BLIND GOSSIP

The #1 Blind Item Site in the World!

Senior White House Official Named Person Of Interest

[Washington Post] The law enforcement investigation into possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign has identified a current White House official as a significant person of interest, showing that the probe is reaching into the highest levels of government, according to people familiar with the matter.

The senior White House adviser under scrutiny by investigators is someone close to the president, according to these people, who would not further identify the official.

The revelation comes as the investigation also appears to be entering a more overtly active phase, with investigators shifting from work that has remained largely hidden from the public to conducting interviews and using a grand jury to issue subpoenas. The intensity of the probe is expected to accelerate in the coming weeks, the people said.

The sources emphasized that investigators remain keenly interested in people who previously wielded influence in the Trump campaign and administration but are no longer part of it, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Flynn resigned in February after disclosures that he had lied to administration officials about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Current administration officials who have acknowledged contacts with Russian officials include President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

People familiar with the investigation said the intensifying effort does not mean criminal charges are near, or that any such charges will result. Earlier this week, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein appointed former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III to serve as special counsel and lead the investigation into Russian meddling.

BG Note: Yes, The Washington Post really did run this article as a blind item that names neither the subject nor the source. You can read the entire article here.

Similar: Winners: President Trump And These Five Blinders

Senior White House Official:

[Optional]: Genuine scandal or witch hunt? What do you think will be the end result? Please keep your comments civil.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bethblake says

    Washinton DC rumors point to Dina Habib Powell, an Obama holdover. She is one of the President’s National Security advisors , and a close friend to Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin (spelling ?) , and Valerie Jarrett too. It’s a scandal, and the swamp still need some draining!!

  4. javajolted says

    Senior White House official: it could be referring to anyone that is being investigated for anything.
    Witch hunt. That’s why all of these are vague. “There is no there there.” All of it is manufactured, with no specifics (we were read this, we haven’t seen it. A tape was played over the phine for us. No, we won’t let anyone hear it.) I think the real purpose is for the DNC to fundraise. The sad thing is they are really whipping up people in a frenzy, makimg them frustrated, paranoid and…

  5. lesley72 says

    i stopped reading at ‘Washington post’. I miss when journalists backed their stories with evidence. The media is an embarrassment and have lost their damn minds. I never even liked trump, but every time he goes to the restroom he’s made a secret deal with the Russians. Where was this hard hitting journalism when obama told medvedev, on open mic, that he’d have more flexibility after his re- election? Or when hillary sold our uranium to the Russians? Crickets. Hypocrites.

  7. suzie2 says

    Person of interest could mean anything or nothing. Washington Post is basically a political tabloid now. Many never Trumpers have become so hysterical they no longer have good judgement.

    Total witch hunt to protect Trump from somehow ruining a lot of long time Washington insider’s lives.

  8. Smokey says

    Witch hunt. Some congressman stood and said that Trump needs to be impeached. No reason, just “his opinion”. Let the President do his job! Leave him alone. Just because some people didn’t get who they wanted in office, they have gone crazy. Enough.

  9. susied says

    Jared Kushner

    Steve Bannon is leaking the information

    I’m old enough to remember Watergate. This is worse.

  10. Laughing1 says

    I’ve ready stated this is Jared. And now it’s even MORE telling because as of yesterday morning, he deleted ALL OF HIS TWEETS. I think he’s in deeper than anyone can imagine. I mean, look at his dad’s situation!

  11. worldsoldestkitten says

    The Wall Street Journal carried much the same story, but a paragraph or so later connected Jared Kushner to Vnesheconombank as late as December of ’16. There’s no way around it; Kushner is in the spotlights. You can’t get any closer to Trump except by targeting Ivanka.

    Things are about to get really ugly.

  15. griswold89 says

    It’s Kushner.

    This is clearly a witch hunt at this point. All this speculation and conjecture without a shred of evidence? They’ve been running this investigation for almost half a year and for the entire length of his Presidency so far. How could it be anything other than a witch hunt?

  16. mar1ey says

    Senior White House Official : Jared Kushner
    We know Jared failed to disclose his meetings with Russian officials on his security forms.
    This isn’t about whether Trump won; he did. As American’s, we deserve to know how and to what extent the Russian’s interfered with our election process. We are a democracy, and we cannot allow a foreign government..anyone…to sabotage our fundamental rights.

    • 4sixx2 says

      How do you feel Russia “interfered”? Sending out some anti-HRC emails? Right now the Left, HRC, BHO, and their blind lemming “resistance” are doing far more damage to our democracy and freedom of speech & choice than any foreign government ever could.

  17. Aurelia says

    Senior Official: Paul Ryan

    Scandal, end result, at the least, a lot of resignations or firings.

  18. dynamodavid says

    Senior White House Official:

    When I saw this late yesterday, everyone was assuming Jared Kushner

    Genuine scandal or witch hunt? What do you think will be the end result?

    Genuine Scandal by narcissistic people; and Trump will be impeached — if he doesn’t negotiate an exit deal like Nixon did. (Pardon after leaving office.)

  19. Insiderher says

    I’m hoping this is Jeff Sessions-who said he would accelerate attacks/issue a warrant for Julian Assange-a very unpopular move on his/Trump’s part that’s split his base into pro & anti-Wikileakers. Sessions is * seeing lots of fury at him on Twitter

  21. wendybar says

    They claim to be a “NEWS”paper..yet they use unnamed sources….I have heard a lot of stories aobut the Obamas and Clintons using unnamed sources, but wouldn’t consider them news, until the truth does come out… This is BS… I am not a Trump supporter, but this is ridiculous the way they attack him and PROTECT Hillary when there is documented proof that she is corrupt….

  22. Catfink says

    HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH…Ok, I got that out of the way.

    Anyway, YES it’s a scandal, what kind of question is that.

  23. kelno19 says

    What will be truly surprising is if the media laid off a Trump-bashing period of 24 hours. Perhaps if Trump stopped tweeting his every thought would help…

  25. pigasauras says

    Hillary Clinton, her girlfriend Huma Abedin, Comey, and any number of corrupt officials who bribed, murdered, and stole to stay in power over the last two decades?

  28. Brunettetalk says

    Jerked Kushner. Please the guy admitted he fired Comey over the Russia investigation . Some republicans think even if he shot someone on Fifth Anenue in broad daylight with witnesses it’s ok because he is a republican. I call them brown shirts

  29. Pimpernel says

    Witch hunt!!
    Come on its reasonable that Trumps team have dialogue with the Russians, as WW3 could have been sparked by Syria and nobody wants that!!!
    Dialogue way better than war although my heart bleeds for the Syrians

  33. IrishEyes says

    I have been researching this EXTENSIVELY- from sources that do NOT have a leftist agenda because they are just mad they lost.
    Seth Rich was killed, it is believed because it has now been confirmed that he sent 44K emails to wikileaks – this kills the entire The Russians hacked the election story.
    There is a leaker in the WH- leaking National Security info to frame Trump- There are globalists trying to take him down everywhere. Very dangerous time- Ignorant populace.

    • mar1ey says

      There has been no confirmation that Seth Rich sent emails to Wikileaks, just as there is no confirmation as to who in the White House may (or may not be) be in collusion with the Russians. An investigation will reveal all and put this to rest. Why is it that people are so quick to dismiss one investigation before it’s conclusion, but will gladly hop on board another? The whole truth needs to come out. All of it, regardless of who ends up looking bad

  35. Bakomommy says

    Pence. Kushner. Bannon.
    It smells real. I think it’s more complex than some people assume it is, so when they don’t see that straight line connecting Trump, they assume he’s inmocent. I’ve seen enough to know there should be a truly independent investigation (the idea of the GOP led Congress or executive branch departments leading the investigations is laughable).

  37. Squeezes99 says

    Witch hunt, and Russia is not our enemy. This is all coming from the DNC to move attention off the content of leaked emails and from the shadow government. The shadow government had planned to have puppet Hillary in the White House so they could start Cold War 2.0 with Russia. Excuses were running out for their activity in Syria, and they need the war ma$hine to always be running. Things didn’t go as planned (darn those free elections). Hence, the new Russian narrative.

  38. High Steppa says

    And having said that, if there are crimes committed then they should be prosecuted appropriately.

  39. TonySheridan says

    It’s a scandal, for sure. Certainly there are elements of witch hunt, but so much ammo has been given, how can there not be investigations?

    I think Kushner is the person of interest, and a part of me thinks he has been taking advantage of the President. I would not want to be Ivanka right now. I think Trump will step down, willingly or with a push. I don’t agree with some of Pence’s policies, but he is an experienced politician and this fiasco shows that politician should not be a dirty…

  41. LaPerla says

    -Rhymes with Kared Jushner
    -Leave the witches alone.
    -No imaginable idea. None. Seriously. Could anyone ever have predicted this circus?

  43. jhwalker says

    Jared Kushner.

    Yes, it’s real. Almost every member of Trump’s administration has had (and continues to have) surreptitious (or even overt) interactions between Putin and his administration. Given they are committed to destroying the United States, I can’t help but think this is a bad thing.

  50. Lindasu says

    I’m going with Flynn.
    From the beginning of his campaign Trump has lied and hid his assets so that it would not be traced back to how much more money he’s receiving from his investments. He had tried to gaslight, belittle, deflect, manipulate and bully through the last 18 months. With this, I hope the truth can be revealed.

  51. NativeAtlantaGirl says

    Considering how Kushner’s family has been touting access and visas, I’m going with Jared Kushner.

    The amount of corruption with this administration is unbelievable. The people excusing and ignoring all of these gaffs, failures, and worse dumbfound me. I cringe at what it would take for the GOP to acknowledge his is corrupt, inept, and unfit for office.

    And I am a lifelong Conservative.

  52. moses1684 says

    Russia, Russia, Russia…..I feel you Jan. Witch Hunt. Wish there had been this kind of investigation into Hillary and Obama (no I am not a Trump supporter). I refuse to affiliate with any political party because it blinds people to what POLITICIANS are. And while people say Trump is no politician, he knows how the game is played and admits to donating to both parties to serve his own interests, Ugh! Neither side can be trusted. Thanks news media for dividing the country with negativity.

  53. amagod121 says

    Senior White House Official: Rex Tillerson.

    In my opinion, it’s a witch hunt that has been egged on by Trump’s own, ego-driven, stupid comments that don’t tie him to Russia but do make him look like an * who doesn’t have the temperament to hold the Oval Office.

    End result: he will be impeached because the left will accept nothing less.

    • IrishEyes says

      no, you have to have committed some type of crime to be impeached- He is speaking his mind, I know lefties think this is a crime- but in the real world it’s not.
      In the past 30 years Democrats have called for impeaching EVERY SINGLE GOP President. They have zero credibility. Recently they did a poll on who might be in favor of impeaching him- and the results have told the Left to walk back impeachment talk. Most peoples lives have improved, only the very dim want this.

  54. aeduko says

    Jared Kushner. He’s been outed as having had contact with Russians during the campaign.

  55. GypsyRose says

    Anonymous this, anonymous that. There is no legal basis nor evidence for all that Russian connection investigation. Its been 3 months and with all that wiretapping they did to the Trump campaign there was zero evidence found. Yes evidence not hearsay. The DNC was exposed and lost big time and they wont stop until Trump is removed. I am not a big fan of the President and did not vote for him( Id rather vote for my dog than Hillary) but I am so tired of all this.

  56. packerpoke says

    Wow. Is this stuff true or fake. Lets get to the facts and clean this up, Enough is enough.

  57. afternoondelight says

    Senior official = All of them
    I cannot wait until this is over. There was no collusion. We are wasting time and money on this. No crimes were committed. Stop chasing the wild goose. Focus on tax reform.

  58. Mia444 says

    All of them? Worst administration ever. Get rid of them all, the sooner the better.

  59. rockstar says

    It’s Kushner. He met with a Russian ambassador halfway through the campaign.

  61. I Am PunkA says

    Mostly witch hunt with some scandal because trump is a pathological liar. First, I do not think there will shown and proven any proof that any correspondence happened between Russia and the Trump campaign to corrupt the election. That simply does not exist. Trump didn’t win as much as clinton lost. 5M fewer votes than Obama last election says so. I do think that the Trump family business has extensive Russia ties through banking, but so what. Those get exposed, and then what?

    • MoronicaBobonica says

      Those get exposed and then it comes out that he never disclosed them previously, which is a huge issue. You should probably wait for findings from the special prosecutor before you decide that Russia didn’t collude with the Trump campaign. If there is evidence we won’t see it until the whole investigation is completed.

    • itstarapagain says

      What interests/scares me is that there is concern that official(s) may have been compromised. I know Flynn has been mentioned by senior justice officials as a potential risk worth examining.

      I just hope none of it is true but I fear that shenanigans have occurred.

  62. Peps66 says

    Official: either Reince Priebus or Steve Bannon. I’ll go with Bannon as I think he’s the most poisonous by some distance.

    This is a genuine scandal, and I think all of his group (and also McConnell and Ryan) are complicit. as much as I hope they are all prosecuted and imprisoned for treason, I really don’t think much will happen. Trump or his lackeys will engineer another distraction (military action against Iran?).

    • anyanka2 says

      As odious and horrible as Bannon is, I’m not sure he’s complicit with the Russians. Him and Stephen Miller are likely the senior Trump administration personnel who haven’t had much to do with the Russians. It’s more than likely Priebus and/or Kushner. If it is Priebus, then that possibly means the domino effect for much of the GOP leadership, both in Washington and nationally.

  64. MizGrandma says

    Please let it be Pence, who has been blatantly fibbing about what he knew when.

    Neither scandal or witch hunt. It is the crime of treason.

    • itstarapagain says

      On your suggestion, I did just that. Here’s what I found. You’re half right. Treason does apply beyond wartime.

      Treason. The betrayal of one’s own country by waging war against it or by consciously or purposely acting to aid its enemies.

  65. fotobandi says

    Genuine scandal. Deep and far-reaching. So far we have only heard the tip of a very large iceberg, one that is going to sink many big ships.

    • IrishEyes says

      LO- no- got take a history lesson- it is NOT even near Watergate….in fact, there has been no crime found. (where do you people get your info? from the wanna-be hater John Steward….there is your BIG mistake right there) The MSM is not any better….they are no longer trustworthy, they are now just manipulating uninformed people.

    • fotobandi says

      I never said “Watergate”, but if I did, let’s remember that Watergate was not “Watergate” until much later in the investigation. I’m not going to get into a debate, but their are enough dots to connect. Let’s see what the final picture looks like when all the dots are connected. I think the picture will look more like what I think than you do. But we’ll see. Respect!

  67. Molly7111 says

    Senior White House Official: No one.

    It’s another made up story to take the focus off the “Who Killed Seth Rich” story. Anyone who has ever taken a journalism class can see the flimsy words in the story: according to these people; the investigation also appears to be entering a more overtly active phase; investigators remain keenly interested; intensifying effort does not mean criminal charges are near, or that any such charges will result…

    • BDBoop says

      The next few months will prove you wrong. This is going to be amazing. By the way, there is no Seth Rich story, it’s as real as pizza gate.

    • sunshine702 says

      I agree. These storys started in the Deep State Post an hour after a hacker found out that the owner of the bar where Seth was last seen was on the White House logs 4 days before.

    • dena37 says

      Is Pence the President yet?

      What’s the point of dragging this out any further?

  69. delray74 says

    Holy cow did they really run that? That effectively ruins them as a serious journalistic organization.

    • delray74 says

      See what? Everyone and anyone has already said there’s no evidence and no collusion. The Washington Post and New York Times are now publishing blind items.

    • annabelle77 says

      Delray74 is absolutely right. Regardless of what your political position is, one of the saddest consequences of the last decade is the way the mainstream media has shot itself in the foot and thrown away all credibility in its collective desire to push a political agenda. I don’t believe anything I read anymore, and I think most Americans feel the same way.

    • dena37 says

      Then why did Jeff Sessions lie under oath about talking to the Russians and then recuse himself from the investigation?

      THINK CRITICALLY

    • propita says

      This is an INVESTIGATION. They are still investigating, as in gathering data, and being stymied every step of the way by a concerted effort. It will most likely take MONTHS more, as they haven’t even gotten to depositions or testimony EXCEPT a bit of those in the intelligence community, and then only the directors.

      Criminal investigations take time. Watergate took two years. This is bigger, involves an adversarial government and, if the allegations are correct, treason.