Trump’s son’s emails deepen Russia scandal
WASHINGTON, DC -- US President Donald Trump’s son has released an email chain showing he was offered “sensitive” information on Hillary Clinton by a Russian national.
Publicist Rob Goldstone tells Donald Trump, Jr. that there is information that is “part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump.”
US officials are investigating alleged Russian meddling in the US election.
Mr. Goldstone has previously denied any knowledge of involvement in the election by the Russian government.
The email to Mr. Trump, Jr., which he released on Twitter, says “the crown prosecutor of Russia” (a role that does not exist) 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.”
Mr. Trump, Jr. replies: “If it’s what you say, I love it.”
It appears to be the first confirmation that a Trump associate attended a meeting in the expectation of being handed sensitive information from Russian officials.
Since he was elected, President Trump has been dogged by allegations that Russia tried to sabotage Mrs. Clinton’s campaign. He has denied any knowledge of this and Russia has also repeatedly denied interfering.
In May, the department of justice appointed ex-FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to look into the Russian matter.
Just days ago, Donald Trump, Jr. admitted that he had met Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya on 9 June 2016 after being told that she had damaging material on Mrs. Clinton.
He insisted that the lawyer provided “no meaningful information” but wanted to talk about sanctions against Russian individuals.
The president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was also at the meeting
Ms Veselnitskaya, who has been linked to the Russian government, has insisted she was never in possession of information that could have damaged Mrs. Clinton.
She said Mr. Trump, Jr. and two senior campaign aides may have met her last summer because they were “longing” for such information.
What are the latest developments?
The email chain posted by Mr. Trump, Jr. shows that on 3 June last year, he received an email from intermediary Mr. Goldstone promising documents from Russia that would incriminate Hillary Clinton and her dealings with Russia.
One email from Mr. Goldstone to Mr. Trump, Jr. 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.”
Within the week, a meeting had been arranged in New York in which Mr. Trump, Jr., Jared Kushner - the president's son-in-law - and thencampaign chairman Paul Manafort were present. (BBC)