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dalton99a

(81,426 posts)
Mon May 29, 2017, 11:35 PM May 2017

Jared Kushner was looking for a direct line to Vladimir Putin (NYT)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/29/us/politics/jared-kushner-russia-investigation.html

Investigation Turns to Kushner’s Motives in Meeting With a Putin Ally
By MATTHEW ROSENBERG, MARK MAZZETTI and MAGGIE HABERMAN | MAY 29, 2017

WASHINGTON — Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, was looking for a direct line to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia — a search that in mid-December found him in a room with a Russian banker whose financial institution was deeply intertwined with Russian intelligence, and remains under sanction by the United States.

Federal and congressional investigators are now examining what exactly Mr. Kushner and the Russian banker, Sergey N. Gorkov, wanted from each other. The banker is a close associate of Mr. Putin, but he has not been known to play a diplomatic role for the Russian leader. That has raised questions about why he was meeting with Mr. Kushner at a crucial moment in the presidential transition, according to current and former officials familiar with the investigations.

The New York Times first reported the meeting between Mr. Kushner and Mr. Gorkov in March, but the White House at the time did not explain its aim. That article quoted a White House spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, who said that the meeting came at the request of the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak, with whom Mr. Kushner had met earlier in December at Trump Tower to discuss opening a communications channel with Russian officials during the presidential transition.

But the half-hour meeting with Mr. Gorkov since has come under increasing scrutiny. The current and former American officials now say it may have been part of an effort by Mr. Kushner to establish a direct line to Mr. Putin outside of established diplomatic channels.

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shraby

(21,946 posts)
2. Kushner needs put in the hot seat under oath to congress, another seat under oath to
Mon May 29, 2017, 11:44 PM
May 2017

Mueller in public both times and let everyone hear him take the 5th.
Maybe then some eyes will open.

LOL Lib

(1,462 posts)
3. I would enjoy watching him squirm under oath.
Mon May 29, 2017, 11:52 PM
May 2017

He disgusts me in so many ways. He is a sneaky looking son of a bitch. I have no doubt he was up to no good. How much money do these ogres need anyway?

tikka

(762 posts)
4. He would just try to lie his way out of it
Tue May 30, 2017, 12:15 AM
May 2017

His high priced lawyers will twist everything to get the poor little rich boy off. They are going to need incontrovertible proof to hang him and the rest of the traitors. One set of laws for the rich and another for everyone else.

SergeStorms

(19,190 posts)
7. Why would anyone...
Tue May 30, 2017, 01:42 AM
May 2017

believe that just because Kushner - or Trump, for that matter - is swearing "under oath", that they'd be truthful? Trump, and I imagine Kushner as well, has no problem telling lie upon lie, upon lie, in order to deflect the truth about his diabolical plans for America, or to gain a financial advantage to enrich himself. To believe that would mean you believe Trump has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior, and fears a god. If you actually believe that, Don the Con has some prime swampland in the Everglades he'd like you to consider purchasing.

Being "under oath" means absolutely NOTHING to these people. They all believe that there's nothing greater than themselves, so there's no "fear of god" for them. They wouldn't even consider perjury a deterrent. They all believe they're above the law, and that laws are for the little people who can't afford battalions of high-priced attorneys.

"Under oath"!

groundloop

(11,517 posts)
12. Very true... however, prosecutors would likely know the answers before they ask questions.
Tue May 30, 2017, 08:31 PM
May 2017

If he told the ugly truth he's screwed, if he lied he's screwed even worse.

And finally, does anyone even believe for a microsecond that Kushner wouldn't be making these Russian overtures without explicit direction from 45*?


Grudge

(2 posts)
14. Good point
Wed May 31, 2017, 10:27 PM
May 2017

Sad but true ,if republicans had any respect for the law,and the people we wouldn't be in this mess.of course they will lie,and perjure and deflect,and dare congress or whoever to prove it,and it's just beyond disgusting that they may get away with it.So what we had last year was something of a cyber war and the Russians with the aid of trump and the republicans won.Let history show that the republican party was the party that surrendered to a foreign gov t ,that is unless the ministry of misinformation doesn't erase it all from

SergeStorms

(19,190 posts)
15. Nicely written....
Thu Jun 1, 2017, 02:56 AM
Jun 2017

and a big WELCOME to Democratic Underground! I love your screen name as well, "Grudge". That perfectly fits with what we all have with the GOP, and soon we'll enact our revenge on these Democracy haters.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
5. Say, wouldn't now be a good time for a piece of rhubarb pie?
Tue May 30, 2017, 12:25 AM
May 2017

But since the rhubarb won't be coming on for a couple of weeks yet, how about a nice juicy subpoena for Mr. Kushner, so we can all hear and enjoy his side of the story?

Lokilooney

(322 posts)
11. There is always ketchup
Tue May 30, 2017, 07:37 PM
May 2017

It has natural mellowing agents to help combat feelings of stress from being found out trying to subvert America.

Treason is flowing like ketchup in borscht...

BigmanPigman

(51,582 posts)
6. If the GOP in the House would sign the independent investigation bill already introduced
Tue May 30, 2017, 01:41 AM
May 2017

then we might be able to get to the bottom of this BS. We must have a separate, independent commission to investigate this thoroughly. After JFK was shot and after 9/11 investigations were made this way and it's really the only way Americans will feel satisfactory with the conclusion and then we can begin rebuilding trust in our government again. #Marchfortruth is on Sat., June 3 in over 110 cities and Wash DC.

nocalflea

(1,387 posts)
8. What about his penny loafers ?
Tue May 30, 2017, 01:51 AM
May 2017

What brand does he wear ? What size ? With or without socks ? Please, these questions kept me up all last night.

"The New York Times first reported the meeting between Mr. Kushner and Mr. Gorkov in March"

Wow ! Investigative journalism at it's best.

Mountain Mule

(1,002 posts)
9. Check out the link
Tue May 30, 2017, 02:16 AM
May 2017

~ snip ~[blockquote=]"The New York Times first reported the meeting between Mr. Kushner and Mr. Gorkov in March, but the White House at the time did not explain its aim. That article quoted a White House spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, who said that the meeting came at the request of the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak, with whom Mr. Kushner had met earlier in December at Trump Tower to discuss opening a communications channel with Russian officials during the presidential transition." ~ snip ~




But the half-hour meeting with Mr. Gorkov since has come under increasing scrutiny. The current and former American officials now say it may have been part of an effort by Mr. Kushner to establish a direct line to Mr. Putin outside of established diplomatic channels.

Big difference between "opening a communications channel with Russian officials" - almost could sound warm and fuzzy and "an effort by Mr. Kushner to establish a direct line to Mr. Putin outside of established diplomatic channels" - definately in Natasha and Boris territory.

nocalflea

(1,387 posts)
10. Wasn't my point-well aware of new allegations. It's the timidity that frustrates the hell out of me.
Tue May 30, 2017, 12:00 PM
May 2017

They took Hick's answer in March and did nothing.No pushback.No digging. They dropped it like a hot potato and would have been satisfied to let it lie in the dust.

They were bailed out by an IC leak.

calimary

(81,179 posts)
13. Is anyone really surprised that trump & comp have earned the enmity of the IC?
Tue May 30, 2017, 08:32 PM
May 2017

When they go to such great pains as this - to devise sneaky-ass "back channels" circumventing established intel organizations and operatives (many of whom put their lives on the line to collect intelligence for our country)?

I see shit like this and I am NOT ONE BIT surprised that the intel community is severely pissed at this jerk.

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