Politics - News Analysis
Americans Furious: Newly Announced Sanctions Prove Trump Campaign Colluded with Moscow-Connected Russian Agent
Everyone knew that Robert Mueller had to dance a fine line, and yet many believe he failed. It is important to recognize the constraints he faced, and what he did publish – that went unappreciated (mostly unread), especially with today’s news, confirming his report and going much further. The Trump campaign did collude with Russia. Some consider it an act of war.
First of all, if Mueller was going to accuse the United States President and his campaign of colluding with the Russians to win a U.S. election, he would have needed something akin to a written contract signed with video proof affirming the signatures. It was one tough bar to overcome. Moreover, the DOJ prohibited Mueller from looking into Trump’s financial past, which is a little like looking for your college’s starting quarterback among intramural flag football games. One cannot understand anything Trump does without seeing the money moving in and out of accounts.
Furthermore, Mueller was always four hours from being fired. He knew that if he pressed too hard, it would defeat the entire purpose.
Last, Mueller figured he had the motherlode of obstruction of justice, which would serve as the predicate for any impeachment and future prosecution. Little did he know.
From there, Barr then ran with the report as “clearing” Trump. Barr and Trump said Mueller “proved there was no collusion.” Wrong. Prosecutors don’t prove people are innocent. They evaluate whether they have enough evidence to get a conviction. Some of us still firmly believe that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia throughout the campaign and into the term. The White House had a special system to protect private phone calls and never once crossed Russia. That almost requires coordination.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
Today, the U.S. government – under Biden – announced the first concrete penalty for collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, we can only hope that this is the first of many more:
For the first time EVER, the US government said Russian agent Konstantin Kilimnik provided Russian intelligence agencies with the internal Trump campaign polling/strategy data he received from Manafort and Gates in 2016. Even Mueller didn't go that far. https://t.co/wGNnHdFxRU pic.twitter.com/O9GEjpJ0CG
— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) April 15, 2021
And U.S. journalists and other intel advocates rejoiced and-or said “Told you so.”
BREAKING: "Collusion" is still not a legal thing. Roger Stone clearly met Mark Meadows' definition of collusion and unsealed docs make it clear Manafort knew all about that.
A quid pro quo for Manafort's later Ukrainian efforts WOULD be more interesting.
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 15, 2021
👀 We knew Trump 2016 polling data went from Manafort > Kilimnik. Today, Treasury says that data went from Kilimnik > Russian intelligence agencies. https://t.co/VIIt9U4Tog pic.twitter.com/5v6RvGCbVL
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) April 15, 2021
No collusion, eh? Trump’s campaign chief was in league with a Russian intelligence officer. The Trump-Russia hoax was calling it a “hoax.” And remember Trump pardoned Manafort. https://t.co/wE86ze3px7
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) April 15, 2021
Trump Campaign Chair Manafort gave sensitive polling data to his associate Kilimnik, Russian intel agent.
What did Kilimnik do with it?
Mueller report 2019: Don't know
Senate report 2020: Don't know
Treasury Dep't 2021: He passed polling data to Kremlinhttps://t.co/5S3AOuI63D— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) April 15, 2021
There was no collusion, just the Russians hacking Trump's opponent to help Trump and Trump's campaign manager passing campaign info to the Russians.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 15, 2021
To summarize: Trump's campaign chair and deputy campaign chair provided an internal strategy memo and private polling to a Russian agent who then passed it onto Russian intelligence agencies. The Kremlin then used that information to try to help Trump win the 2016 election. https://t.co/pvMmdS0pS9
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) April 15, 2021
Years later, Trump's people still think that repeating a lie over and over makes the lie true. https://t.co/Ml1OL2REEW
— Paul Z (Midwest Moongazer) 🌊 (@pzeller1966) April 15, 2021
This wouldn't be a surprise if Americans had reading comprehension skills to apply to the Mueller Report years ago. #GOPSeditiousTraitors https://t.co/bn7t0M0oGD
— Mr. Schmageggie is in my heart forever 🇺🇸 (@srivlin) April 15, 2021
and an official offering the Trump campaign help from the Russian government and the campaign responding 'I love it,' and the campaign's highest officials taking a meeting with a lawyer from the Russian government hoping for that illegal foreign assistance https://t.co/69XCPWmPNp
— Mask Wearer for Truth (@Bobblespeak) April 15, 2021
At the height of the campaign, Kilimnik flew from Moscow to NY to meet Trump's campaign chief, Paul Manafort, w/ a message from "the guy who gave you your biggest black caviar jar."
NEW U.S. Treasury report: Kilmnik gave "sensitive information on polling" to the Russian govt. pic.twitter.com/TGs1iywFEu
— Andrea Bernstein (@AndreaWNYC) April 15, 2021
Note: Klimnick is a Russian agent. Trump’s campaign manager was working hand in glove with foreign intelligence. And whether or not you want to admit it, that’s because Putin thought Trump would weaken us. https://t.co/Atm48fxltu
— Dean is digging out of SNOWPOCALYPSE. (@DeanMSimmons) April 15, 2021
This even understates it. Russian disinfo was targeted on social media to help Trump. Trump's campaign shared inside info that provided guidance for that targeting. It is illegal even to do this between a campaign and a SuperPAC, let alone a foreign agent. https://t.co/NFgAhSXkiN
— Brian Young (@BrianYoung) April 15, 2021
This is a very significant development and – as we said, we hope the first of many.
****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak
Comments
Comments are currently closed.