WASHINGTON (AP) — Advisers to President Donald Trump have been put on the defensive by reports that adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner had proposed a secret back channel between the Kremlin and the Trump transition team. A person familiar with the discussions tells The Associated Press that Kushner spoke with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about creating that line of communication. The purpose was to facilitate sensitive discussions aimed at exploring the incoming administration's options with Russia as it was developing its Syria policy. Trump aides traveling with the president in Europe have refused to address the contents of Kushner's December meeting with the Russian diplomat. National security adviser H.R.