Trump Jr. 'Was Told Russia Wanted to Help Campaign'

His lawyer says report is 'much ado about nothing'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 11, 2017 5:02 AM CDT
Updated Jul 11, 2017 6:22 AM CDT
Trump Jr. 'Was Told Russia Wanted to Help Campaign'
Donald Trump Jr., the son of President Trump, speaks to media during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Another Donald Trump Jr. bombshell: Before his meeting with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer last year, the Trump son was told via email the meeting was part of a Russian effort to help his father's campaign, reports the New York Times, which cites "three people with knowledge of the email." The email—which is certain to be of interest to investigators looking for evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow—was sent by Rob Goldstone, the music publicist who set up the meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Times' sources say. Trump Jr.'s statements on the meeting have not mentioned that he had been told the person he was dealing with might be acting for the Kremlin, reports Reuters.

Trump Jr., who is quickly becoming a major figure in the investigation into alleged Russian election meddling, lawyered up on Monday, hiring New York-based attorney Allen Futerfas to represent him in the probe, the Hill reports. Futerfas tells the Times that reports on the meeting are "much ado about nothing." Goldstone contacted Trump Jr. and suggested people had information on "alleged wrongdoing by Democratic Party front-runner, Hillary Clinton, in her dealings with Russia." Trump Jr.'s "takeaway from this communication was that someone had information potentially helpful to the campaign and it was coming from someone he knew," the lawyer says. Trump Jr. said Monday that he would "be happy" to discuss the meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee. (More Donald Trump Jr. stories.)

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