Trump administration sought to enlist intelligence officials, key lawmakers to counter Russia storie

[TomCADem]

Source: Washington Post

The Trump administration has enlisted senior members of the intelligence community and Congress in efforts to counter news stories about Trump associates’ ties to Russia, a politically charged issue that has been under investigation by the FBI as well as lawmakers now defending the White House.

Acting at the behest of the White House, the officials made calls to news organizations last week in attempts to challenge stories about alleged contacts between members of President Trump’s campaign team and Russian intelligence operatives, U.S. officials said.

The calls were orchestrated by the White House after unsuccessful attempts by the administration to get senior FBI officials to speak with news organizations and dispute the accuracy of stories on the alleged contacts with Russia.

The White House on Friday acknowledged those interactions with the FBI but did not disclose that it then turned to other officials who agreed to do what the FBI would not — participate in White House-arranged calls with news organizations, including The Washington Post. The White House insisted the officials speak on the condition of anonymity — a practice President Trump has condemned.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-sought-to-enlist-intelligence-officials-key-lawmakers-to-counter-russia-stories/2017/02/24/c8487552-fa99-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumprussia-720pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.9d469dc607fd

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Republicans in the Senate and House are in too deep.

[GP6971]

1. Somehow I have a feeling

that the IC community is going to turn a deaf ear to the Administration.

[Blue Idaho]

2. Sounds like obstruction of justice... nt.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. What a bunch of lying, conniving, deceitful thieves

Democrats should make a lot of noise about this

[NewRedDawn]

4. Comrade Comey

Is in my opinion has been compromised by Russia also. This arrogant smug fucker need a trip to Guantanamo.

[KittyWampus]

5. Then why isn't he helping them now?

[NewRedDawn]

11. Report I heard

was that his underling & Comey himself approached Rancid Penis to say the reports are bogus. I do not trust that prick or the FBI. They were contributors to this coup.

[Glimmer of Hope]

6. Well Maxine Waters says that he has no credibility but I understand he outed Priebus.

I am a bit confused.

[Botany]

7. "Sounds like obstruction of justice"

Blue Idaho

[George II]

8. They're flailing. How much longer can this go on?

[riversedge]

9. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) & Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the chairmen of the Senate & House int

Last edited Fri Feb 24, 2017, 10:24 PM - Edit history (1)

These two Chairman did the bidding of the WH who asked them to talk to new orgs and debunk the story. MY GOD!!




......The effort also involved senior lawmakers with access to classified intelligence about Russia, including Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the chairmen of the Senate and House intelligence committees. A spokesman for Nunes said that he had already begun speaking to reporters to challenge the story and then “at the request of a White House communications aide, Chairman Nunes then spoke to an additional reporter and delivered the same message.”

Unlike the others, Nunes spoke on the record and was subsequently quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

In an interview, Burr acknowledged that he “had conversations about” Russia-related news reports with the White House and engaged with news organizations to dispute articles by the New York Times and CNN that alleged “repeated” or “constant” contact between Trump campaign members and Russian intelligence operatives.

[5 times Donald Trump’s team denied contact with Russia]


Chief White House Strategist Steve Bannon walks with White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

“I’ve had those conversations,” Burr said, adding that he regarded the contacts as appropriate provided that “I felt I had something to share that didn’t breach my responsibilities to the committee in an ongoing investigation.”.............................

[riversedge]

10. Maddow is reporting on these two Senators now.

[cstanleytech]

12. The IG needs to investigate this and see how far this goes and anyone in office

be it elected or not needs to resign if they went along with it.

[Nevermypresident]

13. We all expected the Rethugs on the Intelligence

Committees (both Senate and House) to try to deep six their Trump/Russian investigations. But, to actively participate to obstruct justice on behalf of Comrade Trump is even more frustrating, corrupt, and infuriating.

Again, I believe only a Deep Throat(s), with supporting evidence (tapes, transcripts, documentation, etc,) will bail us out of this hell.
I don't trust Comey to be the White Knight...hope I'm wrong.

Any thoughts on who in the White House leaked the Priebus - FBI conversation and phone calls?

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. More butter (please)!

[Kablooie]

15. They sound really scared. Reminds me a lot of Nixon.

But I still think it's going to be nearly impossible to turn enough Rs to get an impeachment.

We'd need to convince 17 in the House and 23, or about 1/2 the Republicans in the Senate to get an impeachment.

[TomCADem]

16. Why Should They Be? They Hold All Branches of Power

If they control Congress, the Presidency and soon the Courts, what is anyone going to do about it? They can pretty much deny reality with impunity the way Trump did at CPAC. They can go all Taming of the Shrew and talk about how sunny it is in the middle of the night and, if a media outlet disagrees, then kick them out of the room.

Plus, you have your go to liberals, Glenn Greenwald, Cornel West, Susan Sarandon, Jill Stein, who will agree that it is all the Democrats fault, and stop speaking ill of Russia.

[Kablooie]

17. Just saying they *seem* scared to be reacting so much.

[Sunlei]

18. I tweeted him he should come clean before the other Republicans throw him under the bus & Pence

takes his position.

[TomCADem]

19. Republicans Are In Too Deep...How Can They Throw Him Under The Bus?

Republicans could throw him under the bus if they could trust him to keep quiet in return for a Ford-like pardon by Pence. However, they can't rely on Trump not to bitch about being forced to resign or be impeached. He will turn on them and implicate them for participating in his cover-up. McConnell obstructed disclosure of the investigation into Trump's Russian ties. The House and Senate Chairs have been "leaking" information at the WH's request that there is no evidence of any Trump Russian ties.

Republicans cannot throw Trump under the bus, because he will pull them down under the bus with him. This is why they have to participate in the cover-up. They are boxed in.

[Sunlei]

21. He doesn't know much about the RW good old boys, hes not in the loop.

[Solly Mack]

20. K&R

[OliverQ]

22. So the Chairmen of the Intel Committees

investigating Trump and Russia are colluding with him to bury the Russia story.

How is this not an enormous breach of ethics/obstruction of justice? Richard Burr and David Nunes need to be removed/censored by the Congressional Ethics Committee.

It's so frustrating that all these people are getting away with crimes and corruption!

[riversedge]

23. Yes, both the Chair of the Senate and House intel Comm who are suppose to be investigation Trump

basically went on record for calling media to help the WH. Can't get much worse that this.

[riversedge]

24. Kand REC