Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has never been shy about his contempt for Jared Kushner and other members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet. But in interviews conducted for a new book set to be released next week, Bannon opened up in a way that reportedly shocked the White House, attacking Trump’s eldest son as « treasonous » and declaring that the Russia probe is « all about money laundering. »
« You realize where this is going, » Bannon, who left his White House post in August to return to his role as chair of Breitbart, told author and journalist Michael Wolff. « This is all about money laundering. »
Referring to special counsel Robert Mueller’s team of investigators, Bannon added: « Their path to f***ing Trump goes right through Paul Manafort, Don Jr., and Jared Kushner….It’s as plain as a hair on your face. »
« It goes through Deutsche Bank and all the Kushner shit, » Bannon continued, a remark made public amid reports that Mueller subpoenaed Deutsche Bank several months ago in an effort to examine the bank’s ties to the Trump family. « The Kushner shit is greasy. They’re going to go right through that. They’re going to roll those…guys up and say play me or trade me. »
Bannon also ripped as « treasonous » a June 2016 meeting Donald Trump Jr. held at Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer who promised him « dirt » on Hillary Clinton, and seemed to suggest that Trump may have known about the meeting.
« The chance that Don Jr. did not walk these Jumos up to his father’s office of the 26th floor is zero, » Bannon reportedly said.
Mueller’s team is « going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV, » Bannon went on to predict.
Thus far, four individuals—including Manafort and former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn—have been charged as a result of Mueller’s investigation.
In interviews, Trump has suggested that the probe is a « hoax » that will soon come to a close. But Bannon is quoted as suggesting that the president’s optimism about the probe is misguided.
« They’re sitting on a beach trying to stop a Category Five, » Bannon told Wolff.
Top Photo: Steve Bannon, President Trump’s chief strategist attends a listening session with manufacturing CEOs in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Photo:Olivier Douliery/CNP /MediaPunch/IPX)