Smoke seen pouring from Russian consulate in San Francisco

[Sunlei]

Source: AP

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Acrid, black smoke was seen pouring from a chimney at the Russian consulate in San Francisco Friday, a day after the Trump administration ordered its closure amid escalating tensions between the United States and Russia.

Firefighters who arrived at the scene were turned away by consulate officials who came from inside the building.

An Associated Press reporter heard people who came from inside the building tell firefighters that there was no problem and that consulate staff were burning unidentified items in a fireplace.

Talmadge said she did not know what they were burning on a day when normally cool San Francisco temperatures had already climbed to 95 degrees by noon.

Read more: https://www.apnews.com/9549026d1ed946e98d5119c785f2a388

---

one hour ago

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Destroy the evidence.

[Sunlei]

7. remember that huge stack of files trump got out of his 5th street tower? IMOmore evidence destroyed.

pictured on TV news as business files.

[riversedge]

10. I have not heard anything about that.

[Sunlei]

15. was on the news a lot.

after trump was elected and he was told to turn over his 'many businesses to his kids.,

There was press at 5th street tower, some woman lawyer with a large table piled- 2 or 3 feet high -piles of paper files (unmarked) and papers.

IMO, that tower campaign location was scrubbed in plain sight.

[C Moon]

2. Did they elect a new pope?

[Ilsa]

5. Thinking the same. Maybe not

a pope. Maybe a new head of FSB. Or head of SperBank.

[riversedge]

11. haha. That was my first thought.

[BHDem53]

29. White smoke Pope, black smoke nope.

[Mrs. Overall]

3. Burning documents (white smoke) and probably burning other items (black smoke)?

[ananda]

4. Maybe some of the docs are 45's tax returns.

Or something else incriminating.

I don't know why the just didn't burn it down.

[Warpy]

8. Computer discs would do it.

along with thumb drives. I know if I had to clear off in a hurry, that's what I'd be burning were I in their situation.

[not fooled]

27. Yep

Hard drives.

[Yavin4]

6. Videos? Videos depicting a fringe sexual act?

Videos depicting a fringe sexual act involving a very unattractive man?

[guillaumeb]

9. Would this act involve urine?

And some hired help?

[riversedge]

12. Probably burning some computers??

[jpak]

13. A New Pope!

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Depends on the color of the smoke!

[jmowreader]

14. This is standard procedure for a diplomatic mission that gets closed

They get rid of anything that's classified higher than the morning newspaper, and they usually burn it because it takes less time than trying to shred it.

[red dog 1]

17. That makes sense

Thanks

[FreepFryer]

23. This. (n/t)

[red dog 1]

18. Kick for exposure!

[Auggie]

19. Today is a "Spare the Air Day" in San Francisco ... $500.00 FINE!

[sarisataka]

21. I think that would be unenforceable

Due to Diplomatic immunity

[Auggie]

22. Nice post, Killjoy

[TrollBuster9090]

20. Either they've failed to elect a new Pope, or the cheap bastards can't afford a paper shredder

like everybody else. Why didn't they just pull and OLIVER NORTH, and get one of their secretaries to sneak the documents out of the embassy in her underwear?

[disalitervisum]

24. This whole consulate thing is a sideshow--

putin directing trump to create a "tension-heightening" diversion.

[waltben]

25. So what?

What is the matter with you all?? They are just burning all their crap just like any consulate we had that was closing would. That's what they do.

[SunSeeker]

26. Why not just pack it up and deliver it to another consulate?

Why destroy it?

[jmowreader]

31. Because they can get new copies of anything they have, and it's safer to do it this way

[Gravitycollapse]

32. Moving it to another consulate would require transporting it across US territory.

Presumably making it subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. They wouldn't want anything compromising making it into the hands of a foreign power.

[dalton99a]

37. Diplomatic bag

Put a seal on the container - size is irrelevant - mark it diplomatic and have a diplomatic courier accompany it to the new destination. International law gives it diplomatic immunity from search and seizure.

[jgmiller]

39. Haven't you ever forgotten to take something with you on a trip?

It's too easy to forget to put something in a diplomatic bag or for the bag to get lost. Just because a diplomatic bag isn't supposed to be touched doesn't mean that the NSA, CIA etc wouldn't try to make the bag get lost at the airport.

We do the same thing in Russia and so does every other country, there is nothing shocking about this. You are being ordered to leave you take all of the documents and put them in the incinerator. You also fry all of the hard drives, USB's etc.

[dalton99a]

40. They obviously didn't want to keep the stuff

There is no limit on the number of diplomatic bags used by a consulate or embassy (and a diplomatic "bag" or "pouch" doesn't have to be a bag - it can be a cardboard box, a crate, a shipping container that is appropriately marked)

[not fooled]

28. Um,

It's just that given the current sitch in the White House, any activity by the Russkies gets greater scrutiny and is suspect.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

30. First, San Francisco. Now, the Russians are apparently burning something in D.C.

Retweeted by David Fahrenthold: https://twitter.com/fahrenthold

First, San Francisco. Now, the Russians are apparently burning something in D.C.

Link to tweet

[vkkv]

34. paperz zee...

[Sunlei]

36. now the Russians are burning something in dc, in an outside fire. Republicans did NOT act early!

WTF is with the Republican party? almost 2 years ago Republicans are privy to the dossier on trumps Russian crimes?, Republican party does NOTHING.

Then Russians (and others) are caught hacking into several states government election info.

Republican party puts out fake news, doesn't call IN PUBLIC for any help, says Obamas making shit up.

Russia hacks DNC, hacks into emails for several Ds sends it to WikiLeaks and Republicans use the stolen files.

Republicans don't care our Democracy was attacked and even today not one of the Republican party stands up for America.

Republicans keep trying to hide stuff and block every investigation.

[vkkv]

33. R U sure that isn't a SMOKE SCREEN pouring from the Russian Consulate ??

[AntiFascist]

35. Obviously they can't even cross-shred it fast enough! n/t

[janx]

38. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman:

Responding to online speculation over the cause, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said "emergency conservation of the building" had been underway.
"Measures are being taken to preserve the building," Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook. "Therefore the windows may be closed, the curtains may be lowered, the light may be turned off, the doors may be locked, garbage may be disposed of, heating devices may be switched off, life support systems switched on, and much more."

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/02/politics/russia-consulate-san-francisco-tensions/index.html

[Kennah]

41. Orange smoke would indicate a new U.S. President (n/t)