© The New Yorker
During the meeting the Russians broached the idea of using a secure line between the Trump administration and Russia, not Kushner, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News. That follows a recent report from The Washington Post alleging that Kushner wanted to develop a secure, private line with Russia.
The idea of a permanent back channel was never discussed, according to the source. Instead, only a one-off for a call about Syria was raised in the conversation.
In addition, the source told Fox News the December meeting focused on Russia's contention that the Obama administration's policy on Syria was deeply flawed.
Details of the meeting follow an NBC report that Kushner, who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, is currently under FBI scrutiny as part of the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Kushner suggested the use of Russian diplomatic facilities as a way to shield pre-inauguration discussions with Kislyak from monitoring, according to The Post.
Kislyak allegedly then relayed the suggestion to his superiors in Moscow. That was based on intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials, although neither the meeting nor the communications of the Americans involved were under U.S. surveillance, officials told the Post.
The source has told Fox News that Kushner is eager to tell Congress about the meeting and any others of interest.
Comment: Who mentioned the backchannel? Who told the media?
Door #1: Kislyak/"the Russians", Door #2 Kushner, Door #3 Flynn, Door #4 Bugged TT
It is protocol for MSM to inflate a story from one end to the other, to create fake news as true by secret sourcing (real or fictitious doesn't matter), and to make it seem believable with a dose of 'wrong-doing' innuendo. There were only three principals at the Trump Tower meeting, and they were Kislyak, Kushner and the 'mysterious person/senior advisor' (Flynn). Why the speculation when the bug at Trump Tower should have cleared this up?
Diplomatic backchannels to other countries are common to all presidents, and this process has never been questioned. They are not illegal, nor are they part of nefarious plots to collude behind the backs of Congress and the American people. They are a short-cut, unadulterated channel, to get stuff done. And, at the time of this meeting, non had been set up, non were in play.
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