Recently disclosed emails between a music promoter and a Russian lawyer, shows Donald Trump Jr., Trump associates and the attorney met during Trump’s campaign to discuss how to end sanctions against Russia imposed under Barrack Obama. The emails also revealed that the lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, requested the presence of Rinat Akhmetshin, one of the campaign associates who, the attorney claimed, lobbied in Congress about the issue.
The emails suggest Veselnitskaya is alluding to the the 2012 Magnitsky Act which banned the entering of specific wealthy Russian officials into the United States, as punishment for human rights abuses. The law then led to Russia obstructing American citizens from adopting Russian children. At the time, Veselnitskaya was involved in attempts to have the law repealed.
When information of the meeting was brought to light, Trump Jr. Issued a statement in which he said the Russian lawyer “wanted to talk about adoption policy and the Magnitsky Act,” though another email showed Trump Jr. was told by promoter Rob Goldstone he was communicating with someone who had information which could incriminate Hilary Clinton, reports ABC News.
Trump Jr. gladly accepted the meeting after being presented with this news, saying: “If it’s what you say, I love it.”
In an interview she gave for ABC News, Veselnitskaya said she intended to discuss adoptions at the meeting, despite allegations that the meeting was an attempt on behalf of the Russian government to influence the outcome of the presidential elections by revealing incriminating information about Clinton.
The meeting which took place in June of last year, was attended by Paul Manafort, chairman of Trump’s campaign as well as Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. It also caught the attention of special counsel Robert Mueller who is currently looking into possible Russian interference in last year’s presidential campaign.
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