Russian Officials Bragged About Having Dirt On Trump
Kremlin officials bragged about having “derogatory” information about Donald Trump and his top aides in at least one conversation intercepted by U.S. intelligence before the 2016 election.
According to a new report by CNN, two former intelligence officials and one congressional source confirmed the story saying that the information was financial in nature.
Russians appeared to think “they had the ability to influence the administration through the derogatory information,” a source told CNN.
The conversations led U.S. officials to believe Russia was considering various ways of influencing the U.S. election, including through manipulation of Trump’s team.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is now investigating Russian meddling in the U.S. election, including any possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
According to the CNN report, “The details of the communication shed new light on information US intelligence received about Russian claims of influence. The contents of the conversations made clear to US officials that Russia was considering ways to influence the election — even if their claims turned out to be false.”
Previous reports have confirmed that U.S. intelligence officials have intercepted other communications between Russian officials where they bragged about having relationships with Trump’s close aides.
CNN reminds us about the Trump family’s own admissions of Russian money funding the Trump businesses. “In 2008, Donald Trump Jr. said at a forum on real estate markets that Trump’s businesses “see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.” Earlier this year, journalist James Dodson claimed that in 2014, Eric Trump told him that that the golf business did not need American investment because “we have all the funding we need out of Russia.” Eric Trump has vigorously denied he made the remark.”
