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Thread: Ex-Trump Adviser George Papadopoulos Pleads Guilty in Mueller’s Russia Probe

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    Default Ex-Trump Adviser George Papadopoulos Pleads Guilty in Mueller’s Russia Probe

    A former Trump campaign adviser struck a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, secretly pleading guilty three weeks ago to lying to federal agents about his contacts with Kremlin-connected Russians.

    The bombshell announcement about George Papadopoulos came shortly after indictments against former campaign chair Paul Manafort and Manafort associate Rick Gates were unsealed, alleging financial crimes that pre-dated Trump's candidacy.

    "Through his false statements and omissions, defendant ... impeded the FBI's ongoing investigation into the existence of any links or coordination between individuals associated with the Campaign and the Russian government's efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election," Mueller's team wrote.

    Court documents unsealed Monday in the Papadopoulos case outline how foreign nationals with ties to the Russian government were seeking to establish a relationship with at least one campaign official and that they offered "dirt" on Hillary Clinton.
    Papadopoulos, 30, claimed in his first interview with the FBI that he made the contacts before he joined the Trump team in March 2016 as an energy expert, when he actually began communicating with them after he joined the Trump foreign policy team.

    He also downplayed the importance of their communications, telling the FBI that a professor living in London was "a nothing," while a Russian woman was just emailing him to say, "Hi, how are you?"

    In fact, the professor had told Papadopoulos that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. "They have thousands of emails," the professor said, according to the documents.

    This was well before it was widely understood that Russia had hacked the Democrats, a fact first made public by a private cyber security firm in June.

    Frank Figliuzzi, a former head of counter intelligence at the FBI, said on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports that the Papadopoulos complaint portrays an effort by people likely connected to Russian intelligence to infiltrate the Trump campaign.

    "He may not have actually understood who he was dealing with, but this has the fingerprints of Russian intelligence all over it," Figliuzzi said.

    The professor introduced Papadopoulos to a Russian who said he was close to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs who then spoke with Papadopoulos over Skype about laying the groundwork for a meeting between the campaign and officials in Moscow.

    The Russian woman — whom Papadopoulos mistakenly described in an email as the niece of Russian President Vladimir Putin — also tried to arrange a meeting between the Trump campaign and Russian government officials, the documents say.

    Papadopoulos, 30, communicated with a "campaign supervisor" about his attempts to broker a meeting with the Russians to discuss U.S.-Russia ties during a Trump presidency, the court papers say.

    "Great work," the supervisor, who was not named in the documents, told him in an email.

    The court documents say that Papadopoulos' efforts were the subject of discussion in the campaign, with one official telling another in an email: "We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal."


    Papadopoulos was arrested in July 2017 when he got off a plane in Washington, and he pleaded guilty on Oct. 5.

    His plea agreement says the government will inform the sentencing judge of his "efforts to cooperate with the Government, on the condition that your client continues to respond and provide information regarding any and all matters as to which the Government deems relevant."

    Papadopoulos' attorneys said in a statement that they would have no comment.

    "We will have the opportunity to comment on George’s involvement when called upon by the Court at a later date," the statement said. "We look forward to presenting all the facts that led to the events that resulted in this charge
    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...-lying-n815596

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    moe of the usual, Lying to the FBI..
    The crux seems to be setting up meetings on US/Russian relations
    ( nothing wrong with that as long as there are no quid pro quo)

    Campaign staff:

    about his attempts to broker a meeting with the Russians to discuss U.S.-Russia ties during a Trump presidency, the court papers say.

    "Great work," the supervisor, who was not named in the documents, told him in an email.

    The court documents say that Papadopoulos' efforts were the subject of discussion in the campaign, with one official telling another in an email: "We need someone to communicate that DT is not doing these trips. It should be someone low level in the campaign so as not to send any signal."

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    signal of what? That Trump will change any US/Russian relations ( before he assesses as POTUS)

    Nothing to see here folks. garden variety type lying to the FBI

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    http://www.interfax.com/interview.asp?id=704556



    September 30, 2016
    George Papadopoulos: Sanctions have done little more than to turn Russia towards China

    George Papadopoulos has been one of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump‘s foreign political advisors since March 2016. Prior to this, he was an advisor to Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon and Republican Party member who dropped out of the presidential race. Papadopoulos previously worked for various research institutes dealing with global politics. His sphere of interest is global energy. Papadopoulos has given an interview to Interfax‘s correspondent Ksenia Baygarova in which he discusses his views on U.S.-Russia relations, the Syrian crisis, NATO expansion and the dependence of the EU on Russian energy. Papadopoulos noted that his opinion does not necessarily coincide with that of Trump.

    Question: Many people in Russia think that if Donald Trump becomes U.S. president, the U.S.-Russia relations would significantly improve. Do you think these expectations are realistic?


    Answer: Mr. Trump has been open about his willingness to usher in a new chapter in U.S.-Russia ties. However, this depends on Russia acting as a responsible stake holder in the international system. U.S.-Russian relations have reached a nadir under the Obama administration and the Clinton led state department when she was in office. Based on the low level of trust between both countries currently, and a military conflict seemingly on the horizon over the Baltics, Ukraine and even in Syria, it is in the interest of the U.S, NATO and Russia to deescalate hostilities immediately and work together towards combating common threats. This threat is principally Islamism and its violent expression, jihadism that has reverberated throughout North Africa and the Middle East post ‘Arab Spring‘.

    Compartmentalizing the relationship would be a smart beginning. This means cooperating in Syria to defeat ISIS, stabilize the greater Levant. This should lead to political goodwill over East Ukraine and ensuring there is a mutual understanding that NATO’s borders will not be invaded.

    Capabilities are at the heart of strategy, and the two countries working together to combat radical Islam, along with other countries in the region, principally Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Greece, will unify the EU, NATO, U.S. and Russia around a common threat which is in the interest of international peace and security. It demonstrates what goals I hope the U.S. will strive for and the principles we will live by when engaging the world and redefining our position in global affairs.


    Q.: But, the Obama administration also claimed for years its intention to cooperate with Russia in combating common threats such as terrorism, using the same words as you are using now. It did not happen. So, what is the difference between Obama’s and Trump’s positions on this issue?


    A.: The difference is that the Obama administration was declaring it without taking concrete actions. There was no practical cooperation, and their words differed from their actions. That is why Russia does not believe in American promises, and the atmosphere of mutual confidence has been lost. Trump, if elected president, will restore the trust.


    Q.: What do you think the main mistake of the Obama administration in Syria?


    A.: The main mistake of the Obama administration in Syria has been to not address the financing, recruitment and territorial gains of ISIS in parallel. The U.S. has overly depended upon Turkey to combat ISIS, yet, Turkey has predominantly acted against western interests in the conflict. Turkey has kept its border porous since the beginning of the civil war to permit jihadis entering the battlefield to combat Assad. This gambit has backfired on Turkey and the country is unfortunately facing a blowback within its territory by dual threats from ISIS and the PKK. Furthermore, by attacking the Kurdish forces combating ISIS, Turkey is hindering the progress of the region’s most effective fighting force against ISIS. It would behoove the Obama administration to do more to assist the YPG in its fight against ISIS, including arming, training and providing logistical support. Working with allies in the region to utilize alternative airbases to ones used in Turkey and Qatar, such as Akrotiri on Cyprus, or bases in Kurdish controlled areas of Iraq and Syria, would pay great dividends.


    Q.: Do you share the opinion that the Assad regime should be immediately removed from power in Syria?


    A.: We do not support aggressive changes of regimes anywhere including Syria. Look what had happened in Lybia and Iraq. We all remember this. However, it does not mean that we support Assad either.


    Q.: Do you agree that the U.S. sanctions against Russia did not help to resolve the crisis in Ukraine?


    A.: Sanctions have done little more than to turn Russia towards China as a primary market for Russian goods, services and energy. It is not in the interest of the West to align China and Russia in a geopolitical alliance that can have unpredictable consequences for U.S. interests in the South China Sea, Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. I believe both the U.S. and Russia should consider China as an emerging superpower threat that will have to be dealt with over the next fifty years.


    Q.: How do you see the future of NATO? Do you support a further expansion of the alliance? If so, do you think that NATO should take into the account Russia’s concerns regarding this issue?


    A.: If NATO is to expand, all new members must spend the required 2% of GDP on defense expenditure. Currently only five members do. Without a common mission that all countries subscribe to, or the pledge that all members spend 2% of GDP on defense, the alliance in its current form is likely not sustainable. The three largest threats NATO will have to combat over the next couple decades will be a rising and belligerent China, radical Islam and a nuclear Iran. Russia can be helpful in mitigating the dangerous consequences of these three forces colliding simultaneously.


    Q.: You did not answer the question on whether you would support a possible NATO extension or not. Russia has repeatedly expressed its concerns about NATO’s military infrastructure moving toward Russia’s borders…


    A.: We should look at the circumstances. If mutual confidence between our countries exists, then we will better understand the expectations of each other, and we can more accurately define the ‘red lines‘ which cannot be crossed. However, what is happening today between Russia and NATO, and between Russia and the West in general, creates an extremely dangerous and unstable situation in which every incident could become fatal.


    Q.: Your professional background is related to global energy. Do you agree that European countries should reduce their dependence on Russian energy?


    A.: The U.S. and Russia will compete over both the European and Pacific gas markets. This is inevitable. Unfortunately for the U.S., sanctions on Russia have resulted in massive energy deals between Russia and China. The shale renaissance currently underway in the U.S. has transformed the U.S. into an exporter of natural gas. Both the Pacific and Europe are the premium markets in the world, where demand is growing (currently in the Pacific) and diversification of sources and routes of energy have yet to be established. By 2020 the U.S. is forecast to be the third largest exporter of LNG. By already exporting to Europe in small quantities, and locking in long-term contracts, Europe will have the luxury to renegotiate contracts away from oil-indexation, thus providing lower prices to the consumer and forcing both Gazprom and American companies to compete for market share where supply and demand will drive the economics of projects.

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    Your missing the point, there now is a participant inside the campaign with noted ties to the Russian Gov't., does this make him guilty of collusion, of course not, but it opens avenues to be legitimately pursued given that he has been caught and pleaded guilty to lying to investigators

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    Quote Originally Posted by archives View Post
    Your missing the point, there now is a participant inside the campaign with noted ties to the Russian Gov't., does this make him guilty of collusion, of course not, but it opens avenues to be legitimately pursued given that he has been caught and pleaded guilty to lying to investigators
    no one is disputing Muellers's purview - although my feelings on Special Counsels is they are inherently
    extra-Constitutional being as they have virtual unlimited powers (which is effect a general warrant)

    "Noted ties to the Russian government?" how?

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    Quote Originally Posted by anatta View Post
    no one is disputing Muellers's purview - although my feelings on Special Counsels is they are inherently
    extra-Constitutional being as they have virtual unlimited powers (which is effect a general warrant)

    "Noted ties to the Russian government?" how?
    So, you oppose this investigation into the Podesta group as well, it’s an offshoot ofcthis investigation, right? Must have you steaming as well.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Covfefe View Post
    So, you oppose this investigation into the Podesta group as well, it’s an offshoot ofcthis investigation, right? Must have you steaming as well.
    actually I do. Special Prosecutors/Counsels are legalized fishing expeditions no matter whom the target.

    I thought Dems would learn their lesson after the Ken Starr stuff.
    But partisanship is a mindfvck

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    We are draining your swamp, anatta.

    The final scalp will be an orange swirly.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Micawber View Post
    We are draining your swamp, anatta.
    The final scalp will be an orange swirly.
    ya ya. you have no clue what "draining the swamp" entails.

    hint:
    start looking for extra-Constitutional powers or abuse of powers

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    Quote Originally Posted by anatta View Post
    actually I do. Special Prosecutors/Counsels are legalized fishing expeditions no matter whom the target.

    I thought Dems would learn their lesson after the Ken Starr stuff.
    But partisanship is a mindfvck
    I am all for anything that roots out corruption in our government.

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    Quote Originally Posted by anatta View Post
    actually I do. Special Prosecutors/Counsels are legalized fishing expeditions no matter whom the target.

    I thought Dems would learn their lesson after the Ken Starr stuff.
    But partisanship is a mindfvck
    Great, I’ll wait for your condemning anything that comes of it!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Covfefe View Post
    I am all for anything that roots out corruption in our government.
    Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: ]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

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    "Court documents unsealed Monday in the Papadopoulos case outline how foreign nationals with ties to the Russian government were seeking to establish a relationship with at least one campaign official and that they offered "dirt" on Hillary Clinton"

    Papadopoulos, 30, claimed in his first interview with the FBI that he made the contacts before he joined the Trump team in March 2016 as an energy expert, when he actually began communicating with them after he joined the Trump foreign policy team.".

    And I agree on Special Councils, they should have limits, Ken Star proved that, but it was the President's own Administrarion who appointed him

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    Quote Originally Posted by anatta View Post
    Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: ]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
    I have no idea what this means since Mueller is operating within the law.

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