Trump's son-in-law says he met Russians 4 times, but denies collusion

I do not expect anything groundbreaking from Kushner. He is smart enough to know that he should listen to his lawyers and will keep pretty silent.  

If you get Trump on the stand, if you want him to admit something, all you have to say is "Well, we all know you aren't smart enough to pull something like this off" and he will spill every detail while his lawyers cry at the table.

A businessman like Trump, Kushner portrayed himself as new to politics when he became a top adviser to Trump's campaign. Frantic fielding of phone calls and emails made his recollections of some meetings somewhat hazy, he said.

Can we all agree that it's not normal how often Trump and his associates rely on the "I was too inept not to have looked dodgy," defense?

"I did not collude, nor know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded, with any foreign government,”

Kushner’s family has long been associated with criminal activity (father a convicted felon) and have been able to afford highly paid legal and accounting teams to protect them from most charges of illegal activities. In this situation it looks like Trump’s son-in-law’s legal people have given him a script to read which included terms like ‘foreign government’. 

It could well be the Russians he met with were not people who had official Russian government titles. But given Russia is an oligarchy (in democratic clothing), and given the people he met with are oligarchs, he can claim they were not official members of a ‘foreign government’. But it’s hard to believe they were NOT associated with Putin and his oligarch pals. Connect the dots. How about the globalist Kushners in Qatar?

Joeintokyo: alternative facts?

Like Obama adminstration used GCHQ as Spicer told?

Anyways, if Kushner didn't declare those contacts before this is because he has something to hide but that's OK.

DT will pardon him.

When you work for the govt, there are many rules to follow that a private citizen or member of the military wouldn't know.

If you've ever filed out the short clearance paperwork (about 20 pgs, I vaguely recall), plus whatever "additional declarations" might be necessary, it is easy to miss some things when you've lived an international life.

I would have a hard time accurately completing that same paperwork today that was non-trivial to finish when I was 23. Lots of travel and meetings with "scary foreigners" makes it harder.

A bunch of non-career politicians just don't know the rules and it isn't like the people we are hearing about think any rules apply to them anyway. They should have learned the rules before proceeding, that is certain. Sometimes integrating the rules into your behavior takes time.

this is really getting old. economy UP jobs UP stocks UP. these are the things working families care about. Get some solid evidence of illegal activity. Until then how about reporting on the economy and other relevant issues

"ridicules those who voted for him,” he said.

Methinks young Jared doth protest too much. The tender feelings of Trump voters are irrelevant to the nonpartisan investigation into possible Russian meddling in the 2016 election. This is just a shiny object for the base (sounds like Bannon penned this part, and Limbaugh trumpeted this statement loudly), as is Kushner's assertion that he did not "collude". As far as I'm aware, no one in congress or in the "MSM" has been outright accusing him of "collusion".

did not take questions.

But at some point he will. Publicly. And under oath.

"a bag of dirt" screams METAPHOR!! METAPHOR!!, or he was given what the Russians literally promised him. Chances are Trump will attempt to leave him holding it.

economy UP jobs UP stocks UP. these are the things working families care about.

Hey, I'm a working family. And I care about all of these things, including the investigation of Russian meddling.

Dango bongToday  08:15 am JST

this is really getting old. economy UP jobs UP stocks UP.

These things were up under Obama, but that didn't stop TrumpGOP from dwelling on conspiracy theories with far less incriminating evidence than we have for the Trump Klan.

Hey, I'm a working family. And I care about all of these things, including the investigation of Russian meddling.

There was proof of Russian meddling with the DNC servers, why not investigate that? This is a soap opera

There was proof of Russian meddling with the DNC servers, why not investigate that?

This has been under investigation for some time now.

This has been under investigation for some time now.

Actually it has not. The DNC has refused to submit their servers while H whitewashed 30,000 emails. This si all proven

I wonder how the guy can keep his security clearance and even work at the WH after many revisions.

You don't forget to declare those things when your father in-law just get in the WH and allegations of collusions already surfaced.

All the while nothing has been proven against Trump or his family

There was proof of Russian meddling with the DNC servers, why not investigate that?

Yeah! Why aren't the creating more diversions for the Republicans to point at so that people will stop looking at Trump and co?

Strangerland: throwing red herrings seems to be the way...

Crooked as your hat. Like everyone else in the Trump/Kushner conglomerate.

Kushner along with the rest of these lackeys want to throw their hands up in confusion as to why people don't fully believe them on this Russia matter, but what do they honestly expect when each time they claim this or that did not happen or only happened x-amount of times, then suddenly it turns out it did happen or more times then they stated. Every word out of their mouths is a lie. And this goes for all parties, and all politicians.

Jesus, first this pathetic moron says he didn't meet any foreign contacts, now he's saying he met 4 Putin contacts alone!

Is there any real point of having these security clearance forms at all if people can just jot down any amount of BS on them? Seriously, what is the point of these security forms?

The 35% of people who support Trump need something to say. They obviously can't defend the man so they pitch in by constantly attacking and playing the victim card.

Some sources say that Kushner was drinking Vodka in a restaurant in 2016 and the guy two tables down ordered borscht soup. 

Trump claims it was just a coincidence.

How about the two sitting at the same table on 4 separate occasions and one having memory lapses?

Too much vodka?

U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, engaged in a campaign of hacking and propaganda to try to tilt the November election in Trump's favor.

"U.S. intelligence agencies have determined" That is for real and not rumors ! Sure...Putin/Russia did that only for. nothing ?....with nothing promised in return from the direct beneficiary ? Btw, all the contacts and meetings which happened are purely accidental, they were bumping on each others randomly...yeah... me too I would love to live in a Barbie world.

Y'know when you get home and your wife notices lipstick on your collar and a whiff of perfume and you claim, "Hey, look at me: Do I look like the type of guy with the looks and personality that would allow me to attract a female?! On the face of it, that would be ridiculous!"

Actually, I don't know that. Jared does, in a metaphorical way. Call it the "Jared defense."

If you get Trump on the stand, if you want him to admit something, all you have to say is "Well, we all know you aren't smart enough to pull something like this off" and he will spill every detail while his lawyers cry at the table.

Hmmmm...not so sure about that, so far he outsmarted everyone else over the last 2 years. ROFL.

The 35% of people who support Trump need something to say.

The coastal areas, I believe that.

They obviously can't defend the man so they pitch in by constantly attacking and playing the victim card.

Dunno, looking at almost every MSM outlet and all of the liberal pundits whining and crying on an hourly basis and attacking the president on anything even the ridiculous and relentless attack on how many scoops of ice cream the president likes, without a doubt the president is the victim, the victim of lost and delusional progressive leftists.

he outsmarted everyone else 

I agree he managed to outsmart that dead weasel he keeps on his head. But that's about his limit.

I happened to overlook the subject line of the e-mail. 

I got there late, so I must have missed the dirt on Clinton conversation.

I had to leave early, so I must have missed seeing them leave behind a folder.

I never asked why it took four Russians to discuss adoptions.

We never spoke of the meeting again.  

I sure hope Dad's right that our supporters are stupid.

Well that's done. Even CNN already changed the top headline on their website to something else.

I agree he managed to outsmart that dead weasel he keeps on his head. But that's about his limit.

If you look at his ratings, he's outsmarted about 35% of the people of America as well (or the voters of America. I'm not sure which specifically the poll refers to).

So whats next? Sessions again? Manafort again? Even Chuck Schumer said the loss is because of Hillary, not Russia.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/24/politics/schumer-clinton-2016/index.html

Also even Chuck knows Trump approval is at 40%.

I find it very interesting that CNN and other media had a minute by minute live coverage of Kushner yet when Susan Rice testified, they barely even confirmed that she did.

If you look at his ratings, he's outsmarted about 35% of the people of America as well (or the voters of America. I'm not sure which specifically the poll refers to).

Hmmm....I would say more, the 65% seems to have been suckered into thinking that the failed polices of the last 8 was going to regulate the DNP to the wilderness where them buffalos roam.

Even CNN already changed the top headline on their website to something else.

With Trump and his tweets, there's always a lot of something else. "Tweet someone into resigning" is now a real phrase, thanks to Trump's passive-aggressive war with his handpicked AG (and earliest supporter) Sessions. Tuesday is supposed to be a vote on Trumpcare, but there are many versions, none of which have not been vetted by the CBO, debated in committee, or are even known to the Republican senators who are supposed to say yea or nay. So, yeah, there are many headlines. Trump is a gift to online news.

Kushner is dirty as hell, HOW MANY times has he revised his financial AND political applications for clearance etc, its beyond ridiculous at this point & trump already blabbing about pardon his own family members.....h'm guess he knows a few things!!

This so beyond theatre of the absurd, things is trump & his cronies look dirtier by the day, that takes SOME doing!

I cannot wait until Muellers investigation is completed and totally backfires as the tables are turned on the Liberal elite! History will once again prove the insanity of the Left using all their power to corrupt the Right, only it won't work this time because the President is not a politician. Thank God for that.

Yet the main headline is about Asia being under water? Nice try but they just dont want to talk about Trump unless there is some type of hit piece available.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/24/asia/climate-change-floods-asia/index.html

I love how people here keep saying people are guilty of something, have committed crimes, broken laws, etc but there is never any evidence or proof of it. All of this is going to come full circle back to the Dems (where there IS evidence) someday soon.

"The more you deny, the less we believe you!"

What about the intercepts about Kushner wanting to establish a secure communication at the Russian embassy? I guess the lawyers have concluded that the intercepts are not admissible as evidence, are only leaked and easily dismissed and forgotten, and have decided not to acknowledge or mention the reports.

There is no rational explanation for that kind of Russia.

Who pays attention to intelligence agencies anyhow? They are as unreliable as . . . the news.

Kushner testified behind closed doors to stay out of public scrutiny. All of this is being very carefully controlled, which is abnormal for anything associated with Trump. The lawyers are earning their fees, and at least Kushner has the sense to listen to them.

The Trump policy has been keep quiet, deny and attack, attack and to disclose only what is shown in the press to be an omission or lie, then rinse and repeat.

Oh, and hope the media doesn't find another omission or lie. Now, hope Mueller doesn't find something.

Frantic fielding of phone calls and emails made his recollections of some meetings somewhat hazy, he said.

Says it all, really. Corruption doesn't appear with a menacing flourish and a thunderclap. It comes with hazy recollections, neat ties and a fanbase all to willing to enable it.

What about the intercepts about Kushner wanting to establish a secure communication at the Russian embassy? I guess the lawyers have concluded that the intercepts are not admissible as evidence, are only leaked and easily dismissed and forgotten, and have decided not to acknowledge or mention the reports.

Or there was no intercept, or the intercept didnt say that and the leaker simply leaked this false information for political purposes to promote the Muh Russia narrative. He testified and said what happened, so in absence of proof he lied, thats what happened. I dont think anyone wants to discuss the intercepts anyway because then it raises questions of why Kushner was being spied on and who unmasked him. Same as a lot of this Russia stuff, it is good for speculative articles but when it comes time to prove it as true, it gets dropped.

Kushner testified behind closed doors to stay out of public scrutiny.

As did John Podesta. As did Susan Rice. So?

Not diversions, it's a perfectly legitimate question and one worth exploring. Both sides should be given a fair shake and should be investigated thoroughly.

If this were a topic about corruption in government in both parties, I'd agree. But this thread is a discussion on Kushner meeting Russians 4 times, and whether or not he colluded. Any attempts at diverting the conversation to previous presidents or anything else unrelated to Kushner meeting with the Russians is not appropriate in this thread.

But the left tries to think of themselves as the party of moral and ethics (lol) it seems to be serving them well with the bears and the squirrels and the West of the critters in the forest.

This "left" you mention every 5 minutes; do you mean the Democrats? They're hardly left wing. Or do you mean any group of people, including Repubs, who take issue with Trump?

The "left" in the US and the rest of the world, is made up of people with many different views, not all chiming in unison, not all lamenting Trump, the EU or Brexit.

Just as the "right" is not one seething, Borg like mass, either.

Collusion is something that should concern every citizen of your country. Regardless of which side of the fence they're sitting on.

 But this thread is a discussion on Kushner meeting Russians 4 times, and whether or not he colluded. Any attempts at diverting the conversation to previous presidents or anything else unrelated to Kushner meeting with the Russians is not appropriate in this thread.

Ok, in this case then the only conversation would be that he said he met Russians 4 times, explained each meeting's purpose, said he didnt do anything improper and said he didnt collude. So nothing else to talk about unless someone has some evidence otherwise.

As far as the security form speculation, the actual form instructions say this:

Your Personal Interview: Some investigations will include an interview with you as a normal part of the investigation process. This provides you the opportunity to update, clarify, and explain information on your form more completely, which often helps to complete your investigation faster. 

So you actually have the right in the interview to update or clarify any information on the filed form.

Block 19 asks about your foreign contacts, specifically, whether you have or had close and/or continuing contact with foreign nationals within the last 7 years with whom you, your spouse, or your cohabitant are bound by affection, influence, and/or obligation. 

Close and/or continuing contact. That's not saying hi to someone or shaking their hand or having a 10 minute meeting. So nothing left on Kushner, time to move on.

Ok, in this case then the only conversation would be that he said he met Russians 4 times, explained each meeting's purpose, said he didnt do anything improper and said he didnt collude. So nothing else to talk about unless someone has some evidence otherwise.

And yet, people have found much more to say on this subject throughout the entire thread. I'm sorry that those are the only things you want to hear on the subject, but that's just too bad.

So nothing left on Kushner, time to move on.

Go ahead. No one is stopping you.

As did John Podesta. As did Susan Rice. So?

False equivalency, again.

They are not under investigation for collusion.

They were asked about the investigation into Russia hacking, and the Senate needed the testimony to be behind closed doors because they needed to speak as freely as possible about classified information.

Or there was no intercept, or the intercept didnt say that and the leaker simply leaked this false information for political purposes to promote the Muh Russia narrative. He testified and said what happened, so in absence of proof he lied, thats what happened. I dont think anyone wants to discuss the intercepts anyway because then it raises questions of why Kushner was being spied on and who unmasked him. 

Too dismissive because it hurts. People want to discuss the intercepts because of what the information could reveal. Not because of this red herring: why poor Kushner was spied upon and unmasked. It was an intercept of a Russian ambassador reporting to Moscow. Just like there was a leak of an intercept of the ambassador discussing previously denied conversations with Sessions.

These intercepts strongly infer these people are lying about potentially treasonous acts against the country.

No, this is important, and it is why you fall back to being dismissive.

Absence of proof? An intercept is intelligence, which in itself is not evidence but it is hardly not an absence of proof. Such absences of proof need extra-ordinary measures to turn it into admissible evidence. That is why the counter-intelligence investigation by the FBI will be difficult. Still, life and death decisions are made daily on such an absence of proof.

This "left" you mention every 5 minutes; do you mean the Democrats?

Also, yes.

They're hardly left wing.

Ohhh, yes, they are, in fact, so far to the left, the Russians wouldn't want the,

Or do you mean any group of people, including Repubs, who take issue with Trump?

Those are mostly the Washington GOP loons that didn't like Trump to begin with, nothing new.

The "left" in the US and the rest of the world, is made up of people with many different views, not all chiming in unison, not all lamenting Trump, the EU or Brexit.

Uh-huh....right, I'm from California, I know all there is about the left and no wonder thousands of people as well as thousands of the middle class are leaving that once great state and being replaced by the rich elite liberal 1% people.

Collusion is something that should concern every citizen of your country. Regardless of which side of the fence they're sitting on.

I agree, but that's not what the left or Mueller are fishing for and we all know it? This investigation has gone way above and beyond of what was the intended issue.

Trump defrauded Americans. They're just a shady bunch.

Susan Rice and John Podesta are part of the exact same investigation everyone else is part of. Collusion is just one part of the overall investigation, remember? There was no reason why John Podesta couldnt be asked in public about his shares in a Russian owned company, what happened to those and the money he got. Susan Rice could have been asked publicly if she unmasked anyone and for what purpose.

So now someone can be guilty even with an absence of proof because it is too hard to turn a possibly fake, leaked intercept into evidence? Well in that case I am glad it is hard to do that, because that isnt evidence if it has to be manufactured into being usable. At the end of all of this, if someone is found guilty, there will have to be presentable evidence to the American people for it to be accepted. No one is going to accept it without being shown actual proof. No more of this 'the intelligence agencies' said type stuff is possible. If there is no hard, indisputable evidence, then it didnt happen.

Still, life and death decisions are made daily on such an absence of proof.

Sure, people do the best they can with the information they have when a decision MUST be made. In this case, we are talking about prosecuting and convicting people of crimes, which is a choice that does not have to be made.

Sure, people do the best they can with the information they have when a decision MUST be made. 

I consider any collusion with the Russian hacking to be TREASONOUS and a MUST INVESTIGATE and MUST CONVICT. I don't care if they were raised by nuns and never cursed in their life.

Clinton email server?? A GoP led witch hunt, not treason. Again, false equivalency. Focus on the here and now, padawan.

Those are mostly the Washington GOP loons that didn't like Trump to begin with, nothing new

It's a bit unfair to call those who didn't like Trump from the beginning 'loons'. One description of the Trump movement was a 'lunatic fringe'. It wasn't until he looked like winning the nomination did some 'evolve' and see him in his true light as a statesman.

Other conservatives still see Trump as utter trash and a disgrace to the nation. Maybe they'll 'evolve' too as Trump keeps on winning and grows into his role as an international statesman.

I consider any collusion with the Russian hacking to be TREASONOUS and a MUST INVESTIGATE and MUST CONVICT. I don't care if they were raised by nuns and never cursed in their life.

Yet collusion itself is not even a crime unless we are talking about antitrust law. Nothing has been released to date about anyone in the Trump campaign that could even be stretched to meet the level of 'collusion'. much less treason. Do you really think they are ever going to find that anyone related to Trump actually helped Russia to hack the DNC?

For that to even be considered much less proven, the DNC server will need to be turned over. Yet it hasnt been, why is that? (Spoiler alert: I know why, because what they are going to find is that the files were locally copied and not hacked at all.) Or maybe they will turn it over finally, without the hard drives inside. Just like Clinton finally turned over all the mobile devices with no SIM card in them.

Oh sorry, I meant all the mobile devices that werent smashed with hammers. The devices that with no SIMS cannot even be proven that were the devices actually used.

Yet collusion itself is not even a crime unless we are talking about antitrust law.

Yea, tell a prosecutor that your collusion was not a crime, and they will find something that is a crime. You are listening to too many right wing news sources focusing on the word collusion. Trust me, I would find a way to charge someone with a crime if they colluded with the Russians.

Ask Sessions if it is OK to take your property if there is even a slight (even unjustifiable) suspicion of a crime.

I think it is time for Robert Mueller to provide the taxpaying public with an update so that he can tell us what things have already been proven untrue. This way we can see what he and his highly paid team have actually produced to date.

For example, did Trump firing Comey rise to the level of obstruction of justice or not?

Same for Loretta Lynch, did she obstruct justice?

Was Comey's leaking illegal or not?

The answer to those types of questions shouldnt take years to determine.

I think it is time for Robert Mueller to provide the taxpaying public with an update

In the middle of the investigation? I think not. Please show any other FBI investigation into governmental corruption when that has happened. Ever.

Thats exactly what is going on here. Gotta find a way to charge SOMEone with SOMEthing

Yeah, they shouldn't charge someone under existing laws unless it's a law the Republicans like.

So Mueller just gets a free budget and free reign for years and years?

All of you who were complaining about Trump's travel budget somehow have no problem with paying a special counsel and 15 lawyers for unlimited work but dont want to know what things they have ruled out?

Trump firing Comey is either obstruction or it isnt. There will be no further information or evidence that is able to be gathered on that topic and many others, so decide it and announce.

There are probably 50 people being investigated and hundreds of issues. Is Mueller going to just one day spend like 18 hours and announce the results of each and every one of those all at once at the end? Why do that when some of these issues are surely done being investigated?

So Mueller just gets a free budget and free reign for years and years?

No, just as long as it takes the investigation into corruption.

You don't think investigations into corruption should be rushed by budgetary constraints do you? How do you feel about the benghazimailing investigations in such a case?

All of you who were complaining about Trump's travel budget somehow have no problem with paying a special counsel and 15 lawyers for unlimited work but dont want to know what things they have ruled out?

Trump's travel budget is entirely irrelevant to the conversation. But if you really want to go there, remember, he criticized Obama's travel budget, then went on to spend way more.

As for wanting to know what they have and haven't ruled out - sure we want to know, when the investigation is complete.

Everyday a new "revelation" is touted by CNN

I don't watch or read CNN. I think it's awful.

I seem to find out about the extraordinary amount of lies coming from these people without the aid of CNN.

I've never heard so many lies about 'nothing' in my life. The lack of curiousity from some people regarding these lies* is very unusual.

*For Trump supporters not familiar with this word, think 'exaggeration', 'hyperbole', 'embellishment' and 'lapse of memory' but with a darker feel.

and over 56% of the public thinks this is complete overkill and the Democrats should focus on more important matters.

Don't trust polls. I've been hearing that non-stop.

Don't trust polls. I've been hearing that non-stop.

Yes, like the 36% polls of Trump supporters? Good to know! Ok, I get it. Lol

Doesn't seem to work, look at the Democrats, that's a prime example there, complaining, crying, more complaining and more crying and now they have a man who's on a witch hunt and over 56% of the public thinks this is complete overkill and the Democrats should focus on more important matters.

Witch hunt?

Could you please give a link to the stats you use? Merci.

Do you think that the electorate should be unconcerned about Trump leaking Israeli intelligence or discussing classified material in public with Abe about DPRK?

Do you think the American public really don't care about Russia meddling in the elections?

Yes, like the 36% polls of Trump supporters? Good to know! Ok, I get it. Lol

What is the source of the poll you cited and why do you trust it?

I don't watch or read CNN. I think it's awful.

I seem to find out about the extraordinary amount of lies coming from these people without the aid of CNN.

I don't have CNN and therefore don't watch it, with the exception of sometimes in hotel rooms, though I'll switch between whatever news networks they have.

I also seem to find out about these lies without CNN.

and over 56% of the public thinks this is complete overkill and the Democrats should focus on more important matters.

Fake news.

There are probably 50 people being investigated and hundreds of issues. Is Mueller going to just one day spend like 18 hours and announce the results of each and every one of those all at once at the end? Why do that when some of these issues are surely done being investigated?

No, they're surely not done being investigated. And even if they appear to have run through all ends so far, what if something comes up further down the line as a result of the other investigations. Can you imagine the complete and utter outrage the Republicans would express if they announced now that they haven't found out anything about a given person now, then later on down the line as a result of further investigations, announced that they did in fact find something about that person? The Republicans would never stand for it.

Better not to rush the investigations, and to let them be done properly.

Is it journalistic integrity preventing you from linking to the stats you randomly mention?

No, it's me and my off the clock civilian self that's not going to play that game libs love to play.

I'm unsure as to why you continue to use them without any links or polls. It doesn't help your diminishing cause.

I explained this so many times.

Still no link. Just sneering ad hominems and schoolyard level retorts.

I'm not attacking anyone on JT personally, not my cup of tea.

Do you really see patriotic Americans who give a damn that their PotUS leaks classified info as "loons"?

Thats debatable, but what I do see are millions of Americans that are frustrated with both parties, very frustrated with the rhetoric that's coming from the left and feel, the MSM is going way overboard with this.

Their too engrossed in nonsense on social media or the latest drama on TV to care about "Russia and Putin".

Be honest, if you walk up to 100 average Americans these days and ask about "Russia meddling in the election"

How many will either know or care?

I bet it's in the teens, possibly in even the single digits.

That's a severe condemnation of Americans, I think. Every American I've encountered in the US, abroad, at work and even online are passionate about politics. Absolutely passionate. It's part of the social fabric to be politically aware, from grassroots, townhalls to blogs, voting rights and social change. No matter what political demographic is involved.

Sure, as in every country, there's plenty who'd rather tune out through disinterest or fatigue but I believe it's unfair to portray all citizens as couch potatoes who are unable or unwilling to express their views on current affairs, domestic or international.

Maybe poor Trump is just the victim here?

Even CNN already changed the top headline on their website to something else. yep until Trump or his Admin tweets or spews another load of BS from their mouths again, which probably wont be too far away.

Kushner is just another pathological liar in Trump's extended family.

let's try to help the simpleton left wingers. when you make fake accusations and fake stories there had to be at least a plausible faked crime. Colluded to do What? being on the same planet as Russians and talking to a few is not an actual crime. there has to be a what, like Hillary colluding with a number of people and Russians to facilitate the sale of American uranium companies to Russia as a service provided for "donations" to the Clinton foundation. so until someone fabricates an actual crime, there is no story, not even a fake story.

let's try to help the simpleton left wingers. when you make fake accusations and fake stories there had to be at least a plausible faked crime. Colluded to do What? being on the same planet as Russians and talking to a few is not an actual crime. there has to be a what, like Hillary colluding with a number of people and Russians to facilitate the sale of American uranium companies to Russia as a service provided for "donations" to the Clinton foundation.

Heh, the three pronged Republican response:

1) No crime here, carry on

2) But Hillary

3) You're all stupid

A bunch of non-career politicians just don't know the rules and it isn't like the people we are hearing about think any rules apply to them anyway. 

So easy not too realise that meeting foreign spies to get information to help you win an election might be a bit bit close to the edge of acceptability.

But as neither Trump or his entourage are house trained, it is not surprising.