James Clapper on Trump-Russia Ties: ‘My Dashboard Warning Light Was Clearly On’

[Mileage Psycho]

The Russians are playing us badly.

Quote

 

James Clapper on Trump-Russia Ties: ‘My Dashboard Warning Light Was Clearly On’

WASHINGTON — Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Sunday said that his "dashboard warning light was clearly on" when asked about whether he knew about communications between Russians and White House senior adviser and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

"I have to say that, without specifically affirming or confirming these conversations — since, even though they're in the public realm, they're still classified — just from a theoretical standpoint, I will tell you that my dashboard warning light was clearly on and I think that was the case with all of us in the intelligence community, very concerned about the nature of these approaches to the Russians," Clapper said during an exclusive interview on NBC's "Meet The Press."

"If you put that in context with everything else we knew the Russians were doing to interfere with the election, and just the historical practices of the Russians, who typically, almost genetically driven to co-opt, penetrate, gain favor, whatever, which is a typical Russian technique. So we were concerned."

He also acknowledged that intelligence like this would have triggered the FBI's extra attention on Kushner. NBC News has reported that Kushner is under FBI scrutiny related to the Russia investigations, but is not a "subject" of them.
"I think so... I have to say, at the time I left, I did not see any smoking gun certitude evidence of collusion. But it certainly was appropriate for — given all the signs — certainly appropriate for the FBI — and necessary for the FBI to investigate," Clapper said.

Clapper served as former President Obama's director of national intelligence for six and a half years, until January 20th of this year, the day President Trump took office, after an extensive career leading U.S. intelligence agencies under presidents of both parties.

On Friday, the Washington Post reported that Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak told Moscow that Kushner met with him in December and attempted to set up "backchannel" communications between the Trump team and the Kremlin before the inauguration.

Though he did not see this as any kind of "smoking gun" toward "collusion," Clapper said that "it certainly arouses your concern about what is going on. Given, Russia, at least for my money, is our primary adversary. They are not our friends. They are in to do us in."

"I have to say as well, Chuck," Clapper added, "we have a time-honored custom that we have one president and one administration at a time. And oncoming administrations don't get a head-start before the end of the current president's incumbency."

He also acknowledged that Kislyak had to be considered as part of the Russian intelligence community.

"Given the fact that he oversees the very aggressive intelligence operation in this country - the Russians have more intelligence operatives than any other nation that is represented in this country, still even after we got rid of 35 of them - and so to suggest that he is somehow separate or oblivious to that is a bit much."

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was cautious to comment on reports concerning Kushner, saying on Sunday's "Meet The Press," "I think Jared has said that he's more than willing to answer any and all questions. They reached out to us yesterday to make sure that we knew that was the case and I'm sure he's willing to do so."

Corker also added that "unless there's some major change in Russia's actions in Syria," they "plan to double down on sanctions with Russia" and will re-visit the issue during the Senate's next work period.

Clapper noted that it's not up to him to decide what kind of action should be taken as a response to Russia's attempts to interfere with the U.S. election, but he said, "certainly sanctions are a compelling, powerful weapon—Russians don't like them."

"They are only emboldened," Clapper said of Russia. "They are only going to continue to interfere in our political process. To me, that is the big story here and what American people should be concerned about."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/james-clapper-on-trump-russia-ties-‘my-dashboard-warning-light-was-clearly-on’/ar-BBBCPVs

 

 

[SnowRider]

 

[Ez ryder]

4 minutes ago, SnowRider said:

 

 I have to say, at the time I left, I did not see any smoking gun certitude evidence of collusion Clapper said

[Mileage Psycho]

I think it is pretty hard to argue that Jim Clapper is anything but a patriot.

[Mileage Psycho]

2 minutes ago, Ez ryder said:

 I have to say, at the time I left, I did not see any smoking gun certitude evidence of collusion Clapper said

The story is that the Russians are fucking with our democracy, Russia is an aggressor with a leader who wants to put the borders of Russia back where the USSR's were. 

Quote

"They are only emboldened," Clapper said of Russia. "They are only going to continue to interfere in our political process. To me, that is the big story here and what American people should be concerned about."

 

[Snake]

1 minute ago, Mileage Psycho said:

I think it is pretty hard to argue that Jim Clapper is anything but a patriot.

 

[highmarketrider]

all he said was theres no evidence of any wrong doing we should just be weary of any contact with those sneaky russians.

[Snoslinger]

7 minutes ago, Ez ryder said:

 I have to say, at the time I left, I did not see any smoking gun certitude evidence of collusion Clapper said

when was that? 

[Snake]

Back channel Vince?

 

[Mileage Psycho]

1 minute ago, Snake said:

 

 

Not wittingly, you know Clapper is a patriot.

[Mileage Psycho]

Just now, Snake said:

Back channel Vince?

 

He didn't ask for a back channel, he stated the obvious.

Note the RT  

[Snoslinger]

4 minutes ago, Snake said:

Back channel Vince?

 

 

[SnowRider]

Union Delivery Boy MoeMoe - do you believe there is absolutely nothing to be concerned with?  Russia and their ties to the Dump Admin are all a facade?  They had absolutely nothing to do with hacking and releasing info during the election?  No need to investigate further? 

[Snake]

5 minutes ago, Mileage Psycho said:

 

Not wittingly, you know Clapper is a patriot.

Who is lying Vince, Clapper or Snowden?

 

[Jimmy Snacks]

12 minutes ago, Snake said:

Back channel Vince?

 

Yep but not shocking the resident hacks dismiss it.

[Snake]

Just now, Biggie Smails said:

Yep but not shocking the resident hacks dismiss it.

"Pay no attention to the democrats doing the same. Nothing to see here."

[Jimmy Snacks]

Just now, Snake said:

"Pay no attention to the democrats doing the same. Nothing to see here."

Caught on an open mic but hey nothing to see here.

[Momorider]

And the Muslim Brotherhood is secular  

[DriftBusta]

54 minutes ago, Snake said:

 

Clappers a patriot?  He looks like a partisan liar to me, after some of things I've seen coming out of his mouth the past few years.

[Mileage Psycho]

42 minutes ago, Snake said:

Who is lying Vince, Clapper or Snowden?

 

I never was a Snowden fan, so I'm going with Snowden.

You, I, anybody who picks up a phone dials a wrong number or intentionally dials the number of someone who is a Russian agent or on a Jihadi watch list; it's a guarantee that it's going to be recorded....well at least I hope it is. Poor Ben  

In any event I believe that we and the Europeans have a serious problem with the Russians, it's not good.

[Snake]

1 minute ago, Mileage Psycho said:

I never was a Snowden fan, so I'm going with Snowden.

You, I, anybody who picks up a phone dials a wrong number or intentionally dials the number of someone who is a Russian agent or on a Jihadi watch list; it's a guarantee that it's going to be recorded....well at least I hope it is. Poor Ben  

In any event I believe that we and the Europeans have a serious problem with the Russians, it's not good.

If you don't think they could pull your last 10 calls and play them back for you, you really are a partisan hack.

[Snoslinger]

46 minutes ago, Snake said:

"Pay no attention to the democrats doing the same. Nothing to see here."

doing the same

 

[Mileage Psycho]

42 minutes ago, Snake said:

"Pay no attention to the democrats doing the same. Nothing to see here."

 

41 minutes ago, Biggie Smails said:

Caught on an open mic but hey nothing to see here.

It's not the same, it's the POTUS talking to the Russian president stating an obvious fact.

Trying to compare a member of the president elects team asking for a Russian backdoor with the the Russians is completely different, also keep in mind we are talking about a president elect whose campaign benefited from Russian meddling in our political process.

[Snake]

1 minute ago, Mileage Psycho said:

 

It's not the same, it's the POTUS talking to the Russian president stating an obvious fact.

Trying to compare a member of the president elects team asking for a Russian backdoor with the the Russians is completely different, also keep in mind we are talking about a president elect whose campaign benefited from Russian meddling in our political process.

If my side lost, I guess I would say the same........

[ICEMAN!]

3 minutes ago, Mileage Psycho said:

 

It's not the same, it's the POTUS talking to the Russian president stating an obvious fact.

Trying to compare a member of the president elects team asking for a Russian backdoor with the the Russians is completely different, also keep in mind we are talking about a president elect whose campaign benefited from Russian meddling in our political process.

And wanting to use the Russian communications equipment at the Russian embassy....lol, yea normal everyday stuff!  Nothing to see here, move along...