Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

muriel_volestrangler

(101,318 posts)
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 10:32 AM Jan 2017

BBC: East European intelligence service knew in August Russia had Trump-compromising material

Audio from BBC Radio 4's World At One programme, starting at 24:40:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b087pf3k

Paul Wood, BBC Washington correspondent:
The rumours or the allegations or whatever you want to call them have been circulating for a number of months now. I saw the report, compiled by the former British intelligence officer, back in October. He is not, and this is the crucial thing, the only source for this. I was also told by a man I'll call a member of the US intelligence community back in August that he had been told, by the head of an East European intelligence service, that the Russians had kompromat or compromising material on Mr. Trump.

It's very, very difficult, of course, to talk to US intelligence people. They're breaking the law if they talk to you. But I did ask somebody with connections in the CIA to pass a message to them, and I got a message back that there was allegedly more than one tape, not just video, but audio as well, on more than one date, in more than one place, in both Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Now, having said all that, nobody has seen this tape. We're talking about intelligence here, and nobody should believe something just because an intelligence agent says it, still less an anonymous agent. But it is viewed as credible by the CIA, and that's why it landed on President Obama's desk last week, on the desk of the Congressional leadership, and was given to Mr. Trump as well. And even Congressional Republicans are talking about investigations, and Democrats, I know, are talking about impeachment.

Martha Kearney:
But it's still presumably impossible to prove any of these allegations?

Wood:
Well, if the Russians have blackmail material, they're hardly going to release it. So it really comes down to the credibility of these FSB sources, these Russian intelligence officers, quoted by a British intelligence officer, who was employed by an opposition research firm, working first for a super PAC supporting Jeb Bush, and then for an anonymous Democratic donor. So of course it is all extremely problematical.

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
BBC: East European intelligence service knew in August Russia had Trump-compromising material (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Jan 2017 OP
Interesting. octoberlib Jan 2017 #1
The corroborating stories are multiplying. Denzil_DC Jan 2017 #2
I saw Michael McFaul radical noodle Jan 2017 #3
And, we just can't put it past him, now can we, rad? Cha Jan 2017 #5
Love this! radical noodle Jan 2017 #6
rad Cha Jan 2017 #7
That's one of the funniest I've seen. mnhtnbb Jan 2017 #9
I don't care, either.. but, it's an extremely credible source.. Cha Jan 2017 #11
+1 nt ProudProgressiveNow Jan 2017 #12
Wonder how Melania feels about all this? lark Jan 2017 #14
But, trumpee and putee are so busy deny deny denying. Cha Jan 2017 #4
Trump: "Fake News! Witch Hunt!" CousinIT Jan 2017 #8
JEB! KittyWampus Jan 2017 #10
Poppy Bush, former CIA Director DeminPennswoods Jan 2017 #16
Bear in mind that UK - Russian relations have been much worse, much longer than US - Russian FarCenter Jan 2017 #13
Well, whether or not this is true and will ever amount to anything actionable - Ligyron Jan 2017 #15
Rec. Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Jan 2018 #17

Denzil_DC

(7,241 posts)
2. The corroborating stories are multiplying.
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 10:43 AM
Jan 2017

It's the panicky kneejerk denials that will be most damaging in the aftermath.

Not everything in that document is factual, that's for sure, but Trump & Co. are playing Russian roulette with what they can plausibly deny that won't come back to bite them in the asses when other humint emerges and more dots are joined.

radical noodle

(8,000 posts)
3. I saw Michael McFaul
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 10:43 AM
Jan 2017

on tv this morning (he was US ambassador to Russia for Obama administration). He said Trump was in Russia, so, therefore, they know everything he did while he was there. He said they watch everyone constantly and Trump would have been no exception.

Trump is a sleeze, and whatever he did they knew. Think about that for a moment.

mnhtnbb

(31,389 posts)
9. That's one of the funniest I've seen.
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 10:59 AM
Jan 2017

I just love that Trump is being humiliated with this stuff. Is it all real? I don't care. I suspect enough of it is real
or it wouldn't have gotten to the level of being in Obama's briefing.

I want him so humiliated, so mocked, so treated with disdain that he is forced from office. He is a pathological liar
and nothing but trash. I don't care how many stupid, racist, bigoted Americans bought his lies, his con, his hate,
that our antiquated system of giving more weight to votes from slave holding states allowed this disgusting con man to
be put in office when he lost the popular vote by almost 3 million votes.

Go away, Trump. Just go away and take your disgusting, greedy, trashy family with you. Move to Russia. Traitor.

Cha

(297,240 posts)
11. I don't care, either.. but, it's an extremely credible source..
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 11:13 AM
Jan 2017


If anyone deserves to be humiliated it's him.. Right before the inauguration, too.

Have you read this? Excellent portrayal of trump.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8458598

lark

(23,102 posts)
14. Wonder how Melania feels about all this?
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 11:59 AM
Jan 2017

Does she just not care as long as Drumpf lets her live a life of luxury and privilege or will she actually divorce him? Only a gold-digger would have stayed with him so far and obviously that phrase fits the skinny foreign porn star to a T. However, she's now going to be living apart from him, which I think is her way of punishing him for what's come out so far. I'd be surprised if she ever moves to the WH, and if more solid evidence of his sleaze during the time they are married comes out, she may divorce him or file for a legal separation?

CousinIT

(9,245 posts)
8. Trump: "Fake News! Witch Hunt!"
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 10:53 AM
Jan 2017

Anything the Trumpanzees disagree with or that is said against them (even if from a reputable source and / or verifiably true) is "fake news" and "a witch hunt"

It didn't come from Breitbart. If it did, I'd agree it's "fake news"

If the CIA finds it credible though, there's something to it IMO. As someone said here maybe it's not all true, but there's obviously some 'there' there.

DeminPennswoods

(15,286 posts)
16. Poppy Bush, former CIA Director
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 01:25 PM
Jan 2017

Interesting that this all ties back to oppo research for Jeb. Never forget that GHW Bush is a former CIA Director and I'm sure still has many friends in the spy business more than willing to help him dig dirt on Trump.

 

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)
13. Bear in mind that UK - Russian relations have been much worse, much longer than US - Russian
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 11:55 AM
Jan 2017

Alexander Litvinenko assassination and a variety of other issues caused the earlier rupture.

The UK would be against any chance of a US - Russia rapprochement.

Ligyron

(7,632 posts)
15. Well, whether or not this is true and will ever amount to anything actionable -
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 12:26 PM
Jan 2017

it's still out there and anything that can't be disproved can be hung around his neck anyway. If it's not true then one would think Trump would be anxious to have it thoroughly investigated and put to rest once and for all.

Plus the intell agencies, IDK about the FBI, will absolutely try their best to find out if Trump could be blackmailed and for what. One would think that Congress and the American public would demand an investigation also but a good section of us including the FBI apparently pick party and ideology over country.

Meanwhile, we've got piss boy to mock and make fun of - something he absolutely hates.







Latest Discussions»General Discussion»BBC: East European intell...