Monday, 06 August 2018 05:13

Trump now admits son met Russian for information on opponent

Rate this item
(0 votes)
US President Donald Trump has admitted his son met a Russian lawyer in June 2016 "to get information on an opponent", but argues it was legal.
It is his most direct statement so far on the reason for Donald Trump Jr's meeting with Kremlin-linked lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating US intelligence findings that Russians conspired to sway the election in Mr Trump's favour.
President Trump denies any collusion.
He has called the ongoing investigations in the US "the greatest political witch hunt in history".
Russia has repeatedly denied claims it interfered in the November 2016 presidential elections, where Mr Trump defeated Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

What did President Trump say?

On Sunday, US media including the Washington Post, CNN and AP reported that Mr Trump was worried Donald Trump Jr could be in legal trouble because of the 9 June 2016 meeting with Ms Veselnitskaya. They cited multiple unnamed sources.
Mr Trump responded: "Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting my wonderful son, Donald, had in Trump Tower.
"This was a meeting to get information on an opponent, totally legal and done all the time in politics - and it went nowhere.
"I did not know about it!"

Why does his tweet matter?

Mr Trump's latest tweet appears to contradict a previous statement from the Trump camp about the meeting.
When the meeting was first reported by the New York Times, Donald Trump Jr said in a statement that he and Ms Veselnitskaya had mostly discussed a suspended programme for Americans to adopt Russian children.
However, he subsequently admitted he had agreed to the meeting after being told he would be offered information that would prove detrimental to Mrs Clinton. He also released the email exchange that brought about the meeting.
US media then reported that the US president had been involved in the initial statement his son issued on the meeting.
This was initially denied by Mr Trump's team, but his lawyers later confirmed that he had in fact dictated his son's statement.
US commentators have argued that Mr Trump's new admission that the meeting was to gain information about Mrs Clinton shows that the earlier statement was misleading.

Why is the Trump Tower meeting controversial?
It is common for US politicians to research their opponents during a campaign.
However, legal experts say that Mr Trump Jr could fall foul of campaign finance laws, which prohibit accepting anything of value from a foreign government or foreign national.
His apparently enthusiastic response to the offer of information about Mrs Clinton could also breach conspiracy laws.
The Trump team has argued that Mr Trump Jr ultimately did not receive any damaging information about Mrs Clinton at the meeting.
One of Mr Trump's lawyers, Jay Sekulow, said on Sunday that the meeting had nor broken any laws.
"The question is what law, statue or rule or regulation's been violated? Nobody's pointed to one," Mr Sekulow told ABC News.
US media reported last year that some of the president's advisers feared the extent of the president's intervention could place him and some of his inner circle in legal jeopardy.

BBC
January 09, 2025

This is the ‘biggest barrier to building wealth,’ says behavioral finance expert

I’ve been meaning to sell some company stock and diversify into another investment for awhile…
January 11, 2025

Ohanaeze Ndigbo gets new President-General

John Azuta-Mbata, a former senator, has been elected as the new president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,…
January 12, 2025

Why some animals appear to mourn their dead

Grief has long thought to be a human trait, but other animals – from killer…
January 04, 2025

Shy man cuts off 4 fingers instead of telling boss he wanted to quit his…

A 32-year-old Indian man admitted to cutting off four fingers on his left hand to…
January 12, 2025

Lakurawa terrorists kill telecom officials in Kebbi

Suspected terrorists belonging to the Lakurawa group have killed four individuals, including three staff of…
January 12, 2025

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 464

Four Israeli troops killed in northern Gaza, army says Four Israeli troops were killed during…
December 25, 2024

Stem cell therapy to correct heart failure in children could 'transform lives'

Renowned visionary English physician William Harvey wrote in 1651 about how our blood contains all…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Prof Wale Are Olaitan: Editorial Consultant; Femi Kawonise: Head, Production & Administration; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.