Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn met with the Russian ambassador in December 2016 to discuss" establishing a secret communications channel" between the new administration and the Russian government. This indicates the Trump campaign had no secret line of communications with the Russia during the 2016 election. This suggests there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the lection.
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Mr Case wrote "(They) discuss establishing a secret communications channel between the new administration ... This suggests there was no collusion."
The suggestion is not comforting, Mr Case, nor is a negative provable.
What historical precedence is there for such a discussion between a campaign and foreign power? What have we come to, as a nation, sir?
14
Haha, and now over a year and a half later, still no collusion, still no obstruction, still no Trump / Russia anything. Want to know why? Because there's nothing to find. Oh wait, they did find out that someone that worked on Trump's campaign might have filled out his taxes incorrectly 10 years prior. Oops. They've got nothing because there is nothing to be had. The only thing liberals have been trying to do for the past year+ is to save face. It's a joke. They were handed lies from Russia and everyone went with it, including the DNC and O's entire administration. From unmasking to apparent 'suicides', this has been one big corrupt O government liberal mess. If you even think it's any different than that, you're not paying attention at all. People from the DNC, HRC's campaign, and O's administration should be in jail. Period. Good grief, this needs to end, now.
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Oh, it will 'end', Heydrick ... but not as your one-dimensional mind imagines. The complex nature of self-serving bureaucratic malfeasance distorts time and resources in an effort to bastardize truth as long as possible. Ever more smoke screens, lies, and deceptions serve to delay the availability of facts.
This is a well established Republican strategy: to bore people into looking the other way and, like you, ignore or simply subvert the obvious.
Yes, it is taking awhile to nail Trump, just as did Nixon, if you read history ... the trap door seems to open in slow motion. But we all know what's coming, even you! Why? Because Trump is IRREVOCABLY FLAWED on every level ... plus the majority of the American citizenry, who loathe and despise Trump, are infinitely smarter and more focused than he and his den of fools could ever hope to be. It is, as it is said, "... just a matter of time" before the nightmare ends. No one so fundamentally evil and corrupt can ultimately prosper: not Hitler, nor Caligula, not Mussolini, nor Stalin ... and surely not chubby old Donald Trump, the least of the least.
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Responding to Doug Heydrick: Hey Doug: Robert Mueller was just appointed Special Counsel to oversee potential Russian influence in the 2016 election cycle in mid-May 2017. Please get your facts straight and before you criticize the ongoing investigation, be aware that Robert Mueller is highly respected on both sides of the aisle as the former Director of the FBI. He is extremely methodical, precise and will not be strong-armed or rushed in unraveling what happened (and yes, there was Russian influence in the election) and who is to be prosecuted. But be assured, Mueller will unravel this election debacle and there will be prosecutions going forward...just not on your timetable.
12
Kushner colluded with Israel, promising to ignore the Palestinians right of having their own state and guaranteed AIPAC support for Trump. How come, this is not under investigation?
7
The old adage still holds: 'Those who lie down with dogs get up with fleas." Just saying...As an animal lover I don't mean to disparage dogs here. But everyone is somehow besmirched by association with this president.
9
It remains to be seen how many crimes Flynn will be charged with. It also remains to be seen how many governments he was actually working for!
6
one word. treason
8
In the comments people are rejoicing about a big fat nothing. Tell me, how many times did the Clintons talk to the Russians? When you work on an international level, it is unavoidable to talk to Russians, Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, even Europeans. An encounter with a Russian or other representative of a nation prooves nothing. Unless it is treason and vital information has been leaked. After a year of research the NYT has not published anything like this. Only smoke. A big waste of time.
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Uh-oh, the ‘big fat nothing’ comment smells a lot like paid for trolls...
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It's not the fact that they spoke with the Russians or any other foreign government -- it's the nature of those contacts. They were trying to subvert US foreign policy by discussing future actions by a potential Trump administration, possibly in exchange for actions or contributions by the Russian government to help his campaign.
Releasing classified information to the Russians, as Trump himself has done, is not the only type of crime that he and his co-conspirators may have committed. For example, it is illegal for a US campaign to receive items of value (including information for which they do not pay a fair price).
Referring to such contacts as "nothing" simply because others have also had contacts with foreign governments is equivalent to dismissing a bank robbery simply because many others had also gone into that very same bank.
18
Words fail me when I see his picture except for: vapid, insipid, zero, vacant and CREEPY. I guess in large measure I will patiently wait for the bankruptcy of 666 Fifth Avenue.
12
Jared tried to set up a secret back-channel communication system with Russia. What more do we need to prove collusion?
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Jared will say nothing of value and likely lie as he has in the past. This hornet's nest is all the same. Liars, bloviators, cheats, and thieves all.
15
Is this some kind of scoop?
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We know that Kushner, like Trump, will lie to save himself and his father in law. Put him in jail.
8
Jared Kushner will perjure himself first before he flips on dad-in-law. He'll never give up trophy wife Ivanka.
12
The nation needs the indictments to start coming down ASAP. Republicans are teetering on the edge of destroying the very foundation of the United States. And the indictments need to include the man behind the curtain, and his Vice President too.
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I feel like we're stuck in a bad movie where everyone knows the ending: Trump is increasingly unhinged because he knows the Russia investigation will uncover serious wrongdoing.
There are so many Russian ties and lies, compounded by Trump's own incriminating acts and words, that the innocence of the Trump Family Syndicate is impossible at this point.
19
I can't decide whether I wish I knew, or am glad I don't know, the ending to this very bad movie.
3
Indictment for perjury can't be far behind...
9
Why does the NYT keep reiterating this untruth: "Mr. Flynn was fired in February after misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations during the transition with Sergey I. Kislyak, who was then the Russian ambassador to the United States.". He was NOT fired for lying to Pence. He was fired because the media published that Flynn lied to the government about it and was vulnerable to blackmail. The lying to Pence was a cover story by the administration
64
Hard to believe Pence is oblivious to any of this. How can you hold the second highest position in the U.S. and not be aware of what is going on in the administration? Anyone who continues to support or associate with this Presidency are all questionable.
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Absolutely right. I suspect that Pence knew well what Flynn was up to but thought it would never come out, so Pence had no problem fibbing to the public on television.
The Times and other outlets have been taking the official line at face value for months. Is it because Pence's evangelicalism and "honesty" place him off-limits? Is there a tacit understanding that because he's next in line for the Presidency he shouldn't be tainted by any Russia-related crimes?
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Why shouldn't he meet with whomever he pleases?
Why shouldn't we investigate the meetings with foreign adversaries that Kushner swears never happened?
12
Well first, there are laws about what an incoming administration can and cannot do. He violated those laws and then lied about it.
Second, he's repeatedly provided grossly (that means really obvious) incomplete disclosure forms - repeatedly to the US Gov't for security clearance. And then lied about it.
Third, he met with foreign powers during an election campaign to undermine his daddy in law's opponent. And then he lied about it.
You midwesterners (I grew up in one of the "I" states) are so keen on honesty, blue collar values, doing the "right" thing, and fairness. This little nitwit and trumps corruption and incompetence should outrage you. Why on earth do you people defend this man?
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Word in the Swamp is that Mueller has a sign on his office: "Gone Fishin'".
This is veering dangerously close to prosecutorial overreach the likes of which Ken Starr during the Clinton years would practice. Mueller's mandate was to investigate criminal collusion with the Russian government that led to meddling and interference with the 2016 election. To interview Mr. Kushner, however reprehensible Jared is to the general public, about the presidential TRANSITION, and meetings during that time, is outside the mandate.
3
The interview with Kushner focuses specifically on the subject of Russian interference in the election. The Russians wanted to help Trump, and Trump's campaign was eagerto get their help. Their goal was to influence US policy so naturally they would have continued to work with the people close to Trump after the election.
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Let me put it this way, if any of this had happened in the Obama administration, would it still be outside the mandate?
6
You wish.
Jared Kushner may well end up in the slammer with his corrupt, cheating father. Flynn might avoid jail, but only just . Manafort might avoid jail, but only just. The list goes on.
These clowns are/were aligned with a foreign power to skew a US election. And they have all repeatedly lied about about to congress and the fbi. As an American - and political party shouldn't matter - you should be outraged by all the hijinks, lying and incompetence by the men - including the odious, racist and lying trump. How are you not? Ridiculous comment.
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"The interview does not mean Mr. Kushner is a particular focus of the investigation. Defense lawyers typically do not allow such interviews if they believe that their clients are the target of an investigation."
How is it possible that Kushner would not be a target of the investigation? He lied on multiple security forms about his contacts with Russians. He was involved in the firing of Comey. He was involved in trying to set up a backchannel to communicate with Russia.
I can only hope that the conclusions drawn here about Kushner not being a target because he was allowed, by his lawyers, to speak to Meuller is dead wrong.
26
The mere thought that the current cast of characters sit where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and company sat is disgusting. What have we come to as a nation?
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Truly disgusting. I want to throw up. Our country as we knew it no longer exists, and there is nothing we can do about it short of outright insurrection...
17
Weren't the White House and the Capitol built after these founding fathers had already retired from government? Nevertheless, it's true. Trump has made a mockery of the entire U.S. government wherever he sits. His election in 2016 is the Tragedy of this nation.
3
I wonder if we will get the thousands of comments to this article as we are getting about sex scandals. The pope will be next because he put his hand on someone's head while blessing him/her. As for this article, keep up the good work, Mueller. I expect nothing will come of this but the work should be done nevertheless.
3
Another voice in the nothing-to-see-here circus. The only ones left on that side are traitors and fools
2
So, when is this guy going to be prosecuted?
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The wheels of Justice grind on very slowly. Besides once prosecuted Trump will simply pardon anyone accused until he himself is removed from office.
1
My money is still on Flynn as the one to roll. ( especially when his son may be facing some serious prison time )
It is just a matter of time ... tic toc
39
I would like the New York Times (and other publications) to stop referring to Mike Flynn as having been fired for "lying to Vice President Mike Pence". While that is the reason that the White House gave, frankly, it beggars belief and there's absolutely no reason to accept anything the Trump administration says at face value. The idea that Mike Flynn was a rogue operative working independently with the Russian government without the knowledge of Donald Trump and Mike Pence is ridiculous. Don't blandly repeat what are very likely lies told by the Trump White House that exonerates them and places blame on Mike Flynn. That hasn't been proven to be accurate at all, don't give them a free pass on this.
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Lawrence, yes! Especially since the cover story that Flynn "lied" to the Vice President seems to exonerate Pence. Pence should be removed at the same time Trump goes. By that time, the Dems will be running Congress and the Speaker of the House will become President.
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Here's a prediction: He will remain silent, until he can't. When it's a race for the lifeboats, or a get-out-of -jail-free Card, the Prince consort will be ready. The Art of the Deal, and the SQUEAL.
23
Oh, come on, he’s expecting a pardon from Ivanka’s daddy. The only way they can pressure Kushner is with NY laws that Trump can’t pardon.
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Let's remember, an acceptance of a pardon is admitting guilt. You lose a lot of rights, themes importance of which is, you can no longer take the 5th. And later, if you are called to testify against, say Trump, and you lie, your pardon is off.
2
O-Bob-Mueller, you're the only who can help us now...
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Decent Americans are investing far too much hope in the Mueller investigation.
First, there is no historical basis for believing that Mueller will prosecute the Trump family and its co-conspirators. America simply has not been willing convict its financial and political royalty, no matter how vulgar and depraved they have been. Nixon was pardoned by Ford, and Clinton was persecuted by Kenneth Starr precisely because Clinton was not royalty and the plutocrats wanted him out.
Second, even if every member of the Trump/Kushner family were convicted and imprisoned (or executed for treason), that would still leave Pence and other morally depraved Republican plutocrats in complete control.
It is Republican senators and congressmen who are crafting the pending tax bill designed to replace democracy with a permanent corporate plutocracy. Trump's only function will be to mark is "X" at the bottom of the legislation.
The "Great Experiment" failed. Republicans finally have succeeded at destroying our pluralist constitutional democracy. Decent, freedom loving Americans can either emigrate or get used to living in a white supremacist police state ruled by plutocratic family dynasties.
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Dear There,
Nixon resigned, and I'll settle for that.
Pence and the rest may well be morally depraved, but they're not going to start a nuclear war through an early morning tweet. I think your analysis overlooks the extreme danger we are in having an unhinged malignant narcissist as President.
8
Historical basis is irrelevant. Arguing that there is no precedent is a shaky first basis to rest your argument, and the co-conspirators are already falling- did you not notice? There are many who would gladly set a precedent of taking down the president for being a traitor, which is not even his worst crime. And Trump is no royalty- hes been excluded by the royalty itself- they dont want him. Hence his anger. Royalty? The best power marriage he could arrange was for his daughter- and the best she could do was the Kushner family. And Pence will not be left standing if all the Trump people fall either, so you dont have to worry in that case. I dont see how Mueller doesnt go up the line- finding crimes in this white house is like shooting fish in barrel except you let the water out first.
1