Weighing the Evidence
The Washington Post performed a great public service the other day by publishing the chain of emails which led to Donald Trump Jr organising a very high level meeting with someone he believed to be a 'Russian government lawyer'.
Now the meeting involved Paul Manafort (his father's campaign manager at the time) and his brother-in-law Jared Kushner who is now a very influential adviser to Donald Trump Sr in the White House.
Team Trump is now rubbishing this meeting by saying that nothing came out of it, but just look what effort went into its organisation and very soon afterwards, of course, Donald Trump Sr started tweeting about Hillary Clinton's 'missing' emails.
Coincidence or a case of people changing their stories after the event?
Read the email evidence and decide for yourself and remember that until very recently Donald Trump Jr was vehemently denying that such a meeting ever took place.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/07/11/donald-trump-jr-s-emails-about-meeting-a-russian-government-attorney-annotated/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.cb6e748d322b
Donald Trump Jr.’s full emails about meeting a ‘Russian government attorney,’ annotated
By Aaron Blake - The Washington Post
The Fix's Aaron Blake explains why Donald Trump Jr.'s decision to tweet out emails about a meeting with a Russian lawyer could end up being damaging.(Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)
Donald Trump Jr. posted his full exchange with a publicist for a Russian pop musician to Twitter on Tuesday, and the emails confirm previous reports that Trump Jr. was offered compromising information about Hillary Clinton specifically from the Russian government. The emails also say flatly that the Kremlin was working to help elect his father — claims which Trump Jr., his father and the White House would deny for months afterward.
Some have suggested that they represent a smoking gun when it comes to collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign. The White House denies there was any collusion.
The emails Trump Jr. tweeted are images. Below, we have typed them and reformatted them for ease of reading and put them in chronological order. We'll be annotating the key parts. To read an annotation, click on the yellow, highlighted text.
EMAIL NO. 1
On Jun 3, 2016, at 10:36 AM, Rob Goldstone wrote:
Good morning
Emin just called and asked me to contact you with something very interesting.
The Crown prosecutor of Russia 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 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.
What do you think is the best way to handle this information and would you be able to speak to Emin about it directly?
I can also send this info to your father via Rhona, but it is ultra sensitive so wanted to send to you first.
Best
Rob Goldstone
This iphone speaks many languages
EMAIL NO. 2
On Jun 3, 2016, at 10:53, Donald Trump Jr. wrote:
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?
Best,
Don
Sent from my iPhone
EMAIL NO. 3
-----Original message-----
From: Rob Goldstone
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 12:40 PM
To: Donald Trump Jr.
Subject: Re: Russia – Clinton – private and confidential
Hi Don
Let me know when you are free to talk with Emin by phone about this
Hillary info – you had mentioned early this week so wanted to try
to schedule a time and day Best to you and family Rob Goldstone
This iphone speaks many languages
EMAIL NO. 4
On Jun 6, 2016, at 15:03, Donald Trump Jr. wrote:
Rob could we speak now?
d
Donald J. Trump Jr.
Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisitions The Trump
Organization
725 Fifth Avenue | New York, NY | 10022
| trump.com
EMAIL NO. 5
-----Original message-----
From: Rob Goldstone
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 3:37 PM
To: Donald Trump Jr.
Subject: Re: Russia – Clinton – private and confidential
Let me track him down in Moscow
What number he could call?
This iphone speaks many languages
EMAIL NO. 6
On Jun 6, 2016, at 15:38, Donald Trump Jr. wrote:
My cell thanks
d
Donald J. Trump Jr.
Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisitions The Trump
Organization
725 Fifth Avenue | New York, NY | 10022
| trump.com
EMAIL NO. 7
On Jun 6, 2016, at 3:43 PM, Rob Goldstone wrote:
Ok he’s on stage in Moscow but should be off within 20 Minutes so I
am sure can call Rob
This iphone speaks many languages
EMAIL NO. 8
On June 6, 2016, at 16:38, Donald Trump Jr. wrote:
Rob thanks for the help.
D
Sent from an iPhone
EMAIL NO. 9
On Jun 7, 2016, at 4:20 PM, Rob Goldstone wrote:
Don
Hope all is well
Emin asked that I schedule a meeting with you and The Russian government attorney who is flying over from Moscow for this Thursday.
I believe you are aware of the meeting – and so wondered if 3pm or later on Thursday works for you?
I assume it would be at your office.
Best
Rob Goldstone
This iphone speaks many languages
EMAIL NO. 10
On Jun 7, 2016, at 5:16 PM, Donald Trump Jr. wrote:
How about 3 at our offices? Thanks rob appreciate you helping set it up.
D
Sent from my iPhone.
EMAIL NO. 11
On Jun 7, 2016, at 5:19 PM, Rob Goldstone wrote:
Perfect…I won’t sit in on the meeting, but will bring them at 3pm and introduce you etc.
I will send the names of the two people meeting with you for security when I have them later today.
best
Rob
EMAIL NO. 12
On Jun 7, 2016, at 18:14, Donald Trump Jr. wrote:
Great. It will likely be Paul Manafort (campaign boss) my brother in law and me. 725 Fifth Ave 25th floor.
Sent from my iPhone
EMAIL NO. 13
——-Original Message——-
From: Rob Goldstone
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2016 10:34 AM
To: Donald Trump Jr.
Subject: Re: Russia – Clinton – private and confidential
Good morning
Would it be possible to move tomorrow meeting to 4pm as the Russian attorney is in court until 3 i was just informed.
Best,
Rob
This iphone speaks many languages
EMAIL NO. 14
On June 8, 2016, at 11:15, Donald Trump Jr. wrote:
Yes Rob I could do that unless they wanted to do 3 today instead… just let me know and ill lock it in either way.
d
Donald J. Trump Jr.
Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisitions The Trump Organization
725 Fifth Avenue | New York, NY | 10022
| Trump.com
EMAIL NO. 15
——-Original Message——-
From: Rob Goldstone
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2016 11:18 AM
To: Donald Trump Jr.
Subject: Re: Russia - Clinton - private and confidential
They can’t do today as she hasn’t landed yet from Moscow 4pm is great tomorrow.
Best
Rob
This iphone speaks many languages
EMAIL NO. 16
From: Donald Trump Jr.
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2016 12:03 p.m
To: Jared Kushner; Paul Manafort
Subject: FW: Russia — Clinton - private and confidential
Meeting got moved to 4 tomorrow at my offices.
Best,
Don
