US intelligence has intercepted Russian communications that indicate their belief that members of Trump’s inner circle have been financially compromised. If true, this would suggest why Trump and those closest to him have refused to release tax returns and other financial information.
CNN reported:
One source described the information as financial in nature and said the discussion centered on whether the Russians had leverage over Trump’s inner circle. The source said the intercepted communications suggested to US intelligence that Russians believed “they had the ability to influence the administration through the derogatory information.”
But the sources, privy to the descriptions of the communications written by US intelligence, cautioned the Russian claims to one another “could have been exaggerated or even made up” as part of a disinformation campaign that the Russians did during the election.
Without the tax returns of Trump and other others closest to him, it is impossible to know if the Russians are telling the truth. The fact that the Russians believe that Trump’s inner circle is financially compromised should make it a top priority for investigators to get President Trump’s personal tax returns, all financial information related to the Trump organization, and the financial information of both Trump campaign team and administration senior advisers.
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The cloud of suspicion surrounding Trump and his team is only growing. Just like in Watergate scandal, for investigators to get to the truth, they will need to follow the money.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
