Twitter Blows Up Over NYT’s Papadopoulos Story: ‘Remarkable Journalism Here’

The New York Times dropped a bit of a bombshell on Saturday with its report on former Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos. The Times reported that the initial FBI counterintelligence investigation into Russian election meddling and potential collusion between Trump associates and Russian officials was prompted by Papadouplous drunkenly boasting about Moscow having dirt on Hillary Clinton.

This blows a hole in the theory that the FBI used the Steele dossier as the basis of its probe. Also, the story noted that Papadopoulos was far more involved in the Trump campaign than campaign officials have led on and that he was far more than a mere “coffee boy.”

As you would imagine, the story led to quite a bit of reaction on Twitter:

George Papadopoulos was a serious player on the Trump campaign and his efforts to court/coordinate with Russia were far more extensive than the previously known. Remarkable journalism here. https://t.co/qZeGhuEa43

— Sam Stein (@samstein) December 30, 2017

How the Russia investigation started is huge news, considering conservatives in Congress have been trying to show the dossier was the basis for the FBI warrants.

Apparently it was George Papadopoulos drunkenly bragging about dirt Russians had on Hillary. https://t.co/wIVzMGQaBP

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 30, 2017

And a few days later, we find out that Papadopoulos, not the dossier, is what led the FBI to investigate Trump.

Great timing as always from @LindseyGrahamSC! https://t.co/UD9xp01JIU

— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) December 30, 2017

NYT story asserts Russia investigation began not with the dossier – but with George Papadopoulos tellings diplomats in London that Russia had damaging Clinton emails – which they then reported to the United States when hacked emails started to drop.https://t.co/eRrd1mZBd6

— andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) December 30, 2017

It is difficult to believe that Papadopoulos told an Australian diplomat that Russia had dirt on Clinton but didn’t mention anything to the campaign he was part of.

Very difficult.

Virtually impossible.

— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 30, 2017

Important story below. Keep in mind no one was really aware of George Papadopoulos until his guilty plea was revealed. That tells us Special Counsel Mueller knows far more than people think. And Papadopoulos is cooperating with Mueller. The White House should be scared. https://t.co/q4pDlxpRES

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 30, 2017

NYT says it was George Papadopoulos — talking drunkenly to an Aussie at a bar one night — that led to the start of the FBI’s Russia investigation: https://t.co/ar802kh4cG http://pic.twitter.com/1kqr350KeQ

— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) December 30, 2017

There is NO WAY Papadopoulos didn't tell the Trump campaign that the Russians were in possession of Hillary's emails. He lived to prove his relevance.

— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) December 30, 2017

Drunk George Papadopoulos — not the dossier — ignited the Trump-Russia investigation https://t.co/dT57QOHdcp

— Justin Miller (@justinjm1) December 30, 2017

Worth noting the Australian who met with Papadopoulos was foreign minister for 11 years and once led one of the two major political parties in Australia https://t.co/8LM7aCcCjY

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) December 30, 2017

George Papadopoulos sipped some Yellow Tail Cabernet and blurted out enough dirt to take down the whole Trump crime syndicate.

— Jeremy Newberger (@jeremynewberger) December 30, 2017

George Papadopoulos, the so-called coffee boy, publicly bragged in advance about Russia’s plan to use emails to embarrass Clinton, NYT reports. https://t.co/W8e3UEBwYQ Meticulous story that blends emails, court documents and tons of new reporting.

— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) December 30, 2017

So it wasn’t the dossier that triggered the FBI investigation (which was unlikely anyway since the first entry was late June and the investigation began in July).

It was Papadopoulos spilling the beans.

— Philip Bump (@pbump) December 30, 2017

Also indicates Trump campaign aide had foreknowledge Russia hacked Clinton emails. Remember: Papadopoulos turned state’s evidence weeks before Mueller unsealed his guilty plea. https://t.co/0FzGl6fDlN

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) December 30, 2017

And we’re to believe that Papadopoulos was impressed enough by news of the stolen emails to tell a top Australian diplomat but not report it to his own campaign bosses? Please. Trump campaign knew about Russia, failed to report it to the FBI, THEN Don Jr met with the Russians! https://t.co/1ZuivqwtcX

— John Aravosis (@aravosis) December 30, 2017

PAPADOPOULOS SLOPPED, SWAPS OPPO DROP, TOP COPS' OP POPS

— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) December 30, 2017

The Trump-Russia investigation was not prompted by the Steele dossier, but by Papadopoulos’ boasts to an Australian diplomat about his knowledge that Russians had damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

A month later Manafort, Kushner, and Trump Jr. met Russians at Trump Tower. https://t.co/PK2JHvD6ph

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) December 30, 2017

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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