set up secret Russian communication channels, he should have been shut down.
But instead, he was paraded around the world and passed off as some kind of diplomat who knew what he was doing.
Maybe he did. But it wasn't necessarily for the benefit of the country.
I lived surrounded by the Soviet Sektor. I have no doubt about how the Russians operate.
There is no such thing as "cooperation".
It's only about a zero-sum game, where they are the only winner. They leave no tracks behind.
All you Americans who voted for Trump thinking you were voting for "change" have no idea of what you're in for.
But a closer look at Kushner's activities, and the players in Trump's Russian circle will give you a clue -- And remember, there it always starts at the top.
After all, it's not like they had any experience, or even showed any previous interest in what that meant -- which may now in part, explain the mess with Russia we're seeing now.
The moment Jared Kushner was caught trying to set up secret Russian communication channels, he should have been shut down.
But instead, he was paraded around the world and passed off as some kind of diplomat who knew what he was doing.
Maybe he did. But it wasn't necessarily for the benefit of the country.
I lived surrounded by the Soviet Sektor. I have no doubt about how the Russians operate.
There is no such thing as "cooperation".
It's only about a zero-sum game, where they are the only winner. They leave no tracks behind.
All you Americans who voted for Trump thinking you were voting for "change" have no idea of what you're in for.
But a closer look at Kushner's activities, and the players in Trump's Russian circle will give you a clue -- And remember, there it always starts at the top.
7
There is the line by Hal Halbrook, playing Mark Felt as Deep Throat in All The President's Men, "follow the money." The Russians, including Putin and all the Russian oligarchs, know of Trump's money laundering operation. Matter of fact, that's why Trump fired Preet Bharara snd all the other US prosecutors in order to mask Bharara's termination. This was done in order to conceal Trump's illegal activities, especially in light of the DOJ's sudden settlement of a six million dollar fine for money laundering. Why did the DOJ do this? Who made this recommendation? Why hasn't Jeff Session released information concerning his additional meetings with the Russians despite a court order? All this is connected to a vast Russian conspiracy engulfing the Trump White House. All of Trump's own making.
8
Independent prosecutor needed immediately.
The entire Trump international crime family and team must be removed from the White House. Career government professionals must be called back to work to take over the day-to-day business of government.
The entire Trump international crime family and team must be removed from the White House. Career government professionals must be called back to work to take over the day-to-day business of government.
9
The "normalization" of corruption is conflict of interests is just another layer of damage that this gang of grifters is inflicting on our democracy. The idea that Jr. is pleading "over exuberance" to an act that stinks of treason is incredible. We continue to lower the bar for this family. It's the silence of republicans that is the real eye opener.
11
It seems patently obvious that Mr. Kushner's security clearance should be withdrawn while this is being investigated. If he is not compromised, he can get it back. If he is, he shouldn't have had it in the first place.
Many have said that the reason he still has his security clearance because that's what the President wants. What I can't understand is why this is up to Mr. Trump. Those in the intelligence community who grant or deny these clearances need to stand up and do their job. If they withdraw Mr. Kushner's clearance conditionally, and he President fires them for it, history will view them as heroes. They will have upheld their oath of office and the Constitution.
We are a country of laws, not men. It is time for profiles in courage. The American Constitution needs and demands it.
Many have said that the reason he still has his security clearance because that's what the President wants. What I can't understand is why this is up to Mr. Trump. Those in the intelligence community who grant or deny these clearances need to stand up and do their job. If they withdraw Mr. Kushner's clearance conditionally, and he President fires them for it, history will view them as heroes. They will have upheld their oath of office and the Constitution.
We are a country of laws, not men. It is time for profiles in courage. The American Constitution needs and demands it.
11
What is simply not credible is that Donald Jr., Kushner and Manafort would go to a meeting to get dirt on Hillary and Papa Donald was kept in the dark. This meeting explains why Trump has been so anxious to shut down the Russian investigation, not because it is a distraction but because he is personally involved. Direct collusion may be difficult to prove but there is now circumstantial evidence that collusion did take place. We have been told nothing came out of the meeting, but consider that the sources are only the participants who have very strong motivations to lie. Not long after that meeting Wikileaks sprung into action. I am not fond of conspiracy theories but neither do I believe in convenient coincidences. The Russian connection is so beyond what reasonable people would expect in a political campaign that most have difficulty believing it, it is the kind of thing one would expect Breibart News to peddle about liberal politicians. Just because it is hard to believe though, it does not mean it is not true.
24
I think people are looking at the Russian interference in our election and the coordination with the Trump campaign completely backwards.
People are acting as if it was Trump who enlisted the Russians, and whether or not soliciting and accepting their help in his campaign was or was not a crime. Perhaps if Donald Trump had been the initiator it might be argued, that while improper, it wasn't illegal.
But this wasn't Donald's operation. This was a hostile cyberattack against our election by the GRU, Russian military intelligence. Russia seeks to weaken those it views as its adversaries in many ways, and one of the ways it seeks to weaken democratic adversaries is by undermining the integrity and credibility of their elections.
They done it in smaller countries, closer to home. But in 2016 they decided to swing for the fences and mount a cyber attack against the US by undermining our 2016 presidential election. This was a hostile act against the United States by a foreign military. In other words, an act of war.
The GRU sought every avenue to reach their goal - hacking, propaganda, fake news, blackmail, etc. And in Donald Trump, they found a willing accomplice. Donald didn't care what they wanted, as long as he got what he wanted. So he cooperated in their attack against the US. As long as he could enrich himself he was perfectly willing to see them undermine our democracy, and aid them in that effort.
And that, my friends, is the definition of Treason.
People are acting as if it was Trump who enlisted the Russians, and whether or not soliciting and accepting their help in his campaign was or was not a crime. Perhaps if Donald Trump had been the initiator it might be argued, that while improper, it wasn't illegal.
But this wasn't Donald's operation. This was a hostile cyberattack against our election by the GRU, Russian military intelligence. Russia seeks to weaken those it views as its adversaries in many ways, and one of the ways it seeks to weaken democratic adversaries is by undermining the integrity and credibility of their elections.
They done it in smaller countries, closer to home. But in 2016 they decided to swing for the fences and mount a cyber attack against the US by undermining our 2016 presidential election. This was a hostile act against the United States by a foreign military. In other words, an act of war.
The GRU sought every avenue to reach their goal - hacking, propaganda, fake news, blackmail, etc. And in Donald Trump, they found a willing accomplice. Donald didn't care what they wanted, as long as he got what he wanted. So he cooperated in their attack against the US. As long as he could enrich himself he was perfectly willing to see them undermine our democracy, and aid them in that effort.
And that, my friends, is the definition of Treason.
23
My former law firm client (involved in a child custody matter) who had a mid-level security position with the Department of State in the consular service vetting visa applicants was fired, prosecuted and convicted on felony charges, and served a year in Federal prison for not reporting contacts with and gifts from a foreign national with whom he was friends and whose visa application he approved.
This was relatively recent (past five years). These laws are taken quite seriously, but perhaps, like many laws, they really only apply to the "little people", not masters of the universe like the Trumps.
This was relatively recent (past five years). These laws are taken quite seriously, but perhaps, like many laws, they really only apply to the "little people", not masters of the universe like the Trumps.
24
And I want more of these prosecutions to come to light. Every day people who were imprisoned over the failures of filling out these forms. So, when it comes time for Jared to wear the shackles, Trump country can see just what they voted for.
6
We all remember the Walker family dubbed by the press, the family of spies. Well, Jared Kushner and his father-in-law have gone one step further. In comparison to the Walkers, the Trump-Kushner ring subverted American democracy in order to increase their personal wealth at the expense of our freedom. And does this bother them at all? No, only that they were caught and exposed.
27
We've known for a long time that the Trump family has received a lot of loans from Russians, as Eric Trump told us. Daddy Trump was jovial with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister as he has not been with leaders from other countries, as we've seen ourselves in a meeting open to Russian press but not American press, not even Fox news.
Trump and the Russians are friends and business associates from way back, which makes Trump as POTUS a problem for NATO, for Western Europe, and for all the former Soviet Republics who want to remain outside the clutches of the Russian Bear.
Apparently, roughly 36% of Americans don't see this as a significant problem. But for those of us who do, the best we can hope for is keeping Trump incensed, and therefore tweeting recklessly and looking like an impetuous brat. The more Republicans in Congress have to run from him, the better.
Trump and the Russians are friends and business associates from way back, which makes Trump as POTUS a problem for NATO, for Western Europe, and for all the former Soviet Republics who want to remain outside the clutches of the Russian Bear.
Apparently, roughly 36% of Americans don't see this as a significant problem. But for those of us who do, the best we can hope for is keeping Trump incensed, and therefore tweeting recklessly and looking like an impetuous brat. The more Republicans in Congress have to run from him, the better.
18
We are soon likely to see the structural weakness of the current White House edifice. If Kushner is, as is likely, forced to retreat( as well as others in the family) into the background---if not soon to face a more perilous fate--who will take his place?
Trump's team is most vertical with a rickety base. The infighting that is sure to follow from opposing factions trying to leap into the gap can only rattle President Trump more, as he pitifully grasps for the loyalty he depends on is slipping away.
Problems with unity and loyalty across the board are likely to further test Trump's mental stability as he becomes increasingly isolated. As with classic literary examples ---and the real crises of personal failure that have touched presidents---we can expect the man to become ever more unraveled
as the Russia inquest deepens.
The fateful logic of corrupting hubris is playing out here. We should expect the worse for the man.
Trump's team is most vertical with a rickety base. The infighting that is sure to follow from opposing factions trying to leap into the gap can only rattle President Trump more, as he pitifully grasps for the loyalty he depends on is slipping away.
Problems with unity and loyalty across the board are likely to further test Trump's mental stability as he becomes increasingly isolated. As with classic literary examples ---and the real crises of personal failure that have touched presidents---we can expect the man to become ever more unraveled
as the Russia inquest deepens.
The fateful logic of corrupting hubris is playing out here. We should expect the worse for the man.
16
On the evening news there was a picture of Natalia Veselnitskaya, the attorney who met with Donald, Jr. attending some type of Congressional hearing. I'd like to know who her allies are, or friends are, which Congressional Representatives are her supporters and confidants. Which members of Congress are sharing secret information about a America with the Russians. Apparently Russian Operatives can operate in Washington, D.C. with impunity but we can't get robo calls stopped or cellular service just outside of Quartzsite, Arizona.
What I'm saying is, the Russians get a hearing, we get nothing.
What I'm saying is, the Russians get a hearing, we get nothing.
11
Ah, so the real secret may be that Dad chose Kushner over Junior to oversee his Russian enterprises (or, as they say in the cybersecurity business, "exploits"). Boy, if that ever got out heads would role in the White Castle.
5
anticipate trump lifting of sanctions against Russia within next 6 months...trump wants U.S. voter records so he can hand them off to Russia to manipulate the mid terms in 2018 and presidential election in 2018
11
Didn't anyone on the Trump team suspect that they might be asked for a quid pro quo from the Russians? If the Russians wanted nothing more than to disrupt Hillary's campaign they could have given their dirt directly to the press. But they obviously were looking for something in exchange.
16
No. All roads, now and always, lead to Donald Trump.
13
The Trump Family Syndicate, as Mr. Kristof notes, lied about this meeting 20 different times. They said it didn't happen, and Kushner lied to the FBI in his original disclosure statement by wrongfully failing to disclose it.
So now we are talking about Jr.'s claim nothing came of it, that allegedly Kushner left after 10 minutes, and that Trump senior allegedly didn't know about it -- notwithstanding his subsequent promise that he had dirt on Hillary. I don't see one good reason to believe a single one of those statements. After lying 20 different times, why should anyone believe anything they now say?
So now we are talking about Jr.'s claim nothing came of it, that allegedly Kushner left after 10 minutes, and that Trump senior allegedly didn't know about it -- notwithstanding his subsequent promise that he had dirt on Hillary. I don't see one good reason to believe a single one of those statements. After lying 20 different times, why should anyone believe anything they now say?
13
Who, exactly, is going to take away Jared Kushner's security clearance ? Answer: A person who wants to work outside of government. Why ? Wouldn't Big Trump fire the person, regardless of what his lawyer's say ? Odds are 50-50.
6
Several departments grant security clearances. The FBI typically does legwork investigations. Either FBI or CIA would be ideal to yank Kushner's security clearance.
2
Kristof has a fairly complete Grand Jury presentation here.
I would add just one more thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNa2B5zHfbQ
In case you are wondering, that's a July 27, 2016 - i.e., about a month later - video showing The Donald encouraging the Russians to hack around to get Hillary's 30,000 missing emails. And publicly suggesting to the Russians that they will be "rewarded by our press" if they succeed.
It doesn't take a psychologist to figure out that Trump was dog whistling to the Russians that he hoped that, with whatever cooperation Jared and Don Jr. could throw the Russians way, Trump Enterprises would be rewarded after the election by getting its plan for a Trump Tower in Russia, and probably also in all the other Russian Federation Stahns, back on track
Remember, all of this begins to make complete sense when you realize that in June-July 2016, not to mention even October 2016 before at least the Comey letter, neither the Trumps nor the Russians thought Trump would win the election.
This was simply the Trumps working with the Russians for the Trump business interests, and the Russians working with the Trumps for their own political interests of continuing a long term and personally motivated with Putin, undermining the reputation and credibility of the 45th POTUS to be, Hillary Clinton.
Donald Trump doesn't have a true political bone in his body.
It's emoluments - and celebrity - all the way down for Trump!
I would add just one more thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNa2B5zHfbQ
In case you are wondering, that's a July 27, 2016 - i.e., about a month later - video showing The Donald encouraging the Russians to hack around to get Hillary's 30,000 missing emails. And publicly suggesting to the Russians that they will be "rewarded by our press" if they succeed.
It doesn't take a psychologist to figure out that Trump was dog whistling to the Russians that he hoped that, with whatever cooperation Jared and Don Jr. could throw the Russians way, Trump Enterprises would be rewarded after the election by getting its plan for a Trump Tower in Russia, and probably also in all the other Russian Federation Stahns, back on track
Remember, all of this begins to make complete sense when you realize that in June-July 2016, not to mention even October 2016 before at least the Comey letter, neither the Trumps nor the Russians thought Trump would win the election.
This was simply the Trumps working with the Russians for the Trump business interests, and the Russians working with the Trumps for their own political interests of continuing a long term and personally motivated with Putin, undermining the reputation and credibility of the 45th POTUS to be, Hillary Clinton.
Donald Trump doesn't have a true political bone in his body.
It's emoluments - and celebrity - all the way down for Trump!
12
In a normal presidency, Kushner would resign, give up his clearance, hand back his White House pass, and go back to running his real estate business. But nothing is normal in a Trump White House and by some twisted logic perhaps Trump thinks that keeping his son-in-law close will further insulate him from the mushrooming crisis. We can only guess but in the meantime, Kushner shouldn't be privy to our nation's national security secrets. He has repeatedly shown himself unworthy of the public's trust.
686
"In a normal presidency, Kushner would resign"
Now I have to go back and figure out what post, if any, he holds that he can resign from. I've been assuming that he's just one of Trumps's "special advisers." Maybe that is a post.
Now I have to go back and figure out what post, if any, he holds that he can resign from. I've been assuming that he's just one of Trumps's "special advisers." Maybe that is a post.
It is not illegal or unethical to meet with foreign nationals, even if they profess to have incriminating evidence about political rivals. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Sr. both met with foreigners and the heads of foreign governments during the 2016 election campaign.
How different is what Kushner did than what Flynn was fired for? Now we know why a president's family should stay the heck out of the WH.
Amateur hour every hour of the day -- scarier still every day of this administration. Trump Jr. should have gone to FBI and that this meeting should never have happened.
By the way, I bet the lawyer was traced/tapped as she came through passport control and it is all recorded. Maybe she even counted on that....
By the way, I bet the lawyer was traced/tapped as she came through passport control and it is all recorded. Maybe she even counted on that....
13
Kushner's father went to jail and I would surmise that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Remove Kushner's security clearance now and convict soon. He is a menace to our national security.
20
Don't forget the submissive handshake offered to Putin by Trump at their G20 meeting. Since when does an American president offer a palms up hand to the Kremlin?
This one does for alleged personal gain and is willing to commit treason. This was a tainted election. Time for a do-over.
This one does for alleged personal gain and is willing to commit treason. This was a tainted election. Time for a do-over.
16
When you try to bribe your way into Harvard student clubs (as Jared Kushner did), when your dad is a convicted criminal, when your father-in-law daily displays that truth, ethics and morality are entirely absent from his make up, then who could possibly say any of this is surprising?
13
Hmmm, I guess this add new meaning to the jewelry store tag line, "He went to Jared."
9
"Lock THEM up!"
10
Through the thick haze of noxious smoke that spews constantly from this White House the flickering of flames. Small yet, perhaps, this fire, but certainly the fuels for a fire to burn clean this polluted administration are lurking, hidden in emails and text messages, obscured still by the fog of deception and lie and subterfuge, but awaiting only the winds of truth tear to away the dark, smouldering clouds and fan these sparks into a raging conflagration to purge our nation of this most pernicious President and his entire fledgling oligarchy.
5
Wow! I hope you get the book deal. :)
With as much smoke and noxious fumes as is redolent in DC these days, if one was to apply a fair degree of heat then the whole place would plain detonate and collapse to the ground like the huge house of cards that it is.
With such probably treasonous type activity in the Whitehouse, and the Majority Party (or even the Minority Party) is not calling them out on it, it makes it look like the whole of the Repub Party actually CONDONES the possible Russian interference as it put the Presidency nominally in their hands. They seem quite willing to accept it and look the other way since they benefitted from said interference, which in itself is incriminating.
But, to NOT pursue treasonous activity when confronted with it is tantamount to treason and Conspiracy to Treason under the US Constitution and Judicial codes, and thus the entire Repub Party (and the Dems who are saying little) are looking like accomplices to the treason in the Whitehouse.
Since Jared is Trump's Major Advisor, then one would expect that he went straight from the meeting with the Russian lawyer to Trump Sr's Office with a verbal report...as ordered. That is The MO for this Family, and sadly enough, they are just about as bright as the cliche' they emulate.
With such probably treasonous type activity in the Whitehouse, and the Majority Party (or even the Minority Party) is not calling them out on it, it makes it look like the whole of the Repub Party actually CONDONES the possible Russian interference as it put the Presidency nominally in their hands. They seem quite willing to accept it and look the other way since they benefitted from said interference, which in itself is incriminating.
But, to NOT pursue treasonous activity when confronted with it is tantamount to treason and Conspiracy to Treason under the US Constitution and Judicial codes, and thus the entire Repub Party (and the Dems who are saying little) are looking like accomplices to the treason in the Whitehouse.
Since Jared is Trump's Major Advisor, then one would expect that he went straight from the meeting with the Russian lawyer to Trump Sr's Office with a verbal report...as ordered. That is The MO for this Family, and sadly enough, they are just about as bright as the cliche' they emulate.
1
Lock him up.
4
If the intelligence community has concluded that Russia was behind the hacks of the DNC and Podesta's e-mails, and Attorney Veselnitskaya offered to provide "official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary," one must ask who did the hacking, and how were they so successful?
I have a candidate: Edward Snowden. He used to have a top secret security clearance, knew the government's IT network like the back of his hand, lives in Russia, can't come home and despises the Obama administration, including its former Secretary of State, Hillary.
I have a candidate: Edward Snowden. He used to have a top secret security clearance, knew the government's IT network like the back of his hand, lives in Russia, can't come home and despises the Obama administration, including its former Secretary of State, Hillary.
7
I dont care about this very much. Foreign countries always influence our elections, even of its just by existing. We have messed with elections all over the world.
As far as I can tell, the media is trying to frame this like the Russians actually changed our votes. As far as I can tell, the Russians just released real documents that showed how crass and elitist the Clinton machine was. Im glad they released this trove because I got to see how the DNC really works.
As for this, its just politics. Remember how every month the media talked about how it was time to impeach George Bush bc of this scandal or another? Now the media loves George Bush, the nice grandpa of the Republicans....
Its been a smoking gun like everyday from the media. Nowadays, I just skip through anything that sez Trump most of the time. Its hard because Trump appears in like half of all headlines, but it makes things easier.
As far as I can tell, the media is trying to frame this like the Russians actually changed our votes. As far as I can tell, the Russians just released real documents that showed how crass and elitist the Clinton machine was. Im glad they released this trove because I got to see how the DNC really works.
As for this, its just politics. Remember how every month the media talked about how it was time to impeach George Bush bc of this scandal or another? Now the media loves George Bush, the nice grandpa of the Republicans....
Its been a smoking gun like everyday from the media. Nowadays, I just skip through anything that sez Trump most of the time. Its hard because Trump appears in like half of all headlines, but it makes things easier.
1
Jaqueline from Colorado, you say that you don't care whether Russia interfered in the last Presidential election. If you care about sovereignty and democracy, you should care. You say that the US has "messed with elections all over the world." It sounds like you disapprove. In that case, you should disapprove of Russia messing with our election. You say that "the media is trying to frame this like the Russians actually changed our votes." No, responsible media like the NYTimes have reported that there is no evidence that Russia succeeded in hacking electronic voting machines. You say that "the Russians just released real documents that showed how crass and elitist the Clinton machine was." If you have followed carefully, then you also know that some of what the Russians disseminated through Wikileaks was not real, but was manufactured disinformation. By the way, I wonder if you don't feel that President Trump might be a little crass. You say that you are ignoring news about Trump, though you of course read this article. Ignoring the news isn't going to help you make an informed decision next time you vote for a President.
Jacquline - see the front page NYT article about Donald Jr and Conspiracy.
I love the way the author uses the word "purloined" to describe emails disclosed about the DNC. Whenever emails about the Trumps are disclosed, the media consistently uses the term "leaked". Purloin has the negative connation having been stolen or snatched, while "leaked": these days is somehow hailed as honest attempt to provide the public with transparency.
I love the way the author uses the word "purloined" to describe emails disclosed about the DNC. Whenever emails about the Trumps are disclosed, the media consistently uses the term "leaked". Purloin has the negative connation having been stolen or snatched, while "leaked": these days is somehow hailed as honest attempt to provide the public with transparency.
Always has to be one right-winger who defends this clearly unstable lunatic. Must be getting harder with each passing day...
Remember when Trump claimed electing Clinton would only lead to investigations and hearings. Nothing would get done. In fact take everything Trump said about Clinton's presidency and apply it to Trump. Trump was signaling what would happen if he was elected. He does this in everything he does. Why. I believe subconsciously he wants to be truthful but knows it's not in his interest to do so. His guilt manifest itself by telegraphing its victims (us) on what he plans next as a warning, and then he does it.
His siblings are not as devious at such subterfuge. And then there is Jared Kushner, his son-in-law. He is the real danger to Trump. If it was not for Trumps fondness for Ivanka, Trump would jettison him or throw him under the bus. Jared has one thing Trump doesn't understand, his Jewish upbringing. Because of it, in the end Jared will be true to its teachings or at least the 10 commandments handed down to the Jews. They include prohibitions against the very things Trump is doing.
Power is a powerful aphrodisiac that has enveloped the Trump family and its desire to become royalty among us. But Jared is not a Trump and his learning different from them. Their common denominator is money, but that only goes so far when it comes to self preservation. What we have here is a real life soap opera played out daily. At some point it will end like a Greek tragedy. My money is on Jared to end it or it will be his end.
His siblings are not as devious at such subterfuge. And then there is Jared Kushner, his son-in-law. He is the real danger to Trump. If it was not for Trumps fondness for Ivanka, Trump would jettison him or throw him under the bus. Jared has one thing Trump doesn't understand, his Jewish upbringing. Because of it, in the end Jared will be true to its teachings or at least the 10 commandments handed down to the Jews. They include prohibitions against the very things Trump is doing.
Power is a powerful aphrodisiac that has enveloped the Trump family and its desire to become royalty among us. But Jared is not a Trump and his learning different from them. Their common denominator is money, but that only goes so far when it comes to self preservation. What we have here is a real life soap opera played out daily. At some point it will end like a Greek tragedy. My money is on Jared to end it or it will be his end.
Not one person in this circle will offer to do a day of time to protect Donald Trump.
They all know how loyal he is.
There is a race in place to getting the first, sweetest deal.
Then there will be an avalanche.
They all know how loyal he is.
There is a race in place to getting the first, sweetest deal.
Then there will be an avalanche.
8
Not only did Junior gleefully agree to this meeting, but he showed no surprise or even curiosity that it was from the Russian Government. Geez was it because they already knew this? Of course. What in the world are Republicans waiting for...
8
According to the Russian lawyer, Manafort was playing on his phone the whole time he was in the meeting. I can't help but wonder if Donald SR. was listening in via that phone or if Manafort recorded the meeting. I hope that his phone records will be accessed.
11
Well, let's keep in mind that we have a long, sad history of taking actions to destabilize other countries. Think of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion; attempts to assasinate Castro, including one plan to put poison powder in his beard; effectively installing the odious shah of Iran because the democratically elected president was tilting tobRussia; disrupting elections in Italy, and much more.
4
Mark Siegel writes, "Well, let's keep in mind that we have a long, sad history of taking actions to destabilize other countries."
Mark, it sounds like you disapprove of one country trying to destabilize another. In that case, I think you must disapprove of Russia trying to destabilize your own country.
Mark, it sounds like you disapprove of one country trying to destabilize another. In that case, I think you must disapprove of Russia trying to destabilize your own country.
You gotta wonder if the Russians have perfected the memory-erasing neuralyzers that the Men In Black used. Nobody seems to remember any meetings they had with them.
7
When does the movie come out? Sick of it and exhausted by it!
5
Kushner was in charge of the digital campaign, which as we know was incredibly successful at targeting individual precincts and localities. Was it done somehow in coordination with the Russians? If Mueller decides it was then the whole RNC is looking at indictment under RICO act since they explicitly supported these activities. It won't just be Kushner in jail, it'll be one party rule in this country. The other one may be forced to dissolve.
5
The story is no longer about whether collusion occurred; that's established. Journalists now ought to be dedicated to determining whether the members of either the Trump campaign or the Trump administration have been parties to criminal conspiracy.
6
It is apparent that the Russians (government direct, agents of the government?) are playing Trump in nefarious ways. Amazing the layering that appears to be taking place here.
5
How the Trump greed syndicate must envy the Russian oligarchs. They can pursue their open-ended amassing of wealth without pesky laws or a free press to distract them.
11
The biggest problem for Trump Sr if Jared goes away (and he should) is who will do the president's job? Maybe the Marla daughter will save the day!
7
Book 'em, Dano.
7
I was speaking to my 96 year old 'fox-opinion' TV watcher about donny jrs. emails.
He said "I don't believe it, I heard both sides, and I don't believe it". I asked him if he had read the emails themselves, he just repeated " I don't believe it".
What is it about people who voted for Donald merely because they hated Hillary so much?
Even in the face of the proof -donny jr. says in his emails what took place, it gets twisted by the fox and friends gang as if it never happened that way.
Twilight zone writers couldn't write a scarier story.
He said "I don't believe it, I heard both sides, and I don't believe it". I asked him if he had read the emails themselves, he just repeated " I don't believe it".
What is it about people who voted for Donald merely because they hated Hillary so much?
Even in the face of the proof -donny jr. says in his emails what took place, it gets twisted by the fox and friends gang as if it never happened that way.
Twilight zone writers couldn't write a scarier story.
13
Manderine wrote, "I was speaking to my 96 year old 'fox-opinion' TV watcher about donny jrs. emails. He said 'I don't believe it'. What is it about people who voted for Donald?"
Mass self-hypnosis.
Mass self-hypnosis.
Actually, sadly what you have here is a form of group psychosis, often seen in war. A whole nation, e.g. Germany in the 30's and 40's, can go crazy collectively. Hopefully, this psychotic view stays confined to FOX viewers and does not spread out to the the general population.
I call it the shadow of humanity.
When the Germans followed hitler, it was the shadow of humanity coming out in lock step.
When the Germans followed hitler, it was the shadow of humanity coming out in lock step.
Lock them up!
5
This story has generated much thunder but little rain. It's already starting to fade away just like the other "breaking news" stories about Russian collusion. The Times still needs to prove the following:
1. Prove that the "incriminating" information about Hillary was actually sourced by the Russian government. At this point all we have is an uncollaborate statement from a tabloid reporter.
2. Prove that any information was actually accepted and used by the Trump camp.
3. Prove that any member of the Trump camp actively aided and abetted the sourcing or distribution of this information to affect the election.
4. Prove how this meeting led to a chain of events that contributed in any way to the Russian hacking and dissemination of the Democratic Party or Hillary's associate emails, which is the only evidence of Russian interference in the election.
So far you managed to take a "nothing meeting" and blown it up to embarrass Trump Jr. and fuel more conspiracy theories about Russian collusion but have provided no evidence of a even a minor crime let alone collusion.
1. Prove that the "incriminating" information about Hillary was actually sourced by the Russian government. At this point all we have is an uncollaborate statement from a tabloid reporter.
2. Prove that any information was actually accepted and used by the Trump camp.
3. Prove that any member of the Trump camp actively aided and abetted the sourcing or distribution of this information to affect the election.
4. Prove how this meeting led to a chain of events that contributed in any way to the Russian hacking and dissemination of the Democratic Party or Hillary's associate emails, which is the only evidence of Russian interference in the election.
So far you managed to take a "nothing meeting" and blown it up to embarrass Trump Jr. and fuel more conspiracy theories about Russian collusion but have provided no evidence of a even a minor crime let alone collusion.
As the FBI director-to-be said in his confirmation hearing, if a foreign entity, especially a government like Russia's, seeks to influence an American election, that is something the FBI wants to know about. You may consider that a "nothing meeting" but thankfully, there are still Americans who aren't so blase about efforts to undermine our democracy.
8
Actual proof can only result from the official investigations, but until then apparently you're choosing to ignore literally dozens of clues all pointing in the same direction. And no, it's not necessary to prove the Trump camp actually used the information. Conspiracy to commit a crime is itself a crime.
5
So, you and a group of guys are police officers (your dad is the chief) and somebody offers you stolen property and wants to meet with about that. You are excited about it (you wrote it in your own email), show up to receive the goods, and realize there is no stolen property. All of you lied about the encounter for a year. But since you received no stolen property, it's not a big deal, right? Why should anyone care? Is the police department corrupt if it didn't commit a crime?
“The meeting gave the Kremlin potential blackmail material against the Trumps, and thus possibly leverage over them.”
It is pretty clear that both, the Kremlin and the Trumps have been cognizant of these emails and the Trump Tower meeting all along. In fact, there might have been additional meetings and/or contacts, as Jared Kushner belatedly acknowledged at least a couple others after a diligent media had exposed them.
If we were wondering why President Trump has been so hesitant to criticize Russia and Putin, it should be pretty obvious by now that their mutual knowledge of these clandestine interactions hangs like a sword of Damocles over his presidency. Even if the legality of such dealings is debatable, the possibility of Russian blackmail is not.
There has been a serious breach of our national security and it possibly leads right inside the Oval Office. Let’s hope that special counsel Bob Mueller is way ahead of the Kremlin in his discovery and follow-up process, including indictments and the convening of relevant grand juries.
It is pretty clear that both, the Kremlin and the Trumps have been cognizant of these emails and the Trump Tower meeting all along. In fact, there might have been additional meetings and/or contacts, as Jared Kushner belatedly acknowledged at least a couple others after a diligent media had exposed them.
If we were wondering why President Trump has been so hesitant to criticize Russia and Putin, it should be pretty obvious by now that their mutual knowledge of these clandestine interactions hangs like a sword of Damocles over his presidency. Even if the legality of such dealings is debatable, the possibility of Russian blackmail is not.
There has been a serious breach of our national security and it possibly leads right inside the Oval Office. Let’s hope that special counsel Bob Mueller is way ahead of the Kremlin in his discovery and follow-up process, including indictments and the convening of relevant grand juries.
9
Pay close attention to what the Trumps say - reverse it if you want to know the truth.
36
An amazingly reliable algorithm. Welcome to the new USA, where every day is opposite day.
13
First, Kushner needs to go.
Americans are becoming to complacent……..vetting our anger, voicing our concerns sitting behind our computer screens isn't doing the trick. The momentum diminishes when the screen goes blank.
There is certainly an overall sense of concern that something must be done with the current state of OUR government, taking our voices to the streets is a powerful statement. I don't believe our politicians are getting the message. Perhaps all of us concerned about our current state of affairs will join the next organized march.
Americans are becoming to complacent……..vetting our anger, voicing our concerns sitting behind our computer screens isn't doing the trick. The momentum diminishes when the screen goes blank.
There is certainly an overall sense of concern that something must be done with the current state of OUR government, taking our voices to the streets is a powerful statement. I don't believe our politicians are getting the message. Perhaps all of us concerned about our current state of affairs will join the next organized march.
19
Has anybody speculated that this 'meeting' may have been orchestrated just to trap Junior in a compromising situation? And not only does he walk right into it, but drags two much higher Trump's campaign figures into it with him. If this was a trap, it surely netted a bigger and better catch than expected.
5
Imagine for a moment that Hillary Clinton had won the election by a thread and now it was coming out that Chelsea Clinton had met with Russian connections last June to possibly receive damaging information on Trump. The Republicans wouldn't be calling for President Clinton's impeachment, they'd be calling for her execution on grounds of treason. Watching their efforts to explain, justify or ignore Trump and his subordinates is a grand lesson in the art of hypocrisy.
58
The overriding philosophical questions of our age...
If an Antartic glacier calves a mammoth iceberg the size of Delaware and no Republican climate change deniers want to see it did it really happen?
If the Senate's healthcare reform will cause premature suffering and death for tens of thousands of Americans but none of them are wealthy Republicans who benefit from tax cuts is it still a superior health care reform?
Are Americans getting fatter or the rest of the world thinner?
If Jared Kushner and his father-in-law collude with Russia to harm Democrats and American institutions while promoting their own interests can it be a criminal conspiracy punishable by jail and impeachment if Republicans control the House, Senate and White House?
Has God become a Republican or merely turned his back on America in disgust?
Do Republicans care about anything but self aggrandizement?...
If an Antartic glacier calves a mammoth iceberg the size of Delaware and no Republican climate change deniers want to see it did it really happen?
If the Senate's healthcare reform will cause premature suffering and death for tens of thousands of Americans but none of them are wealthy Republicans who benefit from tax cuts is it still a superior health care reform?
Are Americans getting fatter or the rest of the world thinner?
If Jared Kushner and his father-in-law collude with Russia to harm Democrats and American institutions while promoting their own interests can it be a criminal conspiracy punishable by jail and impeachment if Republicans control the House, Senate and White House?
Has God become a Republican or merely turned his back on America in disgust?
Do Republicans care about anything but self aggrandizement?...
56
The Russians don't need to blackmail the Trumps. The Russians already have contributed mightily to the Trump coffers, and greed is a primary Trump motivation. Greed and venality are closely joined.
15
Most pathetic of all Trump family responses to this is, "who wouldn't accept an outside offer of support for their political campaign?" When, of course, the story is Russia's determination to meddle in and corrupt an American presidential campaign and election—to support their claim that the US democratic system does not in fact work. The Russians were as surprised (maybe dismayed?) as anyone that Trump actually was elected.
11
It speaks volumes that Kushner speaks so little.
23
No, don't take away his security clearance! This level of incompetence, greed, and arragonce will ultimately lead to a mistake by the President and the real truth. At which point our government will be confronted with an easy decision, impeachment, but made difficult by the incompetent Republican Congress. It's hard to believe as a nation, we're struggling with a President who's behavior borders on treason. Sad.
15
What level of crime would it take for the House to start impeachment? Colluding with an adversarial country to fix our elections doesn't seem to matter to them. I wonder what contacts Ryan and McConnell had with the Russians? I think Russian money found its way into Congressional elections.
Why is everyone in this government asleep at the wheel? Why does Sessions still have a government job and a clearance.
Why does kushner still have a job (what is he doing, anyway) and a clearance?
Why is there no outrage expressed by House/senate leadership over don jrs meeting with a Russian operative?
Why is anybody letting the wealthcare bill get pushed through when it would be so obviously dangerous for at least 22 million citizens?
What happened to our checks/balances/responsible governance?
Mostly important-how long can this country tolerate this corrupt administration and lack of fail-safe protections of democracy?
Why does kushner still have a job (what is he doing, anyway) and a clearance?
Why is there no outrage expressed by House/senate leadership over don jrs meeting with a Russian operative?
Why is anybody letting the wealthcare bill get pushed through when it would be so obviously dangerous for at least 22 million citizens?
What happened to our checks/balances/responsible governance?
Mostly important-how long can this country tolerate this corrupt administration and lack of fail-safe protections of democracy?
32
Donald Trump Sr. probably knew about the meeting with the Russian lawyer before the fact.
15
Amen. Revoke Jared's security clearance. (Maybe POTUS's, too?)
12
Look, does anyone else have my paranoid thought that Trump will find some excuse to call for martial law and Putin will jump in and take over, in the flesh? I know it seems absurd, but the apathy or denial of the Republicans to do anything and that their focus is only on tax breaks for the wealthy and themselves seems a little scary. Some one commented here that we cannot expect Mueller to save us, because he is under Jeff Sessions and will probably take years to come up with anything and then it will only be a mild offence of collusion. (maybe I am not the only paranoid one) Can we really trust the new FBI director, considering his ties with Russia and Christie and that he was appointed by Donald? I mean is it possible that this new guy can put a lid on the FBI investigation for Trump? Who is now protecting the country from a Putin takeover? I would like to know. In the light of day and reading all the news I laugh at myself, but late at night i get frightened and imagine the worst. Who in government has the heft to get out the military to stop a Putin take over? I know the VP would have to declare the POTUS unfit or is it the speaker of the house? But would they? Thank you New York Times for keeping freedom of speech alive and for your excellent and fair and honest reporting.
14
Black swans exist and the term is used when something happens that was never even imagined. Until black swans were found in Australia, it was assumed that all swans were white. Putin's new nickname is the "Black Swan". His takeover of our nation's government would surely qualify and as we now know, while once unimaginable, black swans exist.
2
Yes, on the martial law business, possibly concerning N Korea, but I'm sure he can find something less than a nuclear strike to use that power. No on Putin coming here. It will be Bannon, the Mercers, Trump and Co., McConnell and other GOP, plus Tillerson, Ross, et al. We will lose the internet, education, healthcare, women's reproductive rights, and if voting is still used, it will be so gerrymandered, and so suppressed in key areas (read: African American communities) that it will be pointless. Privately run prisons will swell to overflowing and we'll have internment camps for brown people. Universities and research will close and go unfunded. Women will lose all rights. Corporations will reign supreme and most Americans will find themselves part of a vast underclass. The carbon footprint of America will soar. The GOP is using Trump to advance a truly destructive and nefarious agenda. They aren't going to get rid of him unless he does something counter to it. I believe it's Congress that declares the POTUS unfit. Fat chance of that. I think Mueller, while appointed by the DOJ, has enough integrity to do his job. I fear more for his life, should he come too close to the truth. I have begun to wonder if the FBI, CIA, NSA and the military might end up being our saving grace in the face of all this.
1
That is a paranoid fever dream. Talk like that gets liberals branded as crazy, and since I'm a liberal I cringe when I read comments like that. I think you can go to bed knowing Vladimir Putin is not going to usurp actual ruling authority from our governing institutions.
I am so glad you are staying on top of this and bringing it back to Kushner. Keep shining the light in the dark corners. Jared and Ivanka are very smart and cunning, and there is ample reason to believe they harbor feelings of entitlement, resentment and anger at how their beloved fathers have been treated. Seeing these two at high-level meetings and knowing they have security clearances is chilling. They both deserve constant surveillance.
24
..are we winning yet?
4
The 'winners' are certainly doing a lot of whining.
Does the President have a comment about a part of the Antarctica floating away yesterday?
6
I dropped my shoe this morning and immediately thought of Trump and associates. The once highly respected Jared Kushner has now ruined his credibility. I expect a mass White House defection in the coming months. Titanic is sinking. "Fake news" has perished.
4
Anyone who still clings to the benefit of doubt as to whether or not collusion existed between the campaign and the Russian government, should not be taken seriously. The pressure is mounting on House and Senate Republicans to finally do their jobs as a check on the Executive Branch. Demanding the firing of Kushner and the revocation of his security clearance would be a start. The question is, will it be too late to reverse the damage inflicted on our democracy? To paraphrase the Watergate era quote, "there is a cancer on the Presidency".
48
Already metastasized, it may be too late.
8
While we assess the probable criminality and possible treasonous actions of "our president" and his family, he and his family are committing criminal acts against our people, the people of the world and the planet, itself. Assess the removal of regulations regarding the pollution of our air, land and water; withdrawal of our nation from the agreement of nations to improve the chances of our planet's survival; the transfer of wealth and health from those in need to those without need and the attacks on the very bases our democracy, including freedom of the press, separation of church and state and basic human dignity (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness) expressed in hatred for those who do not pray, think and look as they think we should.
89
Russian scholars have to laugh. 55 years ago I did a graduate paper on the Russians attempt to get an alliance with France. MMe Juliette Lambert published a major literary magazine, La Nouvelle Revue. Liberals wanted to avenge loss in Franco-Prussian War so accepted on their board a Russian paid by leading publisher in St Petersburg, who also had ear of czar. They did not demand control simply that journal publish Russian authors who placed Russia in intellectual sphere. Previously regarded as less civilized. Number of Russian stories grew quickly. Ultimately left and right came together to get FrancoRussian alliance. It is the way they worked over a hundred years ago. Lambert was used by them as a naive trumpliin has probably been.
9
I was the immediate supervisor of a young teacher who applied for and was hired for a position requiring security clearance after 9/11. As a character and professional reference I was questioned closely in person by an authorized governmental figure regarding this young man's integrity, job performance, psychological stability, and loyalty to the United States. I remember I was specifically queried about my knowledge of any foreign, financial, or social entanglements or relationships which might interfere with his performance of his duties to the United States. I had to sign a form acknowledging the interview and that my responses to the questions were truthful.the young man was hired and left the teaching profession. I was impressed with how serious a matter this was. In addition, my father spent years in faithful service to the US government in OSHA, and I have a friend who is a close-mouthed FBI agent. All of these federal employees are loyal to their country and demonstraterigid standards of honesty. Knowing the rock-hard integrity of these people, I am astonished that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, two totally unqualified people, hold their positions in the White House. The day Trump was elected was a grievous day for this country. At the least, Kushner must have his security clearance revoked immediately.
183
Those rules are for little people.
4
I had the same experience when a former girlfriend was promoted to a slot requiring a security clearance at Mitre Corporation.
1
Good Point!: I hope Team Mueller also looks into the quality, or lack of quality, of the Kushner vetting, or vetting of all members of Trump's administration that received security clearance. It seems that it was cursory, and not thorough, as though the one vetting was under pressure to speed up the process, and failed to do his or her job.
Team Mueller, can you indict a failed vetting process, or only the boss at the top?
Team Mueller, can you indict a failed vetting process, or only the boss at the top?
2
If Jared Kushner can still have a security clearance then anyone can get one. The Trump administration wants to take away health insurance but apparently they are in favor of universal access to classified material.
77
Whitehouse spokeswoman Huckabee Sanders wouldn't even say whether Kushner still has a security clearance.
I would really love to read an article about security clearances, how they work, and whether lying to the FBI (i.e., his original statement failing to disclose this required information) about a meeting to receive spy materials from the Russian government is enough to have your clearance revoked. Surely it must be, and if so, how can he still have a clearance?
I would really love to read an article about security clearances, how they work, and whether lying to the FBI (i.e., his original statement failing to disclose this required information) about a meeting to receive spy materials from the Russian government is enough to have your clearance revoked. Surely it must be, and if so, how can he still have a clearance?
47
People who follow politics closely know this:
1. We should not be surprised that Trump's placed a tremendous amount of trust in Ivanka and Jared. Trump himself had no political experience when he took office. His business acumen, while obviously strong, didn't necessarily qualify him for the office. So the smart people around him, Ivanka and Jared, were given key roles.
2. It's impossible to believe that Kushner inadvertently omitted key information from his national security clearance forms. For one, he read Trump Jr's email that said that Russian government wanted to talk to him. I mean, how many people would forget that? For another, he's corrected his form several times, most recently adding 100 names of foreign dignitaries he's met with.
3. Finally, there is the issue of Trump himself. He misunderstood the job. I'm not surprised -- anyone who thinks the US president can alter the labor calculation used to figure the number of jobs gained/lost in a month (as Trump suggested in 2012) obviously has no clue about the position.
It won't be long.
1. We should not be surprised that Trump's placed a tremendous amount of trust in Ivanka and Jared. Trump himself had no political experience when he took office. His business acumen, while obviously strong, didn't necessarily qualify him for the office. So the smart people around him, Ivanka and Jared, were given key roles.
2. It's impossible to believe that Kushner inadvertently omitted key information from his national security clearance forms. For one, he read Trump Jr's email that said that Russian government wanted to talk to him. I mean, how many people would forget that? For another, he's corrected his form several times, most recently adding 100 names of foreign dignitaries he's met with.
3. Finally, there is the issue of Trump himself. He misunderstood the job. I'm not surprised -- anyone who thinks the US president can alter the labor calculation used to figure the number of jobs gained/lost in a month (as Trump suggested in 2012) obviously has no clue about the position.
It won't be long.
23
Correct except for one thing - his "strong" business acumen is not so much unless several bankruptcies, and failure to pay contractors, puts one in that league.
45
I agree with everything but 'strong business acumen?'.... what rock do you live under. He inherited his wealth and has been bankrupt some five or six times.
12
If it was at all feasible,Kushner's security clearance should be removed retroactively ( sarcastic font ). Kushner, a mini-me version of Trump, has either an appallingly brittle memory ( forgot to list three separate meetings with Russians on his security clearance form ), or, like his father-in-law, has no interest in telling the truth, when he thinks it is not in his best interest to do so. Whatever the case may be , his veracity is, to be generous to him, compromised at this point. and, I am sure that there will be other memory lapses or falsehoods , distortions that will emerge. As Mr. Kristoff says, all roads now lead to Kushner.
18
There are three possible scenarios here, none of them comforting. Scenario one: Now-President Trump’s son, son-in-law, and campaign manager were freelancing. This interpretation leads to a conclusion that the senior Trump is an ineffective manger ignorant of what people close to him are doing. That’s not a desirable quality in our national leader.
Scenario two: Now-President Trump’s son, son-in-law, and campaign manager were doing something they thought the boss would like so no need to involve him directly. What made them think the boss would approve? Perhaps because it’s the sort of thing the boss would do and had done in the past. That’s really not a desirable quality in our national leader.
Scenario three: Now-President Trump’s son, son-in-law, and campaign manager were doing what the boss told them to do. That’s what subordinates are supposed to do but that would be a terrible thing for our national leader to have done.
Scenario two: Now-President Trump’s son, son-in-law, and campaign manager were doing something they thought the boss would like so no need to involve him directly. What made them think the boss would approve? Perhaps because it’s the sort of thing the boss would do and had done in the past. That’s really not a desirable quality in our national leader.
Scenario three: Now-President Trump’s son, son-in-law, and campaign manager were doing what the boss told them to do. That’s what subordinates are supposed to do but that would be a terrible thing for our national leader to have done.
24
Given the drip drip drip that Trey Gowdy refers to, trump is going to need daily prayer meetings with the hands of thousands of " Christian" evangelicals petitioning the Almighty to soothe his sorry soul.
Will they show up to help Jared?
Will they show up to help Jared?
7
Could it be that Russia told Trump to run, promising him help? It is very possible Putin wanted sanctions removed and Kushner needed money to save him from the debt caused by his overpriced building in NY. Trump kept talking about how he was paying his own way to win the election, but was it really his money or did Russia give him the money? It is maddening and scary to imagine that Trump may have been Putin's stealth candidate and is now his puppet, but it is possible. Clearly, the 2016 election was hijacked so if Trump is impeached, or resigns, it should be made null and void. The powers that be need to either make Hillary our president or call for a new election.
28
That, CJ, should be the conversation , ASAP.
1
And the Republicans say nothing, hoping that Pence will be the new president who could choose Ryan for vice president. We can't let that happen.
1
Don Jr. avows that he has released his entire email chain related to the fateful June 9th, 2016 meeting in Trump Tower so he could be "totally transparent." But has he?
Ron Goldstone made Don Jr. an illicit offer in terms that could not have been more explicit: "information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father. This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." Don Jr. loved the idea and promised to bring Kushner and Manafort along to collect.
It is his undeniable knowledge of the illicit source and nature of this supposed information that puts Don Jr. in such legal jeopardy. This amounts to a classic sting operation where the criminal is trapped by responding to an offer to buy drugs or stolen goods. The careful paper trail left by Goldstone, who even posted the meeting on Facebook, left a record like a ticking time bomb.
The question is, how did Don Jr. entice Kushner and Manafort to attend a meeting with an unknown Russian lawyer and a shadowy music publicist at a time in the campaign when, in his own words, "things were moving a million miles an hour"? Did he copy Goldstone's email to them? Did he email his own version of the offer?
If so, then Kushner and Manafort were also caught in what would seem to be a Russian sting operation. The emails would tell. Subpoenas are being prepared.
Ron Goldstone made Don Jr. an illicit offer in terms that could not have been more explicit: "information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father. This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." Don Jr. loved the idea and promised to bring Kushner and Manafort along to collect.
It is his undeniable knowledge of the illicit source and nature of this supposed information that puts Don Jr. in such legal jeopardy. This amounts to a classic sting operation where the criminal is trapped by responding to an offer to buy drugs or stolen goods. The careful paper trail left by Goldstone, who even posted the meeting on Facebook, left a record like a ticking time bomb.
The question is, how did Don Jr. entice Kushner and Manafort to attend a meeting with an unknown Russian lawyer and a shadowy music publicist at a time in the campaign when, in his own words, "things were moving a million miles an hour"? Did he copy Goldstone's email to them? Did he email his own version of the offer?
If so, then Kushner and Manafort were also caught in what would seem to be a Russian sting operation. The emails would tell. Subpoenas are being prepared.
10
For both Donald Trump,Jr. and Jared Kushner "The sins of the fathers are visited upon the sons."
12
This whole situation clearly points out why a "successful" businessman template is NOT who we should have in control of the country. I am sure that there is a certain naïveté in the perceptions of Kushner, Trump Jr., and perhaps even Donald (who is way out of his depth). In the business world, and especially in real estate, back-doors and secret meetings are simply some of the ingredients that are in the day to day mix of business as usual. Governments and international balance has no meaning. Only the money and the deal matter. Little or no thought needs to be given to anything that does not lead toward that goal. There are no constituents, transparent budgets, security rules and regulations, or consequences once the deal is done. And little thought is given to who will inhabit the buildings or steward the land. Just the deal. Just the deal. But now these "deals" affect us all. We need to get these vultures out of our larder before our whole supply of moral nourishment is destroyed and our Republic along with it.
15
With the daily discovery of lies, Constitutional violations and international "faux pas", why is Donald Trump and his gang still in Washington?
32
Richard Nixon in 1974: obsessed with "ill treatment' by the media, convinced 'elitist' enemies were trying to destroy his presidency, isolated, self-pitying, defensive, paranoid.
10
I still say follow the money -- in this case Russian money. It leads to Kushner, the Trump kids and to Donald himself. I am beginning to suspect that he spent so little of his own money on the campaign because Putin provided the rest. And I'm beginning to think that Trump can't say anything bad about Putin because he's too scared. So what exactly is he scared of?
29
If you follow Russian money into American politics, you are quickly led to the Clinton's doorstep.
Or are we supposed to pretend that foreigners only influence gullible Republicans?
Or are we supposed to pretend that foreigners only influence gullible Republicans?
Comey did not do his job. HRC committed several crimes. Donald junior and Kushner look like boy scouts compared to the Clinton crime family. HRC did her own damage to herself. No collusion attempt; nothing gotten/achieved. An encounter is not a meeting; remember the Loretta Lynch "supposedly chance meeting" with Clinton.
Specifics? What crimes?
1
"The meeting gave the Kremlin potential blackmail material against the Trumps, and thus possibly leverage over them."
This is the most frightening sentence in the article.
This is the most frightening sentence in the article.
24
There was also strange unexplained communications discovered between a Trump organization computer and Russia's Alfa Bank. This is one more in a long and growing list of suspicious activity that together point to the strong possibility of collusion between Trump's campaign and the Russians.
http://www.salon.com/2017/03/10/trumps-alleged-computer-server-connectio...
http://www.salon.com/2017/03/10/trumps-alleged-computer-server-connectio...
5
Yes, glad you brought that up.
Why stop with taking away Kushner's security clearance? Why not go to the top and take away Delirium Tremens clearance as well?
12
The great deal-maker was elected President. So, to have a deal, both sides get something; both sides give something.
Since the Russians were offering dirt on Hillary, just what did they ask for in return?
The Russians offered to help Donald Trump get elected. He was elected. Did the Russians hold up their end of the bargain?
Forget about blackmail; Congress should be asking how much, if any, help the Russians provided and what the Russians expect to get in return.
Since the Russians were offering dirt on Hillary, just what did they ask for in return?
The Russians offered to help Donald Trump get elected. He was elected. Did the Russians hold up their end of the bargain?
Forget about blackmail; Congress should be asking how much, if any, help the Russians provided and what the Russians expect to get in return.
15
Nick,
As usual, great piece.
I hope you will consider applying your talent for reasoned analysis to Sean Hannity's role as a Trump friend, advisor, confidant, and cheerleader. From claiming that Seth Rich was murdered by the DNC to authoring the Clinton Did It Too defense of the Russian Republican romance, in the media all roads lead to Hannity. Sean tends to present in an angry, defensive, and conclusory way that distracts. His role and the merit of what he is saying deserve a dispassionate and detailed examination by NYT.
As usual, great piece.
I hope you will consider applying your talent for reasoned analysis to Sean Hannity's role as a Trump friend, advisor, confidant, and cheerleader. From claiming that Seth Rich was murdered by the DNC to authoring the Clinton Did It Too defense of the Russian Republican romance, in the media all roads lead to Hannity. Sean tends to present in an angry, defensive, and conclusory way that distracts. His role and the merit of what he is saying deserve a dispassionate and detailed examination by NYT.
11
This article can simply be read aloud in court. All of this in known, proven fact much of which the DJT administration has admitted to.
The is no disputing the content of this article.
Thank you Mr. Kristof! Keep digging and keep reporting - you are only making Bob Mueller's job easier.
Now we just need to remove jared's security credentials and prosecute!
The is no disputing the content of this article.
Thank you Mr. Kristof! Keep digging and keep reporting - you are only making Bob Mueller's job easier.
Now we just need to remove jared's security credentials and prosecute!
17
Follow the money. As with all things Trump, this is ultimately all about money. All these strands of information which top quality investigative journalism by the real media (NYT, Washpost, CNN, Guardian) are uncovering for us, will lead to a pile of dirty money flowing into Trump coffers. Source? Which foreign oligarchs have access to unlimited billions and are admired and courted by the Trumps and Kushners?
The Special Counsel investigation into Trump financial transactions is the one to watch.
The Special Counsel investigation into Trump financial transactions is the one to watch.
7
Great piece, and I completely agree that Jared Kushner should forfeit his security clearance. One detail though - I don't find it "apparent" that Kushner left the meeting after 10 minutes. Just because the Trumps say so doesn't mean it's true.
Get better editors.
Get better editors.
15
One bit of information that will come out of the plea deal is what, "Russian Adoptions", is a code word for.
8
Who is responsible for initiating legal action and what more do they need?
9
What's the Times doing on the links between the Trumps, the Agalarovs and the plan for them to invest in a Trump building that went south after sanctions went into place (NOW the "adoption" discussion makes sense!). Or, the fraud case that was being pursued by Preet Bharara and was settled two days before trial by none other than Jeff Sessions? Guess where the defendants hid their money? NYC Real Estate.
17
Yesterday President Trump said he just learned of the meeting "a couple of days ago". Jared Kushner's omission of the meeting was reported in April 2017 and amended to his SF-86 forms soon after. So, President Trump is either lying or grossly incompetent at maintaining top secret security in his White House staff. On second thought, it is probably both.
24
It appears the Russians are playing chess while the Trumps are playing checkers and the GOP is playing tiddlywinks.
28
Brilliant analysis! All that needs to be said. Thank you.
5
Mr. Kristof makes a very compelling case. But here's the thing. Even if Mr. Mueller recommends charges against this administration, this Congress will do nothing. And the 2018 electoral map favors the Republicans. Their voters have the same facts as we do, about the lawlessness and corruption of this administration. The difference between us is, they simply don't care.
The rest of us must face the fact that we are now living in a country where laws are flouted publicly by our highest elected officials, because they know there will be no consequences. And should legal challenges be brought outside of Congress, this president now has five solid votes for whatever actions he takes.
With the revelations uncovered and disclosed by the press these past several months, does anyone honestly believe this president would not take whatever steps he could to consolidate and keep power? He has shown that he is both capable of and willing to break the law at any opportunity.
There is a reason why he supports brutal dictators who institute martial law and vicious crackdowns on their own citizens. It is something he would not hesitate to do himself, if he begins to feel threatened. And the worst part? His voters would still support him. They would be the first to state that his actions were "for the country's own good" or for "their safety".
What we're seeing now is what happens when half the nation's citizens no longer care about the rule of law.
The rest of us must face the fact that we are now living in a country where laws are flouted publicly by our highest elected officials, because they know there will be no consequences. And should legal challenges be brought outside of Congress, this president now has five solid votes for whatever actions he takes.
With the revelations uncovered and disclosed by the press these past several months, does anyone honestly believe this president would not take whatever steps he could to consolidate and keep power? He has shown that he is both capable of and willing to break the law at any opportunity.
There is a reason why he supports brutal dictators who institute martial law and vicious crackdowns on their own citizens. It is something he would not hesitate to do himself, if he begins to feel threatened. And the worst part? His voters would still support him. They would be the first to state that his actions were "for the country's own good" or for "their safety".
What we're seeing now is what happens when half the nation's citizens no longer care about the rule of law.
28
Actually, if you look at the stats carefully. His hard-core base registered Republican supporters, still stick with him, but he has lost or is losing support in every other category. He would not have won without pulling in some unaffiliated voters and without many Republicans who held their noses and voted for him. 2018 will be hard fought no question but it isn't impossible. Grassroots and candidates of integrity with broad appeal is key.
3
Call or write your senators and representative, demanding President Trump immediately take away Jared Kuschner's security clearance.
This is one you want to do now.
This is one you want to do now.
12
I believe it would help clarity for the NYT to be careful to append the suffix "Jr." EVERY time they refer to the President's son. Here and there I was confused about which of the two was referenced.
6
... or append the suffix "the dumber one".
1
The issue is not a "big nothing burger". The issue here is the "intention".
4
Definitely Kushner, who's facing possible criminal campaign violations.
Quite a few odd aspects: A lawyer flew in from Russia for just a half hour meeting at Trump Tower? Doesn't make sense when there are cell phones, Skype, or simple conference call.
Most likely she delivered packets of "dirt on Clinton." And technology to help Kushner's staff put out fake news & misleading information: Trump Senior's twitter feed had false stories, Russian bot accounts & odd links all thru the campaign. And he isn't techno-smart.
In July, FBI investigated a Trump computer server, with a back channel connection to a Russian bank--set up in Trump Tower. An expert located malware coming from Russia: a bank in Moscow kept pinging a server registered to the Trump Organization in New York.
Lastly, why would we believe anything said by anyone in the Trump family?
As to Trump-Russia connection, why did Trump reward GOP's McConnell by giving McConnell's controversial wife a coveted cabinet position?
Quite a few odd aspects: A lawyer flew in from Russia for just a half hour meeting at Trump Tower? Doesn't make sense when there are cell phones, Skype, or simple conference call.
Most likely she delivered packets of "dirt on Clinton." And technology to help Kushner's staff put out fake news & misleading information: Trump Senior's twitter feed had false stories, Russian bot accounts & odd links all thru the campaign. And he isn't techno-smart.
In July, FBI investigated a Trump computer server, with a back channel connection to a Russian bank--set up in Trump Tower. An expert located malware coming from Russia: a bank in Moscow kept pinging a server registered to the Trump Organization in New York.
Lastly, why would we believe anything said by anyone in the Trump family?
As to Trump-Russia connection, why did Trump reward GOP's McConnell by giving McConnell's controversial wife a coveted cabinet position?
17
Re: "All Roads Now Lead to Kushner." Excuse me, all roads lead to Donald Trump.
10
Poor Jared. He had to rescue the Kushner real estate empire from his father's bizarre, feckless shenanigans, he purchased 666 Fifth Avenue for too much money, and now, all over again, the Kushner organization needs financial backing that it's not getting. The Chinese have pulled out. The Russians might be his only hope.
(As it's been the hope of the Trumps for decades. Since no United States bank will touch any Trump enterprise, the Trumps have been getting backing from Eastern Europe. And we know what that means.)
Pity poor Jared, who married a real estate princess and needs to live up to her daddy's expectations: push, don't pay; borrow, don't pay; hire workers, don't pay; appeal to Communists, obey.
(As it's been the hope of the Trumps for decades. Since no United States bank will touch any Trump enterprise, the Trumps have been getting backing from Eastern Europe. And we know what that means.)
Pity poor Jared, who married a real estate princess and needs to live up to her daddy's expectations: push, don't pay; borrow, don't pay; hire workers, don't pay; appeal to Communists, obey.
16
Who are these shadow White House figures and what makes them qualified to run our government?
9
We all need to ditch the notion that ANYONE in this administration is qualified to run a lemonade stand, much less the US government.
2
Let's see Congress wrote articles of impeachment because Bill Clinton lied about a consensual affair under oath. Here we have the Liar in Chief and virtually all his associates lying about Russian contacts--his own son taking a meeting with foreign operatives to influence the election in violation of campaign finance codes and the son in law wanting to set up a secret back channel to the Kremlin but we should all wait to see what else they have lied about and if their attempts at subversion were succesful? Time for impeachment for the Liar in Chief and jail for his advisors (lock em up, lock em up!)
8
Trump professes admiration for Putin. Junior welcomes the Kremlin's help to smear Hillary. Kushner wants a secret communications channel with the Kremlin. The Republicans in Congress twiddle their thumbs. And the beat goes on.
28
But if you take away Kushner's security clearance who will handle China, Israel, Palestine, re-vamping the government, making America great again for the wealthiest and other important Kushner assignments? When the President is a persistent and pathological liar on so many topics, how can you fault Kushner for neglecting a little meeting with someone advertised as a Russian government prosecutor to discuss damaging information about Clinton. Just an oversight says Kushner's attorney.
9
how is it that we are not hearing the word treason in all of this mess?
8
Because treason is a war-time crime.
Treason applies only when we are at war. Russia is just an adversary, not an enemy combatant... yet.
I have some friends, our families have known, been neighbors gardened together helped each other financially and I for example was a caregiver to both the matriarch and her adult son their patriarch, after my father died became a close, close friend and in many ways a mentor..he also cut my hair we are friends still to this day. This relationship between our families has lasted for nearly 80..yes 80 years. And in "full disclosure" our families could not be further apart in our political philosophies and approaches to governance. But I think..no, no..I KNOW that all of us realize this and so we purposely do not try to advance our philosophies. I, as I am sure they are very cognizant of the others remembrances and visions going forward. In todays environment you might think that is impossible and admittedly it takes work on both our parts but there is always an eye to a past that stands, by it's self, as the truth of our caring for something larger than just ourselves.
That it pays honor to those beginnings, before and during WWII and later Viet Nam that thru' all the hard and disruptive times our families still..still "know and care" for each other and that cannot be cast aside, ever.
That it pays honor to those beginnings, before and during WWII and later Viet Nam that thru' all the hard and disruptive times our families still..still "know and care" for each other and that cannot be cast aside, ever.
2
OK. So what? Collusion is collusion and treason is treason even if done among family members. Trump doesn't get any slack for any possibly illegal acts occurring inside "one big happy family" That the alleged illegal acts occurred within a family circle doesn't make them any less illegal or sacrosanct. What's your point? And Trump and his family get no play for being rookies. Trump's the one who said he "knew more than the generals" and would "make America great again." Sounds like a big fat lie to me.
2
The sad and reprehensible thing is that millions of Americans have been brainwashed to hate liberals and/or Democrats more than anything else, and they are just fine with the idea that the Russians put Trump in the White House because it kept "the liberals" out. As though Hillary Clinton is a liberal anyway.
If Russia helped put Trump in the White House, hey, that's cool, they say, because now we have Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, and that's more important than the integrity of our democratic republic.
What these brain-dead zombies don't realize - or maybe they do realize it and just don't care - is that Russia is our enemy, and tilted the playing field towards that candidate that would make us weak and do the most harm. In that view, the Russians seem to have been correct. The United States is hurtling towards third-world, also-ran status faster than a speeding bullet.
Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan - will you ever remember that oath you took to defend the Constitution of the United States "against all enemies, foreign and domestic", and act accordingly? To me, it appears you've both gone over to the other side.
If Russia helped put Trump in the White House, hey, that's cool, they say, because now we have Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, and that's more important than the integrity of our democratic republic.
What these brain-dead zombies don't realize - or maybe they do realize it and just don't care - is that Russia is our enemy, and tilted the playing field towards that candidate that would make us weak and do the most harm. In that view, the Russians seem to have been correct. The United States is hurtling towards third-world, also-ran status faster than a speeding bullet.
Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan - will you ever remember that oath you took to defend the Constitution of the United States "against all enemies, foreign and domestic", and act accordingly? To me, it appears you've both gone over to the other side.
50
Russia is our competitor, not our enemy. Russia wants to be better than we financially, culturally, socially. It does not want to destroy us. There are regimes, such as North Korea and some Muslim nations, that would love to see us destroyed --partly because they are too small to consider being competitive. Such nations have severe grudges against the US. The world's four superpowers are the US, China, the European Union, and Russia. The "wars" they will wage in the future will primarily be economic even though there will be, for old time's sake, military posturing such as in the Baltics, Crimea, Syria, and regarding Taiwan.
1
You are mistaken. Russia is an adversary. Its interests and ours do not align, and Russia is determined to advance its interests at our expense.
5
The trump crime family has no regard for the Constitution, oaths taken, tradition, or anything that does not directly benefit them. And the head of this crime family is donald sr. If he didn't know what was being done between Donald jr. and the Russians, he is either stupid or incompetent in the extreme. I don't believe he is either; he is, however, devious and out for what benefits him and his crime family. God save us.
14
The election was fake. The results were fake. Pence is not legitimately vice president any more than Trump is legitimately president. May we reconvene the Electoral College for the job they failed to do? May we have the winner of the popular vote certified as Madam President? If Trump supporters are upset, we suggest they convene in the non-existent basement of a Pizza parlor in DC, hold a séance to channel any GOP with a sense of morality. Because they'll be looking for phantoms.
20
Justice Amercan-style goes like this: National borders only matter if you're so poor you don't have two pennies to rub together. In that situation, the full hammer of the law will be brought down on you if you cross a physical border without getting all your proper paperwork. Because you knew what the rules were ....right? I know you were just supporting your family, I know...but still. Laws matter! We must vet you!
However if you are rich, beautiful and subject to multiple photo ops ... well borders, smorders, you can collude with whatever foreign power you like. We're not going to vet you; laws don't matter. And don't worry we're not going to revoke you or your family's security clearance... so you can go right ahead can make decisions affecting millions and millions of people (plus make a killing in your personal business while working for the government) and if anyone criticizes you for that... you can call yourself a victim of a witch hunt. Would it not be ironic if in the end you simply say... that you were only supporting your family?
However if you are rich, beautiful and subject to multiple photo ops ... well borders, smorders, you can collude with whatever foreign power you like. We're not going to vet you; laws don't matter. And don't worry we're not going to revoke you or your family's security clearance... so you can go right ahead can make decisions affecting millions and millions of people (plus make a killing in your personal business while working for the government) and if anyone criticizes you for that... you can call yourself a victim of a witch hunt. Would it not be ironic if in the end you simply say... that you were only supporting your family?
775
You are right on the mark with your comment, except I think we want to call it INjustice American-style!
2
so well put. How do we explain this to all those who don't get it??
12,000,000 undocumented folks in the US and you claim that borders and laws matter only for the rich and famous. Wow.
And Jared never should have received the clearance in the first place. It always amazed me, from the first steps of the transition process last Nov-Dec, that Jared was made privy to high level matters of the state. Where was the security background check process on HIM-- especially with a convicted felon as a parent? Clearly the background check process was "expedited" for political privilege reasons....to our detriment as a nation, regardless of your political stripe.
I say this as a former naval officer and career foreign service officer who held a TS security clearance for 30 years, and who completed the lengthy security form SF-86 process several times in order to keep that clearance current. Believe me, you don't "forget" any encounter with the Russians...or any foreign national, for that matter!
I say this as a former naval officer and career foreign service officer who held a TS security clearance for 30 years, and who completed the lengthy security form SF-86 process several times in order to keep that clearance current. Believe me, you don't "forget" any encounter with the Russians...or any foreign national, for that matter!
84
Let's remember, too, that there was a great deal of data transfer from Alfa Bank and Trump servers that has never been adequately explained.
24
I've been wondering when someone's going to dig into that story further. Seems critically important from where I sit ...
1
Perhaps we should be as unintelligent and arrogant as they are and spend all of our time shouting "Lock Them Up - All of Them". Fighting fire with fire as it were.
Of course that would mean lowering ourselves to their level and giving up the fact based, reasoned view of the world which lead to our opposition in the first place. From my perspective this country seems to have very little future to aspire to and I fear for future generations of Americans.
Of course that would mean lowering ourselves to their level and giving up the fact based, reasoned view of the world which lead to our opposition in the first place. From my perspective this country seems to have very little future to aspire to and I fear for future generations of Americans.
20
Our children, mine are ,millennials, have to fight this, raise their voices and protest, campaign, vote and lead the way. My generation needs to back them up but let them lead the way.
1
There once was a famous son-in law
Who was regarded with extreme awe
But who seemed to be key
To a Russian crime spree
A game that will not end in a draw
Who was regarded with extreme awe
But who seemed to be key
To a Russian crime spree
A game that will not end in a draw
19
Running the country like a business wasn't such a good idea after all—especially when the business acting as the model for our government is a family business, run autocratically, not accustomed to high levels of transparency or disclosure, operating in an industry where bribes and other forms of corruption are often dismissed as just the price of doing business, and well known for ruthless and sometimes unethical financial practices.
39
Stephen King said it all: “The news is real. The president is fake.” Now, the remaining question is will the Republican base come to grips with the fact that being angry about things doesn’t make remedies possible? In some cases, what may is American's: improved education; diligence in discovering the facts, and, courage to resist community social pressure. This won’t be easy. So, the really important question is will we ever be willing to do the work needed to maintain our democracy?
30
Despite all of these stories about corruption, collusion and conspiracy, Trump's polling numbers hover right at a steady 40%. When you consider that nearly half of all eligible voters didn't show up in last year's pivotal election, there is every reason to believe that if the election were held today, Trump could win.
I don't want to be a " Debbie Downer" but I'm afraid this is reality. Democrats better wake up with an important election coming up in 2018. The GOP will be counting on a lower turnout during a mid-term when democrats tend to stay home.
I don't want to be a " Debbie Downer" but I'm afraid this is reality. Democrats better wake up with an important election coming up in 2018. The GOP will be counting on a lower turnout during a mid-term when democrats tend to stay home.
30
The damage done to our country in the lead up to the election -- sewing seeds of division and hatred; casting doubt on our institutions; lying about the free press -- will take so much time and energy to rebuild, but we must. Trump & Company are proving to be con men, with a brief moment on a world stage. That they were given any time on the stage at all is something all Americans need to examine.
In the interim, as this nightmare unfolds, yes, take away Kushner's security clearance.
In the interim, as this nightmare unfolds, yes, take away Kushner's security clearance.
53
It appalls me at who now have security clearances. It continues to appall me on a daily basis of how little basic wisdom is exhibited in this Administration. From health care to tax reform to net neutrality to climate, etc. decision after decision that evoke strong questioning of "what'?
We need a collective wisdom to remember that this is NOT OK. We need the fortitude to do something about it.
We need a collective wisdom to remember that this is NOT OK. We need the fortitude to do something about it.
55
"We need a collective wisdom to remember that this is NOT OK. We need the fortitude to do something about it."
One if by Land. Two if by Sea. The Greedy Oligarch Pirates (GOP) have landed & the nation is in peril. Patriots: To arms. Form up. March on DC & shake the gates of the WH off their hinges.
One if by Land. Two if by Sea. The Greedy Oligarch Pirates (GOP) have landed & the nation is in peril. Patriots: To arms. Form up. March on DC & shake the gates of the WH off their hinges.
1
We should also ask whether Trump Sr. was "signaling" to the Russians when he suggested "jokingly" from a public podium that they find Hilary Clinton's emails. Or how it came to be that the Podesta emails were dumped within one hour of the Access Hollywood tapes being released? (Such a coincidence!) And what about Trump's sale of a Florida mansion to a Russian oligarch for a hefty $60 million profit in a distressed real estate market? Was Trump being rewarded for something else? These are all facts (yes, facts--not fake news), that become even more concerning when viewed in context.
90
The most important thing you point out is that any of the information offered by the Russians to Trump, Jr., Kushner and Manafort would by definition have to be purloined by espionage or theft. So all the musings back and forth about whether this information was a "thing of value" and therefore felonious for the Trumps to accept is beside the point. Conspiracy to accept stolen property is a lot simpler to prove, and would seem to apply here.
One more point: check the RICO statute and you will find that if this was the object of the conspiracy, it means racketeering is involved. The Trump campaign was indeed a racketeering enterprise and the Donald was the Don.
One more point: check the RICO statute and you will find that if this was the object of the conspiracy, it means racketeering is involved. The Trump campaign was indeed a racketeering enterprise and the Donald was the Don.
102
I too early on, have had thoughts of the RICO statute.
There is more than money at stake in this affair, much more.
There is more than money at stake in this affair, much more.
1
Under our legal system a person is innocent until proven guilty, but in the meantime that person is jailed, or released under a bond guarantee and further steps to prevent flight, such as confiscation of passport and other means. In Trump's case and his associates under suspicion of collusion, conspiracy or treason, security clearances must be cancelled immediately until they are cleared if ever, and temporarily removed from positions of power until investigation and/or prosecution ends. All of our citizens rights are protected by our constitution and judicial system, but by the same token those exercising political power who are under suspicion of breaking the law, can not remain exercising a political role until investigations are finalized, and they are either cleared or prosecuted.
57
The enthusiasm with which such details are pursued suggests that the real issue here is not Russian behavior, which is pretty well understood, but finding something--anything--to bring down the Trumps.
1
A quote from Barry Goldwater is an appropriate response to your "criticism":
"Moderation in the protection of liberty is no virtue; extremism in the defense of freedom is no vice."
"Moderation in the protection of liberty is no virtue; extremism in the defense of freedom is no vice."
17
No, the energy/enthusiasm is about making certain that those past principles and values that have governed our elected official's behavior are maintained with the current administration.
Were the current administration honest, transparent, predictable and serving the interests of the American people, no criticism of them would be necessary. But we find the administration currently lacking in these traits.
Were the current administration honest, transparent, predictable and serving the interests of the American people, no criticism of them would be necessary. But we find the administration currently lacking in these traits.
9
Why do you assume there is a single "real issue"? Yes there's the issue of Russian behavior, but there's also the issue of the Trump campaign's collusion in that behavior. Does investigating that not warrant "enthusiasm"?
4
It is utterly terrifying that Kushner and others are in a position to know our secrets, and are not only corrupt, but may be easily blackmailed, just as Sally Yates warned. Where are our politicians willing to stand up for those who could be killed if information falls into the wrong hands? What ally of ours, important in the fight against terrorism and international crime, would share information with us not knowing where it might end up -- in Russian hands? In Syrian hands? Where are the grown-ups?
101
"Where are our politicians willing to stand up for those who could be killed if information falls into the wrong hands? "
Presently, they are all on the Democratic side of the isle. Hopefully, enough of their Republican colleagues will wake up in time to save the Republic from this abomination.
Presently, they are all on the Democratic side of the isle. Hopefully, enough of their Republican colleagues will wake up in time to save the Republic from this abomination.
That is money laundering.
Actually, Mr. Kristof, and as you well know (given the NY Times's reporting on Fusion), all roads lead to Fusion GPS and the Hillary-supporting Democrat donor(s) who funded Fusion's Steele dossier. Conspiracy theories have a funny way of coming out just the opposite to what their proponents originally intended.
I'm reading a wonderful history of the Roman Senator Cato ('Rome's Last Citizen')-- it is refreshing to re-encounter the political timelessness of rhetorical feints and distractions from over 2000 years ago. (So beautifully accomplished by orators such as Cicero, Cato and Caesar). Unfortunately such tactics are just that-- tiresome and distractions from the real concerns related to an inefficacious administration bogged down in scandal of its own careless making.
17
And as I'm sure you well know, Fusion GPS was originally hired to do opposition research for Republicans who opposed Donald Trump's bid during the Republican primary campaign.
7
Ridiculous talking point and pathetic attempt at deflection and distraction.
Serious questions of legal and/or ethical impropriety have been leveled regarding the Trump Campaign. These questions are based on facts, most recently, those found in emails released by Trump, jr.
Serious questions have been raised about the Clinton Campaign. These are based on tenuous connections and debunked assertions.
Who is in power with potential to do harm to the country? Who is a private citizen? Investigate both. But priority goes to the Trump investigation.
Serious questions of legal and/or ethical impropriety have been leveled regarding the Trump Campaign. These questions are based on facts, most recently, those found in emails released by Trump, jr.
Serious questions have been raised about the Clinton Campaign. These are based on tenuous connections and debunked assertions.
Who is in power with potential to do harm to the country? Who is a private citizen? Investigate both. But priority goes to the Trump investigation.
3
I had a security clearance for many years and I took the significance of that responsibility very seriously. It required keeping documents secure, maintaining the security of secret classified documents and information, as well as not sharing it personally.
It saddens me to see classified information, as well as the security clearance, treated so frivolously.
It saddens me to see classified information, as well as the security clearance, treated so frivolously.
41
Why does Kushner still have security clearance?
100
What does it matter? Trump blabbed state secrets to Russia, he isn't going to let a thing like having a clearance revoked stop him from talking to Kushner or his children.
1
Because his Father in Law is The President and no-one has the nerve to pull it.
1
Because he's son in law of POTUS, and POTUS can insist.
Has anyone considered that these leaks may be coming from the Russians themselves?
The e-mails are being leaked at the exact same weekend that Rex Tillerson defied Putin by reasserting the U.S.'s position in regard to Russian sanctions regarding the Ukraine and its relationship to Kiev. Beside the Trump attendees and the Russians, who else would have had access to the e-mails to leak?
The e-mails are being leaked at the exact same weekend that Rex Tillerson defied Putin by reasserting the U.S.'s position in regard to Russian sanctions regarding the Ukraine and its relationship to Kiev. Beside the Trump attendees and the Russians, who else would have had access to the e-mails to leak?
18
I've been wondering this as well. It's not like there are a large number of people copied on these emails, and seems unlikely they'd be shared around widely...
3
Had the Russians wanted to leak this information to harm Trump or Tillerson they would have had to set up a series of events over a period longer than a year to make this happen. The complexity and serendipity of such events occurring as described are of huge complexity. It is pretty much impossible to set something up to have so many cards collapse in the same direction over such a time. The evidence is astounding and diverse.
Donald Trump, Jr. verified the e-mail as authentic.....turns out thousands of e-mails from Hillary Clinton and John Podesta amounted to nothing (except perhaps the heartland voting for Trump) but one e-mail from the Trump's and we have cooperation with a hostile foreign government to attack the U.S., which is called what?
1
Whether or not the meeting provided specific information about Clinton is irrelevant. They could have discussed the weather and the main purpose was achieved. The Russians clearly let the top Trump campaign officials know that they were working behind the scenes for him: "(this) is PART of Russia and its government's ongoing support for Mr. Trump..."; the Trump campaign clearly signaled back (we accept Russia's support) through taking the meeting. Because Jr. released these emails, it makes me wonder whether he might just be so completely naive he doesn't understand that he wasn't the real message recipient and the meeting was a pretext. It also shows how crafty the Russians are: If the Trump staff take Russian assistance, then they've established a partnership that could pay off big time if Trump is elected. If the real decision makers (Kushner & Manafort) hadn't signed on, the Russians would still have useful Kompromat on Trump's son (and thus Trump himself out of concern for his children) for organizing such a meeting - why else make the initial offer in an email, which leaves a record?
49
"Take away Jared Kushner's security clearance immediately," yes, and give Ivanka the boot, too.
These two measures would find support even in the ranks of Trump's supporters, who wince when reminded that the White House has become the headquarters for the Trump family's newest business venture.
These two measures would find support even in the ranks of Trump's supporters, who wince when reminded that the White House has become the headquarters for the Trump family's newest business venture.
90
Kushner is a milestone, an important one but there are two stops on this road: Donnie Trump and Mitch McConnell. Donnie opened the presidential campaign to the Kremlin because he doesn't understand the difference between operating in the private sector on behalf of a business were you are majority shareholder and the public sector where everything is different.
McConnell has been getting a pass because he the quite type. Remember he was the one who refused to go along with a joint Reb/Dem statement on the interference in 2016. Until he (and Paul Ryan) are cleared, I think they are as culpable as Donnie. It certainly explains their timid responses this week.
McConnell has been getting a pass because he the quite type. Remember he was the one who refused to go along with a joint Reb/Dem statement on the interference in 2016. Until he (and Paul Ryan) are cleared, I think they are as culpable as Donnie. It certainly explains their timid responses this week.
111
Excellent point! Both McConnell and Ryan would have gotten classified information on the circus that was unfolding and did nothing!
1
They did more than "nothing!" When approached by Obama on producing a joint statement on the Russian activity, McConnell said he would consider any public statement as party politics.
Standard "up is down" from McConnell. Always accuse the Democrats of your crime. Then it becomes "both sides do it."
Standard "up is down" from McConnell. Always accuse the Democrats of your crime. Then it becomes "both sides do it."
1
Excellent column.
To me, the events that have been reported and confirmed present a clear case for impeachment and conviction.
Trump's close associates, from the time of his campaign into his presidency, have maintained hereto undisclosed relationships with individuals connected to the Russian government.
This is a risk to the interests of the United States that warrants Trump's removal from office.
To me, the events that have been reported and confirmed present a clear case for impeachment and conviction.
Trump's close associates, from the time of his campaign into his presidency, have maintained hereto undisclosed relationships with individuals connected to the Russian government.
This is a risk to the interests of the United States that warrants Trump's removal from office.
49
If the forces seeking Trump 's removal from office come after Trump and family with all they have to take him down I doubt he they will stop at anything to fight them. He will use all power at his disposal to stay in power. In his world there seems to be only winners and losers. Trying to limit the damage of Republicans, electing more democrats in 2018 and hoping to come up with a better candidate in 2020 seems at this point a safer strategy. I know it's tough to not go all out but for now it seems he has more power to unleash if provoked. He could cross a line were the risk is worth taking but I do t see that yet.
5
One of my favourite James Bond quotes (Goldfinger) is: "Once is happenstance; twice is coincidence; the third time is enemy action." I don't think JB ever let it get to 20.
57
Of course identifying the culprits at each step is essential. But we shouldn't lift our eyes from the main line of the story. This is PAYOLA at the highest level.. The Russians don't give anything for free and President Trump has been paying the Russians everyday since he had the platform of the Republican convention modified to reduce sanctions to Russia. The Republican establishment has been looking the other way to get his legislation signed, Discussing The adoption sanctions is also part of the PAYOLA game. They hurt badly because the Obama administration hit Putin and his friends in the place that hurts most, the pocket, The main problem is that Putin friends' and Trump's pockets are linked. This linkage that has to be unraveled.
90
This "Trump Jr." scandal another scandal in a presidency and campaign filled with scandals, though probably the largest.
What I find so frightening are the many who are pinning their hopes on Robert Mueller. Correct me if I'm wrong:
1 Mueller is a special investigator, not an independent investigator.
2 Mueller is working in the Justice department.
3 The head of the Justice department is the Attorney General, Jeff Sessions.
4 Jeff Sessions is knee deeply involved in the Russian scandal, due to his faulty memory (sic). (In fact, so many of the players have faulty memories...hum)
My feeling is that Mueller will release his findings after the 2020 presidential election. He'll find minimal collusion and that will be that.
Can you believe for a moment that Trump and Sessions would allow Mueller to lead the investigation if he posed any danger? I certainly don't!
What I find so frightening are the many who are pinning their hopes on Robert Mueller. Correct me if I'm wrong:
1 Mueller is a special investigator, not an independent investigator.
2 Mueller is working in the Justice department.
3 The head of the Justice department is the Attorney General, Jeff Sessions.
4 Jeff Sessions is knee deeply involved in the Russian scandal, due to his faulty memory (sic). (In fact, so many of the players have faulty memories...hum)
My feeling is that Mueller will release his findings after the 2020 presidential election. He'll find minimal collusion and that will be that.
Can you believe for a moment that Trump and Sessions would allow Mueller to lead the investigation if he posed any danger? I certainly don't!
23
My money is on Robert Mueller, Marine Corp officer decorated for heroism in the Vietnam War. Trump avoided the draft by claiming he had a bone spur. Mueller likely lost some of his men in Vietnam. Why you would think he'd given Donald Trump a pass on colluding with a foreign power after men under his command gave their lives defending our democracy makes no sense at all.
2
fast/furious
Look at General Mike Flynn, a chest full of medicals for service and heroism including 4 bronze stars.
He retired a Lieutenant General!
Money and power can corrupt the best!
Look at General Mike Flynn, a chest full of medicals for service and heroism including 4 bronze stars.
He retired a Lieutenant General!
Money and power can corrupt the best!
Nick, I would like to ask you a question. Maybe I'm missing something. You have a lawyer, described as a "Russian government attorney" flying in from a considerable distance on a mission to "provide documents and information that incriminates Hillary". I can only assume that when this lawyer arrived she had with her a brief case with papers or docs. Were these docs taken out of the brief case "of value"? Were they stolen or burgled property? Were the documents left there? What are the facts concerning this?
11
Good point. No one is talking about that briefcase. hmmmmmmm
Without Obama, there would be no Trump. How soon we forget Obama telling Russian president Medvedev that there will be additional flexibility towards Russia once he was re-elected in 2012. How about Hillary's involvement in the sale of Uranium One, which gives 1/5 of US uranium supplies to Russia? Expand the investigation to see when Russian hacking was first done in the US and who allowed it
2
Since you are writing about this I assume the information is public. What the article is referring to is secret, behind closed doors with a foreign government that sought US citizens to impact our elections. Somehow your words and the issue at hand don't add up. Try again.
31
You can defend Trump all you want. You can accept all of Trump's excuses and self-justifications till the cows come home - but Barack Obama did not conduct treason against his native land. He did not conspire with a criminal to subvert our liberties. If you believe that Trump is good for Israel, which justifies your blind support, Trump only is interested in Donald J. Trump and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. The sooner you realize that the better you will feel.
2
for the love of God, stop it with what was, that's the past, over, done. This is the present. If you kill two men and get away with it does that make it legal or correct to kill a third? Simple question. The Trumps are liars and should be held to those lies and their consequences. Period.
3
I think the entire circumstances must always be taken into account. The failure to reject a meeting request and to disclose it as well as the continued statements in favor of Putin and the continued denials of the existence of those contacts and the intelligence agencies' view over the hacking by the Russians. However, we all know for day one that the president and his family are not people who dont want to know what integrity and ethics mean and why they have to honor them. What I am amazed is the fact that the GOP congressmen and senators are capable of ignoring these facts - that is one additional failure of those congressmen and senators on top of their failure to produce a responsible health care act for the people.
27
A suspicious mind might think that security measures installed at locations used by the current office holder have now been thoroughly examined by potentially hostile organizations.
Effective use of "mobile scrambling' equipment might depend upon successful results.
Effective use of "mobile scrambling' equipment might depend upon successful results.
7
It is clear the Trumps are all lying. They are also very responsive to Russian requests, and they are likely directly under Russian influence. We should all be highly suspicious of their activity and hesitant to believe anything they say. It appears they are all being manipulated by Russia and their supporters are being manipulated as well.
It is frustrating to hear Trump family reports of the events relayed as if fact. Especially when they have been revising their accounts of these meetings over and over again. For instance, it is clear Trump Jr understood the purpose of the meeting before it took place, and it seems highly doubtful that Kushner was only in the meeting for '10 minutes.'
What is most frightening about this whole thing is the fact that the Republican leadership in congress is not unified around ridding us of this corruption in the presidency, and congressional leaders are not even taking real steps to mitigate this danger. It is both a threat to our democracy and a stain on our nation.
It is frustrating to hear Trump family reports of the events relayed as if fact. Especially when they have been revising their accounts of these meetings over and over again. For instance, it is clear Trump Jr understood the purpose of the meeting before it took place, and it seems highly doubtful that Kushner was only in the meeting for '10 minutes.'
What is most frightening about this whole thing is the fact that the Republican leadership in congress is not unified around ridding us of this corruption in the presidency, and congressional leaders are not even taking real steps to mitigate this danger. It is both a threat to our democracy and a stain on our nation.
86
I think the Grand Old Party is more loyal to Mike Pence than to his mob boss and family.
Who are they really protecting with their silence?
Who are they really protecting with their silence?