screen shots
Posted on 01/11/2017 12:45:00 PM PST by Resettozero
President-elect Donald Trump was not told about unverified reports that Russia has compromising information on him during last week's intelligence briefing, according to a senior intelligence official with knowledge of preparations for the briefing.
A summary of the unverified reports was prepared as background material for the briefing, but not discussed during the meeting, the official said. During Trump's press conference Wednesday morning, the president-elect said he was made aware of the information "outside that meeting."
A 35-page memorandum published by BuzzFeed on Tuesday includes claims that the Russian government has been cultivating, supporting and assisting Trump for five years — even obtaining compromising information in an effort to blackmail him. The document, which was not prepared by the U.S. government, contains obvious errors. It was originally generated as part of opposition research by anti-Trump Republicans and then shopped by Democrats.
Related: Seth Meyers Confronts Conway Over Trump Allegations
Two U.S. officials told NBC News that materials prepared for Trump in advance of last week's intelligence briefing included damaging allegations from the memorandum — unverified by American intelligence agencies — about his dealings with the Russians.
Officials prepared a two-page summary of the memo for Trump's briefing Friday at Trump Tower in New York. The summary was an "annex," or addendum, included in the "supporting documents" that accompanied the classified briefing report.
While multiple officials say the summary was included in the material prepared for the briefers, the senior official told NBC News that the briefing was oral and no actual documents were left with the Trump team in New York. During the briefing, the president-elect was not briefed on the contents of the summary .
"Intel and law enforcement officials agree that none of the investigations have found any conclusive or direct link between Trump and the Russian government period," the senior official said.
According to the senior official, the two-page summary about the unsubstantiated material made available to the briefers was to provide context, should they need it, to draw the distinction for Trump between analyzed intelligence and unvetted "disinformation."
The briefers also had available to them unvetted "disinformation" about the Clinton Foundation, although that was not orally shared with Trump. The Russian government on Wednesday denied reports that it has compromising information about Trump, dismissing the claims as a "total hoax."
Amid increased interest in the dossier Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected all of the allegations out of hand. Trump later blamed intelligence agencies for allowing the dossier to leak, tweeting: "Are we living in Nazi Germany?"
"The Kremlin does not have compromising information about Trump," Peskov said, according to Russian state-run news agency TASS. "It's a total hoax, absolute fabrication and utter nonsense. The Kremlin does not collect compromising information."
Peskov also called the reports "pulp fiction."
Trump did not respond to the reports directly but sent a tweet appearing to refer to it on Tuesday night.
FAKE NEWS - A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017 Early Wednesday, he sent several others that followed Peskov's comments.
Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is "A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE." Very unfair! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA - NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
I win an election easily, a great "movement" is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with FAKE NEWS. A sorry state! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to "leak" into the public. One last shot at me.Are we living in Nazi Germany? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017
Trump has repeatedly cast doubt over findings by American intelligence officials that Russia interfered in the U.S. election with the aim of helping him win.
NBC News reported last week that the gulf between Trump and U.S. intelligence agencies had grown so wide that the two camps couldn't even agree on the scheduled date of a briefing Trump had been due to receive.
Peskov mentioned Trump's initial tweet, and went on to say that some people were "boosting the hysteria and go to any lengths to maintain this state of 'witch hunting.'"
From Rick Wilson. Wonder how much Wilson payed for it? LOL!
Fox just attacked Trump and defended CNN. It was Shepard Smith but he said it was on behalf of Fox. F them.
Glad you’re having a good time. This is just going to get worse.
Obviously there is a Mole. This pretty much confirms it. Time to drain the swamp.
I suspect it was just as likely to be McCain that gave the info to the media.
CNN sure seems to be asking for it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSLzsSbxyQY
Otay Buhwhee. Huh?
“Officials” no longer have any credibility what-so-ever.
F Faux News.
I'll take that bet.
They don't call the President of the United States the most powerful man on Earth for nothing.
I wonder how deep the rot goes in these intelligence agencies. I know the political appointees at the top are totally corrupted DNC hacks put in by the 0bama regime. But I would like to think most of the career guys who do the real work remember Benghazi, and are looking forward to having adults in charge again.
Who gave the report to Buzzdead? That’s the question that must be answered.
Holy crap. Our Intel agencies set up the President Elect ?
These guys ( how far down to drill ? )should be history day 1.
“From Rick Wilson. Wonder how much Wilson payed for it?”
Nothing. Apparently, Rick Wilson was “catfished” (fed a laughably ludicrous hoax story) by a guy on 4chan as payback for some disparaging remarks that Wilson made some months earlier about that website. Wilson took the bait and then circulated it among GOPe compadres back in the fall.
Quote:
“Fox just attacked Trump and defended CNN. It was Shepard Smith but he said it was on behalf of Fox. F them.”
Indeed. Fox News is NOT your friend.
Yes. It had been included in their preparation as an EXAMPLE of DISINFORMATION.
didnt brief Trump about it,
They were only going to use it if he didn't understand the difference between 'real intelligence' and 'disinformation'.
but briefed the MEDIA?
They didn't. It was that Vietnamese Commie spy, McCain, that released it (via other 'insiders') to the media.
effing Fuchsnooze
Except for Tucker and Hannity in the evening, no dice.
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