Feds Investigating Money Transfers & Communications Between Russia, Trump People

[boutons_deux]

The New York Times is out with a story tonight which is little short of astonishing on the eve of a presidential inauguration. From the Times article (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=64816371&pgtype=article) ...

"American law enforcement and intelligence agencies are examining intercepted communications and financial transactions as part of a broad investigation into possible links between Russian officials and associates of President-elect Donald J. Trump, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, current and former senior American officials said."


Just to state this clearly, that means that on the eve of Trump's inauguration the nation's top law enforcement and intelligence agencies are pursuing a counter-intelligence probe of contacts and payments between key members of his campaign and Russia. We have not been here before.

The story goes on to explain that the three Trump associates being scrutinized are Manafort, Roger Stone, and Carter Page, the last of whom was Trump Europe/Russia policy advisor before being dumped after his ties to Russia received press scrutiny.

The story goes on to explain that the probe is being led by the FBI with the assistance of the NSA, the CIA and the financial crimes unite of the Treasury Department.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/feds-investigating-money-transfers-amp-communications-between-russia-and-trump-associates?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tpm-news+%28TPMNews%29 (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/feds-investigating-money-transfers-amp-communications-between-russia-and-trump-associates?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tpm-news+%28TPMNews%29)

:lol

[boutons_deux]

As Trump is inaugurated, intercepted communications underline connections to Russia (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/20/1622661/-As-Trump-is-inaugurated-intercepted-connections-underline-connections-to-Russia)

Paul Mannafort was on Moscow’s payroll and may have still been (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/8/19/1561874/-Allegations-against-Paul-Manafort-may-be-enough-to-earn-him-a-new-title-Traitor) getting paid by the Kremlin while serving as Trump’s campaign manager.

Michael Flynn appeared on Russian state media (http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/donald-trump-2016-russia-today-rt-kremlin-media-vladimir-putin-213833).

Carter Page traveled to Moscow during the campaign to talk with Russian officials and run down American policy (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/1/1589569/-Spies-servers-and-scandals-Donald-Trump-and-Russia).

Immediately following the election, the Russian deputy foreign minister (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/10/1595495/-Surprise-Trump-was-a-Putin-puppet-all-along) admitted that there was nearly constant contact with the campaign.

And, of course, Trump himself had money "pouring in" (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/1/9/1618540/-Was-Donald-Trump-bailed-out-of-bankruptcy-by-Russia-crime-bosses) from Russia.

So investigating a series of intelligence intercepts for links between Russia and the Trump campaign almost seems like underlining a story we already know. (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html)

American law enforcement and intelligence agencies are examining intercepted communications and financial transactions as part of a broad investigation into possible links between Russian officials and associates of President-elect Donald J. Trump, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, current and former senior American officials said.

The continuing counterintelligence investigation means that Mr. Trump will take the oath of office on Friday with his associates under investigation and after the intelligence agencies concluded that the Russian government had worked to help elect him.


That’s just … special. However, the agencies involved may be more interesting than the fact that such an investigation is underway.

The F.B.I. is leading the investigations, aided by the National Security Agency, the C.I.A. and the Treasury Department’s financial crimes unit.


The Treasury Department’s involvement would seem to indicate that rubles were flowing—possibly Manfort’s rumored under-the-table millions. (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/8/19/1561874/-Allegations-against-Paul-Manafort-may-be-enough-to-earn-him-a-new-title-Traitor) Which could be a nice lever to uncover more information, but remember (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/politics/trump-russia-associates-investigation.html):

As president, Mr. Trump will oversee those agencies and have the authority to redirect or stop at least some of these efforts.


Most presidents would hesitate to halt an investigation into their own administration, especially one that was so public. But Donald Trump isn’t bound by tradition, political correctness, or morality.

And since the Trump team’s official position is a Full Schultz “I know nothing ...”

“We have absolutely no knowledge of any investigation or even a basis for such an investigation,” said Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for the Trump transition.



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/20/1622661/-As-Trump-is-inaugurated-intercepted-connections-underline-connections-to-Russia?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

[boutons_deux]

Remember that Senate Russia hacking investigation? Republicans are hoping you don't (http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/2/2/1629154/-Remember-that-Senate-Russia-hacking-investigation-Republicans-are-hoping-you-don-t)
\

In an interview Tuesday, [Mark] Warner said five committee staffers are dedicated to the investigation and that more could be added if needed.
“I think the intelligence professional staff on both the majority and minority are quite good,” the Virginia senator said. “

I think if we need more, we’ve worked through some ideas on how we might need to bring in designees or others to backfill, because some of the staff we are using will be people who have other areas to cover.” [...]

Burr said he does not expect to add staffers or request a budget increase for the investigation, saying it could be done with existing committee resources.


Don’t need a select committee,

don’t need to add staffers or

increase the budget … oh, yeah,

Republicans are all over this one.

Why would they ever put on a full court press over little things like the integrity of U.S. elections and ties between the president’s top advisers and the country screwing with the integrity of those elections?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/02/02/1629154/-Remember-that-Senate-Russia-hacking-investigation-Republicans-are-hoping-you-don-t?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos %29

benghazi! :lol