I have no idea what’s going on here. But I’m pretty sure that if Obama had set up a back channel with Russia, the media would be falling over each other with stories about how clever that was.
If you..as a private citizen.. called up the NSA and told them you were going to meet with a known spy to use his equipment to talk to putin so NSA wouldnt be able to listen...what would be the response?????? They wouldnt just forget you.
There is a difference between govt back channel and what kushner was alleged to have tried..but as hayden said..it is more likely naive versus nefarious..at least at this point.