Poll of the Day > Documents reveal how Russian official courted conservatives in U.S. since 2009.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.npr.org/2018/05/11/610206357/documents-reveal-how-russian-official-courted-conservatives-in-u-s-since-2009

Updated at 10:55 a.m. ET

Kremlin-linked Russian politician Alexander Torshin traveled frequently between Moscow and various destinations in the United States to build relationships with figures on the American right starting as early as 2009, beyond his previously known contacts with the National Rifle Association.

Documents newly obtained by NPR show how he traveled throughout the United States to cultivate ties in ways well beyond his formal role as a member of the Russian legislature and later as a top official at the Russian central bank. These are steps a former top CIA official believes Torshin took in order to advance Moscow's long-term objectives in the United States, in part by establishing common political interests with American conservatives.

"[Vladimir] Putin and probably the Russian intelligence services saw [Torshin's connections] as something that they could leverage in the United States," said Steve Hall, a retired CIA chief of Russian operations. "They reach out to a guy like Torshin and say, 'Hey, can you make contact with the NRA and some other conservatives ... so that we can have connectivity from Moscow into those conservative parts of American politics should we need them?' And that's basically just wiring the United States for sound, if you will, in preparation for whatever they might need down the road."

Torshin's trips took him to Alaska, where he requested a visit with former Gov. Sarah Palin; to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.; to Nashville, where he was an election observer for the 2012 presidential race; and to every NRA convention, in various American cities, between 2012 and 2016.

But the jig is up. Last month, Torshin was designated for sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department.

"We can conclude that the administration thought he was acting to advance Putin's malign agenda, but what precisely [he did] they did not make clear," said Daniel Fried, a former State Department coordinator for sanctions policy who helped craft the sanctions that ultimately were employed against Torshin.

Huge article - not interested in copypasting to PotD.

https://www.npr.org/2018/05/11/610206357/documents-reveal-how-russian-official-courted-conservatives-in-u-s-since-2009

is there anything wrong with this
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But what about
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Andromicus posted...

But what about

If you insist

https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/fusion-gps-fake-investigation-and-hillary-clintons-real-russian-collusion/
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Well you don't get so much corruption to come together in a single campaign without some ground work.

There is no way you get that many people with illegal ties to a single nation into a single campaign by chance.

This really says nothing beyond, "He met with government officials in the U.S."

Government officials in different countries meet with each other quite frequently... Even when they aren't necessarily allies

WastelandCowboy posted...

But the jig is up. Last month, Torshin was designated for sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department.

"We can conclude that the administration thought he was acting to advance Putin's malign agenda, but what precisely [he did] they did not make clear," said Daniel Fried

Also, this basically states we have no proof of malicious or corrupt activity but the headline alone will be enough to intrigue ignorant leftists

Half the people in this country don't care enough about this sort of thing, and the other half care way too fucking much.

It would be nice if we could meet somewhere in the middle every now and then.


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why does it matter if the president is working with Putin

we're not at war with russia or anything
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ParanoidObsessive posted...

Half the people in this country don't care enough about this sort of thing, and the other half care way too fucking much.

It would be nice if we could meet somewhere in the middle every now and then.

Yeah where are the centrists when it comes to possible espionage
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Andromicus posted...

espionage

This word... I don't think you know what it means

I'm SHOCKED that a foreign nation would have lobbyists try to meet with politicians. >_>



Basically a lobbyist lobbied, which is something that most nations try to do but, because of the Slightly-Chilly War climate, anything involving Russia being presented as being more newsworthy than it likely is.

OhhhJa posted...

Andromicus posted...

espionage

This word... I don't think you know what it means

While it's possible that he rather embarrassingly confused "espionage" and "influence-peddling," in all fairness it's also the narrative that pundits are trying to spread.
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