Trump son-in-law sought secret line to Moscow
WASHINGTON, May27 ( AFP) - President Donald Trump's son- in- law, Jared Kushner, made a pre-inauguration proposal to the Russian ambassador to set up a secret, bug-proof communications line with the Kremlin, The Washington Post reported Friday evening. Kushner, a close adviser to Trump, went so far as to suggest using Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States to protect such a channel from being monitored, the Post said, quoting US officials briefed on intelligence reports.
The Post story is yet another sensational element in the deluge of alle- gations raising questions about team Trump's relationship with the Russians, whom US intelligence agencies say tried to sway the November election in Trump's favour. It ensures that Trump will be thrust right back into the din of the Russia scandal upon his return to Washington following his first foreign trip, a tour of the Middle East and Europe.
The secret comms proposal was made December 1 or 2 at Trump Tower in New York, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by US officials. The Russian ambassador, Sergei Kislyak, was surprised by Kushner's idea of the secret channel and passed it on to the Kremlin. It did not specify what came of Kushner's alleged pitch, if anything.
Kushner, the 36- year- old real estate developer who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, is likely to take center stage in the coming days. Reserved in public, he was on prominent view during Trump's first presidential trip.
The FBI investigation is now being overseen by Robert Mueller, a respected former FBI director who was given broad powers to pursue the case as a special counsel after Trump abruptly fired Comey on May 9.