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Russia dossier: what happens next – and could Donald Trump be impeached?

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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/12/donald-trump-russia-dossier-what-happens-next

What are the origins of the 35-page intelligence dossier containing allegations about links between Donald Trump and the Kremlin – and how bad could it get?

With days to go before Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States, Washington has been convulsed by news of a 35-page intelligence dossier containing incendiary allegations from Russian spies about close links between the Trump camp and the Kremlin as well as salacious sexual details that could allegedly expose the next US head of state to blackmail. The allegations are wholly unsubstantiated, but were deemed serious enough for US intelligence agencies to pass a two-page summary of them last week both to Trump and the current president, Barack Obama.


What is the origin of the Russian dossier?
The provenance of the dossier lies with a Washington-based opposition research firm, Fusion GPS, led by former journalists skilled in digging up secrets on public figures. The company was employed in September 2015 by one of Trump’s Republican detractors to look into his dealings. According to the BBC, an outside group supporting then presidential candidate Jeb Bush was the main client initially, followed by an anonymous Democratic donor. Fusion GPS in turn contracted a former British counter-intelligence officer with strong Russia contacts to delve into Trump. Reports gathered by the contractor based on his Russian sources were brought together to form the dossier, which in turn began to circulate between the FBI, British intelligence and DC-based journalists who looked into the allegations but could not stand them up. The dossier was also personally passed by the Republican senator John McCain, a critic of the president-elect who learned about the allegations in November, to the FBI director, James Comey. Top federal officials decided the claims in the dossier, albeit unverified, were so explosive that Trump and Obama had to be informed, so they appended the summary to their report to the president and president-elect last week on Russian hacking of Democratic emails during the 2016 election.


Trump called it fake news, but can it be dismissed so easily?
At a press conference on Wednesday in Trump Tower, the president-elect dismissed the dossier as “fake news”, “phony stuff”, “crap” and the work of “sick people” among his political opponents. Certainly, none of the news organizations that had access to the dossier before this week, including the Guardian, were able to verify its most salacious details and nor have the intelligence agencies been able to ascertain whether it is at all reliable. But it is unlikely to be discarded as quickly or as conclusively as Trump would like. The flip side of information that cannot be classed reliable is that neither can it be classed unreliable. The individual responsible for compiling the reports – a former British MI6 officer called Christopher Steele – is highly regarded among US and UK intelligence circles and was at one point head of MI6’s Russia desk. He was described to the Guardian by a US official as consistently reliable, meticulous and well-informed, with extensive Russian contacts.
 
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Does the dossier contain anything that could cause Trump problems after he becomes president?
The most sensational details contained in the dossier concern the allegation that Russian spies gathered compromising material, or “kompromat”, on Trump by secretly recording audio and video tape of his sexual activities in the presidential suite of the Ritz Carlton hotel in Moscow. Such content is virtually impossible to prove, or disprove, other than in the unlikely circumstance that tapes were to emerge. A potentially more potent line of inquiry contained in the dossier that could yet cause Trump trouble relates to allegations that members of his team were in close contact with Russian officials in the course of last year’s presidential election over Russian hacking of Democratic emails that were later published by WikiLeaks. Independent reports suggest that US intelligence agencies were already investigating alleged links, such as those between businessman Carter Page and senior Russian officials. The president-elect’s spokesman Sean Spicer this week said that the president-elect “does not know” Page, even though Trump himself last March described Page as a member of his foreign policy team.

How bad could it get for Trump?
As ever, the question of whether the Russia dossier has legs is a matter not of science but of politics. The degree to which it might continue to snap at the heels of the 45th president depends on whether there is the appetite to pursue the claims. News outlets can be expected to stick with the theme, though all efforts so far on their part have failed to throw up anything solid. Congress has formidable powers to subpoena witnesses that have the potential to uncover secrets that others cannot reach. Two Republican senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, both of them Trump skeptics, have been pushing for a no-holds-barred investigation into Russian hacking by a special select committee of the ilk of the Watergate panel. But so far the leadership of the Republican party, who control both chambers of Congress and thus have the final say on any such exercise, have shown no appetite for rocking the boat with their new president. That leaves the intelligence agencies. The danger for Trump here is that he has so alienated senior officials, not least by likening them to Nazis, that he has hardly earned their loyalty.

At most extreme, could the new president be impeached and how?
We are currently a very long way from this point, but not so far to prevent speculation about whether Trump could be impeached. Were Trump’s team to be found to have conspired with the Kremlin to distort the 2016 presidential election, that would certainly fall into the impeachable category. But, again, it is entirely unsubstantiated. To take a flight of fancy, what if it were substantiated? That would again come down to a question of politics. No US president has ever been forced out of office by impeachment (Richard Nixon resigned before the vote; Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were acquitted by the Senate). Any such procedure would have to be prepared and approved by a majority of the House of Representatives, and then passed to the Senate for a two-thirds majority vote. As the Republicans hold the reins in both chambers, it would take an almighty severing of ties between Trump and his own party to even get close to such a place.

 
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yah right Putin has really nothing better to do than to swing this election away from clinton and give it Trump. not like he is fighting three wars, dealing with trade concerns, and contructing a natural gas pipe line to China, and Hillary has cleared weopons grade uranium sale to russia, but he chose to do nothing more than to place a complete irrational varible to strengthen america in power so he could face trump?

please... spare me
 
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Posted: #4
"just becaUSE ITS ON TV DOESNT MAKE IT TRUE" GHW BUSH
 
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Donald Trump’s national security adviser has been in regular contact with Russia’s ambassador to the US, it emerged on Friday, as the controversy around Trump’s ties to Russia showed no signs of abating.

The White House is aware of phone calls between retired lieutenant-general Michael Flynn and ambassador Sergey Kislyak, a senior US official told the Associated Press.

It is not clear how the current administration learned of the contacts, although the AP noted that US monitoring of Russian officials’ communication within America is known to be common.

The disclosure came after a week dominated by the release of a dossier, prepared by a former British intelligence officer, alleging that Russia collected compromising information about Trump and that there had been secret communications between them. The president-elect fired off a fresh round of tweets about the Russian connection that continues to overshadow the buildup to his inauguration a week from now.

Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak reportedly included several calls on 29 December, the day on which Barack Obama announced the expulsion of 35 Russian officials, as well as other measures in retaliation for Russian interference in the election. The official said Flynn and Kislyak have also been in contact at other times, according to the AP.

Sean Spicer, spokesman for the Trump transition, said Flynn and Kislyak spoke on the phone around the time of the sanctions announcement, although he claimed the conversation happened a day earlier, on 28 December.

“The call centred around the logistics of setting up a call with the president of Russia and the president-elect after he was sworn in, and they exchanged logistical information on how to initiate and schedule that call,” Spicer told reporters on Friday. “That was it, plain and simple.”

The call followed text message exchanges initiated by Flynn on Christmas Day, in which he wished the ambassador a merry Christmas and said he looked forward to “touching base with you and working with you”, Spicer added.

Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak, who has served as Russia’s ambassador since 2008, were first reported by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. “What did Flynn say, and did it undercut the US sanctions?” he wrote.

Asked if the administration was bothered by the reports, John Earnest, the White House press secretary, said: “I’ve read some of these reports and I think to answer your question as bluntly as I can: depends on what he said. I know that some members of the president-elect’s transition team have tried to describe those conversations. Obviously I have zero insight into what may have been communicated back and forth.

“So I’d refer you to General Flynn himself or spokespeople for the transition who may be able to provide additional insight into the nature of those conversations and why those conversations were initiated.”

Asked about the report on MSNBC, Democratic senator Al Franken said: “I’m concerned with all of this, of course. This was a very big part of what happened in this election. This is unprecedented, this kind of foreign interference, and the Trump team’s relationship I think is of import.”

Flynn has previously appeared on the Russia Today channel and attended a gala dinner it hosted in Moscow along with Putin. He has spoken with other foreign officials since Trump won the presidential election last November, as have incoming White House senior advisers Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

The Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said in November that the Russian government was in touch with members of Trump’s political team during the US election campaign and knew most of his entourage.

Trump has repeatedly called for warmed US relations with Russia. “If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia,” he told a press conference this week.


 
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Posted: #6
But his nominee for defence secretary, James Mattis, and other cabinet picks undergoing Senate confirmation hearings struck a more sceptical note, potentially putting them at odds with the new commander-in-chief.

US intelligence heads have said they are still investigating the material authored by a former British counter-intelligence official, Christopher Steele, originally as opposition research during the presidential election campaign.

As the controversy raged on, Trump hit back on Twitter again. “It now turns out that the phony allegations against me were put together by my political opponents and a failed spy afraid of being sued …”

He continued: “Totally made up facts by sleazebag political operatives, both Democrats and Republicans – FAKE NEWS! Russia says nothing exists. Probably released by ‘Intelligence’ even knowing there is no proof, and never will be. My people will have a full report on hacking within 90 days!”
 
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Posted: #7
Russian American alliance restores world peace.
and structured civil governments. this to me is not a bad thing.

but i aint a sword maker.
 
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Posted: #8
Quote Originally Posted by nature1970:

yah right Putin has really nothing better to do than to swing this election away from clinton and give it Trump. not like he is fighting three wars, dealing with trade concerns, and contructing a natural gas pipe line to China, and Hillary has cleared weopons grade uranium sale to russia, but he chose to do nothing more than to place a complete irrational varible to strengthen america in power so he could face trump?

please... spare me


Russian economy is overly dependent on gas and raw materials, which have dropped leaving the Russian economy scrambling to pay its debts. 

oil barrel price is hovering around 50 dollars.
Russia can't compete with the US ( 45$) nor can it compete with Saudi Arabia (39$)

Trump wants to back out the Iran Nuclear deal, which will reimpose oil sales sanctions. It means that Russian oil will be more competitive because Iran won't be selling oil.

Trump's pick for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson is also the head of ExxonMobil, which is in possession of patented technology that could help Putin extract 45% more oil at a significant cost savings to Russia, making Outin, Trump and Tillerson richer 

It's about getting richer and making Russia more powerful by breaking NATO since Trump has clearly stated that he was not going to invest in alliances with NATO.

Since Trump has not released his tax returns, it is impossible to verify that he owes hundreds of millions of dollars to Russian investors. 
 
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The Republicans have no balls and would never impeach Trump, even if there were a video that surfaced showing him committing a major crime.  I'm telling you that your best option is to accept his presidency and expect a hilarious ride.
 
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Posted: #10
Quote Originally Posted by ilsp2003:



Russian economy is overly dependent on gas and raw materials, which have dropped leaving the Russian economy scrambling to pay its debts. 

oil barrel price is hovering around 50 dollars.
Russia can't compete with the US ( 45$) nor can it compete with Saudi Arabia (39$)

Trump wants to back out the Iran Nuclear deal, which will reimpose oil sales sanctions. It means that Russian oil will be more competitive because Iran won't be selling oil.

Trump's pick for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson is also the head of ExxonMobil, which is in possession of patented technology that could help Putin extract 45% more oil at a significant cost savings to Russia, making Outin, Trump and Tillerson richer 

It's about getting richer and making Russia more powerful by breaking NATO since Trump has clearly stated that he was not going to invest in alliances with NATO.

Since Trump has not released his tax returns, it is impossible to verify that he owes hundreds of millions of dollars to Russian investors. 

we dont buy iranian oil, we buy primarily ours canadas mexicans and venzuala oil. now we dont need any of theirs and can sell our oil to them.
we have x refineries needing y in oil barrels, we deliver x to y without shinking our oil supplies, Obama did with the sealing of the non lease off shore and within puplic lands exec action last week or so.
so congress will pass a new law.
or increasing refineries here  , possible with a new epa chief oil is a statue due not to move.

Trump and Putin will get it on , no way that cabinet lets commies in russia think they better than USA.

after that a bunch of liberals still in a panty bunch because the swing of the pendulum to the right.
 
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Quote Originally Posted by nature1970:


we dont buy iranian oil, we buy primarily ours canadas mexicans and venzuala oil. now we dont need any of theirs and can sell our oil to them.
we have x refineries needing y in oil barrels, we deliver x to y without shinking our oil supplies, Obama did with the sealing of the non lease off shore and within puplic lands exec action last week or so.
so congress will pass a new law.
or increasing refineries here  , possible with a new epa chief oil is a statue due not to move.

Trump and Putin will get it on , no way that cabinet lets commies in russia think they better than USA.

after that a bunch of liberals still in a panty bunch because the swing of the pendulum to the right.

You don't get it ..

more oil from Iran means oil barrel price may go down 
Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil sales, 
barrel oil price over 60 dollars is better for them 
 
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Quote Originally Posted by nature1970:


we dont buy iranian oil, we buy primarily ours canadas mexicans and venzuala oil. now we dont need any of theirs and can sell our oil to them.
we have x refineries needing y in oil barrels, we deliver x to y without shinking our oil supplies, Obama did with the sealing of the non lease off shore and within puplic lands exec action last week or so.
so congress will pass a new law.
or increasing refineries here  , possible with a new epa chief oil is a statue due not to move.

Trump and Putin will get it on , no way that cabinet lets commies in russia think they better than USA.

after that a bunch of liberals still in a panty bunch because the swing of the pendulum to the right.


I am having a hard time following you


what do the "liberals" have to do with it ?


 
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Quote Originally Posted by sicknesscity:

The Republicans have no balls and would never impeach Trump, even if there were a video that surfaced showing him committing a major crime.  I'm telling you that your best option is to accept his presidency and expect a hilarious ride.


LOL what have you been drinking?  Trump will make this country back to the USA. Screw that POS Obama ?,who is a muslim POS!!!  that hates the USA!!!!     
 
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Posted: #14
Quote Originally Posted by ilsp2003:



I am having a hard time following you


what do the "liberals" have to do with it ?



that dossier was from nobody. mccain and 50 others got ta copy,

again this was catagorically line by line found to be false.
Iran deal is with european union, china and india will be buying the oil. this does cut into saudi arabia not russia. russia supplies oil to baltic states, east europe and chinese western region.

It supplies oil to north korea. and that will not change overnight due to the region delivery issues.

having a russian england france china and the usa on the same page will insure world peace. so how much stock do you hold in raytheon or boing cause they are gouing to left on the short end of these negotiations, usa will not 4 trillion dollars in weopons systems if the world is at peace.

 
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Oil is bought at a price, while the price was at 120 a brrl world demand slowed, world moved to renewables , wind solar infrastucture. america began pursuing fracking technology canada opened tar sand mining.

saudi arabia was losing money so they felt if they could dropa better oil down they could regain there market share. It stalled, iranian oil is now allowed to move, saudi arch nemosist. so saudis are doing everything to keep their monopoly on this market, it is back firing, Russia economy isnt oil based as much as weopons systems and space exploration based, they are nuclear capable of generation of electric with fission.

They are making weopons system deals with syria and iran and anyother shiite government to enhance there world image . China is pushing through south america and africa to envelope any natural rescorce they need to continue manufacturing goods, europe is working with russia and china to devolope a repolacement for the reserve currency we call a federal note, and the world stopped listening or even paying any mi9nd to what ridiculous rants coming from washington .

The world stopped and took notice, Trump won to the dismay of the media the democratic party the world view of the pathetic us gridlock. Trump and republicans won evwerything. and it wasnt russias fault it was the dnc leadership for trying to shove a queen down our throughts after swallowing hard during the Obamas lies.
 
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Posted: #16
I sent him a set of rubber sheets and a snorkel for his next trip to russia.
 
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Posted: #17
trump was asked what the difference was between a garbanzo bean and a chick pea . He said he never had a garbanzo bean on his face.
 
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Posted: #18
My God I am honestly scared of all of you in this thread. 

 Too bad covers can't put a poison control emoji on the title
 
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Posted: #19
Quote Originally Posted by TILTOLOGIC:

My God I am honestly scared of all of you in this thread. 

 Too bad covers can't put a poison control emoji on the title


there there the world is a scary place safer for you to stay in greenwich cn and state how deplorable we all are sir...

its okay nothing to see move along.. move along..
 
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Posted: #20
I don't think anybody can stop Trump from being president, he was ellected so... 
 
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Posted: #21
Putin has said that any private citizen who puts on International Beauty contests and gets to select the contestants doesn't need to fly to Russia to find beautiful working girls (wh0res) unless the (wh0res) in Russia are the greatest (wh0res) in the world.
 
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Posted: #22
Quote Originally Posted by HoneyB:

I don't think anybody can stop Trump from being president, he was ellected so... 

You related to Killer B?
 
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Posted: #23
it matter oftime before the democrats blow this up to Watergate break inofdnc headquarters in '72.
 
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1/4 of democrats are boycotting the inauguration, good for them to make room for some one who wants to witness this moment in history.
 
 
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Posted: #25
let me get this straight, somehow one would believe a man hosting a beauti pagent in moscow with the winners purse in hand couldn't get laid and needed to resort to hiring outside talent to do the nasty?


not plausible.
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