Kushner And Russian Ambassador Discussed Setting Up Secret BackChannel
A bombshell new report reveals that Jared Kushner and the Russian ambassador discussed setting up a secret backchannel communications line with Russia to avoid scrutiny from the United States intelligence community.
The report notes that U.S. intelligence picked up communications between Russian officials saying that Kushner had requested setting up a secret communications channel.
“Ambassador Sergei Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, then President-elect Trump’s son-in-law and confidant, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications.” The Washington Post reports.
According to the Washington Post, Kislyak said Kushner suggested Russian diplomatic facilities, “in an apparent move to shield” monitoring of pre-inauguration discussions.
The December meeting was also attended by Michael Flynn.
The proposal was apparently surprising for even the Russian ambassador. As the Washington Post notes, “Kislyak reportedly was taken aback by the suggestion of allowing an American to use Russian communications gear at its embassy or consulate — a proposal that would have carried security risks for Moscow as well as the Trump team.”
The idea that Jared Kusner suggested using Russia’s own secret communications facilities is literally without precedent.
It is also important to note that Kushner left this same meeting with the Russian ambassador off his security clearance forms.
The report adds more details to the consistent communications between the Trump team and Russian officials.
IMPORTANT: Kushner was trying to hide the Trump teams communications from the United States government.
It was reported Thursday that Jared Kushner is under suspicion by the FBI in the Trump-Russia investigation.
WaPo’s Adam Entous tells @hardball that there’s a link between the FBI’s interest in Kushner and their new reporting. pic.twitter.com/YcmhN4kLMS
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 26, 2017