Trump aide communicated with ex-Russian intelligence officer during 2016 election

[webfact]

Trump aide communicated with ex-Russian intelligence officer during 2016 election

By Sarah N. Lynch and Makini Brice

 

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort departs from U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., February 28, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former Russian intelligence officer who worked with U.S. President Donald Trump's former top campaign officials Paul Manafort and Rick Gates was communicating with Gates late in the 2016 presidential campaign, according to court records filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office.

 

The connection between Gates and the former intelligence officer, identified only as "Person A" in the records filed late on Tuesday, is significant because criminal charges brought against Gates and Manafort relate only to their lobbying work for Ukraine prior to the 2016 U.S. presidential election and do not delve into their activities during the campaign.

 

“The fact that an official who had an important role in the Trump campaign alongside (Paul) Manafort was dealing with an individual who he knew was tied to Russian intelligence is a big deal, as is the fact that Mueller decided to put that card face up on the table at this time,” said a person familiar with Mueller's investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

 

“He’s playing chess, and moving that piece now suggests that no matter what Trump is saying about no collusion, that part of the investigation is still very much alive.”

 

The Russian government has denied meddling in the 2016 election, and Trump has denied any collusion by his campaign.

 

Gates pleaded guilty last month to lying to the FBI and conspiring to defraud the United States, and he has agreed to cooperate with Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether there was any collusion with Moscow by Trump's campaign. An attorney for Gates did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

Manafort has pleaded not guilty to charges in two indictments filed by Mueller's office.

 

The charges range from bank fraud and filing false tax returns to conspiring to defraud the United States, conspiring to launder money and failing to register as a foreign agent when he lobbied for the pro-Russian government of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

 

Lawyers for Manafort are seeking to dismiss the charges, arguing they have nothing to do with Russian interference and fall outside the scope of what Mueller is supposed to investigate, among other things.

 

A spokesman for Manafort, who is prevented by a court-imposed gag order from talking to the media, declined to comment.

 

GUILTY PLEA

 

Gates' alleged communications with the former intelligence officer were revealed in a sentencing document for former Skadden Arps attorney Alex van der Zwaan. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to lying to the FBI about his interactions with Gates and the former intelligence officer and is to be sentenced on April 3.

 

In the document, prosecutors said Gates and van der Zwaan were in touch with the ex-Russian intelligence officer, who also worked for Manafort's lobbying firm in Ukraine, in September and October 2016. The presidential election was in November 2016.

 

They also said that when van der Zwaan was interviewed by the special counsel's office, he "admitted that he knew" about the Russian connection because Gates had told him about it.

 

The description of Person A in the court records appears to match that of Konstantin Kilimnik, a Ukrainian who worked for Manafort.

In the past, he has denied having ties to Russian intelligence services.

 

Reuters was not able to locate contact information for Kilimnik, and his whereabouts are unknown.

 

The revelation that Gates knew Kilimnik had been a Russian intelligence officer could prove to be the most significant turn in Mueller’s investigation to date, said a person familiar with the probe into whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

 

Kilimnik also acted as an intermediary between Manafort and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

In July 2016 Manafort, then chairman of Trump’s presidential campaign, emailed Kilimnik asking him to offer Deripaska “private briefings” about the campaign, according to the Washington Post.

 

Deripaska has since filed a civil lawsuit in New York state court against Gates and Manafort that accuses them of defrauding him out of an investment deal.

 

The lawsuit claims that Kilimnik graduated from the Military Institute of the Defense Ministry in Moscow. It also says that Kilimnik worked for 10 years in the Moscow office of the International Republican Institute, a U.S. government-funded nonprofit.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Makini Brice; Additional reporting by John Walcott, Mark Hosenball and Nathan Layne; Editing by Frances Kerry and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-29

[Emster23]

Well, there you have it. From Russia with love

[mtls2005]

Witch found.

 

[Silurian]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The revelation that Gates knew Kilimnik had been a Russian intelligence officer could prove to be the most significant turn in Mueller’s investigation to date, said a person familiar with the probe into whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

 

Kilimnik also acted as an intermediary between Manafort and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

In July 2016 Manafort, then chairman of Trump’s presidential campaign, emailed Kilimnik asking him to offer Deripaska “private briefings” about the campaign, according to the Washington Post.

 

Boom, there it is. Both Gates and Manafort working with a Russian agent during the 2016 campaign. It doesn't get much clearer than that. Collusion...collusion...collusion!

 

[Expatthailover]

Loving every single minute of this.

The walls closing in on the fat disgusting perv. 

Hopefully when democrtas regain congress he becomes a lame duck 1 term president.

 

[Silurian]

24 minutes ago, Expatthailover said:

Loving every single minute of this.

The walls closing in on the fat disgusting perv. 

Hopefully when democrtas regain congress he becomes a lame duck 1 term president.

 

 

Along with those House impeachment hearings that will haunt him the entire time as well. Massive popcorn time as the impotent reality TV president slinks off into obscurity and irrelevancy. 

 

[Mac98]

6 hours ago, Silurian said:

 

Along with those House impeachment hearings that will haunt him the entire time as well. Massive popcorn time as the impotent reality TV president slinks off into obscurity and irrelevancy. 

 

I wish. But he is setting himself up to be an alt.right martyr in ownership of a radio network for conspiracy theorists. He'll make billions and in 2099 they will still be ranting about Hillary's email.

[Jingthing]

All these developments are going to make it harder for "trump" to fire Meuller but it also means he will want to do that more and more. It sure feels like this is coming to some kind of constitutional crisis, sooner or later. 

[IAMHERE]

I am more worried about the 'secret' Russian spys, you know, those that we don't know are spying for Russia. We've probably all met one at one time or another. 

Business in DC will never get back to cooperation between the parties, the democrats are setting a new path for all future politics.

[mrwebb8825]

On 29/3/2561 at 6:02 AM, webfact said:

They also said that when van der Zwaan was interviewed by the special counsel's office, he "admitted that he knew" about the Russian connection because Gates had told him about it.

3rd party hearsay. Inadmissible in a court of law. Not to mention that the report is making a speculated guess at who "Person A" is and the fact that he's not Russian but Ukrainian. Some of you guys act like a kitten with a piece of string dangled in front of it. 

[Expatthailover]

Along with the son, son in law and daughter of the POTUS.

Contact with the Russians was how he got elected and also got nice little earners for the trump empire

The whole administration is rotten to the core

Edited April 1, 2018 by Expatthailover

[mrwebb8825]

29 minutes ago, Expatthailover said:

Along with the son, son in law and daughter of the POTUS.

Contact with the Russians was how he got elected and also got nice little earners for the trump empire

The whole administration is rotten to the core

When this is over and he's reelected in 2020, how would you like those words served, al fresco or al dente? 

[Aj Mick]

On 3/29/2018 at 10:38 AM, Expatthailover said:

Loving every single minute of this.

The walls closing in on the fat disgusting perv. 

Hopefully when democrtas regain congress he becomes a lame duck 1 term president.

 

Already been determined as the worst US president ever by a bunch of erudite souls:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-worst-president-presidential-greatness-survey-presidents-day-obama-george-washington-a8218721.html

The Donald seems determined to cement his place for .......................... posterity / prosperity (choose the most appropriate word to fill the gap)

[mrwebb8825]

16 minutes ago, Aj Mick said:

Already been determined as the worst US president ever by a bunch of erudite souls:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-worst-president-presidential-greatness-survey-presidents-day-obama-george-washington-a8218721.html

The Donald seems determined to cement his place for .......................... posterity / prosperity (choose the most appropriate word to fill the gap)

That "study" rates right up there with the stupidest things to ever be published right next to the "Hillary is going to win by a landslide" polls.

Maybe they'll redo that study AFTER he completes his 2 terms in office so they have some actual data to reflect upon.

[Aj Mick]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

That "study" rates right up there with the stupidest things to ever be published right next to the "Hillary is going to win by a landslide" polls.

Maybe they'll redo that study AFTER he completes his 2 terms in office so they have some actual data to reflect upon.

Hillary did win the popular vote by a considerable margin, but lost in the gerrymandered Electoral College. The question remains, will braggart Donald manage to complete a single term in office?

 

Thus far his main achievements are a tax cut for corporations and the rich, along with economic and employment stats that continue the trend started under the previous administration. Oh, and going ahead with a bit of border fence ("see through wall", if you must) being renovated in California, again all planned before the present incumbent moved into the White House. 

[cabinfever]

4 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

3rd party hearsay. Inadmissible in a court of law. Not to mention that the report is making a speculated guess at who "Person A" is and the fact that he's not Russian but Ukrainian. Some of you guys act like a kitten with a piece of string dangled in front of it. 

If his testimony is to the effect that Gates knew about it. that is not hearsay.

[FritsSikkink]

7 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

3rd party hearsay. Inadmissible in a court of law. Not to mention that the report is making a speculated guess at who "Person A" is and the fact that he's not Russian but Ukrainian. Some of you guys act like a kitten with a piece of string dangled in front of it. 

He is both Russian as Ukrainian.       http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/new-details-put-the-spotlight-back-trumps-russia-scandal

Gates is a witness too and his testimony will be admissible in court.

Konstantin Kilimnik has admitted he met with Manafort which will be admissible in court.       http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/new-details-put-the-spotlight-back-trumps-russia-scandal

So SAD

[mrwebb8825]

23 hours ago, cabinfever said:

If his testimony is to the effect that Gates knew about it. that is not hearsay.

IF he had wings he could fly too.

[cabinfever]

29 minutes ago, mrwebb8825 said:

IF he had wings he could fly too.

I suggest you actually read the article:

"They also said that when van der Zwaan was interviewed by the special counsel's office, he "admitted that he knew" about the Russian connection because Gates had told him about it. "

 

[boomerangutang]

On 4/1/2018 at 4:02 PM, FritsSikkink said:

He is both Russian as Ukrainian.       http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/new-details-put-the-spotlight-back-trumps-russia-scandal

Gates is a witness too and his testimony will be admissible in court.

Konstantin Kilimnik has admitted he met with Manafort which will be admissible in court.       http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/new-details-put-the-spotlight-back-trumps-russia-scandal  So SAD

....and Mueller's team is still focusing on the little guys.  It's a tried and true plan:  work up from the bottom.  The longer Mueller's team do their jobs, the more the culprits will understand that lying won't work.  Increasingly, the people brought before Mueller's team will tell the truth (and disclose email histories),  because they'll know it's either do that, or do jail time (and possible fine).   

I'm surprised Manafort is playing such a 'hang-tough' game.  The more he maintains his 'hanging tough' stance, the more years he's going to do behind bars.  

I think Trump (possibly including Ivanka, Don Jr.,  and Jared) will bolt from the USA before this is over.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are furnished dachas waiting for them in the Moscow suburbs.

 

 

Edited April 2, 2018 by boomerangutang

[Jingthing]

Well, I don't think any U.S. president is ever going to be sent to prison, but Jared Kushner is gonna need his lawyers. 

[Basil B]

It would be very embarrassing for the USA, but that guy has done so much damage already, and does more every day do you not think that the CIA or the Military top brass are not hatching a plan right now...

 

They could easily poison him and blame Russia. 

[Jingthing]

It would be very embarrassing for the USA, but that guy has done so much damage already, and does more every day do you not think that the CIA or the Military top brass are not hatching a plan right now...
 
They could easily poison him and blame Russia. 

Don't get people too excited. We're used to the usual daily feed of impeachment porn.

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Basil B]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Don't get people too excited. We're used to the usual daily feed of impeachment porn.

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I was going to say they could have consulted with MI5 but there last job was a bit of a bulls up...

They cut the wrong cable...

[mikebike]

On 4/1/2018 at 9:32 AM, mrwebb8825 said:

When this is over and he's reelected in 2020, how would you like those words served, al fresco or al dente? 

Try not to use concepts u don't understand.

 

Al fresco is a place to dine. Al dente is a way if cooking... verbal diahria, par for the course.

Edited April 3, 2018 by mikebike

[pedro01]

8 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Try not to use concepts u don't understand.

 

Al fresco is a place to dine. Al dente is a way if cooking... verbal diahria, par for the course.

When correcting someone's words - it's probably a good idea to spell check your own....

 

It's Diarrhea... ;-)

 

 

[mrwebb8825]

On 2/4/2561 at 12:55 PM, cabinfever said:

I suggest you actually read the article:

"They also said that when van der Zwaan was interviewed by the special counsel's office, he "admitted that he knew" about the Russian connection because Gates had told him about it. "

 

Hearsay: - Noun - unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge