FBI Russia probe helped by Australian diplomat tip-off - NYT

[rooster59]

FBI Russia probe helped by Australian diplomat tip-off - NYT

 

Then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. November 8, 2016. Picture taken November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder - RC183F8DC800

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat in May 2016 that Russia had political dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

 

The conversation between Papadopoulos and the diplomat, Alexander Downer, in London was a driving factor behind the FBI's decision to open a counter-intelligence investigation of Moscow's contacts with the Trump campaign, the Times reported.

 

Two months after the meeting, Australian officials passed the information that came from Papadopoulos to their American counterparts when leaked Democratic emails began appearing online, according to the newspaper, which cited four current and former U.S. and foreign officials.

 

Besides the information from the Australians, the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also propelled by intelligence from other friendly governments, including the British and Dutch, the Times said.

 

Papadopoulos, a Chicago-based international energy lawyer, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 to lying to FBI agents about contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials. It was the first criminal charge alleging links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

 

The White House has played down the former aide's campaign role, saying it was "extremely limited" and that any actions he took would have been on his own. The New York Times, however, reported that Papadopoulos helped set up a meeting between then-candidate Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and edited the outline of Trump's first major foreign policy speech in April 2016.

 

The federal investigation, which is now being led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, has hung over Trump's White House since he took office almost a year ago. Some Trump allies have recently accused Mueller's team of being biased against the Republican president.

 

Lawyers for Papadopoulos did not immediately respond to requests by Reuters for comment. Mueller's office declined to comment.

 

Trump's White House attorney, Ty Cobb, declined to comment on the New York Times report. "Out of respect for the special counsel and his process, we are not commenting on matters such as this," he said in a statement.

 

Mueller has charged four Trump associates, including Papadopoulos, in his investigation. Russia has denied interfering in the U.S. election and Trump has said there was no collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-31

[namoi]

Pffft, Alexander Downer punce, have to watch his back now maybe the poor little germ.

Sent from my CPH1707 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Samui Bodoh]

3 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Besides the information from the Australians, the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also propelled by intelligence from other friendly governments, including the British and Dutch, the Times said.

 

It seems that many people around the world knew what was happening, but still Trump and his associates didn't give a rats ass. This lack of concern for the integrity of the US election should be shocking, but after witnessing his behaviour and lack of respect for democratic norms in the last year, I am not surprised.

 

I have said it before and (sadly) will say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all.

[ballpoint]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Besides the information from the Australians, the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was also propelled by intelligence from other friendly governments, including the British and Dutch, the Times said.

Rather fitting that the US's traditional enemy helped Trump enter the White House, and now its friends are helping to kick him out of it.

[simple1]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

It seems that many people around the world knew what was happening, but still Trump and his associates didn't give a rats ass. This lack of concern for the integrity of the US election should be shocking, but after witnessing his behaviour and lack of respect for democratic norms in the last year, I am not surprised.

 

I have said it before and (sadly) will say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all.

What is interesting is that it's being claimed these tip offs triggered the FBI to commence investigations into possible collusion with Russia by the Trump campaign. Undermines Trump and his enablers denials, have to wait and see the final FBI charges. IMO Trump is playing word games with his denials and was well aware of activities by his campaign staff / advisors regards communications with Russian players.

Edited December 31, 2017 by simple1

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Some Trump allies have recently accused Mueller's team of being biased against the Republican president.

May we then also assume that some people in the Trump camp are biased against Mueller and his team? How incredibly exciting! 

[Trouble]

All this collusion stuff is wishful thinking.  Let's say for the sake of argument that the Russians did have dirt on Hillary.  Let's say they offered it to the Trump campaign. Let's say someone in the Trump campaign met to get the information but there was nothing there. Where is the collusion?  Wouldn't there have to be a conspiracy? Now again for the sake of argument, let's say that Hillary's campaign and the DNC used funds to pay for a fake dossier against Trump. Was there collusion with a foreign individual former M I 6 British agent Christopher Steele?  Collusion is scheming with a party to cheat or deceive others.  So which seems like actual collusion?

 

So far it seems like there has been no evidence of anything the Trump campaign got from anyone that was used against Hillary. Seems like many are seeing the meeting with the Russian lawyer or Flynn talking to the Russian Ambassador and getting nothing as evidence of collusion, whereas paying for a  dossier to smear an opponent with fake information is not collusion. 

 

The problem everyone seems to have is that the emails of both Hillary and the DNC, made public on Wikileaks, damaged Hillary badly and everyone one seems to blame the Russians whereas no one in the US government has provided any proof it was even the Russians in the first place who hacked the emails.  Claims of collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign have yet to be proven and Trump has made it clear that he is not firing Mueller and all he wants if for Mueller to conclude the investigation ASAP so everyone can move on.  Mueller started his investigation in May of 2017.  He has a full staff of lawyers and investigators at his disposal seemingly many opposed to the Trump presidency.  They by now could have interviewed every person connected 20 times over.  It would be nice if Mueller could at least give the people some kind of idea as to the status of the investigation.  Is it 10% or 90% complete.  

 

Seems like the bigger scandal here is why the FBI and the Justice Department keep stonewalling the Congressional investigations and not providing requested information.  Here are committees in both the House and the Senate trying to investigate and every request is delayed.  It's all bullish*t and it's obvious that the government no longer serves the people but is only interested in serving and/or protecting itself.  

[simple1]

2 hours ago, Trouble said:

Seems like the bigger scandal here is why the FBI and the Justice Department keep stonewalling the Congressional investigations and not providing requested information.

The Republicans are the primary offenders for 'stonewalling', enabled by Trump's public attacks on the judiciary and investigators.

[steven100]

Alexanda Downer is scum .... as are most Aussie politicians.

[ilostmypassword]

10 hours ago, Trouble said:

All this collusion stuff is wishful thinking.  Let's say for the sake of argument that the Russians did have dirt on Hillary.  Let's say they offered it to the Trump campaign. Let's say someone in the Trump campaign met to get the information but there was nothing there. Where is the collusion?  Wouldn't there have to be a conspiracy? Now again for the sake of argument, let's say that Hillary's campaign and the DNC used funds to pay for a fake dossier against Trump. Was there collusion with a foreign individual former M I 6 British agent Christopher Steele?  Collusion is scheming with a party to cheat or deceive others.  So which seems like actual collusion?

 

So far it seems like there has been no evidence of anything the Trump campaign got from anyone that was used against Hillary. Seems like many are seeing the meeting with the Russian lawyer or Flynn talking to the Russian Ambassador and getting nothing as evidence of collusion, whereas paying for a  dossier to smear an opponent with fake information is not collusion. 

 

The problem everyone seems to have is that the emails of both Hillary and the DNC, made public on Wikileaks, damaged Hillary badly and everyone one seems to blame the Russians whereas no one in the US government has provided any proof it was even the Russians in the first place who hacked the emails.  Claims of collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign have yet to be proven and Trump has made it clear that he is not firing Mueller and all he wants if for Mueller to conclude the investigation ASAP so everyone can move on.  Mueller started his investigation in May of 2017.  He has a full staff of lawyers and investigators at his disposal seemingly many opposed to the Trump presidency.  They by now could have interviewed every person connected 20 times over.  It would be nice if Mueller could at least give the people some kind of idea as to the status of the investigation.  Is it 10% or 90% complete.  

 

Seems like the bigger scandal here is why the FBI and the Justice Department keep stonewalling the Congressional investigations and not providing requested information.  Here are committees in both the House and the Senate trying to investigate and every request is delayed.  It's all bullish*t and it's obvious that the government no longer serves the people but is only interested in serving and/or protecting itself.  

Can you please share with us the source of your information about the confidential files in the Mueller investigation. I mean, clearly you must have access to them to speak so definitively on the subject.