National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster shrugged off reports that presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner proposed setting up secret lines of communication with Russia.
“We have back-channel communications with a number of countries,” McMaster said Saturday. “What that allows you to do is communicate in a discreet manner, so I’m not concerned.”
Kushner’s plan — which never took effect — was meant to let the Trump transition team communicate privately with the Russian government on Syria and other issues, The New York Times reported Saturday.
He reportedly broached the plan with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December.
It would have connected Michael Flynn, Trump’s chief national security adviser at the time, with Russian military leaders — and would have shielded those conversations from intelligence officials, according to The Washington Post.
Flynn is under federal investigation over his foreign business ties.