Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Actually no. If Trump wished to have a back channel to Russia he can. Or Kushner. No law against it. And historically those channels have always existed and are, sometimes, useful.
Yes, there is a law against creating a covert comm network through the Russian embassy to bypass US intel. That is most certainly illegal under the Espionage act.
Yes, there is a law against creating a covert comm network through the Russian embassy to bypass US intel. That is most certainly illegal under the Espionage act.
This was not a normal attempt at a back channel.
Nope. But if you are sure quote the law that applies to Trump. Go forit.
Nope. But if you are sure quote the law that applies to Trump. Go forit.
I didn't say it applies to Trump unless he directed the action. Kushner is the one who broke the law, and yes it is a violation of the espionage act. This isn't a normal routine backchannel, it's a covert comm using a foreign adversary's equipment to bypass the US.
I didn't say it applies to Trump unless he directed the action. Kushner is the one who broke the law, and yes it is a violation of the espionage act. This isn't a normal routine backchannel, it's a covert comm using a foreign adversary's equipment to bypass the US.
That is most certainly illegal.
Quote it. Should be simple. And show that it applies to an agent of the President...which Kushner certainly was.
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
In this case of course, the "controvers[y] within the United States" and/or the "measures of the United States" would be Russian sanctions.
We don't know if Kushner's aim was to influence Russian officers or agents as described in the code. The IC of course may very well have evidence that he was.
But even if they don't, if private citizen Kushner's intent was legal, he would have seen no need to try to establish covert communications. There's prima facie evidence that Kushner did so. He should - and likely will - be required to answer under oath what his intent was. -
Last edited by biscuitmom; 06-14-2017 at 10:56 PM..
Actually no. If Trump wished to have a back channel to Russia he can. Or Kushner. No law against it. And historically those channels have always existed and are, sometimes, useful.
Back channel communications refers to communication between nations using those out of the spotlight, or out of the government chain of command.
What Kushner was proposing was covert communication, using a foreign embassy's communication apparatus to avoid monitoring by U.S. intelligence services.
Please post links to reports of how other administrations have used foreign embassy communication apparatus to avoid detection by U.S. Intelligence Services. I've searched and I cannot find anything to support this.
Back channel communications refers to communication between nations using those out of the spotlight, or out of the government chain of command.
What Kushner was proposing was covert communication, using a foreign embassy's communication apparatus to avoid monitoring by U.S. intelligence services.
Please post links to reports of how other administrations have used foreign embassy communication apparatus to avoid detection by U.S. Intelligence Services. I've searched and I cannot find anything to support this.
The point is it never got off the ground. Any way Obama did the something when he was President Elect.
Jun 5, 2017 - The use of back channel communications in the realm of foreign ... “We have back-channel communications with a number of countries,” ... Putin fully understands and realizes that President Trump plays hardball and when he does, ... Obama — remember he's not even president-elect — sends William ...
I think I'll let Mueller and his team decide whether of not attempting to create a secret communication channel with a US enemy of state , while a private citizen associated with a presidential campaign, is appropriate and legal. I'm OK with letting the investigation run it's course and the chips fall where they may.
trea·son
ˈtrēzən/ noun
noun: treason; noun: high treason; plural noun: high treasons
the crime of betraying one's country...
Back channel communications refers to communication between nations using those out of the spotlight, or out of the government chain of command.
What Kushner was proposing was covert communication, using a foreign embassy's communication apparatus to avoid monitoring by U.S. intelligence services.
Please post links to reports of how other administrations have used foreign embassy communication apparatus to avoid detection by U.S. Intelligence Services. I've searched and I cannot find anything to support this.
Subtlety and nuance is often lost on those of lesser intelligence.
And you know there will be no attempt to actually answer your request. This is the point where diversion and obfuscation are employed by the desperate.
BEST part of all this? It was Trump who brought Putin and Russia into all of this. Especially when Trump decided to inform everyone that he admires how Vlad "runs his country"!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.