. . . why did Trump, et. al wish to hide these so-called "back channel" communications from the U.S. intelligence community itself? That, after all, is the very point of Kushner's seeking to establish such a "back channel" using Russia's secure communications network. All "back channels" are, by their very nature, intended to be "secret." From WHOM they are to be kept secret, that's the issue.

So posed, your question answers itself.

The real tell in this situation is how many people (e.g., in both the media and within the GOP) are willfully "overlooking" the salient point.