Fact check: Who has the trump/krasnov tapes?

1. Summary of the results

The alleged "Trump/Krasnov tapes" stem from unverified claims made by Alnur Mussayev, a former KGB officer, who stated that Donald Trump was recruited as a KGB asset in 1987 under the codename "Krasnov" ^[1]. However, no concrete evidence has been provided to support these allegations ^[2]. The Mueller report, while finding "links" between the Trump campaign and Russia, did not establish conspiracy or coordination ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• The KGB directorate where Mussayev claims to have worked was primarily focused on economic espionage, not foreign recruitment ^[2]
• There are significant discrepancies in Mussayev's claimed work history ^[3]
• Previous similar allegations, including the Steele Dossier, have not been substantiated ^[3]
• Multiple investigations, including the Senate intelligence investigations, found no conclusive proof of Trump being a Russian asset, despite documenting numerous contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russian individuals ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question assumes the existence of "Trump/Krasnov tapes" without acknowledging that:

• The story originated from a single Facebook post by Mussayev ^[3]
• The claim has gone viral on social media but lacks substantive verification ^[1]
• Trump has consistently and repeatedly denied working for Russia ^{[1] [1]}

Several groups could benefit from promoting or debunking this narrative:

• Political opponents of Trump could benefit from promoting these allegations
• Social media platforms benefit from the viral spread of controversial claims
• Media outlets benefit from the continued coverage of these allegations
• Russian intelligence agencies could benefit from either promoting or denying these claims, depending on their objectives