RantCrush Top 5: May 30, 2017

Last week, the investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia turned to his son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner. Over the past few days, it was alleged that Kushner tried to set up a secret communication channel with Russia–he met with the Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak back in December to discuss the matter. A lot of people started calling for Kushner’s resignation, but Trump defended his son-in-law, calling him a “good person.” He also called the Russia revelations “fake news.” Then Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said that a back channel with Russia could be “a good thing.”

A former CIA official, Philip Mudd, suggested on CNN that Trump likely ordered Kushner to set up the secret channel. “I find it hard to believe that he was lone wolfing it on this, that he developed a plan entirely independent of Donald Trump or Mike Flynn or anybody else,” stated Mudd.

I’m having trouble believing the suggestion that Jared Kushner is naive.

— David Frum (@davidfrum) May 30, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.