By Aaron Miller-
American President, Donald Trump, might be in the hot seat after his son today released email communications confirming he had communication with The Russian government over the 2016 U.S elections.
The admission of communication with The Russian government was first made yesterday, after The New York Times published information about the meeting. In the email, Donald Trump Jr admitted he was keen to accept “sensitive” information on Hillary Clinton from a Russian national.
Trump Jr. had been told by Publicist Rob Goldstone that he had information that is “part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr Trump”.
Mr Trump Jr replied: “If it’s what you say, I love it.” A meeting followed the email communication, which now raises suspicion that members of the team of President Trump may have colluded with Russia in interfering with The U.S elections. However, neither the email nor the meeting provides evidence that a collusion actually took place.
CONFIRMATION
The revelation is the first positive confirmation that any close associate of the American President attended a meeting with the hope of obtaining sensitive information from Russian officials. It will certainly lead to more questions and probing. Trump Jr sarcastically tweeted ‘’Obviously I’m the first person on a campaign to ever take a meeting to hear info about an opponent to ever meet officials wanting to expose something a Indeed, he is not, and the real question is whether meeting opponents of a political rival with the intention of exposing information about that rival, is an offence.
The emails to Mr Trump Jr, which he released on Twitter, read: “the crown prosecutor of Russia” had “offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father”.
The email chain was also forwarded to President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort. Both President Trump and Russia have constantly denied any collusion or interference with the 2016 elections, and yesterday’s original revelations now question that.
The New York Times first reported on Saturday that a meeting had taken place on 9 June 2016 between Ms Veselnitskaya and the Trump team at Trump Tower. Another report then followed by the same paper that Mr. Trump had earlier been offered damaging information about Mrs.Clinton
Trump Jr had admitted meeting Ms Veselnitskaya, but insisted she had provided “no meaningful information’’, except to talk about adoptions. Ms Veselnitskaya equally denies being in possession of damaging information about Ms.Clinton. However, she suggested that the President’s son and two senior aides may have longed for such information.
THE EMAIL CHAIN
An email posted by Mr Trump Jr shows:On 3 June last year he received an email from intermediary Mr Goldstone promising documents from Russia that would incriminate Hillary Clinton and her supposed dealings with Russia
One email from Mr Goldstone said the information they had been promised was “obviously very high-level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr Trump”
The person who was to meet Mr Trump Jr in New York was described as “a Russian government attorney who is flying over from Moscow”