Did Jared Kushner Want A Secret Communications Channel With The Kremlin?

Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and President Donald Trump at the White House last week. Photo Credit: @RusEmbUSA

Washington Post: Russian ambassador told Moscow that Kushner wanted secret communications channel with Kremlin

Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports.

Ambassador Sergei Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, son-in-law and confidant to then-President-elect Trump, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials. Kislyak said Kushner suggested using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States for the communications.

The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser.

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WNU Editor: This is not the first time that the Washington Post (and the same reporters) are pushing a Trump back-channel to Russia story .... Was A Trump-Putin Back Channel Established Between The Founder Of Blackwater And A Close Friend of Putin? (April 3, 2017). The April 3 story on Erik Prince being the back-channel to Russia became a dud when no evidence or collaboration from other "anonymous" sources came forward. Is this new Washington Post story on Jared Kushner also a dud .... I do not know. But the template on how this story is being pushed is following the same pattern on how the Erik Prince story was pushed 2 months ago.... anonymous intel officials tell the Washington Post that the Trump administration wants to have a direct line of communications to Moscow that is independent from all other U.S. agencies .... and the rest of the media carry the story. As to what is my take .... quoting from my April 3 post ....

.... Back channels are always established when new administrations are sworn in. Did the Obama administration have back channels with Russia .... most definitely. Does the Trump administration have back channels with Russia .... I can only say that I hope so. Should I be surprised that someone like Blackwater founder Erik Prince (and I can now say Jared Kushner) was trying to set one up in the Seychelles .... I would just say that because he is well known, he is probably the wrong person to be involved.

Update: The more that I think about this Washington Post exclusive .... the more I realise that it has a lot of holes in it. One .... the Russians would never permit such a communications link. Two .... Michael Flynn who was present at the meeting would know that they would never permit it. Three .... what's the point of having a secret communications channel via through the Russian embassy to the Kremlin .... where it would not be secret at all. Four .... President Trump is the President .... he can do anything he wants with the executive branch .... including having his own direct line to the Kremlin should he (and Putin) want to. But I digress .... what the Trump administration wanted (and I am sure the Kremlin wanted it too)  was a private back-channel .... and for those who may not know .... this is how it works. If the Trump administration wanted Putin to know something independent from normal diplomatic channels .... it will be done by having someone President Trump trusts telling someone that President Putin trusts inperson (that Russian official will be living in the U.S. .... probably near Washington DC). That person .... once the message has been received .... will then be taking the first flight to Moscow. The best example that I can think of are the Henry Kissinger and Anatoly Dobrynin back channels of the early 1970s (check the link here). This is what exactly Michael Flynn was trying to do .... he was Henry Kissinger, and Ambassador Sergei Kislyak was Anatoly Dobrynin. Unfortunately for Michael Flynn .... he lied to Vice President Pence on what he was doing and the rest is history. As for Jared Kushner .... I am willing to bet that this is what he was also told to do .... set up the structure so that a top U.S. official can meet a top Russian official where they can discuss issues in private that will not be shown on any visitor log. I should also add that IMHO this back-channel is now in operation .... as evident by the unannounced but surprising close cooperation of the U.S. and Russian military over the skies of Syria right now .... U.S. And Russia Are Not Hindering Each Other Over The Skies Of Syria (May 24, 2017). As for the main stream media's hyper-ventilation on this story .... please .... every administration has done this .... and all future administrations will.

Update #2: Former Bush-Clinton-Obama officials are horrified that this type of back channel was being established .... Lawyer: Kushner ‘has no recollection’ of reported undisclosed Russian contacts (Politico). LOL ..... coffee pot calling the tea kettle black.

Update #3: Someone who reads this blog  has just emailed me to tell me that if this story is true .... it is a massive intelligence leak. The Washington Post's anonymous source has just revealed that Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak private communications .... and these communications must be ultra-secured .... have been compromised by U.S. intelligence.

More News On Reports That Jared Kushner Wanted A Secret Communications Channel With The Kremlin

Kushner Is Said to Have Discussed a Secret Channel to Talk to Russia -- New York Times
Washington Post: Kushner proposed secret communication channel with Kremlin -- CNN
Kushner, Russians discussed secret communication link, reports say -- USA Today
Jared Kushner wanted secret communications channel with Russia, new report alleges -- FOX News
Report: Russian Amb. said Kushner sought secret communications back channel -- ABC News