(Many) Former FBI officials: Trump is corrupt and compromised by Russia
Former FBI officials have consistently expressed grave concerns that President Trump is both corrupt and compromised by Russia. These apprehensions, beginning during his first term, are intensifying in his second term, especially given his unwavering refusal to, in any way, shape or form, criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin. This pattern of behavior casts a dark shadow over the motivations behind Trump's actions concerning Russia.
During his first term, Trump was investigated by the FBI over his campaign's connections with Russian operatives. Former FBI Director James Comey was dismissed after refusing to halt an investigation into Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser. Flynn made secret, undisclosed phone calls with Russia’s Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. These calls were monitored and recorded by U.S. intelligence, which is standard procedure. Flynn spoke about U.S. sanctions during the month leading up to President Trump’s inauguration—a move that contradicted public claims made by Trump officials.
Many senior U.S. officials viewed Flynn’s conversations with the ambassador as extremely unethical and possibly unlawful, interpreting them as a signal to Moscow that Trump would ease the sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. Flynn, nonetheless, denied discussing sanctions with Kislyak.
Subsequently, acting Director Andrew McCabe disclosed that the FBI initiated a counterintelligence investigation to determine if Trump was acting on Russia's behalf. Peter Strzok, a former FBI agent, described Trump's conduct as consistently aligning with Russian interests.
Throughout his tenure, Trump has notably refrained from badmouthing Putin. This is unusual because every other U.S. president always has. After all, the Russian dictator has, for decades, ruthlessly sent his assassins around the world to murder his critics. In various interviews, even when provided opportunities to denounce certain actions taken by Putin, Trump chooses to highlight his positive relationship with the Russian leader. Look for a video of Trump speaking even unkindly about Putin. You won’t find it. His persistent refusal to censure Putin continues to raise questions about vulnerabilities or influences affecting Trump's attitude on Russian policy.
In his second term, Trump's policies have increasingly favored Russian interests by reducing U.S. support for Ukraine, a move that could facilitate Russia's regional ambitions. Additionally, Trump's consistent undermining of NATO, an alliance Putin has long sought to weaken, further amplifies concerns about his motivations. Intelligence officials suggest that these actions may stem from compromising information Russia holds over Trump, possibly related to his financial dealings with Russian oligarchs or his campaign's previous engagements with Russian entities.
Former FBI leaders emphasize that Trump's pattern of dismissing U.S. intelligence assessments while echoing Russian narratives is beyond alarming. He consistently downplays reports of Russian interference in U.S. elections, opting instead to accept Putin's denials. This stance not only contradicts the findings of American intelligence agencies but also raises monumental concerns about the integrity of U.S. democratic processes. Moreover, Trump's administration has eased sanctions on Russian organizations, prompting further speculation about external influences shaping his policy decisions.
The apprehensions voiced by former FBI officials are substantiated by Trump's actions, which exhibit a discernible pattern favoring Russian interests. As his second term progresses, the absence of criticism toward Putin, coupled with policies that appear to benefit Russia, continues to fuel debates about Trump's true allegiances and the potential implications for U.S. national security.
AP News, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Journal of National Security Policy.
