Trump Tower meeting
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On June 9, 2016, a meeting was held in Trump Tower between senior members of the Trump campaign and multiple people allegedly connected to the Russian government.[1] In July 2017, the meeting became public knowledge.
Background
Miss Universe 2013 was held near Moscow, hosted by real estate tycoon Aras Agalarov.[2] Aras's son, Emin Agalarov, is a pop star represented by publicist and former tabloid journalist Rob Goldstone. On June 3, 2016, Goldstone emailed Trump Jr., writing:
- Emin just called and asked me to contact you with something very interesting.
The Crown prosecutor of Russia [nb 1] met with his father Aras this morning and in their meeting offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary [Clinton] and her dealings with Russia and would be very useful to your father.
This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr Trump – helped along by Aras and Emin.[4][5][6]
Trump, Jr. responded “If it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer.”[7][7]
Aras Agalarov is also mentioned in the Steele Dossier, which states that the document's sources believe that Agalarov "would know most of the details of what the Republican presidential candidate had got up to there." Although the information in the Steele Dossier has not been verified, the content includes some parallels with the substance of Donald Trump Jr.'s emails with Goldstone.[8]
Meeting
On June 9, 2016, Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, who was then chairman of the presidential campaign, and Jared Kushner met with Natalia Veselnitskaya and her translator at Trump Tower.[9][10] Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer, former state prosecutor, and has been alleged to be connected to Russian intelligence services. According to information from U.S. prosecutors investigating a Russian money-laundering case, in 2009 Veselnitskaya threatened the leader of a Russian human rights group with an investigation by the FSB, implying that she had connections with Russian intelligence.[11]
That same day, Rob Goldstone used Facebook to digitally 'check-in' at Trump Tower.[12]
Public revelation
On July 8, 2017, the New York Times reported on the existence of the meeting and the attendance of Kushner, Manafort, Trump Jr and Veselnitskaya.[10] In that article, Trump Jr was quoted claiming the meeting was "primarily about adoption". [13]
On July 9, the Times further reported that the meeting followed a promise of damaging information on Clinton.[14] In that article, Trump Jr. acknowledged he went into the meeting expecting to receive information from Veselnitskaya that could hurt Clinton, but said that none was forthcoming and instead the conversation then turned to the Magnitsky Act and the adoption of Russian children.[15] [15] Previously, Trump, Jr. said she instead discussed the Magnitsky Act.[16] The Democratic National Committee cyber attacks were revealed later that week.[17] A previous statement from Trump about the meeting had not mentioned the offer of information about Clinton.[13]
On July 11, the New York Times reported that Trump Jr. "was informed in an email that the material was part of a Russian government effort to aid his father’s candidacy".[17]
Reactions
Robert Mueller, who is the special counsel of the Department of Justice in charge of Russia-related investigations, is investigating the emails, according to sources.[18]
Public revelations about the meeting were considered to be the first hard evidence of collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia.[19] Trump Jr. was shown to have known of Russian involvement in the 2016 election. [20] The National Review, a conservative magazine, stated that it was proof of attempted collusion.[19] Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro was more skeptical, writing that it was "insanely damaging material" but may have not broken the law.[21]
The Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner (D), stated regarding the reports that "This is the first time that the public has seen clear evidence of senior level members of the Trump campaign meeting Russians to try to obtain information that might hurt the campaign of Hillary Clinton".[22] Warner also stated that the incident was part of a "continuing pattern" in which Trump officials and members of the Trump campaign have "conveniently forgotten meetings with Russians only when they are then presented with evidence, they have to recant and acknowledge those kind of meetings".[23] Another member of the committee, Susan Collins (R), stated that Donald Trump Jr., as well as others who attended the meeting, should testify before the committee.[24]
See also
Notes
- ^ Crown prosecutor is not an office that exists in Russia - Goldstone is likely referring to the Prosecutor General of Russia here.[3]
References
- ^ "Donald Trump Jr.'s Emails About Meeting With Russian Lawyer, Annotated". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ How a Pageant Led to a Trump Son’s Meeting With a Russian Lawyer - The New York Times
- ^ Bondarenko, Veronika. "Donald Trump Jr.'s emails reference meeting the crown prosecutor of Russia – here's what that might be". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ Full text of the emails between Donald Trump Jr and Rob Goldstone | US news | The Guardian
- ^ Trump Jr. was told potential Clinton info came from Russian government: report | TheHill
- ^ Who is Rob Goldstone, who set up Donald Trump Jr meeting with Russian lawyer? - Business Insider
- ^ a b Russian Dirt on Clinton? ‘I Love It’ Donald Trump Jr. Said. JO BECKER, ADAM GOLDMAN and MATT APUZZO, The New York Times, 11 July 2017
- ^ [1]
- ^ Goldman, Matt Apuzzo, Jo Becker, Adam; Haberman, Maggie (July 10, 2017). "Trump Jr. Was Told in Email of Russian Effort to Aid Campaign". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Trump Team Met With Lawyer Linked to Kremlin During Campaign - The New York Times
- ^ Lawyer that met Don Jr. had ties to Russian government, spy agency. Hall, Kevin. McClatchy News Service, 11 July 2017
- ^ Trump Jr. Acquaintance Rob Goldstone Used Facebook to Place Himself at Scene of Trump Tower Meeting With Russian Lawyer
- ^ a b Press, Associated. "Donald Trump Jr. Changes Account of Russian Lawyer Meeting". Time. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- ^ Trump’s Son Met With Russian Lawyer After Being Promised Damaging Information on Clinton - The New York Times
- ^ a b Borchers, Callum. "Donald Trump Jr.'s stunning admission to the New York Times". Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
- ^ Jo Becker; Matt Apuzzo; Adam Goldman (10 July 2017). "TRUMP TEAM MET RUSSIAN OFFERING DIRT ON CLINTON — KEY TIME IN CAMPAIGN — Account Shows an Inner Circle Open to Using Foreign Help". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b Matt Apuzzo; Jo Becker; Adam Goldman; Maggie Haberman (11 July 2017). "Trump's Son Heard of Link To Moscow Before Meeting — Russian Government Sought to Help Father and Hurt Clinton, Email Suggested". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ Source: Justice Dept. probe will look at Trump Jr.'s disclosed emails, meeting - CNNPolitics.com
- ^ a b "There Is Now Evidence that Senior Trump Officials Attempted to Collude With Russia". National Review. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/us/politics/trump-russia-email-clinton.amp.html
- ^ "BREAKING: Trump Jr. Drops Emails Showing He Met With Russian Lawyer As 'Part Of Russia And Its Government's Support For Mr. Trump'". Daily Wire. 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
- ^ Grieve, Pete (2017-07-10). "Warner: 'Clear evidence' that Trump officials met Russians to get info".
- ^ Donald Jr's meeting with Russians is clear evidence of campaign workings | Reuters.com
- ^ [2]