The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Donald Trump defends his son’s ‘transparency’
Praise after posting emails on social media revealing Russia communication
US President Donald Trump has said his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, is “a highquality person” and has applauded “his transparency”.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a brief statement from the president in response to revelations that Mr Trump Jr agreed to hear damaging information on Hillary Clinton as part of the Russian government’s effort to help his father.
Mr Trump Jr posted his emails with publicist Rob Goldstone on Twitter yesterday.
The emails with Mr Goldstone show that Mr Trump Jr was told that the Russian government had information that could “incriminate” Mrs Clinton and her dealings with Russia.
Mr Trump Jr eagerly accepted help from what was described to him as a Russian government effort to aid his father’s campaign, according to the emails.
The email exchange represents the clearest sign to date that members of the president’s inner circle were willing to meet during the campaign with Russians who wanted Mr Trump to prevail.
Hours after the emails were released, the president rose to his son’s defence.
“My son is a high-quality person and I applaud his transparency,” Mr Trump said in the statement read to reporters by Mrs Sanders.
The messages were the latest disclosure to roil the ongoing investigation into potential co-ordination between Mr Trump’s campaign and Russia.