Like

Towleroad

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

BREAKING: In Unhinged Facebook Rant, GOP PA Rep. Daryl Metcalfe Calls Rep. Brian Sims a ‘Lying Homosexual’

Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

PreviousPrevious StoryRandy Rainbow Drops the Ultimate Musical Take on Meryl Streep vs Trump: WATCH
NextNext StoryShepard SmithFOX News Anchor Shep Smith Denounces Trump for ‘Belittling and ‘Delegitimizing’ Journalists: WATCH

by Christopher Woolf - PRI
January 11, 2017 | 6:35pm

Share41 Comments

Donald Trump Putin

Moscow has a long tradition of gathering and using compromising material. It’s so common it even has a special name: kompromat.

“Kompromat,” says David Filipov, “means ‘compromising material’ that can be used down the road as leverage over somebody. You can use it to recruit them. You can use it to make them do something you want. You can use it to — if it’s an official — coax out of them positions, policy positions that you want them to have.”

Filipov is Moscow bureau chief for the Washington Post. And he says all kinds of people are gathering komptomat. “There are more than one, as we’re all learning now, intelligence agencies in Russia. And then individual companies and organizations have their own intelligence, and everybody is gathering it.”

“This was something former KGB officers were telling us here,” adds Filipov, “they’re not necessarily targeting you. You show up and they say, let’s just see what this guy does. So they’ll record you, they’ll do surveillance, see what you’re up to. Some stuff gets in a file and maybe they can use it, maybe they can’t use it. Somebody said to me today, it’s like a vacuum cleaner. The Russian security services are basically sucking everything up, which maybe someday they can use. Who knows. Maybe the guy they’re using it against is a friend now, but might be an enemy later.”

“So it’s various security agencies. It’s anything that might be going on that’s interesting,” Filipov continue. “A high profile person comes in from the United States, goes to a hotel, we happen to have cameras in the hotel, let’s just record what’s in there, maybe he orders champagne and caviar and charges it to the Washington Post, you know what I mean?”

Anyone could be monitored: journalists and businessmen, foreign and Russian. “Anyone who might be an interesting figure … anyone you think you might be able to manipulate.”

“We all assume that we are kind of being looked after,” says Filipov, “somebody’s on your phone, or somebody’s on your computer, somebody’s listening to you or whatever. And the idea is — part of it is security — but also just having an eye out.”

“When I was the bureau chief for the Boston Globe, after the Soviet [Union] ended,” explains Filipov, “we hired a firm to come in and see if there were any bugs in our office. And the guy found 135 listening devices … in what was a five-room office/apartment. And that was 1994.”

Trump began visiting Russia in the 1980s. At his news conference Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that he and everyone knew hotel rooms there were bugged.

Moscow rejects any notion that it collects compromising material on anyone. “They’ve been professing disbelief about all of it,” says Filipov. “They’ve been saying we don’t want to hack anybody, we don’t want to hurt anybody.”

This article first appeared on PRI The World.

PreviousPrevious StoryRandy Rainbow Drops the Ultimate Musical Take on Meryl Streep vs Trump: WATCH
NextNext StoryShepard SmithFOX News Anchor Shep Smith Denounces Trump for ‘Belittling and ‘Delegitimizing’ Journalists: WATCH
Share41 Like41 Comments

Posted January 11, 2017 at 6:35pm ETC by Christopher Woolf - PRI
in Donald Trump, POLITICS, Russia, World



Follow Us

Like Towleroad

Towleroad

Video

theta tau

Theta Tau Fraternity Permanently Expelled from Syracuse U. Over Racist, Homophobic Videos

Share416 Like416

gay rights uhuru kenyatta

Gay Rights of No Importance in Kenya, Says President Uhuru Kenyatta

Share86 Like86

darytl metcalfe brian sims

In Unhinged Facebook Rant, GOP PA Rep. Daryl Metcalfe Calls Rep. Brian Sims a ‘Lying Homosexual’

Share423 Like423

trevor bell

Rudy Giuliani, Kitchen Cabinets, Robbie Turner, Tina Fey, Tumbleweeds, Rod Rosenstein, Johnny Sins: HOT LINKS

Share38 Like38

Avicii

EDM Star Avicii Dead at 28

Share135 Like135

trump lies

On New Tape, Trump Lies About His Wealth to Get on List of ‘Forbes’ Richest People: LISTEN

Share65 Like65

Hunk of the Day

dan reynolds gay

Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds Strips Down with Rainbow Flag: ‘Embrace Our Sexual Diversity’

Share773 Like773

Columns

  • Recap The Queens On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Talk the Talk [RECAP and RANKING]
  • Theatre Review Time’s Up? Not So Fast: ‘Carousel’ Is Back on Broadway: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review In ‘This Flat Earth,’ Growing Up in the Shadow of a School Shooting
  • Recap ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Queens Get App Happy and Flocked Up on the Runway [RECAP and RANKING]
  • Theatre Review In ‘Three Tall Women’ and ‘Yerma,’ Stunning Portraits of Women on the Verge: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review Chris Evans and Michael Cera Are Men in Uniform in Kenneth Lonergan’s Superb ‘Lobby Hero’: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane Star in Electrifying ‘Angels in America’: REVIEW
  • Theatre Review A Slushy ‘Frozen’ Opens on Broadway: REVIEW
  • Recap It All Comes To An End On ‘Versace: American Crime Story’ Finale: RECAP
  • Film Review Weekend Movie Review: ‘Love, Simon’ is a Must-See

Latest Posts

  • Trump Administration Plans to Undo Obama-Era Health Care Protections for Transgender People11 mins ago
  • theta tauTheta Tau Fraternity Permanently Expelled from Syracuse U. Over Racist, Homophobic Videos19 hours ago
  • Enraged Trump: Michael Cohen is Not Going to Flip, and if He Does, He’ll Be Lying1 day ago
  • gay rights uhuru kenyattaGay Rights of No Importance in Kenya, Says President Uhuru Kenyatta1 day ago
  • darytl metcalfe brian simsIn Unhinged Facebook Rant, GOP PA Rep. Daryl Metcalfe Calls Rep. Brian Sims a ‘Lying Homosexual’1 day ago
  • trevor bellRudy Giuliani, Kitchen Cabinets, Robbie Turner, Tina Fey, Tumbleweeds, Rod Rosenstein, Johnny Sins: HOT LINKS2 days ago
  • Montreal gay villageA Gay Couple’s Guide to 5 of Montreal’s Must-Sees2 days ago
  • AviciiEDM Star Avicii Dead at 282 days ago
  • rupauls drag race recapThe Queens On ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Talk the Talk [RECAP and RANKING]2 days ago
  • second presidential debate highlightsDemocratic National Committee Sues Trump, Russia, and Wikileaks, Alleging Far-Reaching Conspiracy to Sway Election2 days ago
  • Trump Invited Putin to White House Twice During Last Phone Call: REPORT2 days ago
  • Rupert EverettRupert Everett’s Oscar Wilde Biopic ‘The Happy Prince’ Gets a Full UK Trailer: WATCH2 days ago
  • amazonGay Rights an ‘Unspoken’ Factor for Amazon in Search for New HQ, According to Insiders2 days ago
  • trump liesOn New Tape, Trump Lies About His Wealth to Get on List of ‘Forbes’ Richest People: LISTEN2 days ago
  • This Survey Is Important Even if These Gay Stock Photos are Dumb2 days ago
  • ‘Glee’ Actor Kevin McHale Discusses Sexual Orientation for First Time: Ariana Grande’s Song is ‘Gayer Than Me’2 days ago
  • Trump Lashes Out: ‘Shadey James Comey Can Leak and Lie’ But ‘Michael Flynn’s Life Can Be Totally Destroyed’2 days ago
  • theta tauSyracuse Frat Bros Suspended for Racist, Homophobic, Anti-Semitic Video Apologize for ‘Satirical Sketch’2 days ago

You Might Also Like

  • Donald Trump Trump Administration Plans to Undo Obama-Era Health Care Protections for Transgender People
  • POLITICS Enraged Trump: Michael Cohen is Not Going to Flip, and if He Does, He’ll Be Lying
  • darytl metcalfe brian simsPOLITICS In Unhinged Facebook Rant, GOP PA Rep. Daryl Metcalfe Calls Rep. Brian Sims a ‘Lying Homosexual’
  • trevor bellPOLITICS Rudy Giuliani, Kitchen Cabinets, Robbie Turner, Tina Fey, Tumbleweeds, Rod Rosenstein, Johnny Sins: HOT LINKS
  • second presidential debate highlightsPOLITICS Democratic National Committee Sues Trump, Russia, and Wikileaks, Alleging Far-Reaching Conspiracy to Sway Election
  • POLITICS Trump Invited Putin to White House Twice During Last Phone Call: REPORT

Latest Posts

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    The Trump administration is set to undo Obama-era laws protecting transgender people from discrimination by health insurance companies, doctors, and hospitals, the NYT reports: The existing health care rule adopted two years ago says that sex discrim…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    The Theta Tau fraternity at Syracuse University has been permanently expelled from campus for the racist, homophobic, and anti-semitic video that got the chapter suspended this week. The Daily Orange reports: “The fraternity’s expulsion, announ…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    An enraged Donald Trump on Saturday morning came after the New York Times for a report that his personal lawyer Michael Cohen may end up turning on him and cooperating with federal investigators who raided his office and home last week. Tweeted Trump…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    Asked by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour about Kenya’s laws declaring homosexuality illegal, President Uhuru Kenyatta made his position perfectly clear: “I will not engage in a subject that is not of any major importance to the people and…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    Pennsylvania GOP state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe – you’ll remember him as the lawmaker who freaked out during a committee meeting last December when Rep. Matt Bradford, touched him on the arm to get his attention, declaring, “I’m a hetero…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    YOU’RE HIRED. Trump hires Rudy Giuliani amid legal turmoil: “The entry of Giuliani, an experienced attorney with a combative reputation, immediately raises questions about how Trump will engage with Mueller and the leadership at Justice.…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    We completely fell in love with Montreal in Quebec, Canada. We came here in the summer to celebrate the first Fierte Canada Pride, which was being hosted by Montreal. It was a blast – one of the best pride events we’ve been to, and in a very welcomin…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    EDM artist, DJ and producer Avicii (aka Tim Bergling) has died at the age of 28 in Oman, according to a statement from his representative. Variety reports: ‘“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Av…
    Read

  • Donald Trump Putin

    Moscow’s Long History of Gathering ‘Kompromat’

    Fresh off last week’s runway, Asia is furious because … well, I guess because the other girls let her help them? I get that she regrets having mismanaged her time, but, to be fair, all the girls leapt to her defense in front of the judges. Miz Cracke…
    Read

  • second presidential debate highlights

    Democratic National Committee Sues Trump, Russia, and Wikileaks, Alleging Far-Reaching Conspiracy to Sway Election

    The Democratic National Committee on Friday sued the Trump campaign, the Russian government, and Wikileaks in a multi-million dollar lawsuit claiming a vast conspiracy to sway the electorate in favor of Donald Trump. The Washington Post reports: The…
    Read

Most Commented

Hot Reads

  • America’s Top Crime Family: The Trumps
  • High Stakes for LGBTQ Equality in the Anti-Gay Baker Case at the Supreme Court
  • State Department ‘Deeply Disturbed’ by Reports of Detention, Torture, and Murder of Gay Men in Chechnya
  • Anti-Gay Pastor Who Said Orlando Victims ‘Got What They Deserved’ Guilty of Sexually Molesting Boy and Girl
  • Neil Gorsuch is Trump’s Terrible, No Good Nominee for the Supreme Court: An Analysis
  • 2017 Resolutions All Gay Men Should Consider
  • Comedian Eric Andre: The Gay Interview

Today's News

Jump To Day: Choose
  • Trump Administration Plans to Undo Obama-Era Health Care Protections for Transgender People
  • Theta Tau Fraternity Permanently Expelled from Syracuse U. Over Racist, Homophobic Videos
  • Enraged Trump: Michael Cohen is Not Going to Flip, and if He Does, He’ll Be Lying
  • Gay Rights of No Importance in Kenya, Says President Uhuru Kenyatta
  • In Unhinged Facebook Rant, GOP PA Rep. Daryl Metcalfe Calls Rep. Brian Sims a ‘Lying Homosexual’

Share This

Share3.3k Like3.3k

Read

  • Politics
  • Travel
  • Film
  • Theatre
  • Television
  • Science
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Contributors
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us

© 2014 Towleroad. All Rights Reserved.