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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 [[Federal Security Service|FSB]], implying that she had connections with Russian intelligence.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kevin G. |last=Hall |title=Lawyer who met Don Jr. had ties to Russian government, spy agency |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article160864209.html |website=McClatchy DC |publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]] |date=July 11, 2017 |accessdate=July 12, 2017}}</ref>
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 [[Federal Security Service|FSB]], implying that she had connections with Russian intelligence.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kevin G. |last=Hall |title=Lawyer who met Don Jr. had ties to Russian government, spy agency |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article160864209.html |website=McClatchy DC |publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]] |date=July 11, 2017 |accessdate=July 12, 2017}}</ref>


The Russian-American lobbyist is reported by [[NBC News]] to be a former Soviet counter-intelligence officer, [[Rinat Akhmetshin]], who served in the Russian military prior to emigrating to the United States. American officials suspect him having ongoing ties with Russian intelligence. He denied having any ties to any Russian spy agencies, and while Veselnitskaya refused to identify him, she acknowledges she was accompanied by at least one other person to the meeting.<ref name="sovietcounter" /><ref name=Butler>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/dceed1008d8f45afb314aca65797762a | title=Russian-American lobbyist says he was in Trump son’s meeting | publisher=Associated Press | date=July 14, 2017 | accessdate=July 14, 2017 | last=Butler | first=Desmond}}</ref>
The Russian-American lobbyist is reported by [[NBC News]] to be a former Soviet counter-intelligence officer, [[Rinat Akhmetshin]], who served in the Russian military prior to emigrating to the United States. American officials suspect him having ongoing ties with Russian intelligence. He denied having any ties to any Russian spy agencies, and while Veselnitskaya refused to identify him, she acknowledges she was accompanied by at least one other person to the meeting.<ref name="sovietcounter" /><ref name=Butler>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/dceed1008d8f45afb314aca65797762a | title=Russian-American lobbyist says he was in Trump son’s meeting | publisher=Associated Press | date=July 14, 2017 | accessdate=July 14, 2017 | last=Butler | first=Desmond}}</ref> Akhmetshin has confirmed tha he was at the June 9 meeting.<ref name=Butler>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/dceed1008d8f45afb314aca65797762a | title=Russian-American lobbyist says he was in Trump son’s meeting | publisher=Associated Press | date=July 14, 2017 | accessdate=July 14, 2017 | last=Butler | first=Desmond}}</ref>
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The [[Democratic National Committee cyber attacks]] were revealed later that week.<ref name="Meeting" />
The [[Democratic National Committee cyber attacks]] were revealed later that week.<ref name="Meeting" />

Revision as of 16:18, 14 July 2017

This article is part of
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On June 9, 2016, a meeting was held in Trump Tower in New York City between senior members of the presidential campaign of Donald Trump 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 commonly know only as Emin, is a pop star represented by publicist and former tabloid journalist Rob Goldstone.

Goldstone emails to Donald Trump Jr.

On June 3, 2016, Goldstone emailed Donald Trump Jr., writing:

Emin just called and asked me to contact you with something very interesting.

The Crown prosecutor of Russia[a] 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:

Thanks Rob I appreciate that. I am on the road at the moment but perhaps I just speak to Emin first. Seems we have some time and if it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer. Could we do a call first thing next week when I am back?[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]

In an email dated June 7, 2016 5:19 PM, Trump Jr. offered an in-person meeting; and three minutes later Goldstone confirmed the appointment.[9] Trump Jr. forwarded the thread to Kushner and Manafort.[1]

Later that evening, candidate Trump announced an upcoming "major speech", tentatively set for six days later, that would be "on all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons".[10][11]

Meeting

On June 9, 2016, Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, who was then chairman of the presidential campaign, and Jared Kushner met with Natalia Veselnitskaya, along with her translator, and an unnamed Russian-American lobbyist at Trump Tower.[12][13][14] That same day, Rob Goldstone used Facebook to digitally 'check-in' at Trump Tower.[15]

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.[16]

The Russian-American lobbyist is reported by NBC News to be a former Soviet counter-intelligence officer, Rinat Akhmetshin, who served in the Russian military prior to emigrating to the United States. American officials suspect him having ongoing ties with Russian intelligence. He denied having any ties to any Russian spy agencies, and while Veselnitskaya refused to identify him, she acknowledges she was accompanied by at least one other person to the meeting.[12][17] Akhmetshin has confirmed tha he was at the June 9 meeting.[17]

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.[14] In that article, Trump Jr. was quoted claiming the meeting was "primarily about adoption".[18] The Times later reported that Trump Jr.'s statement to The Times was "drafted aboard Air Force One by advisers" and ultimately signed off on by President Trump.[19]

On July 9, The Times further reported that the meeting followed a promise of damaging information on Clinton.[20] In that article, Trump Jr. acknowledged that 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.[21] A previous statement from Trump about the meeting had not mentioned the offer of information about Clinton.[18]

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".[13]

Reactions

The Trump administration responded to news of the meeting by citing a January 2017 Politico report that "Ukrainian government officials ... helped Clinton’s allies research damaging information on Trump and his advisers."[13][22][23]

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.[24]

Public revelations about the meeting were considered to be the first hard evidence of collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia.[25] Trump Jr. was shown to have known of Russian involvement in the 2016 election.[7] The National Review, a conservative magazine, stated that it was proof of attempted collusion.[25] Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on his website The Daily Wire was more skeptical, writing that it was "insanely damaging material" but may have not broken the law.[26]

Mark Levin, editor in chief of the Conservative Review, opined that, "while Democrat fixation on the meeting – which has done little more than stoke more Russian speculation and political grandstanding from the Left – is par for the course," he was amazed by the reaction of "people who claim to be conservatives." Levin considers the meeting between Trump Jr. and the Russian lawyer to be nothing more than a "huge distraction from the ongoing healthcare debate in Congress."[27]

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".[28] 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".[29] 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.[30]

Norman L. Eisen and Richard W. Painter, both University of Minnesota Law School, published an article about legal aspects of the situation.[31] Painter was chief White House ethics lawyer 2005–2007 and Eisen was Obama's 'Special Counsel for Ethics and Government Reform' 2009-2010.

Representatives Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Al Green (D-TX) sponsored a resolution for impeachment; Sherman argued that Trump Jr.'s emails "add credibility" to the theory that Trump dismissed James Comey as FBI Director a way of attempting to derail the ongoing investigation.[32]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Crown prosecutor is not an office that exists in Russia - Goldstone is likely referring to the Prosecutor General of Russia here.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Donald Trump Jr.'s Emails About Meeting With Russian Lawyer, Annotated". NPR. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Twohey, Megan; Eder, Steve (July 10, 2017). "How a Pageant Led to a Trump Son's Meeting With a Russian Lawyer". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Bondarenko, Veronika (July 11, 2017). "Donald Trump Jr.'s emails reference meeting the crown prosecutor of Russia – here's what that might be". Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  4. ^ Owen, Paul (July 11, 2017). "Full text of the emails between Donald Trump Jr and Rob Goldstone". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Carter, Brandon (July 10, 2017). "Trump Jr. was told potential Clinton info came from Russian government: report". The Hill. Capitol Hill Publishing. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Bertrand, Natasha (July 10, 2017). "Meet the music publicist taking credit for setting up Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer". Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Becker, Jo; Goldman, Adam; Apuzzo, Matt (July 11, 2017). "Russian Dirt on Clinton? 'I Love It,' Donald Trump Jr. Said". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  8. ^ Edwards, Jim (July 11, 2017). "Details in Donald Trump Jr.'s emails align with parts of the explosive Trump-Russia dossier". Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Read the Emails on Donald Trump Jr.'s Russia Meeting". The New York Times. July 11, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  10. ^ Smith, Allan (July 12, 2017). "June 2-13, 2016: Donald Jr.'s controversial meeting came at a pivotal point for the Trump campaign". Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  11. ^ Bump, Philip (July 11, 2017). "What happened and when: The timeline leading up to Donald Trump Jr.'s fateful meeting". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Dilanian, Ken; Lebedeva, Natasha; Jackson, Hallie (July 14, 2017). "Former Soviet Counter Intelligence Officer at Meeting With Donald Trump Jr. and Russian Lawyer". NBC News. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c Apuzzo, Matt; Becker, Jo; Goldman, Adam; Haberman, Maggie (July 10, 2017). "Trump Jr. Was Told in Email of Russian Effort to Aid Campaign". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Becker, Jo; Apuzzo, Matt; Goldman, Adam (July 8, 2017). "Trump Team Met With Lawyer Linked to Kremlin During Campaign". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  15. ^ Lanktree, Graham (July 11, 2017). "Trump Jr. appointed Rob Goldstone used Facebook to place himself at scene of Trump Tower meeting with Russian lawyer". Newsweek. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  16. ^ Hall, Kevin G. (July 11, 2017). "Lawyer who met Don Jr. had ties to Russian government, spy agency". McClatchy DC. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Butler, Desmond (July 14, 2017). "Russian-American lobbyist says he was in Trump son's meeting". Associated Press. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Donald Trump Jr. Changed His Account of Meeting with Russian Lawyer". Time. July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  19. ^ Baker, Peter; Haberman, Maggie (July 11, 2017). "Rancor at White House as Russia Story Refuses to Let the Page Turn". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  20. ^ Becker, Jo; Apuzzo, Matt; Goldman, Adam (July 9, 2017). "Trump's Son Met With Russian Lawyer After Being Promised Damaging Information on Clinton". The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  21. ^ Borchers, Callum (July 9, 2017). "Donald Trump Jr.'s stunning admission to the New York Times". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  22. ^ Vogel, Kenneth P.; Stern, David (January 11, 2017). "Ukrainian efforts to sabotage Trump backfire". Politico. Capitol News Company. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  23. ^ Greenberg, Jon (July 12, 2017). "Trump and Russia, Clinton and Ukraine: How do they compare?". PolitiFact. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ Prokupecz, Shimon; Perez, Evan; Brown, Pamela (July 11, 2017). "Source: Justice Dept. probe will look at Trump Jr.'s disclosed emails, meeting". CNN. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  25. ^ a b French, David (July 11, 2017). "There Is Now Evidence That Senior Trump Officials Attempted to Collude With Russia". National Review. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  26. ^ Shapiro, Ben (July 11, 2017). "BREAKING: Trump Jr. Drops Emails Showing He Met With Russian Lawyer As 'Part Of Russia And Its Government's Support For Mr. Trump'". The Daily Wire. Forward Publishing. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  27. ^ Madden, Nate (July 12, 2017). "Levin: Trump Jr. 'Story' Huge Distraction From Health Care Debate". CRTV LLC. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  28. ^ Grieve, Pete (July 11, 2017). "Warner: 'Clear evidence' that Trump officials met Russians to get info". CNN. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  29. ^ "Donald Jr's meeting with Russians is "clear evidence" of campaign workings". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  30. ^ Freifeld, Karen (July 10, 2017). "Trump Jr. was told of Russian effort to help father's campaign: NY Times". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  31. ^ Eisen, Norman L.; Painter, Richard W. (July 11, 2017). "Did Donald Jr. Break the Law?". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  32. ^ DeBonis, Mike (July 12, 2017). "A House Democrat has filed the first articles of impeachment against President Trump". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
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