NY Mag. The case for why Paul Ryan really thinks Russia pays Trump.

[Botany]

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/05/the-case-for-why-paul-ryan-really-thinks-russia-pays-trump.html

Last night, the Washington Post reported on a 2016 conversation, between members of the House Republican leadership team, concerning Donald Trump’s shady ties to Russia. “There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” said Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. “No leaks … This is how we know we’re a real family here,” replied House Speaker Paul Ryan.

It is possible, as the Post acknowledges, that the comments were made in jest. The transcript records laughter all around. But there are several reasons to suspect that McCarthy and Ryan were speaking honestly about their suspicion that Trump received money from Putin. First, spokesmen for Ryan and McCarthy insisted the comments were a joke only after they forcefully denied the conversation ever took place at all and then were told a recording existed. The fallback explanation has less presumptive credibility when the initial explanation has been debunked.

snip

And fifth, Trump, Ryan, and McCarthy are all cooperating to hide Trump’s financial information. House Democrats have introduced bills to require the president to disclose his tax returns, which could reveal his financial relationship with Moscow. Ryan and McCarthy could approve those if they wanted to. Instead, they are supporting Trump by quashing them. Whether and to what extent Trump has gotten income from Putin cannot be known because Ryan and McCarthy want it not to be known.

“No leaks, all right?” Ryan says to his fellow Republicans in the recording. “This is how we know we’re a real family here … What’s said in the family stays in the family.”

******

"real family" =

[dalton99a]

1. They all knew.

Great article.

[Botany]

2. Both McConnell and Ryan knew

God only knows how wide and deep this corruption goes. Ryan is in a
CYA mood right now.

How did McConnell know if he waited until after the election he would have
somebody else to vote for for SCOTUS?


https://www.democraticunderground.com/10028671176 (NY Times Article)

Paul Ryan & Republican Establishment Used Hacked Info From Russia Against Democrats:

Let's not forget that a super PAC tied to Paul Ryan used material provided by Russia's hacking of the DNC and DCCC.

It was known that Russia had stolen material from the DNC and DCCC and a Paul Ryan Super PAC and as well as other Republican groups used it.

It wasn't just Hillary Clinton being attacked. It wasn't just Trump benefiting. There's potentially more collusion than just that between Trump's team and Russia.

[dalton99a]

5. +1

[MineralMan]

3. It's La Cosa Nostra, La Famiglia Nostra

For Republicans it's all a family thing, for sure.

Va bene, Ryan and the rest of you hoodlums.

[luvMIdog]

4. yeah the Russian Crime Family

[Frustratedlady]

6. I agree that Ryan/McConnell are deep into this collusion, but...

I can't, for the life of me, believe that Trump would claim any monies he received from Russia on his tax return. As much as he lies, why would he be honest when it came to his taxes? Maybe I'm missing something.

I can't believe we will ever know what Trump is worth. I doubt he knows. If the investigators want to know more about his taxes, can't they subpoena his tax accountants? Would they be protected by client confidentiality? I should think there would be a way to "back into" his taxes and try to unravel them.