Russian Photographer At White House Trump/Lavrov Meeting Was Working For Tass

He was working for "Russia's top spy recruiter".
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A Russian photographer is reported to have misled the White House over photos taken between a meeting of President Trump and the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.

The incident is especially sensitive given that Lavrov has been described by US intelligence as “Russia’s top spy recruiter”.

White House officials had barred news media from the event so they were rather surprised when pictures emerged credited to Tass, a state-run news agency.

Photos of Trump's meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak just hit the Getty wire and they're all credited to Russian news agency TASS pic.twitter.com/qE9lWB6KuS

— Matt Novak (@paleofuture) May 10, 2017

The only photographers in the room were the official White House snapper and another who had been described as Lavrov’s official photographer.

It was not disclosed that he worked for Tass.

An official told The Washington Post: “We were not informed by the Russians that their official photographer was dual-hatted and would be releasing the photographs on the state news agency.”

Former Deputy Director of the FBI, David Cohen, had a short answer to the question: “Was this a good idea?”

Deadly serious Q: Was it a good idea to let a Russian gov photographer & all their equipment into the Oval Office? https://t.co/6WA4NxHxID

— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) May 10, 2017

@ColinKahl No, it was not.

— David S. Cohen (@cohendavid) May 10, 2017

Journalists typically cover portions of meetings between the president and heads of state or government. But it’s not uncommon for meetings with lower-level officials to go ahead without press.

Journalists were later allowed into the Oval Office and found Trump sitting alone with Henry Kissinger where they posed for a photo op, reports the Associated Press.

Kissinger and Trump chat with reporters yesterday.
Kissinger and Trump chat with reporters yesterday.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

This came less than 24 hours after Trump’s bombshell firing of FBI Director, James Comey.

Trump was branded “Nixonian”, in reference to the former president who fired a special prosecutor just before he was brought down by the Watergate scandal.

Sacked FBI director Comey now invited to testify to Senate Intelligence Ctee on Tues. if he does, can we expect more Nixonian fireworks?

— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) May 11, 2017

What did Henry Kissinger do again? Oh, he was National Security Adviser and Secretary of State.

FOR NIXON.

Staff: Mr President, we need to avoid the appearance that you obstructed the Russia investigation & acted Nixonian!

Trump: I have an idea pic.twitter.com/eQlsDCbV1K

— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) May 11, 2017
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