WNU Editor: The AP report is here .... Russian-American lobbyist says he was in Trump son’s meeting (AP). The part of this AP report that I found interesting is the following ....
.... In his first public interview about the meeting, Akhmetshin said he accompanied Veselnitskaya to Trump Tower where they met an interpreter who participated in the meeting. He said he had learned about the meeting only that day when Veselnitskaya asked him to attend. He said he showed up in jeans and a T-shirt.
During the meeting, Akhmetshin said Veselnitskaya brought with her a plastic folder with printed-out documents that detailed what she believed was the flow of illicit funds to the Democratic National Committee. Veselnitskaya presented the contents of the documents to the Trump associates and suggested that making the information public could help the Trump campaign, he said.
“This could be a good issue to expose how the DNC is accepting bad money,” Akhmetshin recalled her saying.
Trump Jr.s response to this intel is even more interesting .... he refused it because she could not prove her case ....
.... Trump Jr. asked the attorney if she had all the evidence to back up her claims, including whether she could demonstrate the flow of the money. But Veselnitskaya said the Trump campaign would need to research it more. After that, Trump Jr. lost interest, according to Akhmetshin.
“They couldn’t wait for the meeting to end,” he said.
As to who is Rinat Akhmetshin that the AP is quoting in the above report, Business Insider has more .... A Soviet military officer turned lobbyist attended the Trump Jr. meeting — and there may have been a 6th person, too (Business Insider).
As to what is the press now focused on .... they are focused on the story that Donald Trump Jr. met a former Soviet military counter-intelligence officer .... Former Soviet Counterintelligence Officer at Meeting With Donald Trump Jr. and Russian Lawyer (NBC), and that there may have been 8 people in the room for this 20 minute meeting .... Trump Tower Russia meeting: At least eight people in the room (CNN).
So summarising .... a meeting was arranged to verify Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya claims that she has detailed information on illicit Democrat party fund raising. She shows up with Rinat Akhmetshin (a former Soviet military officer and now lobbyist for Russina interests who was asked to show up at the last minute) .... publicist Rob Goldstone, a representative of the Russian family who had asked Goldstone to set up the meeting, and a translator. On the U.S. side was Trump Jr., Manafort, and Jushner. Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya presents documents outlining illicit Democrat party fund raising, but the Trump team were not convinced of its authenticity .... meeting quickly ends.
All that I have to say is .... after one long week this is the only thing that we have learned?
Update #1: Trump Jr. pitch was part of broad Russian effort (The Hill).
Update #2: Trump puts Loretta Lynch in the crosshairs as he says Obama's attorney general let Russian lawyer who met Don Jr into the country (Daily Mail).
Update #3: There is some hope. In the real world the adults are now speaking out .... Jamie Dimon blows up at DC's dysfunction, says he's tired of 'listening to the stupid s---' (CNBC).
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