Seriously? Who would believe one word anyone in this family utters. And, the excuses are absolutely ridiculous -- from Russian orphans to Hillary's fitness. How can he keep a straight face? I hope this is on record and why not a public hearing?
8
A string of lies as the story keeps changing. He just committed a crime.
4
Trump Jr. did what most people would do in the middle of a heated campaign. Campaigns, including, Clinton's have opposition research teams that are paid to do just this sort of thing.
Also the meeting was with a Russian. There is no law that I'm aware of that says you can't take a meeting with a foreigner.
But if this meeting was a part of a larger effort by the Russians, and this was known by Trump Jr., it's a different question. I've seen no information confirming that was the case.
And no I didn't vote for his father...
Also the meeting was with a Russian. There is no law that I'm aware of that says you can't take a meeting with a foreigner.
But if this meeting was a part of a larger effort by the Russians, and this was known by Trump Jr., it's a different question. I've seen no information confirming that was the case.
And no I didn't vote for his father...
Who is Donald Trump Jr. to question ANYBODY'S 'fitness' for office? This is outrageous!
8
The hubris of that statement is astonishing. The idea that Donald Trump, Jr has the "fitness" to assess anyone's qualifications for office is slightly less preposterous than the idea that the Russians in that meeting would constitute a reliable source or be qualified to judge what defines fitness according to American standards.
Beyond those obvious disqualifiers and beyond the slimy, though effective memes put out by the Trump Administration, conspiracy websites and Russian hacker/bots as to Clinton's "fitness", that was not actually a concern for most voters.
First of all, if they had genuine concerns about fitness in regard to experience and qualifications, Donald Trump would have lost. Second, the propaganda that was more effective concerned her character, something that had plagued her throughout her time in national public office and that the GOP had worked hard to exaggerate when she was SOS with years of nuisance investigations and abusive treatment. The same cast of characters mentioned above along with the party continued in that vein, as well.
To sum up, of all the ridiculous excuses Junior could have concocted, it's hard to imagine one that would be sillier.
Beyond those obvious disqualifiers and beyond the slimy, though effective memes put out by the Trump Administration, conspiracy websites and Russian hacker/bots as to Clinton's "fitness", that was not actually a concern for most voters.
First of all, if they had genuine concerns about fitness in regard to experience and qualifications, Donald Trump would have lost. Second, the propaganda that was more effective concerned her character, something that had plagued her throughout her time in national public office and that the GOP had worked hard to exaggerate when she was SOS with years of nuisance investigations and abusive treatment. The same cast of characters mentioned above along with the party continued in that vein, as well.
To sum up, of all the ridiculous excuses Junior could have concocted, it's hard to imagine one that would be sillier.
6
IF you believe anything coming out of the Trump orginazation as truth then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
They stole the election, they have broken their word to every person or party they felt with, and now they are going to sell out the entire country.
Wake up America!
They stole the election, they have broken their word to every person or party they felt with, and now they are going to sell out the entire country.
Wake up America!
7
And ducks have lips.
2
Who paid Fusion GPS, which has ties to Democrats and supporters of Hillary Clinton, a firm that contracted with a foreign agent to produce a phony dossier on President Trump that was fed to the media and the intelligence community during the 2016 campaign?
Now tell the world that the Democratic Party did not want to obtain "dirt" to determine Trump's fitness to be president. "If It’s Good For Thee, It’s Good For Me."
Now tell the world that the Democratic Party did not want to obtain "dirt" to determine Trump's fitness to be president. "If It’s Good For Thee, It’s Good For Me."
Now we have a mental adolescent judging, probably the most dedicated, sincere, accomplished woman of our time.
11
Can you imagine if Hillary Clinton had been elected and Chelsea Clinton had met to dig up dirt on their adversaries in the Republican Party? The Televangelist Tea-Party would be at the barricades with pitch forks at hand, Fox News would be screaming, "Scandal!" from the rooftops. Hypocrisy is their mark of character.
9
Impressive. A master class in lying from a thoroughbred prevaricator.
Can there really be anyone sucker enough to entertain this shaggy dog story?
Can there really be anyone sucker enough to entertain this shaggy dog story?
6
Trump Jr. needs the lawyers of OJ Simpson. He can afford them.
5
The real question remains, Who is more trustworthy, Hillary or Putin?
I'll take the Russians! Viva Trump! Viva Vlad! Viva Duerte!
I'll take the Russians! Viva Trump! Viva Vlad! Viva Duerte!
1
Trump Sr in WH plays judge, jury and executioner in his twitter court for everyone that disagrees with him. No surprise that junior also thought he can play the same role to determine Hillary's fitness to be president.
Junior, Jared, Sessions, Manafort, Flynn ... all have lied about speaking with Russian's and then caught. Does Trump still agree that water boarding will be a good tool to get the truth out from those who work with the enemy of the state and then lie about it?
Junior, Jared, Sessions, Manafort, Flynn ... all have lied about speaking with Russian's and then caught. Does Trump still agree that water boarding will be a good tool to get the truth out from those who work with the enemy of the state and then lie about it?
5
The reality is that DJT,Jr., is just flat out slimy. I guess the lawyers told him that the 'adoption' ruse, was not a lie because it involved retaliation by the Obama administration against the Russians. At this point, the Congress needs to create a law which specifies that any president may not pardon himself or his family members and make that law retroactive. I believe DJT, Sr. knew all about this meeting and helped sonny boy in being a surrogate on his [DJT's] behalf. Treason. . . yes. Obstruction of justice . . . yes. The entire DJT presidency with cabinet members and Republican/Libertarian/ Conservative members of Congress/Senate is spiritually and totally without any morality and bankrupt as the same relates to the American soul!
5
The big question is, will daddy Donald visit Donald junior in jail?
4
no...since he will pardon him before that happens...just like he did with Sheriff Joe.
1
Arrest him.
5
Now It makes sense. He was checking Hillary's fitness to adopt a child
3
Lies, lies and more lies.
5
Fitness for office?? ... based on information from ... Russians? Oh, okay.
Well, Li'l Donny certainly had plenty of time to make THAT one up.
Hey, Ivanka, how do you think your bro looks in stripes?
Well, Li'l Donny certainly had plenty of time to make THAT one up.
Hey, Ivanka, how do you think your bro looks in stripes?
6
Unethical behavior, or rather, blissful lack of awareness that there is something called decency, is part and parcel of the Trump family culture. From Trump's ancestor serving the "needs" of miners in the Yukon to Trump's association with Mafia bosses, the Trump family exemplifies the ugly, toxic, unseemly side of America. Gambling resorts, architectural eyesores, bankruptcies, massive tax avoidance, blatant exploitation of the America's ignorance and racism, and thousands of lawsuits - and not a single contribution of any social value whatsoever. The apple never falls too far from the tree.
9
I've stopped caring. It's clear that we're stuck until 2020 with the fake president and his chinless grifter children. So revolting.
8
While Trump Jr was "investigating " Hillary Clintons fitness for office ,17 US intelligence agencies........."missed" informing the American voters on Don the Cons,money laundering and connections with the Russian mafia and Putins kleptocratic henchmen.............creating the need for a Special Prosecutor to investigate the POTUS ......after the "foxes" were already in the henhouse !
5
It sounds like Trump Jr. may have been a bit naive or careless in his dealings with the Russians. However, its already been established that being careless in not indictable.
Colluding with a hostile foreign government on the other hand.....
1
Was the "non indicted" in cahoots with the Russians? Was he(she) trying to buid a hotel in Moscow?
2
Too bad you didn't consult with a psychiatrist to see if Daddy was "Fit for Office".
7
And this know-nothing, ignorant punk who has achieved nothing on his own in his entire life is going to decide whether Hillary Clinton is fit for office? What a joke! Like his father, he assumes everyone can be conned and, like his father, almost every thing he says is a lie.
9
Regarding Donsld Jr.:
Stupid and arrogant in combination are really, really hard to fix.
Stupid and arrogant in combination are really, really hard to fix.
9
The only thing preventing Trump from impeachment is his cult base. What will it take for these people to wake up? The DNC really needs an expert on how to council those who have unfettered love for their cult leader and how to break that bond.
6
What sheer arrogance! In our democracy voters determine each candidate's fitness for office.i
8
Following a terribly poor performance as a do-nothing Secretary of State her post-Benghazi nervous breakdown, any politically astute citizen wanted to know if she was even remotely fit to assume the office.
Having loosely werked for an obsequious president, who was reknown for bowing to leaders of lesser states, did not help her resume either.
Having loosely werked for an obsequious president, who was reknown for bowing to leaders of lesser states, did not help her resume either.
1
You like this excuse? Just wait, it will change next week. Only a True Trump thinker would try to excuse little Donnie's actions by saying that it was really Clinton's fault, and Donnie was just trying to help the country.
BTW, who really believes that President DONALD knew nothing about this meeting? Little Donnie is simply a cutout, who will eventually receive a Presidential pardon.
BTW, who really believes that President DONALD knew nothing about this meeting? Little Donnie is simply a cutout, who will eventually receive a Presidential pardon.
8
OH really.....then why say it would be best to receive this information in the future, during the summer when that would work better? Donald Trump Jr. lied, pure and simple.
8
It was the patriotic duty of Don Jr. to meet with the Russian lawyer. Here's why: The e-mailers stated that they wanted to meet with Don Jr. to provide him with "information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia."
In other words, the e-mailers were warning Don Jr. that a presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, was involved in potentially treasonous "dealings with Russia." By attending that meeting Don could determine if info existed that showed that Hillary was working with Putin to undermine the US, a very likely conclusion given that the Clintons have a long history of colluding with communist Russia as far back as the late 1960s and right through to the present.
POTUS and his new FBI chief must at least begin investigating what the e-mailer meant by Hillary's potentially treasonous "dealings with Russia."
In other words, the e-mailers were warning Don Jr. that a presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, was involved in potentially treasonous "dealings with Russia." By attending that meeting Don could determine if info existed that showed that Hillary was working with Putin to undermine the US, a very likely conclusion given that the Clintons have a long history of colluding with communist Russia as far back as the late 1960s and right through to the present.
POTUS and his new FBI chief must at least begin investigating what the e-mailer meant by Hillary's potentially treasonous "dealings with Russia."
1
"Donald Trump Jr. told Senate investigators...it was important to learn about Mrs. Clinton’s “fitness” to be president."
Now there's some irony! trump Jr. questioning Clinton's fitness for office!
Junior may not have colluded with the Russians but not for lack of trying. He went to that meeting with someone he was told was a high ranking Russian agent hoping for help from her.
Put another way, he went to a government that is hostile towards the United States of America, seeking help to take over our government. He's a traitor. Period.
Now there's some irony! trump Jr. questioning Clinton's fitness for office!
Junior may not have colluded with the Russians but not for lack of trying. He went to that meeting with someone he was told was a high ranking Russian agent hoping for help from her.
Put another way, he went to a government that is hostile towards the United States of America, seeking help to take over our government. He's a traitor. Period.
5
If this is the newest version of Don's "truth", he should have been seeking information on his own father's fitness for office.
4
In my opinion, I think that it is wrong for Donald Trump to try and get "dirt" on Clinton. The election is over and one with, Trump won, so why try to cause more arguments and uproar? Donald Trump has much more important things to put his time into, not trying to ruin Clintons reputation. Our president needs to be more mature about this.
Following a terribly poor performance as a do-nothing Secretary of State her post-Benghazi nervous Breakdown, any politically astute citizen wanted to know if she was even remotely fit to assume the responsibilities of the office.
Many saw her as both cold blooded, distant, and less than trustworthy
Many saw her as both cold blooded, distant, and less than trustworthy
1
And of course she would not bake cookies for children and give teas.
1
It boils down to the theory of "the reasonable man" or is his narrative true or does it pass the believability test? The answer is obvious (NO)!
On one hand, ---- translating Trumped-Up talk, up is down and everyone's doing it, means the law does not apply because I was gonna eventually do the right thing ----- on the other hand, most convicts regret getting caught, but fewer regret trying to escape justice!
Justice is blind, not deaf!
On one hand, ---- translating Trumped-Up talk, up is down and everyone's doing it, means the law does not apply because I was gonna eventually do the right thing ----- on the other hand, most convicts regret getting caught, but fewer regret trying to escape justice!
Justice is blind, not deaf!
3
Setting aside the irony of the son of Donald Trump wanting to assess Hillary Clinton's fitness for office, my question is: if he'd gotten information from Russia that she was actually more fit than his father, would he have joined HER campaign?
It is to laugh!
It is to laugh!
2
He doesn't have much imagination in fabricating lies for his actions. He's the smart son? Lies should have some chance of being believed,otherwise they won't pass credibility test.
2
"Fitness?" As if Little Don -- was his Skittles retweet "fit?" -- could possibly be any judge of it. As if seeking supposed information supplied by the nation that's salivating to get your father elected were credible. If "fitness" mattered so much to Little Don, then he should have bent over the backward to check his daddy's fitness and to do something about it.
1
Actually jr's first statement about adoptions was the most accurate.
Adoptions is code for Russian sanctions.
See the connections:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/07/magnitsky-act-...
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/bill-browders-testi...
Adoptions is code for Russian sanctions.
See the connections:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/07/magnitsky-act-...
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/bill-browders-testi...
2
Riiiiight. Because the Trumps are such good judges of character.
4
It's remarkable how transparently these Trumps project.
Everything that Trump has been accused of is somehow turned into an attack against Hillary, claiming she either did it first (e.g., Birther Movement) or worse (misogyny!, inciting campaign violence, corruption, etc.).
Some of it is calculated and heavily orchestrated, but it all comes down to DonJuan's petulant attitude that brought us the childish debate retort:
"No, you're the puppet!"
That during a debate in October of 2016 that also included:
1. So much defending of Putin by Trump that Russian chess world champion Garry Kasparov commented:
"Incredible. What does Putin have on Trump to inspire such blind loyalty? Trump defends Putin more aggressively than Putin’s own propaganda!
8:36 PM - Oct 19, 2016"
2. The audience openly laughing when Trump said no one respects women more than he does; and
3. Trump saying he won't accept the results of the election if he loses, with Hillary pointing out how Donald complains everything he loses is rigged.
Wow, was America bamboozled!
There's truly no way this guy should be holding any office. And Republicans should stop overlooking how much help Trump gained in winning the primaries. It wasn't just the general election results that make no sense.
Everything that Trump has been accused of is somehow turned into an attack against Hillary, claiming she either did it first (e.g., Birther Movement) or worse (misogyny!, inciting campaign violence, corruption, etc.).
Some of it is calculated and heavily orchestrated, but it all comes down to DonJuan's petulant attitude that brought us the childish debate retort:
"No, you're the puppet!"
That during a debate in October of 2016 that also included:
1. So much defending of Putin by Trump that Russian chess world champion Garry Kasparov commented:
"Incredible. What does Putin have on Trump to inspire such blind loyalty? Trump defends Putin more aggressively than Putin’s own propaganda!
8:36 PM - Oct 19, 2016"
2. The audience openly laughing when Trump said no one respects women more than he does; and
3. Trump saying he won't accept the results of the election if he loses, with Hillary pointing out how Donald complains everything he loses is rigged.
Wow, was America bamboozled!
There's truly no way this guy should be holding any office. And Republicans should stop overlooking how much help Trump gained in winning the primaries. It wasn't just the general election results that make no sense.
3
For a family that lies so often, they don't do it very well.
5
And who would know that better than the Russian government? If they didn't think she was fit, then of course we should not trust her to run the government. We definitely need a president who has passed Russia's fitness test.
2
The "fitness" comment is like a shoplifter saying he only took the product because he wanted to test the soundness of the store's security system.
4
The one big glaring lie that should hit you in the face is, with all those who attended this meeting, all close to the President, you cannot tell me that no one briefed Trump and he knew nothing about it. This lie alone makes this a big deal and signals a much greater crime under the surface.
3
Don Jr. will know better next time his father runs in 2020! Given the state of the Democratic Party, he may win again!
1
Okay, so here is one scenario. A meeting is called of top Trump confidants to meet with a Russian Lawyer/ lobbyist to discuss dirt about Hillary, and we know Trump loves Russia. The Russian Lawyer says, I don't have it with me and can't disclose sources or nature of this dirt, but I can assure you it's good stuff. All I need is assurances that if elected, Trump will drop sanctions against Russia. Trump Jr. says, we will see what we can do. End of meeting. Next step, establish a back door at the Russian Embassy so this dirt can be transferred without fear of interception.
Bottom line: Trump Sr. says "good job son."
Bottom line: Trump Sr. says "good job son."
3
Lies, lies, lies...Excuses, excuses, excuses. Trump Jr. should have invested his time determining if his father was "fit" to be president. Even at first blush he would have known the answer without working up too much of a sweat! He could have asked him a few questions and quickly determined how unfit he was, but then he would have had to know the questions! He didn't need the Russians to help him with determining Mrs. Clinton "fitness". He and his father are examples of the worst of political ignorant individuals. If either one of them, or any of them, had a conscience it would be a surprise to most people.
3
Little Donald: did you and your siblings ever looked at your father, Don senior? Phony excuses such as inexperience, chaotic, hectic wont fly. You, Kushner, Manafort and the other Russians went to the July 2016 meeting knowing full well to get dirt from foreign power (an adversary). We the people need to hear from this guy in public hearing as we are interested what would be his next excuse. His story keeps on changing.
3
I thought Don Jr. wanted to discuss adoption policies with the Russians.
4
And to think Democrats only wanted Trump's tax returns.
15
Donny Junior looking for evidence that Hillary is "fit for office". Well, isn't that special? The fault, dear Donny, lies not in the stars. It lies in the penthouse of Trump Tower and in your genes. Et brute, Donny.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
8
It is extremely difficult to believe the son of the biggest liar this country has ever had in the W.H. By his own admission he knew that collecting data on Hillary Clinton provided by the Russians was illegal, that’s the reason he consulted with his attorneys. He should have collected data on his own father about his fitness for the presidency. He would not have been surprised with the results since he has lived with the narcissist character all his life. It would be wise for him to learn that lying to congress is a criminal offense. He is in a big pickle the like of which he has never known, as his progenitor puts it. If he tells the truth he could be prosecuted and if he lies he will be prosecuted. He put himself in that position or is he going to blame daddy?
14
He did not "consult with attorneys" beforehand. He only said he would have. Otherwise, I fully agree.
1
Many of the comments to this article remind me of so many people who argue that as long as no laws are broken our actions are okay notwithstanding they are unethical and even immoral. It is this "winning at any cost" frame of mind the reason why we cannot longer spot the rot eating our political parties and society at large.
Yes, we should be concerned about the fate of DACA recipients and the potential harm resulting from unwise tax legislation as some argue, but we should never look the other way when the people vying to lead us resort to behavior formerly reserved for con men.
Yes, we should be concerned about the fate of DACA recipients and the potential harm resulting from unwise tax legislation as some argue, but we should never look the other way when the people vying to lead us resort to behavior formerly reserved for con men.
11
"Mr. Trump said he did not speak to his father about the draft statement because he did not want to involve him in something he “knew nothing about,” "
Um, Junior, your father was running for US President at the time and you were supporting him. He was neck deep in "something he knew nothing about".
Um, Junior, your father was running for US President at the time and you were supporting him. He was neck deep in "something he knew nothing about".
12
Is this you, Rep. Ryan?
2
Hahaha ... good one!
The Trumps are such idiots that outrage turns to revulsion. How some people believe their own lies -- which in this case, goes beyond spin -- is mind-boggling to me. One wonders how they can look at themselves without disgust.
10
I think he'd be better served by seeking insight into his fathers fitness.
11
What irony! Trumpf the younger questioning the fitness of the other candidate while America and many in Congress question the fitness of trumpf the elder?
10
Why did he not choose to immediatedly report this offer of interference and influence from a foreign government to the FBI?
12
Please edit your sentence here: "He is the second person connected to the Trump campaign to tell congressional investigators that the campaign was, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy — let alone coordinate with the Russian government."
Better for the layreader: He is the second person connected to the Trump campaign to tell congressional investigators that the campaign was too complex, and he, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy, let alone coordinate with the Russian government.
Better for the layreader: He is the second person connected to the Trump campaign to tell congressional investigators that the campaign was too complex, and he, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy, let alone coordinate with the Russian government.
4
'it was important to learn about Mrs. Clinton’s “fitness” to be president'.
And so now we have in office, his father.
Oh the irony
And so now we have in office, his father.
Oh the irony
8
LIAR.... Donald Trump Jr. is a cookie cut version of his father... shame on all who believe him...
12
We have folks, in front of our eyes, the Trump organized crime family. How the hell did he get elected?
3
Answer: the racism, bigotry and self-absorption of every single Trump voter.
3
It seems he got elected with a little help from his comrades.
4
You're joking, right? To determine fitness for office, when he knew his father was up to his armpits in Russian money? This is just a spin to save himself.
8
Liar, liar just like thy Father!
Poor little boy.
I forget, he is 40 years old.
He never had a job...
Poor little boy.
I forget, he is 40 years old.
He never had a job...
11
The Clinton campaign told Don Boy jr. that Don Boy sr, was unfit for office.
Did he listen? No.
But, but he is a good boy...
He deserves all the praise and none of the consequences because, because he is a good boy!
Lock him up!
Did he listen? No.
But, but he is a good boy...
He deserves all the praise and none of the consequences because, because he is a good boy!
Lock him up!
7
It is super illegal to lie to Congress.
15
Adding to the list of presidential one liners that once out of the mouth the speaker, he wishes he could take back:
I am not a crook.
Read my lips.
I did not have sex with that woman.
Heck of a job, Brownie.
If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.
I have nothing to do with Russia.
I am not a crook.
Read my lips.
I did not have sex with that woman.
Heck of a job, Brownie.
If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.
I have nothing to do with Russia.
3
President Obama's statement about doctors doesn't belong in there. He honestly meant it and believed it to be true. He naively underestimated the willingness of insurance companies to screw over their customers.
1
Would that be Richard "The War Hero" Blumenthal, that NYT is relying on for a truthful summary of what transpired?
1
Ah, I was wondering when deflection would be used
4
Hard to make that make sense, right? Unless of course the main subject is Mr. "five deferrals for a bone spur" in . . . which heel was it?
But no worries--POTUS served his country in his own personal Vietnam, by avoiding an STD (sounds disgraceful, but a paraphrase of his own words).
But no worries--POTUS served his country in his own personal Vietnam, by avoiding an STD (sounds disgraceful, but a paraphrase of his own words).
3
Reply to RS:
Richard Blumenthal is a man of integrity, very much unlike Donald Trump, who was a draft dodging rich boy.
Richard Blumenthal is a man of integrity, very much unlike Donald Trump, who was a draft dodging rich boy.
3
What a dope. A real trump through and through.
12
I wonder if his dad will whip his base into a spittle flying, glassy eyed frenzy leading the chant of "Lock him up!"
8
Nonsense. Any information about Hillary's fitness was available in spades from the historical record and right wing propaganda. That he would turn to Russia just illustrated"s how greedy and desperate they were. And stupid, since involving a foreign power in their campaign was illegal.
20
Maybe he looked at the fitness of the wrong candidate
19
It is galling that this do-nothing, know-nothing privileged son of a real estate developer imagines that he is fit to assess the "fitness for office" of a candidate who had devoted the majority of her adult life to public service and whose preparation for the presidency was comprehensive and detailed. We have entered a Lewis Carroll phase in American politics. When will this nightmare end?
39
Do-nothing, know-nothing who also kills majestic elephants for a good time. Utter scum of the earth.
3
This is so rich.
This chump was going to evaluate the "fitness"of Ms. Clinton to be President?
It doesn't matte if he found nothing out.
He sought out a meeting with a foreign government to manipulate the election.
Lock him and the rest of his family up.
This chump was going to evaluate the "fitness"of Ms. Clinton to be President?
It doesn't matte if he found nothing out.
He sought out a meeting with a foreign government to manipulate the election.
Lock him and the rest of his family up.
29
Lol, talking points are so much fun. His grave was dug the moment he said the meeting was about child adoption. The truth is never heard to find, if you want to look for it.
10
An interesting lesson on how lawyers attempt to sanitize the pursuit of dirt,,
17
If only Donald Jr had asked the Russian operatives if his father was fit for the office of president.
12
If Donald Jr was so concerned with fitness for the office of president were was his concern about Donald Sr ??? He must have known that his own corrupt father was unfit and totally unprepared for the responsibilities of the presidency....
Non are so blind as those who stand to gain power and $$ by looking the other way from what is right in front of them...
Non are so blind as those who stand to gain power and $$ by looking the other way from what is right in front of them...
12
His lawyers get paid whether he gets away clean or is sentenced for treason. Doesn't matter what story he was coached to claim.
5
O, the comedy of this whole thing.
So, Butchwax (as a friend of mine refers to him) decides that it's incumbent upon him, who knows absolutely nothing about just about anything political, to determine the fitness for office of Hillary Clinton--a person who was probably one of the most, if not THE most qualified candidate for office ever to run for the position.
Meanwhile, his father, 'knows nothing about this'. Well, this is not the only thing 45 knows nothing about. He knows nothing about, well, just about everything.
How did this clown show come to be in charge of all of the rest of us?
It's plain to see how angry the Universe is with us. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and now an 8.1 earthquake in the ocean offshore of Mexico. These are parlous times.
So, Butchwax (as a friend of mine refers to him) decides that it's incumbent upon him, who knows absolutely nothing about just about anything political, to determine the fitness for office of Hillary Clinton--a person who was probably one of the most, if not THE most qualified candidate for office ever to run for the position.
Meanwhile, his father, 'knows nothing about this'. Well, this is not the only thing 45 knows nothing about. He knows nothing about, well, just about everything.
How did this clown show come to be in charge of all of the rest of us?
It's plain to see how angry the Universe is with us. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and now an 8.1 earthquake in the ocean offshore of Mexico. These are parlous times.
14
He's so guilty...
6
He lied under oath. We'd have to be idiots at this point to not assume that Trump and his lackeys coordinated with Kremlin authorities in one way or another. But they are all going to lie under oath. And they are going to get away with it. I've already reconciled with that. Now, I just want a progressive 2020 candidate to flip the mood of the country back progressive. The country's mood hasn't been progressive since Vietnam war protests. Trump's idiocy might facilitate that happening.
10
Donald Trump Jr. has shown himself to be the Fredo of the Trump crime family.
13
The committee telegraphed a long time ago they were going to interview baby Trump and others - they've had oodles of time to be coached. That said, much of the young lad's testimony sounded stilted and disingenuous.
6
Agree, he was coached but the fact remains that his story keeps on changing. We need to hear him under oat in public setting.
1
Sounds like a confession to me.
5
I wonder what part of DTJ's admission that he sought out a Russian lawyer to get dirt on HRC, yet he didn't collude with Russians that the GOP Congress doesn't get and refuse to do anything about it? I am sick to death of the insane, bizarre, and ignorant politics in this country anymore. What in God's name is wrong with people?
9
"I know nothing, my dad told me everything to say"
3
I am laughing out loud.
5
The Trumps all lie so easily. Can that be genetic?
8
This particular revision of Don Jr.'s unbelievable story drips with enough irony to rival the amount of grease dripping from his tarred hair helmet. The only thing any of the Trumps is fit to do is cajole and and prod idle people into a tent to see a bunch of clowns drop their pants over and over.
6
Imagine if Chelsea Clinton had done this. The Right would be screaming for someone's head.
11
he wants to go to prison?
2
Something tells me that this entire family wouldn't recognize irony if it punched them in the face.
8
speaking of fitness....
4
Too bad he didn't seek information on his father's fitness.
5
Donald Trump Jr. A chip off the old block - and nothing to be proud of.
6
Oh, gee, it wasn't about adoptions?
You mean he was lying then?
Or is he lying now?!
Ahh...he spoke. Of course he is lying.
He's a Trump.
Dang, the whole family is smarmy (more like swarmy) and dishonest.
You mean he was lying then?
Or is he lying now?!
Ahh...he spoke. Of course he is lying.
He's a Trump.
Dang, the whole family is smarmy (more like swarmy) and dishonest.
12
Lies are as natural to the trump family as the air they breathe.
10
The entire Trump freak show could evaluate anyone's "fitness" simply by looking into a mirror.
4
That's like me going to the Mafia to learn how to get rich quick.
Nothing wrong with that right? Except for laws against associating with known mobsters/conspiring with them. RICO.
Nothing wrong with that right? Except for laws against associating with known mobsters/conspiring with them. RICO.
3
And the lies keep coming.
3
Anyone hear the word "irony" screaming for mercy? Just checking.
5
Lame defense. Even if Trump Jr. had laid out a full confessional though, I'm not holding my breath for justice. President Trump has clearly signaled his intention to pardon anyone and everyone involved with campaign wrongdoing. Theoretically, this includes violations of the False Statements statute. Seeing as Junior has already changed his story several times, the statements regarding his father's ignorance immediately stand out like one big lie.
The question of Trump Jr.'s guilt is therefore secondary. The real question is whether Presidential abuse of executive pardon is an impeachable offense. The pardon power is theoretically unlimited and almost certainly irreversible. However, the act of pardoning someone can constitute an impeachable offense. There's a contradiction in the Constitution. While the president's pardon power is unbounded, Article II Section 3 states the president "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."
This is why so many conventions exist surrounding the pardon. Technically speaking, the President isn't required to justify a pardon. However, an unjustified pardon might constitute a high crime. Arpaio comes to mind. Trump Jr. is an even more glaring offense and probable a violation of several other laws as well. The problem is the "President" in President Trump. As long as Republicans are willing to flout the Constitution, Trump is safe behind his immunity and his family is safe behind his pardon.
Like I said, I'm not holding my breath.
The question of Trump Jr.'s guilt is therefore secondary. The real question is whether Presidential abuse of executive pardon is an impeachable offense. The pardon power is theoretically unlimited and almost certainly irreversible. However, the act of pardoning someone can constitute an impeachable offense. There's a contradiction in the Constitution. While the president's pardon power is unbounded, Article II Section 3 states the president "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."
This is why so many conventions exist surrounding the pardon. Technically speaking, the President isn't required to justify a pardon. However, an unjustified pardon might constitute a high crime. Arpaio comes to mind. Trump Jr. is an even more glaring offense and probable a violation of several other laws as well. The problem is the "President" in President Trump. As long as Republicans are willing to flout the Constitution, Trump is safe behind his immunity and his family is safe behind his pardon.
Like I said, I'm not holding my breath.
6
The trump children aren't fit for anything other than
killing endangered animals, having bags manufactured
in China and shady real estate deals.
A band of criminals like their ranting father.
Impeach all of them now.
killing endangered animals, having bags manufactured
in China and shady real estate deals.
A band of criminals like their ranting father.
Impeach all of them now.
12
if there was nothing "wrong", nothing politically sensitive, or politically harmful in the June meeting, it would have 1) been disclosed fully at the time it took place; 2) been fully disclosed at the first time it was discovered by the free press; 3) of course, been disclosed in it's the first public disclosure by Trump Jr. 4) would have had a consistent explanation from the WH and all other press releases, Not.
So much for a transparent Presidency.
So much for a transparent Presidency.
6
If anyone thinks that Jr. is running Trump's billion dollar businesses I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell them. Clearly, Trump, the elder, is running those businesses from his "retreats" on those endless golfing weekends. Why isn't AG Sessions zealously protecting our constitutional system from these presidential infractions?
4
So their defense is that they were too inexperienced to know that they were colluding with the Russians. Boils down to ignorance of the law is no excuse, but ignorance is.
7
Another "much to do about nothing" political analysis, I've lost count on the number of articles the Times has published on a Russia / Trump conspiracy. In the end, it has all amounted to nothing. What is evident is that he walked away with nothing from the meeting. Had tangible evidence been obtained, Trump would have beaten Clinton over the head with it, regardless as to its source. The DNC plaid a former British spy for a dossier on Trump that was a total fabrication. Politics is not a gentleman's game just ask Bernie Sanders. His own party undermined his campaign.
2
If it's nothing, why does Trump and everyone connected with him keep lying about it?
Junior's story keeps changing, but he email and his past statements say it all.
How does jail time feel to you?
How does jail time feel to you?
3
No wonder Trump didn't divest his company and place it solely in the hands of his two sons---these two are not the sharpest tools in the tool box.
7
Public willful false statements. It's time to put stop to it and slam this dude with some jail time to teach the Trumps a lesson about truth.
7
Doesn't sound like "I love it" to me.
As for Clinton's "fitness for office," he's being cute. Even when he's in hot water up to his neck, he's still leering and trying to act like he's smarter than everyone else.
As for Clinton's "fitness for office," he's being cute. Even when he's in hot water up to his neck, he's still leering and trying to act like he's smarter than everyone else.
9
It's been less thsn a year since the Russisn interference was uncovered. This in itself justifies a continuing investigation. Collusion with the campaign is a separate issue, the scooe of which has yet to be discovered. Trump Jr met with Russians to get dirt on Hillary. This was illegal collusion. Foreigners can't be involved in our campaigns. Period. Added to this, firing Comey to stop the Russia investigation was obstruction. The nothing to see here line is fascile nonsense.
5
I only wish I knew Junior was on the case sooner. I could have used the results of his assessment in my voting decision. Looking forward to reading up on his methodology for determining a candidates fitness for office as it will no doubt prove valuable in future contests.
5
As much of a collusion believer I am and will remain to be on this subject, after reading this story my instincts tell me this meeting points to one thing and one thing only - guilt of stupidity. After all - look who was elected.
1
Projection of their own unseemly traits and characteristics onto others is apparently in the Trump family DNA. It's a strategy, a kind of passing the buck of negatives about themselves (which they won't admit to or take responsibility for) onto others. They see in others what they refuse to see or take responsibility for in themselves. It's similar to someone being unfaithful in their marriage and blaming their spouse for doing the same thing even though the spouse is innocent.
Considering that Trump Jr.'s father is wholly unfit for office, his excuse for meeting with the Russians is so utterly absurd, it's laughable. That's similar to his father's campaign motto "Lock her up,," when all along, due to his unfair and probably illegal business practices, not to mention potential collusion with Russia, that's apparently what 45 himself deserves. Also, his accusing the media of fake news when lying has become second nature to him So much so that he's unable to figure out what's fact or what's fiction.
Do the Trump's take us for gullible fools? That's apparently projection too.
Considering that Trump Jr.'s father is wholly unfit for office, his excuse for meeting with the Russians is so utterly absurd, it's laughable. That's similar to his father's campaign motto "Lock her up,," when all along, due to his unfair and probably illegal business practices, not to mention potential collusion with Russia, that's apparently what 45 himself deserves. Also, his accusing the media of fake news when lying has become second nature to him So much so that he's unable to figure out what's fact or what's fiction.
Do the Trump's take us for gullible fools? That's apparently projection too.
12
I would have liked for you to explain why it was the Senator's assistants that asked the questions and why senators were not even allowed to ask questions even if they wanted. And why did only a handful of senators attend?
3
"To the extent they had information concerning the fitness, character or qualifications of a presidential candidate" Another clueless Trump. He clearly has blinders on. Like her or not, Hillary clearly surpassed Trump on her fitness, character and qualifications. I am embarrassed by the behavior, character and stupidity of our current president. Unlike Thanksgiving dinner, Uncle Donald is not going away nor do I want him to with Phony Pence waiting in the wings.
6
“I had never worked on a campaign before and it was an exhausting, all-encompassing, life-changing experience. Every single day I fielded dozens, if not hundreds, of emails and phone calls.”
Poor Don Jr, this is probably the first real work he has ever done. Like his Dad who never expected being President would be such hard work.
Poor Don Jr, this is probably the first real work he has ever done. Like his Dad who never expected being President would be such hard work.
8
If these were actually Russian agents at this meeting, the conversations were likely taped. If any inconsistencies (lies) are in Trump junior's testimony, Putin now has proof that the President's son is guilty of perjury.
Even though there is little doubt of a Presidential pardon, Putin can hold that hammer over Trump (and us) until the end of this four year nightmare
Even though there is little doubt of a Presidential pardon, Putin can hold that hammer over Trump (and us) until the end of this four year nightmare
4
FoxNews continues to parrot back to the American people that there are no laws against colluding with a foreign government. This is not true. There are at least 4 one of which is the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. If Trump Jr is such a babe in the woods, at the very least he should have his security clearance revoked due to his lack of judgement and clear obstruction in this case.
6
If Junior didn't collude with the Russians, it wasn't for lack of trying. The fact that he tried to is important and should matter to people.
5
On this question of lack of fitness, one certain candidate for lack of fitness as a person is Trump Jr! Morality, judgement and intelligence seem in short supply.
5
Like begets like. Like father like son. Try and make mendacious and Machiavellian statements and get away with it. This is a story as hoary as the gory details of dissemblers from yore. Trump's insouciant inclinations, towards what is true and what is not, have made him jawbone about his Russian intentions, which have constantly shifted from pillar to post. Circular arguments, and kerfuffles have been regular features in Trump Jr.'s cackles about his Russian involvements.
If some one can put a kibosh on it, Mueller and his team can, hopefully. Trump's loquacious and lopsided answers to the press and, now, to the committee are ones for the books. His shifty strategy seems quite minatory and it needs to be frontally attacked without any mercy. What a mountebank! It is simply irresistible to suggest he and his coterie has been conniving at, winking, and nodding at the Russian visitors, and the whole meeting and rendezvous reek of something rotten, if not collusion. One can smell a rat. a dead one.
The congressional committee will do well to bring out the truth and expose any wrong doing by any one involved, so punishment can be meted out apace. Else, pandemonium will rule the roost.
If some one can put a kibosh on it, Mueller and his team can, hopefully. Trump's loquacious and lopsided answers to the press and, now, to the committee are ones for the books. His shifty strategy seems quite minatory and it needs to be frontally attacked without any mercy. What a mountebank! It is simply irresistible to suggest he and his coterie has been conniving at, winking, and nodding at the Russian visitors, and the whole meeting and rendezvous reek of something rotten, if not collusion. One can smell a rat. a dead one.
The congressional committee will do well to bring out the truth and expose any wrong doing by any one involved, so punishment can be meted out apace. Else, pandemonium will rule the roost.
1
So now it turns out that Donnie was not only a "good boy" (as Trump Sr. said) but also an undercover operative seeking to discover whether Russia was involved in dive-bombing Hillary. This public service deserves recognition from a skeptical public -- perhaps the Medal of Freedom from the White House.
1
If Obama's dog had snuggled up to a visiting Russian delegate, the right-wing would have been pounding the tables for multi-million dollar investigations, and would have demanded the dog testify under oath. Granted, Obama's dogs are cleaner, more intelligent, honorable and principled than any trump, such is the double standards and moral relativism of the Republican party, including the "christian" wing.
Junior told one truth however (in addition to his name): they gained nothing of value on Hilary. Even with the help of Russian spies, after 30 years of lies and conspiracy theories, multi-million dollar investigations and the right-wing media war against her, Hilary remains who she says she is. She would have made a fine president.
Junior told one truth however (in addition to his name): they gained nothing of value on Hilary. Even with the help of Russian spies, after 30 years of lies and conspiracy theories, multi-million dollar investigations and the right-wing media war against her, Hilary remains who she says she is. She would have made a fine president.
3
It's Kushner who is in the biggest trouble. He ran the digital operations for the campaign, and directed the Russian efforts in key swing states.
Trump Senior will lie and sacrifice anyone including family but Mueller will get him on racketeering, tax evasion , money laundering and obstruction of justice. Trump will avoid collusion and treason (unlike his son n law) , and in the deep dark waters which comprise his mind , he will once again claim the entire matter was was a witch hunt and his financial crimes are just business .
Trump Senior will lie and sacrifice anyone including family but Mueller will get him on racketeering, tax evasion , money laundering and obstruction of justice. Trump will avoid collusion and treason (unlike his son n law) , and in the deep dark waters which comprise his mind , he will once again claim the entire matter was was a witch hunt and his financial crimes are just business .
3
Like Father, like son. Lame excuses which are really just lies. Trump and his family are unfit to be leaders of any sort. For them, it is about passing blame, ridiculing others, and all done with a child like mentality.
2
While it is unlikely it will ever be proven that the Trump campaign "colluded" with Russians, the fact that they knew the Russians were up to something before the flood of hacked messages started showing up on Wikileaks is damning all by itself. Trump was in the best position to blow the whistle on the Russian intrusion, but chose instead to use the stolen information to slam his opponent and sow discord in the Democratic Party while feigning ignorance about about its source. Maybe that wasn't collusion, but undeniably it was complicity and deserves resounding condemnation by the American people.
5
A July 20 Slate report wrote "Meanwhile, new reports about the individuals who attended Donald Trump Jr.'s infamous Trump Tower meeting last June all seem to have one thing in common: dirty money". The Times has also reported in particular on the accused Russian money launderer Irakly Kovaladze and his shady dealings. Then we have Rinat Akhmetshin who it's been alleged by congressional staff in the past as specializing in "active campaign measures" which roughly translated from the Russian, means any dirty tricks and dark measures to attack a threat, usually to the Kremlin (I.e Putin). Now what is the reason the "young" man, the inexperienced man, the wholly, totally frantically busy man, doing meeting with Russian operatives and money launderers who he obviously clearly and absolutely had never met before and would absolutely not have even walked into the meeting if he had known the pedigree of these pond creatures. And all those reports about Donny bragging about Russian and money pouring into Trump real estate? Well that has nothing to do with it and we can all put it down to, well naive inexperience, just like Paul Ryan has characterized Trump seniors missteps
3
So he needed someone reputed to be good at money laundering, plus someone experienced in hacking, plus a Russian working - along with the hacker guy - to have the Magnitsky Act repealed, in behalf of the Russian government. "fitness?" what a lame excuse! He learned to lie from his father, but doesn't even have the talent to make his lies entertaining? "beyond stupid" as Mitch Mcconnell said about Donnie Junior's dad one time. But Jr isn't fit for prime time!
4
When someone lies from the beginning doesn't remembers what was said, and continuous to lie. Yesterday was the #5 version of the event.
3
If we accept this yokel's explanation at face value, then our public moral standards have sunk to unsalvageable lows.
When Al Gore was offered the campaign playbook fir his opponent, I.e, offered it, not sought it out, his campaign did not even have to think twice : they immediately called the FBI in.
What a difference. This clown ought to be locked up and the key thrown away.
When Al Gore was offered the campaign playbook fir his opponent, I.e, offered it, not sought it out, his campaign did not even have to think twice : they immediately called the FBI in.
What a difference. This clown ought to be locked up and the key thrown away.
4
Junior doesn't want to involve his pop in things he knows "nothing about."
Well, then, that would be the totality of life on earth.
Well, then, that would be the totality of life on earth.
2
Most reasonable people would think he is either a fool or a traitor to his country.
Given the vileness of his father (not just in his public policy but as a person), one might wish to guess the latter, but I think it's more likely he is simply a fool. He fell into a Russian trap - a trap to roil the nation and eviscerate its leadership.
Given the vileness of his father (not just in his public policy but as a person), one might wish to guess the latter, but I think it's more likely he is simply a fool. He fell into a Russian trap - a trap to roil the nation and eviscerate its leadership.
3
Did Donald, jr. really get a merit badge at trump Scouts, for lying and dunno'ing above and beyond the call of duty?
At least there is one shining light. Whenever the news gets darker, and darker, over the evil office, the stock market rallies. But still, I believe that we would rather have our country back!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
At least there is one shining light. Whenever the news gets darker, and darker, over the evil office, the stock market rallies. But still, I believe that we would rather have our country back!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
2
Whatever rationalizations trump's henchmen can dust off and trot out (novice, naïve, innocent blunder, etc) for Kushner’s/Don jr's behavior, the one irrefutable untarnished fact is these men are corruptible and are indeed corrupt. It runs in the family.
4
Who is he to determine HRC's "fitness" for the job? . That decision was up to the American people.
4
Fitness? Fitness? Can you believe that Jr. would bring up the topic of presidential fitness in his statement? Daddy has given us all the information we will ever need re unfitness for the presidency.
3
It is obvious that -- in this, his fourth iteration of the meeting -- Junior is lying. Does it matter? It would be naive to believe his father hasn't spoken with him about this and assured him that no matter what legal tangles Junior gets caught in, he will be pardoned. Is it conceivable that his father would allow his son to be convicted and sentenced? What exists to compel Junior to speak truthfully? He has, throughout his privileged life, been immune from having to act responsibly. "Perjury" is a concept foreign to him, just another illegal alien, if you will, that he can deport.
3
My goodness who would have ever that that young Donald would take it upon himself to weigh on Secretary Clinton's "fitness" and to invite the Russians to be part of such discourse. If you believe this explanation by zealous, patriotic, altruistic Donny Jr. then I have bridges for sale.
5
Much of politics is about trying to prevent your opponent from getting a chance to speak, and in this era, some of it is about trying to jail your opponents. When it is just wishful thinking, as in "lock her up," it is just wretched partisanship. When power is used, it is abuse. When force is used, such as with antifa, it is fascism. Threatening prosecution because people, even a Trump, just speaks to congress, is abuse of power, without solid reason to believe it is actually a false statement. They certainly don't care what he says, just that he says anything so they can say it is false and make threats. So far as is public, there seems to be no evidence of "collusion." And the fact that "collusion" not tied to an actual crime tis not even a crime itself matters not to the resistance. Even speaking of Russia or to Russians, seems to be an imaginary crime for them.
The partisanship has always existed, but it is getting stronger and debate weaker. I thought the hatred of Bush was a new low, and hatred of Obama at least as bad, if not worse. The hysteria over Trump and thirst for revenge, worse still. Not that he didn't bring much of it on himself by his own behavior. Now, for his opponents, it is not even enough that he be defeated at the polls. They won't be satisfied unless he or one of his children is at least prosecuted - and I'm sure they don't care about what. For some of them, and I've heard it said, even that isn't enough. I imagine it is going to get worse.
The partisanship has always existed, but it is getting stronger and debate weaker. I thought the hatred of Bush was a new low, and hatred of Obama at least as bad, if not worse. The hysteria over Trump and thirst for revenge, worse still. Not that he didn't bring much of it on himself by his own behavior. Now, for his opponents, it is not even enough that he be defeated at the polls. They won't be satisfied unless he or one of his children is at least prosecuted - and I'm sure they don't care about what. For some of them, and I've heard it said, even that isn't enough. I imagine it is going to get worse.
5
This just isn't true. The hysteria you find over Trump is due to his rolling back civil rights in defense of a scarcely concealed racist policy. Not to mention his abhorrent language he uses against anyone who is not a white man - the guy is downright offensive. He and his crew are willingly rolling back decades of progress in this country. On top of that, his shady business dealings over the years are well known, and his statements on Russia don't seem to add up. This is not a witch hunt but an attempt to keep our government functioning and to maintain trust in our institutions.
6
If you're going to argue that a significant part of the American political system is about "trying to jail your opponents," I want some other examples besides Trump's call to 'lock her up'. Otherwise, let's stop trying to normalize this.
5
When one supports the "threaten-er in chief" projection isn't as effective as might be.
As long as one redefines the issues and characterizes legitimate concerns for revenge one and speaks to antifa without referencing the forces that inspired it one will remain blind to the possibility of a real truth.
As long as one redefines the issues and characterizes legitimate concerns for revenge one and speaks to antifa without referencing the forces that inspired it one will remain blind to the possibility of a real truth.
2
Just about everybody in the trump admin could be considered unfit for the role. The children should be banned from having any role whatsoever. It raised questions when bobby Kennedy was made attorney general in his brothers administration. Now it's like the having the Addams family stay and run our government. New cronyism laws should be on legislators minds if and when they get down to business. Or when pigs learn to fly.
15
The "fitness" irony is telling, but the man will have massive legal problems.
14
is there anything? Seriously, a year and a half, 17 government agencies, 3 Congressional committees and what is there. Is there anything? I'n sure if there was something it would have been leaked by now.
2
I'm content to wait and see what Mueller has to say. He doesn't strike as man who would waste his time on nothing.
4
Investigations take time. Be patient. Enjoy the suspense....
3
This all kind of reminds me of the Benghazi hearings. Seriously, when was the last time ANYONE has heard of ANYTHING constructive coming out of these supposed congressional committees? And we as taxpayers are actually paying these people for this circus?
We should all realize by now that we are not dealing with the A team, or the B team or even the C team. It is not even clear that this administration is learning on the job. The team leader is extraordinarily unqualified along the spectrum of attributes that we need as our President. What logic suggests that his child/in-law subordinates in either a campaign or administration role are qualified to be in their positions or that they have the standing to thrive in the roles that they have been asked to serve. They don't deserve a pass or even a break, but we should not expect much. Note that this is not a political view - it is neither leftist nor rightist. It is an expression of where we are.
8
An interesting defense is being out forth, which is, at best, descriptive and not explanatory: although i function as a successful business person, managing a major international real estate empire, with skills effecting complex human, interacting processes of awareness, perceptions, expectations, cognitions, feelings, accurate or inaccurate judgments, derived decisions which or aren't carried out, learned from or not, I do not have the requisite skills and experience to be corrupt!
8
The email seeking information on Clinton was collusion. The meeting itself was collusion. The mitigating explanation that it is explained by Trump Jr's youthful ignorance of the law is belied by the continuing Trump Administration practice of developing amnesia whenever anyone is required to report contacts with foreign governments, foreign companies, and their agents ... but only for Russia.
17
Yes, and Nixon wanted Watergate dirt to determine if McGovern was fit for office.
10
His act of just meeting was collusion! He should have been examining his father's fitness for the job.
21
Don Jr., ever the civil servant, was "assessing" the wrong candidate. Look closer to home, Don, literally.
16
Did anyone ask him to ruminate on the timing of the leaked DNC emails that immediately followed this meeting? Has any elected official on any of the Congressional committees investigating this travesty challenged Junior on the timing? This is knowable stuff folks. Connect the treasonous dots and they all lead to Trump.
12
I am, nor was I a Clinton fan, but what a laugh, he is skeptical of "her" fitness for office? The most unfit is the current occupant, hands down!
20
Where is congressman Gowdy of Benghazi notoriety? Has the GOP lost its penchant for wasting millions in taxpayer dollars on such misadventures? Is the spectacle of trump enduring 11 hours of gruelling Gowdy questioning not alluring enough?
17
Nothing more than a foolish mistake by a "babe in the woods". There are far too many "babes' who know nothing about life making baseless, irresponsible and downright ignorant comments about issues they don't come close to understanding. The torch is being passed to generations who aren't anywhere near ready to accept it since they lack the courage, intelligence, fortitude and commitment needed to carry on the heroic sacrifice of their ancestors. Sadly, they may never be able to carry the torch until they stop talking, start listening and do what needs to be done, whether they like it tor not.
4
What could Jr. possibly know about fitness for office? What insights could Russians possibly have on the subject?
11
It would be epic-level too embarrassing to the USA if Trumps son went to jail so that is simply never going to happen. Expect a very minor slap on the wrist.
Trump Jr's meeting with Govt Russians shows both intention and action. It IS collusion no matter how one looks at it.
It should be treason too, since it involved the USA presidential election candidates but Trump Jr will never see that charge unless major proof about borking the election is found (unlikely).
13
You don't think it's embarrassing to let collusion slide? If we don't protect the integrity of our elections, we're the next banana republic with elections that don't mean anything.
On the other hand, prosecuting these crooks shows the rule of law still matters here and that we are serious about regaining the huge amount of status and trust we have lost under this corrupt and incompetent administration.
On the other hand, prosecuting these crooks shows the rule of law still matters here and that we are serious about regaining the huge amount of status and trust we have lost under this corrupt and incompetent administration.
2
Like father like son - Donald Trump Jr. is as much a liar as his father. The only difference is that he listens to his legal advisers, who seek to contain the damage his previous conflicting accounts could inflict on his credibility. On the contrary, his father doesn't listen to anybody, because he thinks he knows best.
25
Is this a joke? This dilettante consults Russians as to Clinton's fitness for the job after her years of experience and with every world leader in her rolodex? This is complete BS.
69
Just yet ANOTHER story.
We're waiting for the next one.
We're waiting for the next one.
And these are the Trumps!
Too bad Donald Jr. wasn't more interested in determining his father's fitness for office. Of course DJT has proven himself completely unfit to be president, so if Junior couldn't see that, why did he think he could judge Mrs. Clinton's fitness?
67
First he denied that he had met with the Russians during the campaign. Then he said that he did meet with them, but only talked about adoption of Russian children, and now, he admits that he did meet with them regarding Hillary Clinton. We know there was more to it than what Trump. Jr. says, don't we?
42
i missed it. why wasn't D Jr put under oath for this chat?
25
Google it, Howard. That is what google is for.
Asked and answered. Elections have consequences.
Here's the thing, the Trump's and their attorneys want to fool us into believing that, as it says in the article, "the campaign was, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy — let alone coordinate with the Russian government."
But that's bullocks. They were recipients of the Russian meddling, and you don't need experience or the ability to coordinate to receive.
But you do need capital to give. There's no way that this "Art of the Deal" Trump family, as consumed as they are with being the best and "winning" didn't offer up.
But that's bullocks. They were recipients of the Russian meddling, and you don't need experience or the ability to coordinate to receive.
But you do need capital to give. There's no way that this "Art of the Deal" Trump family, as consumed as they are with being the best and "winning" didn't offer up.
26
Liar. Like father, like son. Just like the most pertinent question during the Watergate investigation-when did the president know?
26
And when?
So, he's inexperienced in campaign protocol, but he could determinehillary's fitness? How does that work?
And from what I recall, ignorance is not a defense.
And from what I recall, ignorance is not a defense.
49
Just like his father, a damn liar. He needs to check his father for fitness for office.
40
Fitness? He wanted to know if she works out?
COMPLICIT.
COMPLICIT.
13
He was concerned about CLINTON'S fitness??? Oh, the irony....
31
There is just no end to the Trump family ridiculousness, a kind word.
Now Donald would put forth another defense, after all the others, after all this time to consult with attorneys you and I could never, ever afford, Donald Jr says that although Dad drafted a letter he never looked looked at it so dad would never be involved in what was what? A totally innocent a legal interaction?
Then why the cover?
We are ll so sick and tired of this. we all know it's wrong. it just goes into the huge bin of Trump's wrongdoing's between the worst ant the not so bad - and it goes on and on.
Now Donald would put forth another defense, after all the others, after all this time to consult with attorneys you and I could never, ever afford, Donald Jr says that although Dad drafted a letter he never looked looked at it so dad would never be involved in what was what? A totally innocent a legal interaction?
Then why the cover?
We are ll so sick and tired of this. we all know it's wrong. it just goes into the huge bin of Trump's wrongdoing's between the worst ant the not so bad - and it goes on and on.
18
And exactly how did the Russians know she could be unfit? It's all too ridiculous. One day there will be a book called , Lies, Trumps Presidency.
22
Hurricane Mueller will be a category 5 when it makes landfall in Washington.
29
The emails state the meeting between Jr., Manafort, and Kushner with the Russian spies was just "part" of the Russian government's "efforts" to assist TraitorTrump. These are the smoking gun which prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jr. and all the others are guilty of conspiracy. 18 USC 371 is the federal Conspiracy statute. It requires to be guilty of a federal crime of conspiracy (1) two or more people. Check. (2) Agree to commit any crime whatsoever against the laws of the United States. Check. and (3) Any of the conspirators taking any overt step toward the completion of the conspiracy whether the overt step itself was illegal or not and whether the crime was actually committed or not. All the conspirators are guilty of the same crime whether they took any overt steps or not. Check mate!
15
He is a liar. He has lied about this meeting numerous times. With the control his father exerts over his family it is beyond belief his father was not involved. President Trump and his surrogates boasted they had information on Clinton which soon be shared. There is no doubt the son kept his father in the loop.
16
We can see where this is going...dad granting a full pardon to sonny boy. And Republicans will shrug it off. This is how a nation normalizes corruption and begins to accept it as commonplace.
27
Like father, like son. Did anyone really expect an honest accounting?
10
And to think, at 39, he's old enough to be president.
8
Nice try.
Now - the Trump family members, and key campaigners are **too inexperienced** to understand how to run a political campaign, and including understanding what talking to Russian agents mean.
The same family, and extended key campaigners - who claim they are billionaires ( but it could be fake, we haven't seen the taxes), exactly because of their brilliant astute business genius.
And they claim their brilliant astute business genious, is exactly what going to straighten out the United States Government.
Wow. Can't run a campaign, but claim you're uniquely qualified to run the government.
Now - the Trump family members, and key campaigners are **too inexperienced** to understand how to run a political campaign, and including understanding what talking to Russian agents mean.
The same family, and extended key campaigners - who claim they are billionaires ( but it could be fake, we haven't seen the taxes), exactly because of their brilliant astute business genius.
And they claim their brilliant astute business genious, is exactly what going to straighten out the United States Government.
Wow. Can't run a campaign, but claim you're uniquely qualified to run the government.
17
A micro wave oven wanted to know Julia Childs fitness to chef.
6
Oh, my. "But intentionally misspeaking to Congress is a crime..." This is what used to be called lying.
13
After reading this I now know how to answer this question: "How do you know that a Trump is lying?" Answer: When you see their lips moving.
20
Right. Donald Trump Jr. was trying to determine the "fitness" of a former First Lady of 8 years (read: "familiarity with White House operations"), a former Senator (read: "familiarity with how Congress operates"), and a former Secretary of State (read: ""familiarity with international affairs and first-hand acquaintance with many current global leaders"), versus the "fitness" of his dad, a lifelong playboy and real estate mogul.
Tell us another.
Tell us another.
33
This hunter of tamed elephants, a fratboy with a mental age of 10, wants to know about Clinton's 'fitness' -- did I read that right?
28
Another Trump another lie. "I love it" is not colloquial way to express gratitude. Thank you is. Really Don Jr! After all the nasty comments and dirty tricks toward Hillary you think anyone will buy that innocent boy act?
17
Does any non Trump supporter believe a word any of the Trump family says at this point? No really, this is a serious question: Does anyone believe Trump Jr's reasoning for why he took the meeting and why he communicated about it in the manner he did? Is there someone so gullible and stupid that they would actually believe him at this point? This family has lied at every single possible opportunity for a few years now. They lie like fish swim. So the only shocking thing from here on out will be just how many people believe those lies, and not just believe them, but fully and seriously support them.
12
You can be sure that every member of his core base will have swallowed everything little Donny has said about this matter hook, line and sinker.
1
The Republican Party had determined that Hillary Clinton was not fit for office. His father had determined she was not fit for office. But Donald Jr. still thought she might be fit for office so he was going to check with the Russians. Based on his testimony, D Jr. thinks the KGB is the source we should turn to when choosing our elected officials.
16
What a country we are. An unintelligent, unintellctual, uninformed guy as Fonald Trump Jr was going to determine the fitness of Hillary Clinton, an accomplished , Yale graduate, once a First Lady , intelligent, intellectual , politically astute lady?
God save us.
God save us.
18
Seriously? It's hard to believe anyone could not understand the relationship between asking a hostile government official to get information to discredit a politician, and collusion. That is the definition of collusion.
17
Being too inexperienced, too unfamiliar with politics and too busy are exactly how they could have colluded with Russians. They simply didn't know any better.
3
I think there is a certain amount of truth to that.
Oh, they knew better.
11
Not any attempt to persuade by the merit, content, depth,or quality of the candidate's policy ideas and proposals. Oh no, not in American politics! Just give my candidate good dirt on the other guy! Could a more succinct indictment of the vacuity at the core of our civic values be found? It would appear from all evidence to date that we have realized the consequences of our system. If only our democracy can survive it.
9
As if he were qualified to judge? No questions about Trump's?
9
"I love it" when someone gets caught in a lie that they initially thought they could get away with. "I love it" that he thinks we are stupid enough to believe that his inexperience is to blame here. Is he for real? Like father, like son, I guess.
20
It seems that what Jr. expected at the meeting, or got from the meeting is irrelevant here. He lied continually and repeatedly when asked what happened at the meeting. Lied to Federal prosecutors. That is a crime. "Collusion" is a whole other discussion. But he has committed a federal crime, clearly, which has a 5 year sentence. Seems a purposeful liar, not a naive liar. Wonder where he learned that....???
13
Why do these clowns seem to believe that no one understands English? "I love it" isn't a colloquial expression of thanks. It means Junior was thrilled to be getting help from people who represented themselves as couriers for the Russian government.
19
I am waiting for someone to admit that DJT #45 attended this meeting.
I can't believe that he was in the building but didn't know about or attend this meeting.
I can't believe that he was in the building but didn't know about or attend this meeting.
15
This is right up there with classic dodges like 'my dog ate my homework' and 'I wasn't going to steal anything, I was just pawing through the cash drawer with a gun in my hand because I like the color green.'
11
There's a very special skill involved here: the ability to utter absolute nonsense in public, seemingly in all seriousness and with a stone cold, straight face -- without breaking out in hysterical laughter.
Very few people would attempt to pull this off, and even fewer are sufficiently pathological to make it work without so much as a repressed giggle.
Very few people would attempt to pull this off, and even fewer are sufficiently pathological to make it work without so much as a repressed giggle.
15
In the Trump family, it's more than a special skill. It's a (much) practised art.
1
First the Crime, then the coverup. This will be the undoing of the trump family. The cover up will be the exit visa for this president.
14
Hopefully!
So, if you're in a campaign and somebody wants to give you some dirt on your opponent you can't listen to what they have to say? Hard to believe any campaign wouldn't would hear them out. Of course, maybe I'm not as honest and ethical as most politicians.
2
Shakespeareana will be expanded, irony in pursuit of madness. Or, is it the other way around?
3
Hold on. Should we not be grateful to Mr Junior Trump for doing his god-given part for our country? He sacrificed his valuable time in his very important job building tacky hotels and running his family's whites-only slums and did a job he didn't want to do, but did it for us. Drawing on his vast personal experience in government and deploying that legendary Trump family moral compass he selflessly appointed himself to a (typically imaginary) position as the defender of the nation and the judge of political fitness. He alone could fix it. Just like daddy.
14
How can such a meeting, with such a group of people, to confer with a foreign power concerning intelligence for unseating a candidate for the presidency of the United States of American, not be coullusion? Present at the meeting were four people negotiating with the Kremlin for Real estate access. Does one single Trump supporter have anything sensible to say in Defense of these proven circumstances?
12
Claire, you posted this note three hours ago and the silence has been deafening. I suspect their PCs/devices/whatever have broken down, in tears and embarrassment.
1
He clearly believes, to the very core of his being, that the rest of the world is wrong -- that no matter how many citizens stand together in opposition to his and the old man's beliefs, that he and the old man are right. As Francis Xavier said, "Give me a child when he's seven and I'll give you back anything you want."
7
This is unusual in respect that the campaign allowed a principle family member to attend. Any other organization either party would have dispensed a subordinate. Thus we have political operatives releasing sealed Illinois divorce records and checking on a "dossier". No campaign passes on the chance to get their hands on oppo research
Having worked for his father his entire life, that comment of wanting to determine Clinton's fitness for office has to be one of the most bizarre and hilarious reasons yet. Perhaps al along Junior's thinking should have been more along the lines of determining his dad's fitness as a father. We are entering the theater of the absurd. Don Jr. father drafted his statement regarding the meeting and Jr. obviously knows it. This is a family that is consistently involved in playing charades.
19
Fortunately, he is as ignorant as his father and was dumb enough to not take the 5th amendment. All he is doing is giving the congressional committees and Mr. Mueller grist for the mill. If and when charges are dropped all of his shifting rationales will fall like leaves in autumn storm. I can only hope that it will hasten the end to the national nightmare that we are all living one tweet at a time. SAD
12
If they were 'inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy' during the campaign, what does that say about his presidency?
13
It it must have taken them all night to figure this excuse. Really, the Trumps don't have very good lawyers. No creativity just a lot of mendacity.
9
Excuse me, but isn't that the almost perfect definition of "something of value?" It doesn't mean it has to be a "value" like a Ming Dynasty vase, or cash,, it's just something you want or need: that kind of value. And then he had the meeting, which was without great or expected reward, from his perspective. Or so he says now. So I guess the idea of his present defense is that if you set out to violate the law, but claim you failed, it's like no harm no foul? Somehow that seems weak and misguided.
On the bright side, Trump himself may soon see that "working with" the Republicans is an exercise in futility, and decide to make deals with Democrats, and thus end the need or desire of the Democrats to get rid of him. i don't know if that idea has entered into his thinking, I am sure I can't be the first to think about that.
But from a practical perspective, if Trump has any dream or hope for success it is going to require proposing legislation and regulation that people (meaning "The People...") actually want and need. The People would not include the Mercers and Kochs. Perfection is impossible and not required. Getting it mostly right would be a good start.
On the bright side, Trump himself may soon see that "working with" the Republicans is an exercise in futility, and decide to make deals with Democrats, and thus end the need or desire of the Democrats to get rid of him. i don't know if that idea has entered into his thinking, I am sure I can't be the first to think about that.
But from a practical perspective, if Trump has any dream or hope for success it is going to require proposing legislation and regulation that people (meaning "The People...") actually want and need. The People would not include the Mercers and Kochs. Perfection is impossible and not required. Getting it mostly right would be a good start.
2
Whether he received usable information or not is immaterial. Whether he received usable information and decided not to use it is also immaterial. What was he doing there in the first place? The fact that he conferenced with a foreign citizen who had told him that she possessed usable information on his father's political opponent is quite enough to find him guilty of collusion. And the idea that Trump Senior had no prior knowledge of the event is downright risible. Trump's people wouldn't dare visit the washroom without his signing off on it.
59
Oh, great, nothing came of it. So if I hire a hit man and he misses his target, then nothing came of it and I walk. Now I understand.
87
Don Jr. sounds exactly like Jon Lovett doing his "compulsive liar" comedy routine. "Yeah. That's it. It was a meeting to exchange soup recipes. And I had tomato and she had mushroom. Yeah. And a big elephant was in the room, eating peanuts and looking at a cell phone. Yeah. That's the ticket."
39
Is this the equivalent of I don't do coke, i just like to smell it.
33
"Trump Jr. Says..."?
WHO CARES what "Trump Jr. Says", except under oath in sworn testimony, so he can be prosecuted for the almost-guaranteed perjury and lying.
WHO CARES what "Trump Jr. Says", except under oath in sworn testimony, so he can be prosecuted for the almost-guaranteed perjury and lying.
30
Even without the testimony being sworn, lying to Congress in this situation is a prosecutable federal felony.
Which doesn't mean he didn't lie because he knows his father would pardon him of any criminal offense.
Which doesn't mean he didn't lie because he knows his father would pardon him of any criminal offense.
6
....."saying it was important to learn about Mrs. Clinton’s “fitness” to be president."
How much longer do we have to endure this type of insult to our intelligence? And how much longer will this family be allowed to lie?
How much longer do we have to endure this type of insult to our intelligence? And how much longer will this family be allowed to lie?
94
Remember the debate when Donald and Hillary were asked what they liked about eachother? Hillary said, his children. She cannot be thinking that now.
44
She wasn't thnking it then. She had her tongue firmly implanted in her cheek.
Is there any greater irony than a Donald Trump supporter trying to deterring Hillary Clinton's fitness for office!
Good grief but this family is clueless.
Good grief but this family is clueless.
44
Everything he claims is a problem (or potential problem) in others, he's guilty of himself.
5
Donald Jr. is as much a liar as is his father. A moral and ethical lapse that runs in the Trump family and probably includes a Kushner or two as well.
45
Surely you're not suggesting that Charlie Kushner, who has served time for tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign donations, is not wholly truthful and that this Kushner-family quality has not been instilled in his son?
Surely not!
Surely not!
After he got caught lying on several occasions, Trump Jr is now saying he wanted to determine Clinton's fitness for office".
My question is: Why go the Russian government, a foreign adversary to look for answers?
My question is: Why go the Russian government, a foreign adversary to look for answers?
33
Is the entire Trump-Tribe off their Rockers? Fitness? So, this is Explanation 4? Any member(s) of the House or Senate investigative committees unwilling to hold this individual in Contempt for pathological lying-- is merely participating in the charade. These are pathological liars who have no fear of consequences-- because they know there aren't any. Let us stop wasting time with the reality-show, called Congressional Investigations and leave the real work to Mr. Mueller.
We need to face facts: We have a Crime Syndicate running around in the White House will less class than the Corleones.
We need to face facts: We have a Crime Syndicate running around in the White House will less class than the Corleones.
45
Is this the corrupting influence of a father who is a liar? And so it goes for another generation.
16
Donald Trump Jr. needs better lawyers or a deal with the Special Prosecutor. This line of defense is paper thin and will collapse in the Senate hearings and certainly before a Washington DC or Northern Virginia jury, where he will be tried if indicted.
21
I would laugh, but this kind of stuff makes me feel like crying.
24
I have heard it all. When is someone is Washington going to put country first? The depths to which have descended are depressing.
30
I think it is normal in politics one seek opponents' weaknesses. BUT to ask foreign interest to help you--especially for a US presidential candidates to ask Russians-- is a disloyalty to one's country. This winning at all cost attitude can involve selling out the core interest of USA. Don Jr said his father did not know about that meeting. Knowing how Donald Trump manages his firm and family, it is hard to believe. To me, that is a lie.
21
Every time he is interviewed we get a different story. The truth has so many possibilities.
28
It is the "alternative truth" that goes along with the "alternative facts"!
7
So, the neophyte (actually- knows nothing about Politics) wanted to Vette a candidate with decades of experience? I just want to know; who in the room kept a straight face and kept their water bottles away from their mouths lest they spit out the water?
39
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
26
During the campaign Trump (and the Russians) frequently questioned Secretary Clinton's stamina and health. Now in the same interview when Don Jr. claims exhaustion during the campaign as an excuse for meeting with Russians and forgetting various details, he once again attacks Clinton's "fitness." This is never ending. It is sexist but it is also part of the perpetual emotion machine against either President Obama or Secretary Clinton.
74% of Republicans according to one poll actually believed Trump's ridiculous claim that Pres. Obama was wiretapping Trump Tower during 2016 (completely disproven).
Too bad in a way that it was not being tapped since there were multiple Russian meetings with Trump's closest campaign staff there, and Felix Sater had property there. Russia is an enemy. There can be no excuse to working with Russia to rig the U.S. election.
Sessions lied under oath about his meetings with Russians and still became attorney general of the U.S. with no negative consequences. Justice is not served. Some people seem to be above the law, above ethics, and above normal standards of basic patriotism. And they still attack Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but for their own crimes and sins.
74% of Republicans according to one poll actually believed Trump's ridiculous claim that Pres. Obama was wiretapping Trump Tower during 2016 (completely disproven).
Too bad in a way that it was not being tapped since there were multiple Russian meetings with Trump's closest campaign staff there, and Felix Sater had property there. Russia is an enemy. There can be no excuse to working with Russia to rig the U.S. election.
Sessions lied under oath about his meetings with Russians and still became attorney general of the U.S. with no negative consequences. Justice is not served. Some people seem to be above the law, above ethics, and above normal standards of basic patriotism. And they still attack Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but for their own crimes and sins.
35
I agree completely. We have an illegitimate fake-president, an illegitimate fake-attorney general and an illegitimate fake Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch. Con Don and Dessions yammer on about the rule of law, when they both are the biggest thugs of them all. why should anyone else be prosecuted for crimes when the two men st the top of the executive and judicial branch are liars, perjurers, racist, traitors.
Can someone explain why the democrats and the news media let Jefferson Beauregard off the hook for perjury when he lied under oath before Congress?
Can someone explain why the democrats and the news media let Jefferson Beauregard off the hook for perjury when he lied under oath before Congress?
8
Clinton was a New York State senator for eight years, re elected by a wide margin, then was Secretary of State from 2009-2013, and Donny has to ask Russians if she is fit to lead the country? And he needs his brother-in-law and his Dad's campaign manager to attend the meeting because? Someone has to take notes?
49
The fact that 3m more people voted for HRC than Trump suggests to me that the majority of the American people thought she was 'fit for office'. I mean, how much of his valuable time did Donny waste on this? He could have been away doing deals, or in Africa with his bro' shooting elephants.
The Trump family takes us all for fools. They spew blatant lies and then sit back self-satisfied because they think we will believe it.
40
This article make me wonder if Trumps were taken in by the Russians and now they must protect the Russians - or the Russians can release information even more damaging to the Trumps!
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/bill-browders-testi...
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/bill-browders-testi...
18
Should have stuck with the adoption lie. This one is unfit for popular consumption.
12
I wonder if Daddy's crafting of a response to this meeting while on Air Force One came up in this questioning. Hopefully that's being looked into by someone-preferably Robert Mueller.
9
But what signals did he give about what might be helpful?
2
Not to make light of the situation, HC's fitness after swimsuit season, Jr.?!
Its enervating how this family cannot even maintain consistency in the tall tales,I mean blatant lies they tell...Is this the best daddy's legal team came up with?
Why hasn't anyone in the position to, taken immediate action indicting those who've been outed to have broken laws that anyone else would otherwise be forced to face immediate repercussions, whether lesser or harsher if they did the same?!
Sadly a question that'll haunt history once this chapter passes.
Its enervating how this family cannot even maintain consistency in the tall tales,I mean blatant lies they tell...Is this the best daddy's legal team came up with?
Why hasn't anyone in the position to, taken immediate action indicting those who've been outed to have broken laws that anyone else would otherwise be forced to face immediate repercussions, whether lesser or harsher if they did the same?!
Sadly a question that'll haunt history once this chapter passes.
14
I sense this family has no clue how the "real world" works and for them lying is "okay" if it is needed to survive. What makes this okay? When will it stop?
18
Although the level of intelligence of the Trump family has been pretty well-documented by now, my head is spinning about how dumb this particular meeting was all the way around. Who in Russia would have documented information about the state of Hillary Clinton's mental health and who among the circus performers of the Trump campaign would be qualified, one--to judge the authenticity of the "documentation" and two, who but someone who had gotten a hold of--obviously illegally--medical records belonging to Clinton's doctors. That the Trumps--and I have a tendency now to lump them all together--would seek and trust someone from a hostile foreign country
who might have hacked into the private health records of a former Senator and Secretary of State? The spectacular lack of dignity and intelligence of this family is both fascinating and horrifying. That the junior Trump argued that he actually got no information from his source is being used as a defense is like saying a robber who goes into a bank with an automatic weapon and finds out that the vault is empty is innocent. Isn't the robber charged with attempted robbery at least?
who might have hacked into the private health records of a former Senator and Secretary of State? The spectacular lack of dignity and intelligence of this family is both fascinating and horrifying. That the junior Trump argued that he actually got no information from his source is being used as a defense is like saying a robber who goes into a bank with an automatic weapon and finds out that the vault is empty is innocent. Isn't the robber charged with attempted robbery at least?
13
So his defense is that he went digging for dirt, and because he didn't find dirt, he's innocent.
265
I pulled the trigger, but it was a blank, so I'm innocent!
6
If I dig for gold, but illegally and immorally and treasonly, I am not innocent in finding no gold.
2
Yep.
Sorry I shot at you officer, but hey, I missed so I am not guilty.
No, you would be dead because the officer would shoot back.
Sorry I shot at you officer, but hey, I missed so I am not guilty.
No, you would be dead because the officer would shoot back.
Don Jr. didn't realize we don't typically hire the offspring of one party's candidate to gauge the fitness of the other party's candidate. That's what we trust voters to do. And if you think someone is a tool of a foreign government, then you call the FBI. Or hire Mueller
31
This First Family Show is hilarious, please tell me this is really just the pilot for a new situation-comedy soon to be released on Netflix. It's great how the son can put both feet in his mouth, just like his father. How soon before the patient First Lady blows her top and slaps them both silly?
24
His stated reason for going is collusion.
33
While criminality of Trump Jr's "coordination" or "collusion" with a foreign government seems a legal question best left for Mueller et al, the ethical issue is clear.
Trump Jr. eagerly took a meeting with Russians, accompanied by Kushner and Mannafort, to benefit the Trump campaign. The saintly Ronald Reagan, and likely every other Republican politician, upon being offered political insider information would not have responded with "I Love It".
The Russians are notorious rivals to America yet numerous members of the Trump Campaign staff eagerly courted them.
Public condemnation is the least America can collectively offer at such poor ethical behavior.
Trump Jr. eagerly took a meeting with Russians, accompanied by Kushner and Mannafort, to benefit the Trump campaign. The saintly Ronald Reagan, and likely every other Republican politician, upon being offered political insider information would not have responded with "I Love It".
The Russians are notorious rivals to America yet numerous members of the Trump Campaign staff eagerly courted them.
Public condemnation is the least America can collectively offer at such poor ethical behavior.
18
Of course he said that. The question is, just how many times did he have to repeat it in front of Ivanka before he memorized it?
20
And of course, not one thought about how the Russians might have interpreted his taking a meeting with them. He may not have been intending to collude - but he sure must have left the Russians thinking he was willing to. So did they come back, in another meeting we haven't heard about yet?
13
And just who is alleging "a master strategy"? No-one is.
Now a poorly thought through, hubristic, awkward and clumsy conspiracy? I think we can all see that.
Now a poorly thought through, hubristic, awkward and clumsy conspiracy? I think we can all see that.
17
I'd rank this attorney-vetted response as the moral equivalent of "the dog ate my homework." Except less persuasive.
29
Now even the constant noise coming out of the Russian investigations is a distraction from the only Russian investigation that matters... the one Congress can't control.
7
Oh my goodness. All this time to think and discuss and plan and that is the best they could come up with? They surely don't honestly believe that any thinking person would believe that.
18
The purpose and substance of this meeting has now been re-interpreted more times than The Bible.
14
“Depending on what, if any, information they had, I could then consult with counsel ... as to whether to give it further consideration. ... As it later turned out, my skepticism was justified. ...”
That doesn't sound like Donald Trump Jr. That sounds like a high-paid lawyer writing what she or he thinks the committee wants to hear.
This is what Trump Jr. said: "I love it." This is what his words and thoughts really sound like. This is what all of his actions have looked like. He couldn't care less about legality, the Constitution, or conflict of interest.
The Constitution makes no allowances for ignorance, lack of experience, or whether or not the meetings with the Russians produced any damaging information.
That doesn't sound like Donald Trump Jr. That sounds like a high-paid lawyer writing what she or he thinks the committee wants to hear.
This is what Trump Jr. said: "I love it." This is what his words and thoughts really sound like. This is what all of his actions have looked like. He couldn't care less about legality, the Constitution, or conflict of interest.
The Constitution makes no allowances for ignorance, lack of experience, or whether or not the meetings with the Russians produced any damaging information.
22
Bottom line...
Junior was too dumb to realize he had been set up. Not set up to receive damaging information, but rather, to be subject to a potentially damaging exposure of his attendance at the meeting.
It is obvious that there never was an intention of providing damaging information on Clinton. The whole point was to establish a record of potentially illegal contacts by Junior, both via email and in person, with a foreign national.
At least Junior is being honest when he in essence says that he was in way over his head.
Junior was too dumb to realize he had been set up. Not set up to receive damaging information, but rather, to be subject to a potentially damaging exposure of his attendance at the meeting.
It is obvious that there never was an intention of providing damaging information on Clinton. The whole point was to establish a record of potentially illegal contacts by Junior, both via email and in person, with a foreign national.
At least Junior is being honest when he in essence says that he was in way over his head.
8
Donald Trump Jr.'s testimony is an object lesson on what happens to people who've never had any responsibility. Unearned wealth and expectations for continued wealth-- minus any work, creates an infantile mind: One ludicrous excuse after another: "I've never done this before...." "How was I to know- I shouldn't do this..."? It truly astounds the sensibilities. How do these people wake up in the morning knowing which foot to place on the floor? Learned helplessness of the filthy rich.
20
Let's not take him at his word. He wanted anything he could throw at Hilary and was more than eager for Russian dirty propaganda on Hilary. His claim that he never told his father about the meeting and then completely coincidentally Trump promised at a speech the next night that they would soon be releasing information on Hilary is beyond laughable. How gullible does he think Congress is? They should go after him on this timing. It's the best indication that a Trump knew all about the Russian meeting at Trunp Tower either before or just after it happened.
27
Is collusion a crime?
Here is an example of real crime.
A man is seen going into a house with a gun. Shots ring out. The msn comes out of the house with a gun. A girl is found dead. The man is arrested.
Should the man be convicted of murder?
This is circumstantial evidence. No one witnessed the crime. But many people are convicted on less circumstantial evidence than this.
Already there is a mountain off circumstantial evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.
Is collusion a crime? Collusion with an adversarial government with a hostile intelligence service and nuclear weapons aimed at us is a crime.
The crime is called treason.
Here is an example of real crime.
A man is seen going into a house with a gun. Shots ring out. The msn comes out of the house with a gun. A girl is found dead. The man is arrested.
Should the man be convicted of murder?
This is circumstantial evidence. No one witnessed the crime. But many people are convicted on less circumstantial evidence than this.
Already there is a mountain off circumstantial evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.
Is collusion a crime? Collusion with an adversarial government with a hostile intelligence service and nuclear weapons aimed at us is a crime.
The crime is called treason.
22
The words "I love it" certainly convey his being initially conflicted. Don't we all responds that way when we are conflicted?
These are bold faced lies. If I were on a jury listening to this testimony I would judge it as not credible.
Should we cut him some slack as the son of a compulsive liar? He probably never learned of truth-telling as a virtue.
These are bold faced lies. If I were on a jury listening to this testimony I would judge it as not credible.
Should we cut him some slack as the son of a compulsive liar? He probably never learned of truth-telling as a virtue.
19
So, 'dirt' on Hillary would help him determine her fitness? Technically, that's opposition research, right? Opposition research is a commodity of monetary value. Translation, they broke the law. Accepting donations of value from a foreign adversary for a US presidental election. Sounds like he incriminated himself. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Stay strong a little longer, republic. Hopefully savior Mueller is nearing the conclusion of his analysis.
23
When in office I was called by a then-prominent critic of prominent office-holders and was offered "dirt" to use. I simply declined. I always felt good about doing the right thing, but apparently Trump apples fall close to the Trump trunk.
13
Someone with absolutely zero previous experience with politics wanted to determine a person who held several different high level political position's fitness to be president. And the best way to determine this was to speak to representatives of an adversarial country. Sounds reasonable.
22
Ah yes, the old, "I was conducting a private investigation in the public interest" defense. I've heard it used as a defense for solicitation and even dealing heroin. The difference is, it's going to work for this particular miscreant.
9
Doesn't anyone understand that collusion does not depend on the results of the meeting, but it is the mere taking of the meeting with foreign agents. I don't care that the information was worthless and the meeting a waste of time. That is not what determines collusion.
19
Donald Trump Junior is not a child or a young man who made a mistake. He's a well educated 39 year old man. Going to a meeting with a foreign power to get dirt on a political adversary is borderline treason. No matter how he tries to sugar coat it using the tried and true method of ignorance to justify his actions he can't be allowed to get away with this.
Politics is a dirty business. Opponents will use propaganda and innuendo to influence our views on their opponent. But going to get dirt on an opponent from a foreign power can't be condoned. An example must be made so this never happens again.
Politics is a dirty business. Opponents will use propaganda and innuendo to influence our views on their opponent. But going to get dirt on an opponent from a foreign power can't be condoned. An example must be made so this never happens again.
297
And now just any foreign power. A hostile foreign power.
1
I wonder if his lifelong privilege and lack of common sense led him to overlook the fact it was a crime. Since Manafort was involved surely there was discussion of collusion at some point. Jared - he'll throw everyone under the bus.
When I was child in the 60s and 70s there were several comedies on television that were very funny. I'm thinking of "The Odd Couple", "I Love Lucy", "MASH", and a couple of the cartoons. But they never came up with anything as wild as what has been going on with this administration and this president. Even before he took office there were questions about his competence, his honesty and integrity, and his overall ability to work with others.
But what gets me laughing and crying is the hypocrisy being displayed at every level of the GOP. Trump is everything they complained about Obama being. If there is such a thing as cosmic revenge Trump is it.
But what gets me laughing and crying is the hypocrisy being displayed at every level of the GOP. Trump is everything they complained about Obama being. If there is such a thing as cosmic revenge Trump is it.
30
This rationale is bizarre. He knew her qualifications and experience. Was he looking to the Russians for some hidden medical diagnosis? If the Russians had it, such information would have been illegally obtained. Junior was clearly interested in disparaging information. A good lawyer should have been able to arrive at a better rationale for Jr's testimony today.
62
Interesting that Donny boy would question Clinton's fitness when his clownish father is dangerously and criminally unqualified for the office.
You just can't make up this stuff. And people buy into it.
You just can't make up this stuff. And people buy into it.
116
Trump could ask anyone familiar with foreign affairs regarding Clinton and Russia and learn that the Russians could not offer any objective perspective on Clinton's fitness. Putin and his government seethed with resentment and animosity towards Clinton because she accused Putin of election fraud and encouraged his opposition. Given that Trump is a man with at least average intelligence he understood that anything that the Russians offered regarding Clinton would be to denigrate her. Ergo, he was seeking help from a foreign government to advance his father's campaign, help in the form of negative material to be published about his father's opponent.
25
Maybe they should have asked the attorneys BEFORE the meetings, if it was an ok thing to do. As we know Trump himself does not like to listen to his attorneys so I guess they couldn't bother to keep themselves on the up and up. Lie, cheat, steal, anything to win. Were votes tampered with as we all know this went deeper into localities than what was initially reported. 80,000 votes to win the electorial, something smells bad!
31
IQ test, anyone?
He's the guy born on third base who thought he hit a homer.
He's the guy born on third base who thought he hit a homer.
38
And because he was born on third base and never had to work for it, he thinks he's the smartest guy in the room even as he puts both his feet into his mouth. The only one who's worse is Big Donald but what can you expect from a guy with an orange comb-over?
15
Seems he's more like the guy who hit a single & thought he hit a grand slam.
5
Call your tailor Don Jr. You're going to be need to be "fitted" with an orange jump before this is over.
31
No he won't. Daddy will pardon him. That's why he feels free to say anything he wants, to include lying. There will be no consequences for him or anyone else who has declared personal loyalty to Trumpy the Clown.
Donald Trump is going to be very upset with Junior when he sees this.
Junior's hairline is receding and he hasn't done a thing about it.
Junior's hairline is receding and he hasn't done a thing about it.
23
So, part of his method to determine her fitness is treason?
37
No, no officer! I wasn't breaking and entering, I was determining the "fitness" of the lock and alarm system!
124
Too bad Don Jr. was unconcerned about his father's manifest unfitness for the presidency.
60
Wow, not only is this latest reason for the meeting, to
"determine Hillary Clinton's fitness for office" ridiculous,
it's also profoundly condescending.
"determine Hillary Clinton's fitness for office" ridiculous,
it's also profoundly condescending.
66
What about the orphans?
42
No matter how many times he washes his hands, they will never be clean.
Just like his father, he lives outside the law.
How do we know that he is lying? He keeps changing his story.
Just like his father, he lives outside the law.
How do we know that he is lying? He keeps changing his story.
57
No, no officer, I wasn't speeding! I was determining my vehicle's "fitness"!
45
Donald Trump Jr.'s statement is basically the equivalent of saying "I smoked but I didn't inhale."
19
This guy has the same relation to the truth as his famously untruthful father.
33
Trump Jr's latest explanation doesn't pass the laugh test. And presumably this statement was prepared with the advice of some lawyer(s), clearly as incompetent as Trump Jr himself.
39
A quote for the ages.
13
The liars don't fall far from the nut tree. Jr saying that is like a bank robber, caught in the vault, claiming he was just doing his civic duty and checking to make sure no counterfeit bills were being circulated. Or an addict shooting up, saying he wanted to see it really is addictive. Maybe he took one of those Trump University courses that taught him the bigger and more outrageous the lie, the more confusion you sow, as people try to make any sense of it.
27
So he is suddenly the arbiter of who is "fit for office" in the United States? Yeah, I don't think so.
30
A Trump makes a statement to a congressional committee. The statement is a lie. The statement is not even believable. The committee and the press are not sure how to handle it. It's what we expect, but it still hurts a little. Oh well, add it to the pile and move on.
13
If the Secret Service security details assigned to the multifarious Trumps work for the U.S. government and not the Donald, can't they just turn around and arrest the whole family? Aren't there more than enough criminal charges to go around? Wouldn't that be the most patriotic thing to do?
18
Are we to also believe that Pence knew NOTHING about the goings on ?
Surely he must have been up to something other than practicing poor imitations of Ronald Reagan's facial expressions
Surely he must have been up to something other than practicing poor imitations of Ronald Reagan's facial expressions
43
I thought the meeting was about adoption? His story changes... can any charges be brought? Or, is this yet another "lie" from this administration that goes unpunished?
30
so we have gone from "adoptions" to Hillary's "fitness for office"....this extremely mediocre young man was in way over his head from the beginning and is still digging....
69
What did you tell your father about the meeting before he wrote your statement on AF One. That was the excuse about the meeting being about adoption. Did you tell him the truth and he lied, or did you lie to him and he just repeated it?
24
Hey Don Jr,
I know that Bezos can get you some Brylcreem in the Virginia Peniteniary where you are headed.
I know that Bezos can get you some Brylcreem in the Virginia Peniteniary where you are headed.
18
Really? This greasy Gordon gecko wannabe thinks he's qualified to determine anyone's fitness for anything?! He HAD NO ROLE or standing and still doesn't for such a nutty thing, and if he really thinks anyone will believe him, he's even stupider than the lie he told. Especially since his dad isn't fit to run anything, except some weird hair machine. The clown car is full to bursting, and with all the grease and hair pomade used in that ridiculous family, bet they will keep trying to cram dozens more unethical sleazy folks in there with them. What an absolute travesty! Go Mueller!!!!!!
35
Donald J Trump = Don Corleone
Donald J Trump Jr. = Fredo Corleone
Just a matter of time for the trails to tie everything together in a nice bow. And throw in money laundering from the years of Senior using money from all the worlds scoundrels to "run" a casino business.
Are the evangelicals still satisfied with their deal with these devils?
Donald J Trump Jr. = Fredo Corleone
Just a matter of time for the trails to tie everything together in a nice bow. And throw in money laundering from the years of Senior using money from all the worlds scoundrels to "run" a casino business.
Are the evangelicals still satisfied with their deal with these devils?
26
How dare trump, junior question Hillary's fitness. Who the hec is he? Spoiled rich brat in adult men's clothes.
33
Lock him up! Wouldn't it be great to see this piece of dirt go to jail?
29
Unbelievable! Jr, Senior, son-in-law, daughter, friends, associates, cabinet members. What a bunch of liars, thieves and traitors. Your cells await you!
Hurry Mr Mueller!
Hurry Mr Mueller!
63
Hard to get testimony from a family of sociopaths. Lying is as easy a breathing.
He does it every day-morning to night, year after year. Get the whole bunch out of the WH. We've had enough.
He does it every day-morning to night, year after year. Get the whole bunch out of the WH. We've had enough.
50
Luke...I am your Father
10
Son of psycho-Don continued the family tradition: Bald faced lying.....
I only wanted to make sure HRC was fit for office:
could she do more pushups than Jared?
was her algebra grade marked on a curve?
Did she have scurvy?
Were all her college references valid?
Just vetting her qualifications.
Dirt?
No........
I only wanted to make sure HRC was fit for office:
could she do more pushups than Jared?
was her algebra grade marked on a curve?
Did she have scurvy?
Were all her college references valid?
Just vetting her qualifications.
Dirt?
No........
19
Let Don Jr. deny the existence of the steel bars in front of him when placed in a jail cell, it wont make them less real. You should have chosen momma over daddy- look what he did to you. "I Love it"
20
Lock him up.
26
Junior should be locked up for treason and sedition - maybe he can share the same cell with his maniac father. One cannot believe a word he says any more than one can believe a single word snarled by his old man. The sooner the world is done with the two of them - and the rest of that dysfunctional family - the better. They are despicable excuses for human beings.
35
He's everything you should not want your children to be. How many different versions of this meeting has he given now -- 7-8?? Yes, Mueller will indeed deliver an overwhelming case that demonstrates collusion with a foreign power to win the presidency -- treason is has left the bullpen and headed to the mound.
23
What people are finding out is that, when you're rich, you get away with much. Some poor person would have been behind bars by now. We should all be appalled, not just by the Trumps, but by all of the powerful people who do things and just get off, as if nothing happened. We can say the same about the bankers, wall street, the Clintons, etc. A rotten apple stinks no matter who it is.
8
Who sought Donald's fitness? What government office did he hold? All he did during the campaign was to denigrate women, POW's, Mexicans, disabled, judges, countless foreign leaders/countries. Hillary was a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, first lady, and the highest respect from the international community.
36
"He's a good boy," said Trump Sr. about Trump Jr.
And he's apparently capable of single-handedly vetting our presidential candidates. He may be a youngster, but what a prodigy!
And he's apparently capable of single-handedly vetting our presidential candidates. He may be a youngster, but what a prodigy!
29
Let's find some dirt on Trump Jr. and hurt him. Then, he'll know how it feels.
10
In a related story, Donald Jr. has been proven to be unfit to be a human being.
34
Trump Jr. should have spent the time getting his father to a medical doctor for a neurological and psychological evaluation of his cognitive and mental competence. Any layman can see his father is in decline from whatever competence he may have had to begin with.
34
Since he is the SAME as the father, he can not see past anything past himself.
I wonder what 'server' Don was using.
18
So if "I love it" just means "thanks," what about the "especially later in the summer" part, which he conveniently fails to mention in this statement? Could the fact that "later in the summer" meant "closer to election time," when it would be particularly effective to release damaging information about Clinton? To me, that is the evidence of collusion right there--donald jr. is sending a signal to the Russians to hold off until closer to the election before they release damaging information. That is intent and commission.
The son is as bad a liar as the father. With all the controversy over his father's links to Russia, he never thought to step forward and admit having this meeting? Who would possibly do business with a person who's so forgetful and stupid?
Lock him up. Force his father to pardon him. Then impeach the father.
The son is as bad a liar as the father. With all the controversy over his father's links to Russia, he never thought to step forward and admit having this meeting? Who would possibly do business with a person who's so forgetful and stupid?
Lock him up. Force his father to pardon him. Then impeach the father.
25
I doubt that anything he said to Congress was anymore truthful than anything his father has ever said.
18
"Fitness for office" becomes the euphemism for "Digging for dirt", a sad excuse for wallowing in political dirty tricks.
15
the " we were too inexperienced and stupid " defence is not going to work
on this one especially when ones own attorney has show trump jr. to be a liar.
There is an onus of responsibility especially when
Treason is involved.
on this one especially when ones own attorney has show trump jr. to be a liar.
There is an onus of responsibility especially when
Treason is involved.
15
I agree. Ignorance of the law is no defense.
3
"Nothing came of it." Really? What about the hacks and the Wikileaks exposure that soon followed? And all those Russians meeting with almost everyone on the Trump campaign? Mere coincidence? And this from the people that spent years trying to connect dots that went nowhere if it had anything to do with Obama or Clinton. Sorry Junior, this fourth or fifth reiteration of your story has zero credibility.
20
I'm more interested in who had the meeting to determine if trump was fit for office.
13
Apparently NO ONE! We've seen how he's performed since in office. those "photo Ops" in Houston were a joke!
8
Like his Dad, Don Jr's word means absolutely nothing. This is his fourth or fifth attempt at trying to explain this meeting. All of his stories have been poor ranging from ridiculous (i.e. - adoption) to unbelievable (i.e. - I had no idea about the topic of the meeting). Keep in mind, this was the least worst explanation they decided upon after extensive time to prepare. I can only imagine how bad the other rejected explanations must have been!
17
No matter how you slice it the Trump campaign overtly sought and accepted help from the Russians. The spinning doesn't change that. The big Don stood right there on national TV saying Russian intervention was a great thing. So basically we have a president that is more beholden to Russia than the US.
17
Little Donnie just admitted collusion, under oath.
18
Yes, the son of one of the most dishonest, unethical public figures in history, wanted to rely on information provided by a country that brutalized a good part of the world for most of a century, including its own citizens, and has regularly reinvented history and recreated "truth". This is the family that our country installed with the power of the U.S. presidency. I keep waking up hoping the whole thing is a just my nightmare.
Note to Donnie Jr.: there are only two qualifications to be President -- 35 years old and "a natural born citizen." If there was anything else, you can be pretty sure Daddy Dearest wouldn't have qualified.
Note to Donnie Jr.: there are only two qualifications to be President -- 35 years old and "a natural born citizen." If there was anything else, you can be pretty sure Daddy Dearest wouldn't have qualified.
22
I quote: "He is the second person connected to the Trump campaign to tell congressional investigators that the campaign was, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy — let alone coordinate with the Russian government. Mr. Trump’s brother-in-law, Jared Kushner, painted a similar picture during an interview with the Senate Intelligence Committee."
Too inexperienced to "pull off a master strategy" but not too stupid to try...! They -- including Donald Trump Jr, were trying, plain and simply. There's the crime.
Too inexperienced to "pull off a master strategy" but not too stupid to try...! They -- including Donald Trump Jr, were trying, plain and simply. There's the crime.
13
The defense of 'we were young and inexperienced' doesn't pass the smell test.
The Trump Campaign Chairman, Paul Manafort, was there and he definitely knew what was going to hopefully happen.
And while Don Jr. says he was so inexperienced, he also claims that he has character and knowledge to judge the 'fitness' of Hillary Clinton? Once again this smells of a big whopper.
What we have is round 1 of many interviews to come. Don Jr. is making a shaky case for his 'innocence'. The truth will come out. We also do not know at this point what Don Jr. and Manafort and Jared did subsequent to this meeting.
There could have been many other people approached to find dirt on Clinton that we are not aware of. And there is no reason not to wonder if the Russians kept on trying to give the Trump campaign Clinton dirt.
Despite his protests, Don Jr. was eager for the information and stated he wanted to use it during the late summer. Sounds like "inexperienced" Donnie had plans.
The Trump Campaign Chairman, Paul Manafort, was there and he definitely knew what was going to hopefully happen.
And while Don Jr. says he was so inexperienced, he also claims that he has character and knowledge to judge the 'fitness' of Hillary Clinton? Once again this smells of a big whopper.
What we have is round 1 of many interviews to come. Don Jr. is making a shaky case for his 'innocence'. The truth will come out. We also do not know at this point what Don Jr. and Manafort and Jared did subsequent to this meeting.
There could have been many other people approached to find dirt on Clinton that we are not aware of. And there is no reason not to wonder if the Russians kept on trying to give the Trump campaign Clinton dirt.
Despite his protests, Don Jr. was eager for the information and stated he wanted to use it during the late summer. Sounds like "inexperienced" Donnie had plans.
7
Where does Don Jr get his credentials to determine anyone else's "fitness" for office? He should have been concerned about the lack of "fitness" his own father puts on the world stage daily. Jr's got absolutely no credibility, and I think "everyone knows it."
12
I I guess he had not participated in the "Lock her up chant" beforehand. He was still keeping an open mind until he heard from reliable sources.
8
Pretty ironic, here, that the offspring of the most unfit President, nay, human being, tries to get us to believe that he is some kind of position to pass judgement on the fitness of the MOST fit candidate that ran in the last election.
11
"The acknowledgment by the president’s eldest son that he intended to seek legal counsel after the meeting suggests that he knew, or at least suspected, that accepting potentially damaging information about a rival campaign from a foreign country raised thorny legal issues."
Nonsense.
Oh, I think he almost certainly knew it, but your reasoning is invalid.
He might, for example, believe that a lawyer should be consulted before utilizing such information of such nature from ANY source.
Nonsense.
Oh, I think he almost certainly knew it, but your reasoning is invalid.
He might, for example, believe that a lawyer should be consulted before utilizing such information of such nature from ANY source.
1
Donald Trump Jr. has already been caught lying about this meeting. First they were just talking about "adoption." And now look where we are.
This is going to be a big part of Mueller's investigation. There's no way out of this Junior.
This is going to be a big part of Mueller's investigation. There's no way out of this Junior.
10
A perfectly reasonable explanation and most people would have reacted the same way if they were contacted by someone. Most Americans i think understand that, but politicians and liberals will of course try to make it sound this was scandalous.
Trump Jr. has come up with multiple "reasonable explanations." Do you ever stop to wonder why he keeps lying?
If only he hadn't given half a dozen other explanations already.
If he judges his father as fit for office how can anyone trust his judgement on anyone, anyone, else? OK, maybe there is an alternative definition of fit that he is using?
7
I am in awe of the ability of the Trumps to behave badly in ways that no one had ever conceived of in the years between George (I cannot tell a lie.) Washington's inauguration and Donald (I cannot tell the truth.) Trump's inauguration.
12
So sorry, but why would the Trumps NOT meet with counsel BEFORE taking a meeting with Russians, ANY Russians, regarding their Presidential opponent, and not wait to see if it was juicy and THEN inquire with counsel? Woo man, this smells even more rank than the "adoption" excuse. Not really sure why the hearing would be "cordial", given the height of the crimes and misdemeanors...
6
Why didn't Trump Jr., question the Russians as to whether they had obtained the information about Hillary Clinton legally, before agreeing to take the meeting? He didn't care. So, his claim that he would consult with lawyers, ring hollow at best.
5
Let's see is that lie, excuse me the reason, number six or seven or eight...for the meeting? Amazing what can be accomplished with one dummy, months of coaching and rehearsal by exorbitantly priced lawyers.
9
He has had an infinity of time and the help of a dozen lawyers to draft his
statement. There is nothing in it that we should believe, especially the idea that he was going to consult lawyers over the appropriateness of the material he would be given. Give me a break. He was involved in a campaign that never thought twice about using real or fake material as long as it put the opponent
in difficulty. Trump kept on using adverse material that he picked up from the Inquirer and other disreputable sources while removing himself from any responsibility. Wait until Junior has to testify under oath.
statement. There is nothing in it that we should believe, especially the idea that he was going to consult lawyers over the appropriateness of the material he would be given. Give me a break. He was involved in a campaign that never thought twice about using real or fake material as long as it put the opponent
in difficulty. Trump kept on using adverse material that he picked up from the Inquirer and other disreputable sources while removing himself from any responsibility. Wait until Junior has to testify under oath.
22
Doesn't matter if he is under oath; it's still a crime if you lie to Congress.
8
I wonder what lie he will come up with when he has to testify under oath. Four stories were already taken.
23
I never spoke with the Russians......well, yes I did
We talked about adoption......well, no we didn't
Nothing came out of the meeting...........................
We talked about adoption......well, no we didn't
Nothing came out of the meeting...........................
50
There was no collusion.....
Daddy told me to do it.....
I don't care....Daddy will pardon me
Daddy told me to do it.....
I don't care....Daddy will pardon me
8
Trump Jr. would be better advises to seek inputs from his therapist to determine his fitness to be a non-ghastly human being.
26
Glad to hear Donald Trump, Jr. was just looking out for us, in case - you know - Sec. Clinton was 'unfit' to serve. Can we get him a security clearance and a desk in the White House, too?
Glad everybody was "cordial." Must have learned something about interviewing at Trey Gowdy Charm School.
Glad everybody was "cordial." Must have learned something about interviewing at Trey Gowdy Charm School.
24
I genuinely dont understand why Trump isnt impeached and Jr. isnt in jail along with many others.
"But according to emails released by Trump Jr. days later, an intermediary offered to set up a meeting between the president’s eldest son and a “Russian government lawyer” offering 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,” the intermediary wrote.
“If it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer,” Trump Jr. responded."
"But according to emails released by Trump Jr. days later, an intermediary offered to set up a meeting between the president’s eldest son and a “Russian government lawyer” offering 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,” the intermediary wrote.
“If it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer,” Trump Jr. responded."
27
This clown (a colloquialism) is going to keep throwing "reasons" for this meeting against the wall, until one sticks.
Who did his "homework" this time?
Who did his "homework" this time?
22
Trump Jr. sure knows how to put lipstick on a pig. He met with Russians not for the grubby political purpose of receiving information from high in the Russian government that would damage Clinton's campaign. No, nothing as sordid as that. His purpose was high-minded - as a good citizen, he met with Russians to receive information from high in the Russian government that would show that Clinton was unqualified to be president. Pure patriotism, you see - nothing political about it.
politicsbyeccehomo.wolrdpress.com
politicsbyeccehomo.wolrdpress.com
19
The rotten apple does not fall far from the twisted tree.
25
His father is not fit to be dog-catcher and he's going to talk about fitness?
24
I disagree! His father is fit to be the dog catcher.
2
The cynicism of this tribe- "I love it"!
1
Treasonous grifters, the whole lot of them. They belong in jail. Didn't collude? They're colluding now by ignoring Russian interference in the election. That's collusion. Why hasn't this man been arrested?
31
Great stuff! Donald Jr. wanting to know about Hillary's "fitness". Best laugh I've had today!
30
In response to a comment from Victor:
Yes, this has turned into a "glorified soap opera". However, we can't write it off, with the triviality of a real soap opera. Because what's at the core of this "soap opera", is a cancer that is threatening the very foundations of our democracy, and ruining so many lives in the process. For this reason, we CANNOT "just move forward" while the Trump klan is in control, because their corruption is the cancerous agenda that's threatening to obliterate our democracy. (It's a disease that must be rooted out, before any healing/moving forward can take place.)
And YES, we will ALSO focus on helping the good people of Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean, and whoever else needs help, because we are Americans living in a democracy (still). And that's what TRUE Americans do. (We care about ALL our fellow men. We CAN walk and chew gum at the same time....)
Again, we must get to the root of the darkness that is currently occupying the White House, by exposing each and every one of their lies. Because it is the foundation of all our ills right now. And also because if we don't, there will no longer be a TRUE America.
By the way, Victor, Hillary did NOT "lose this election on her own", or lose this election at all. AMERICA lost this election, because it was robbed of the TRUE winner & true President, Hillary Clinton. (And your thinking otherwise, Victor, is part of the current cancer occupying the White House.)
Yes, this has turned into a "glorified soap opera". However, we can't write it off, with the triviality of a real soap opera. Because what's at the core of this "soap opera", is a cancer that is threatening the very foundations of our democracy, and ruining so many lives in the process. For this reason, we CANNOT "just move forward" while the Trump klan is in control, because their corruption is the cancerous agenda that's threatening to obliterate our democracy. (It's a disease that must be rooted out, before any healing/moving forward can take place.)
And YES, we will ALSO focus on helping the good people of Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean, and whoever else needs help, because we are Americans living in a democracy (still). And that's what TRUE Americans do. (We care about ALL our fellow men. We CAN walk and chew gum at the same time....)
Again, we must get to the root of the darkness that is currently occupying the White House, by exposing each and every one of their lies. Because it is the foundation of all our ills right now. And also because if we don't, there will no longer be a TRUE America.
By the way, Victor, Hillary did NOT "lose this election on her own", or lose this election at all. AMERICA lost this election, because it was robbed of the TRUE winner & true President, Hillary Clinton. (And your thinking otherwise, Victor, is part of the current cancer occupying the White House.)
23
PART II
There is good evidence that defections by Sanders’ Democratic primary voters to Trump on Nov. 8 played a decisive role in Trump’s victory. Brian Schaffner, a political scientist at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, calculated that Sanders-to-Trump voters were key to Trump’s victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The accompanying chart, which is based on the 2016 survey conducted by the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, shows how crucial these voters were.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/opinion/clinton-sanders-democratic-pa...
There is good evidence that defections by Sanders’ Democratic primary voters to Trump on Nov. 8 played a decisive role in Trump’s victory. Brian Schaffner, a political scientist at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, calculated that Sanders-to-Trump voters were key to Trump’s victories in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The accompanying chart, which is based on the 2016 survey conducted by the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, shows how crucial these voters were.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/opinion/clinton-sanders-democratic-pa...
1
The headline says it all - a perfect punchline for the Trump presidency.
12
Don Junior should be questioning his own father's "fitness" for office. Not Mrs. Clinton's.
19
If he was looking for indications of "fitness" he should have looked in the corner office first.
13
My apologies to Eric. I thought Junior was the smart one.
22
He wanted to evaluate HRC's fitness for office vs. Don the Con's "fitness."
In the word's of Jackie Gleason: "Har de har har."
In the word's of Jackie Gleason: "Har de har har."
17
Our current President, his son, Donald Trump Jr. and his son-in-law Jared Kushner may have been neophytes when it came to conducting or colluding as part of a major Presidential campaign... but Manafort and Putin were not. Putin's sole focus surrounded his desperation to insure that Hillary Clinton was not elected. Manafort and Putin are and continue to be strategic, ruthless and extremely experienced political manipulators. Donald Trump Sr. was an easy ploy to manipulate due to his adolescent personality, narcissism and oversized ego. Trump Jr., Kushner and Ivanka came along for the ride. The fact remains Russia interfered in the U.S. Election... many American Voters were ruthlessly manipulated and lied to during this process. When, they wake up and realize this is what happened rage-storms will erupt. When the rest of the populace realizes how easily Putin played us all...my...oh my... oh my!
19
A new day; a completely different story-----it is the Trump Family way.
21
The rotten apple does not fall far from the rotten tree.
8
One person's "fitness" is another person's dirt. "I love it!" Then the dump of DNC information to wikileaks in the timeframe DJT, jr. said would be good for him. In the end, it's the reasonable person test in the entire string going from the first outreach (dangle) to taking the meeting along with Kushner and Manafort and the what actually did happen as a result. Pretty much stinks.
11
I'm glad Donald Jr. takes it upon himself to vet presidential candidates. I'm sure if he'd found her fitness worthy, they would have just pulled out of the race.
Well, the excuses just get more ridiculous, and under oath no less. But what I find surprising is that anyone can have any doubt (as I have seen in the NYT picks below) that the Trumps are covering up a conspiracy. Collusion with foreign agents to rig an election is called Treason. There is no doubt that they at least attempted to do so.
Well, the excuses just get more ridiculous, and under oath no less. But what I find surprising is that anyone can have any doubt (as I have seen in the NYT picks below) that the Trumps are covering up a conspiracy. Collusion with foreign agents to rig an election is called Treason. There is no doubt that they at least attempted to do so.
18
This is, hands down, the most humorously ironic headline in the history of reporting on the Trump family of grifters.
17
Some days -- and this is one of them -- the news just makes me want to scream.
13
The Democratic Party picked up the payments to a former British spy to pay Russian operatives for dirt on Trump. The Democrats then “leaked” the results, the now famous Trump Dossier. So the Trumps fumbled it when they tried to do the same thing, oh well.
1
MKM: Can you cite your sources for your assertion?
4
Even if you're right, that's not accepting something of value. Not if you pay for it. The problem rests in being under an obligation to a foreign power.
1
It is not illegal to get a dossier. It would not be illegal for Trump campaign to even ask the Russians for info on Clinton. The problem for Trump lies in the illegal behaviour that was committed to get that info. An illegal hack. By a hostile foreign power that Trump tried to cover up by denying the fact it was happening even though he had seen the evidence himself. Dem leaks were all from illegal hacks. A series of hacks that also included hacking your voter registration forms and thereby knocking off Dems in critical states as well as targeted
Do keep up.
Do keep up.
1
I didn't want to, but I voted for Hillary Clinton purely out of desperation. I never would again, should the Democratic Party be so brain-dead as to nominate her--for anything! But to suggest that trump jr. could determine Clinton's "fitness" for the presidency by obtaining Russian "dirt" on her, or by any other means, for that matter, is just pure lunacy. The trumps are not astute about anything but squeezing money out of other people's pockets--period. The sooner we rid our federal government of all of them and their minions, the better off all of us will be.
8
What a laugh! Trump Jr. tried to rely on the Russians to determine Clinton's fitness for offices while, as Trump's son, surely he must have known that his father, by temperament and mental condition, was totally unsuited for the office of President.
6
To determine HRC's "fitness for office..." from Russians, no less. The more these Trump investigations go on, the more I'm convinced that Hillary was indeed fit for office. And indeed the Trump family, not only the Don, is as crooked as a dog's hind leg.
This absolutely enrages me... a lot of folks have compared the Trump boys to Saddam Hussien's sons. Nah, they're not that bad. But only because they've never killed anyone. Ethically, they're cut from the same cloth.
This absolutely enrages me... a lot of folks have compared the Trump boys to Saddam Hussien's sons. Nah, they're not that bad. But only because they've never killed anyone. Ethically, they're cut from the same cloth.
8
never killed anyone. . .how can you be so sure? One of them is an elephant murderer, and that's pretty close.
7
Donald Trump, Jr. has inherited much from his father including the genes for pathologic lying and conning.
Are we to believe the campaign leaders were so naive that they should get away with colluding with Russians giving away - more likely selling- information that Donald Jr. believed would help his father?
He is so dirty in that he went into this with open eyes and has been lying and lying about this meeting. Let it all come all - and please soon Mr. Mueller.
Junior's excuse is that he went to rob a bank but the drawers were empty so he is innocent. NO - does not work that way. He is guilty.
And the drawers weren't empty. The information in the drawers were given to the Trumps soon after the meeting by public release.
Donald JR and SR and Ivanka and Jared and rest of their cronies are dirty, criminally dirty.
Indict
Impeach
LOCK THEM UP, and throw away the keys !
Are we to believe the campaign leaders were so naive that they should get away with colluding with Russians giving away - more likely selling- information that Donald Jr. believed would help his father?
He is so dirty in that he went into this with open eyes and has been lying and lying about this meeting. Let it all come all - and please soon Mr. Mueller.
Junior's excuse is that he went to rob a bank but the drawers were empty so he is innocent. NO - does not work that way. He is guilty.
And the drawers weren't empty. The information in the drawers were given to the Trumps soon after the meeting by public release.
Donald JR and SR and Ivanka and Jared and rest of their cronies are dirty, criminally dirty.
Indict
Impeach
LOCK THEM UP, and throw away the keys !
8
Ah, lying to the Senate. No problem, right?
And if you think Trump's recent stab at bipartisanship and his chumminess with Pelosi is authentic, I suggest you consider it in the context of the frothing Russia investigation.
And if you think Trump's recent stab at bipartisanship and his chumminess with Pelosi is authentic, I suggest you consider it in the context of the frothing Russia investigation.
10
I don't know which is more disturbing: 1) They were attempting to benefit from the efforts of, and potentially collude with, a foreign country that they knew was attempting to manipulate the US election, or 2) They are too inexperienced, naïve, and ignorant to even conceive of such a thing . . . but now they are running our country.
7
It actually needs to be explained to people why we don't ask Russian spies for dirt on our political opponents.
Good grief.
Good grief.
7
Well, well, well. So Don Jr. thought it was "important" to check up on HRC's fitness for the office of POTUS.
I almost lost my lunch over that one.
I almost lost my lunch over that one.
5
Junior continues to use the defense that he helped plan a bank heist but it turned out there was nothing in the safe.
#LockHimUp
#LockHimUp
6
What i don't see addressed in this statement is anything addressing the phone call Don Jr. appeared to also have with Agalarov in-between the chain of emails. That also requires a good deal of questions. I can't help think how deeply infuriating it must be to have to listen to untruth after lie after excuse when interrogating each member of this widening cabal of evasive, falsifying, barefaced, habitual liars.
8
No Trump should be allowed to utter the words, unfit for office.
6
No Trump should utter words, period.
2
DT Jr. said he didn't speak to his father about this meeting. What a lot of hooey. I'm sure Jr. talked to pop before, possibly during and definitely after the meeting. If he will lie about this simple thing then he will lie about anything. And, BTW, did Jr. contact an attorney AFTER the meeting? I don't think he answered that.
4
I assume he wanted to know her fitness before he started the adoption process.
9
And here I thought it was the American People's job to assess Ms. Clinton's fitness for office...
9
"He is the second person connected to the Trump campaign to tell congressional investigators that the campaign was, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy — let alone coordinate with the Russian government."
And so it begins. The most cynical defense strategy in history, and one that should not be allowed to stand: "We were too dumb to know anything was a crime."
And so it begins. The most cynical defense strategy in history, and one that should not be allowed to stand: "We were too dumb to know anything was a crime."
7
Pat B, the trumps continue to be inexperienced and have no business being in the same zip code as the White House, let alone being IN the White House.
2
Taking the meeting itself was a crime.
10
Donald, Jr., "Depending on what, if any, information they had, I could then consult with counsel to make an informed decision as to whether to give it further consideration.”
Yeah, sure. Sell it down the street!
Yeah, sure. Sell it down the street!
5
Let's just cut to the chase and have Trump Sr. lie to Mueller. Then this nightmare will be over.
10
Mrs. Clinton would have made a fine president. Sure the deplorables would have kept up the decades long howl of unsubstantiated rumors and inventions, but it would have been preferable to having an administration made up of white collar criminals pretending to lead our country based on trump's pathological desire to destroy everything Obama did.
9
a trump wants to check on Hillary's 'fitness' for office? The absurdity of that statement is breathtaking!
12
If Hillary or the Democrats had talked to the Russians, Trump would crying for her head. Jr's statement was vetted by numerous lawyers so as not to make any mistakes that might come back to bite him and his dad. If the meeting was innocent that why the team of lawyers?
5
He should have been more concerned with his father's "fitness for office".
11
I only robbed the bank because I wanted a new car for my daughter. They put me in jail anyway.
5
The first thing he should have done upon reading that email was call the FBI. Why is his behavior even worthy of discussion? What he did was inexcusable and unforgivable.
8
oh the irony of a trump being concerned about anyone's fitness for office.
10
If Chelsea Clinton met with the Russians to determine if Trump was fit for office, she and her mother would already be in the slammer. This is truly astounding. I'm almost speechless.
8
Given the ever evident low bar in the Trump sphere for "fitness" for any government role, I assume he really did come away empty handed.
3
Hmmm ... The "We're too incompetent to collude" defense. The Trumps may have a winner, if they go with that. Impossible to disprove it.
5
So, when I get charged with a crime, I can say, "I was incompetent and did not know what I was doing." I am sure that will work for me ...
4
I'm so glad this good boy is such a patriot as to protect the American people from anyone unfit to be president. Such heart. Such valor. Such compassion! A real American hero!
2
Trump's children are largely spoiled and arrogant and self-impressed. They were nothing before their father chose to run for President, and to date they've spent a lot of time tap-dancing around the incendiary actions and assertions their father and they have been making.
As a result, the best I can say is that their veracity remains an empty balloon floating above their heads like some comic character. Fill in the emptiness with whatever those balloons need to be filled with to get dad and sons and daughter and son-in-law off the hook.
And let's don't forget to note that many of the starched shirts questioning these lightweights from behind senatorial furniture, supposedly probing for the truth, confront a vast public which has become increasingly skeptical of their veracity.
Thus, America is getting a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Meanwhile, Donald himself has abandoned the voters who "elected" him and joined hands with the Democrats.
Seriously. Does this drama have any validity? Would you trust your daughter with any of them?
As a result, the best I can say is that their veracity remains an empty balloon floating above their heads like some comic character. Fill in the emptiness with whatever those balloons need to be filled with to get dad and sons and daughter and son-in-law off the hook.
And let's don't forget to note that many of the starched shirts questioning these lightweights from behind senatorial furniture, supposedly probing for the truth, confront a vast public which has become increasingly skeptical of their veracity.
Thus, America is getting a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Meanwhile, Donald himself has abandoned the voters who "elected" him and joined hands with the Democrats.
Seriously. Does this drama have any validity? Would you trust your daughter with any of them?
2
Donald Trump Jr's original explanation for the meeting was that it was about "adoption" Or to be more truthful, the prohibition against adopting Russian children --Putin's retaliation against the imposition of the Magnitsky sanctions. How did Donald Jr. manage to invent an even more implausible explanation about information concerning Hilary Clinton's "fitness" to be president ? (No doubt he was helped by an attorney.) Maybe we need a new television game show based on the contestants trying to sort out all the lies told by the Trump clan.
7
I'm shocked to learn that the Trumps were never actually interested in the plight of orphans. Shocked, I tell you.
8
Poor Jr.
“I had never worked on a campaign before and it was an exhausting, all-encompassing, life-changing experience. Every single day I fielded dozens, if not hundreds, of emails and phone calls.”
"Dozens..... of e-mails and phone calls". Sounds like an average workday for folks that have real jobs.
"...hundreds, of emails and phone calls.” Sounds like he is preparing the "I was so exhausted I forgot that colluding with a foreign government to undermine a U.S. election was illegal" excuse.
“I had never worked on a campaign before and it was an exhausting, all-encompassing, life-changing experience. Every single day I fielded dozens, if not hundreds, of emails and phone calls.”
"Dozens..... of e-mails and phone calls". Sounds like an average workday for folks that have real jobs.
"...hundreds, of emails and phone calls.” Sounds like he is preparing the "I was so exhausted I forgot that colluding with a foreign government to undermine a U.S. election was illegal" excuse.
5
Would you expect anything less from Trump's son? Donald Trump Jr. is proving he is unfit to be in the position he is.
2
“As much as some have made of my using the phrase ‘I love it,’ it was simply a colloquial way of saying that I appreciated Rob’s gesture,” he said in his statement on Thursday.
He forgot that the "I love it!" was followed by, "especially later in the summer!"
Thus, it had nothing to do with a colloquialism about Goldstone's gesture, but had everything to do with burying HRC. Oh, what a tangled web...
He forgot that the "I love it!" was followed by, "especially later in the summer!"
Thus, it had nothing to do with a colloquialism about Goldstone's gesture, but had everything to do with burying HRC. Oh, what a tangled web...
6
What's this, Jr's fourth attempt at excusing away the whole matter? It does support that he was too bumbling a manager in too inept an organization to pull off collusion. It also shows him to be unencumbered by any notions of competence, legality, and principle. First, he externalizes and generalizes the responsibility for his own decision to take the meeting by blaming that decision on the chaos of the organization. OK, that's not wrong, just not something that effective, principled people do.
Then he says he would have alerted the proper authorities “depending on what, if any, information they [the Russians in the meeting] had." In other words, he was aware of at least some legal implications but approached the meeting situationally: if the information had been helpful and the campaign could have gotten away with using it, no need to get lawyers involved. Otherwise, do nothing or check with a lawyer. He knew, or certainly should have known, that the whole proposition was wrong, but he engaged in it anyway, to see how it might benefit him.
And then he says he "always intended to consult" with lawyers, as if that relieves him of any responsibility for his bad judgment and willingness to participate in an illegal activity. Instead, it makes him sound as though he were going to ask his lawyers, "I got all this great dirt on Hillary! How can we use it without getting caught?"
Then he says he would have alerted the proper authorities “depending on what, if any, information they [the Russians in the meeting] had." In other words, he was aware of at least some legal implications but approached the meeting situationally: if the information had been helpful and the campaign could have gotten away with using it, no need to get lawyers involved. Otherwise, do nothing or check with a lawyer. He knew, or certainly should have known, that the whole proposition was wrong, but he engaged in it anyway, to see how it might benefit him.
And then he says he "always intended to consult" with lawyers, as if that relieves him of any responsibility for his bad judgment and willingness to participate in an illegal activity. Instead, it makes him sound as though he were going to ask his lawyers, "I got all this great dirt on Hillary! How can we use it without getting caught?"
5
To paraphrase Rene Descartes, "I'm Trump. Therefore I lie."
8
If anyone on the panek believes what junior prated, I have a marvelous piece of and with a connecting bridge i would love to sell them. cheap, too.
5
Little Donnie Junior seems to think the American voter, journalists, judges, delegates, and running mates don't possess the skills he does. He alone can have a tete a tete with representatives of a foreign government and discern what no one else among us can about HRC's fitness! What a laugh. "Fitness" for office is determined by Americans, not the Trump clan operating from a gilded tower high above New York, far removed from rationality or integrity, based on more than dubious assertions by Kremlin puppets. Rookie!
6
"[H]e intended to seek legal counsel after the meeting"? "[T]he phrase ‘I love it’ ... was simply a colloquial way of saying that I appreciated Rob’s gesture"? Really?
No doubt, the Committee provided Don Jr. with a large pitcher of water -- to use whenever his answers to questions made his trousers flame up.
No doubt, the Committee provided Don Jr. with a large pitcher of water -- to use whenever his answers to questions made his trousers flame up.
6
Politics has always been a dirty business, but all the king's horses and all the king's men cannot find credible words to clean up the mess this real estate tycoon and his sons have left behind after their assault on the soul of democracy and the good people of the USA. We will survive because we are a resilient species, but consorting with the lawless to gain power must be condemned in no uncertain terms.
6
"I love it" will go down with "I am not a crook" as one of the most deceitful phrases uttered in the political history of the U.S. Too bad we all have to suffer for these utterances.
8
For as much time, effort, and money the US is spending on this investigation of any Russian influence on the elections, it makes one equally wonder how the US tries to affect elections in other countries.
"Jared Kushner, painted a similar picture during an interview with the Senate Intelligence Committee." Would it be possible Jared and DJ colluded - with each other in terms of prepared testimony? As for tests for fitness for the office, I suppose he would he have been expecting the news at the meeting to be that HRC was born in Sweden.
3
How patriotic of Mr. Trump Jr to give his all for his father's campaign and take a questionable meeting besides. His sacrifice is well noted.
My question is why a meeting for this had the presence of lawyer Veselnitskaya when she was clearly lobbying for the Kremlin and Putin. What was her interest in targeting Clinton? What was the quid pro quo, the Magnitsky Act? I'd like to know about that since it was of high interest to the Kremlin.
Any concerns Trump the younger had about Clinton's fitness could easily have been investigated by googling or reading articles regarding her well documented background and the history of the right trying to smear her.
If he had real concerns about fitness perhaps he should have considered his father. There would have been no contest on who was more fit to be POTUS.
And now that we've experienced the Trump White House for 8 months it turns out fitness was a good concern, just not in the right direction.
Nice try, Junior, telling a tale in multiple storylines doesn't make any of it true.
My question is why a meeting for this had the presence of lawyer Veselnitskaya when she was clearly lobbying for the Kremlin and Putin. What was her interest in targeting Clinton? What was the quid pro quo, the Magnitsky Act? I'd like to know about that since it was of high interest to the Kremlin.
Any concerns Trump the younger had about Clinton's fitness could easily have been investigated by googling or reading articles regarding her well documented background and the history of the right trying to smear her.
If he had real concerns about fitness perhaps he should have considered his father. There would have been no contest on who was more fit to be POTUS.
And now that we've experienced the Trump White House for 8 months it turns out fitness was a good concern, just not in the right direction.
Nice try, Junior, telling a tale in multiple storylines doesn't make any of it true.
5
based on who attended the meeting; it appears many of the leaders of the trump campaign were willing to receive information from a foreign power . It also seems these same leaders were somewhat familiar with the Russian attendees of the meeting; or do they all assemble at trump tower to discuss adoptions with unknown friends of a music promoter?
HOW long do we: the owners of the chairs they sit in and and funders of their paychecks , medical care, and staff, need to wait for them to assume their responsibility to work as one to save the integrity of our political; process.
HOW long do we: the owners of the chairs they sit in and and funders of their paychecks , medical care, and staff, need to wait for them to assume their responsibility to work as one to save the integrity of our political; process.
6
Junior Trump was just seeking information on Clinton's fitness for office? How ever did the Senate judiciary members and investigators keep from laughing out loud? Snickers all around I guess. That's some creative witness-prep lawyering for sure!
4
So, Donald Jr. was an undecided voter? I assume if you're part of the campaign running against Ms. Clinton, you probably already think she not fit for the job.
3
The Trump organization must be completely exhausted keeping all of the lies/stories straight on a daily basis. Good thing noses don't grow every time you lie - all of the Trumps would be tripping over them! They'd have to wrap them around their heads into man buns.
34
It's simply amazing to watch truly gifted con artists and pathological liars keep evolving their lies and creating distractions to avoid having their mark figure out how they're being cheated blind playing the rigged 3 card monte game.
3
They early on discovered that there are no consequences for lying anymore.
The former President was not born in the US, he was the founder of ISIS, he tapped 45's Tower, thousand of Muslims cheering, ad nauseam. All blatantly false statements. But what are the consequences of those slanderous and vicious lies?
Zero, zelch. The man holds the most powerful position in the world and lies more times per minute than any living person. But his son needs to consult with Russians to learn about the fitness of his opponent. Truly our times will be remembered as the Age of Trumpery.
The former President was not born in the US, he was the founder of ISIS, he tapped 45's Tower, thousand of Muslims cheering, ad nauseam. All blatantly false statements. But what are the consequences of those slanderous and vicious lies?
Zero, zelch. The man holds the most powerful position in the world and lies more times per minute than any living person. But his son needs to consult with Russians to learn about the fitness of his opponent. Truly our times will be remembered as the Age of Trumpery.
4
This current president is the most unfit and destructive president I have experienced. Amazing how a conversation always flips reality.
24
The very idea of Don Jr checking on anyone's fitness for office is hilarious and preposterous. He is so hungry to be Daddy's favorite he caused multiple problems. A not too bright child of a not too bright father pushing for greatness. So pathetic. Too bad he didn't think to check his father's fitness. That would have been much easier and obvious.
26
He couldn't posdibly have checked his father. He can't see the forest for the trees.
4
To paraphrase Donald Trump, "Lock him up."
28
" Donald Trump Jr. told Senate investigators on Thursday that he set up a June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer because he was intrigued that she might have damaging information about Hillary Clinton". Sounds like collusion to me. Lock him up!
16
I think Mueller will turn up the heat on Jr. The price will be very high I hope.
3
Yeah, he just wanted to make sure we didn't get an unfit president.
31
Junior blames Hillary for his actions, nah, daddy told him to do it. If we could get the Trumps telling the truth, what a remarkable world it would be.
10
Information on her "fitness" from the Russians? For people who lie as much as they do, the Trumps are terrible liars.
25
The biggest lie is not what Don Jr., Jared Kushner, or Paul Manafort say about their June 2016 meeting with the Russians. But it is the President's own claim that he was not aware that the meeting even took place. Yeah right...
27
This is the definition of "tangled web."
10
First it was a meeting about adoption, then it was just a couple of people, then it was 5 people and 3 Russians, then it was getting incriminating information about HC, now it was a meeting to find out about HC fitness. Trump Jr lies as much as his old man and you cannot believe anything that comes out of his mouth, just a matter of time and Jr will have a bad comb over just like daddy!
21
I wonder what his story will be when he's in front of a grand jury. I think pathological lying must be in his DNA -- just imagine have a father like that? Clearly he doesn't know what "fitness" means since his father is the most unfit human being to ever hold the office of the presidency.
24
So was there any chance Donald Jr. would have judged Hillary "fit" for office?
11
Only after speaking with his highly ethical lawyers and perhaps Roger Stone.
4
Clinton has been around forever: as first lady, as senator, as secretary of state, as presidential candidate. Nothing there that would indicate her fitness. Hence reliance on some Russian apparatchik to make an assessment. Whoda tbunk it.
16
This has to be the most absurd explanation for colluding with the russians to date.To determine Hillary's fitness for office equals getting dirt on Clinton.Throw this clown in jail for treason.
16
"Despite his interest, he said, he always intended to consult with his own lawyers about the propriety of using any information that Ms. Veselnitskaya, who has ties to the Kremlin, gave him at the meeting.....The acknowledgment by the president’s eldest son that he intended to seek legal counsel after the meeting suggests that he knew, or at least suspected, that accepting potentially damaging information about a rival campaign from a foreign country raised thorny legal issues."
Are the authors of this article really that gullible? They state "intentionally misspeaking to Congress is a crime, giving his statement on Thursday added weight." Really?? Don Jr. can say anything he likes about his "intentions" at the time and no one can challenge that on a factual or concrete basis. His statement was obviously crafted by his lawyers and, despite that, is transparently lame...to use a legal term of art...Maybe Ms Haberman and Mr Apuzzo would be interested in a bridge I have for sale :).
Are the authors of this article really that gullible? They state "intentionally misspeaking to Congress is a crime, giving his statement on Thursday added weight." Really?? Don Jr. can say anything he likes about his "intentions" at the time and no one can challenge that on a factual or concrete basis. His statement was obviously crafted by his lawyers and, despite that, is transparently lame...to use a legal term of art...Maybe Ms Haberman and Mr Apuzzo would be interested in a bridge I have for sale :).
10
Actually, yeah, it is in fact a crime to lie to a Congressional committee if you've been sworn in.
Especially if you've been mouthing off about what your intentions were for the last six months, and contradicting yourself every ten minutes or so.
Especially if you've been mouthing off about what your intentions were for the last six months, and contradicting yourself every ten minutes or so.
4
I know it's a crime to lie. My point is the authors seem to think that fear of punishment persuaded him to be truthful and they are therefore surprisingly gullible. All I'm saying is that, one... they seem to believe his statement that he intended to consult lawyers after the meeting and two...that particular statement can't be challenged as a lie, because he is asserting an intention, an interior state of mind.
I only met with the drug dealer to see if he was actually selling drugs. I only went to see minor at her house that I met in the chat rooom to tell her that she shouldn't talk to strangers. Pay no attention to the beer in the bag . His excuses are no different than the above . In the words of Peesident Trump
" sad " " believe me "
" sad " " believe me "
13
Have to call bul_s__t on his many excuses. Yea, like we believe he was going to consult counsel after he, Donald Trump Jr., determined solely if Secretary Clinton was fit for office. As if he even has the mental or moral capacity to make that determination; but, shouldn't he have been determining his own father's fitness for office and let American voters know Big Trump is not fit for office and never will be. Hey, DT Jr, not all Americans are fools.
10
That Donald Jr., not a smart boy.
19
I take it he's never met his father?
18
Credibility is central to evaluating Don Jr.'s statement about his meeting with Russian operatives. And, given his previous dissembling and deflection, he has zero credibility, especially given all the anti-Hillary hacked information Russia released just when Jr. wanted it -- " later this summer." It's when you're inexperienced and feel that you're losing that you engage in such destructive smear tactics--a Trump MO.
7
Oh, wait! He said that he "never colluded with the Russian government's campaign to disrupt last year's presidential election." Oh, OK!
All investigations are now OFF because surely he knows WE ALL BELIEVE HIM! Move along folks, nothing to see here!
All investigations are now OFF because surely he knows WE ALL BELIEVE HIM! Move along folks, nothing to see here!
7
Umm..how dumb does he think we are? Does he not realize the whole world knows he said "I love it!" That certainly doesn't sound conflicted to me!
11
Is "Playing Dumb" seriously going to be the Trump excuse for everything?? You get to do this if you are running for the leader of the free world: "I didnt know what I was doing, I was too inexperienced".
9
Nowadays not knowing what you are doing is called being "an outsider", "authentic", "telling it like it is" and being "anti-elitist". Poor George Orwell.
1
That does make sense. Everyone knew HRC was unfit for President. She was clearly a liar and cheater. You can never trust a Clinton.
1
sarcasm noted. thanks for the giggle this afternoon!
1
DJT Jr. planned to consult with a lawyer about the legality of receiving damaging Clinton information *after* receiving said information, not before.
A chip off the old block.
A chip off the old block.
4
Dealing with liars and cheaters isn't easy, is it? We have a whole group of them in the Trump organization, and now in the White House. We really don't deserve this. Some day we will get to the bottom of it all.
9
Don't worry Don. Daddy will pardon you too.
12
Sounds like a trumped up lie to me. NEVER trust a Trump
11
All that money and fancy education. And he can't even lie convincingly, what a waste. Truly, a chip off the old blockhead.
12
If anybody believes Junior' story, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
10
#1-Of course Trump Jr. , and Trump's Campaign manager at the same meeting-both of them never told Dad about the meeting...LOL....
And Trump jr. wasn't after 'dirt' to hurt Hillary...he was naive and mildly curious,nothing criminal intended...double LOL....
it was just an innocent meeting with Russian Intelligence Agents,trying to tilt the Election towards Putin's friend....really didn't have to be reported to the FBI...as any ordinary citizen would do...
And Trump jr. wasn't after 'dirt' to hurt Hillary...he was naive and mildly curious,nothing criminal intended...double LOL....
it was just an innocent meeting with Russian Intelligence Agents,trying to tilt the Election towards Putin's friend....really didn't have to be reported to the FBI...as any ordinary citizen would do...
8
"Donald Trump Jr. told Senate investigators on Thursday that he set up a June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer because he was intrigued that she might have damaging information about Hillary Clinton, saying it was important to learn about Mrs. Clinton’s “fitness” to be president."
Well, that was stupid!
“As it later turned out, my skepticism was justified. The meeting provided no meaningful information and turned out not to be about what had been represented.”
Aw, shucks -- no 'dirt!'
"He is the second person connected to the Trump campaign to tell congressional investigators that the campaign was, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy —"
Doubly STUPID! Amateur hour!
Well, that was stupid!
“As it later turned out, my skepticism was justified. The meeting provided no meaningful information and turned out not to be about what had been represented.”
Aw, shucks -- no 'dirt!'
"He is the second person connected to the Trump campaign to tell congressional investigators that the campaign was, essentially, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with politics to pull off a master strategy —"
Doubly STUPID! Amateur hour!
5
Like father, like son...
7
i hope that the others present will poke gigantic holes in the scummy lies coming from this family and their underhanded tactics to steal the presidency
7
Liar liar pants on fire. Junior thinks he'd can lie his way out of Russian collusion to rig the election. Problem is Junior doesn't know what Mueller and all the other investigators know.
LOCK HIM UP!
LOCK HIM UP!
8
Daddy has the pardon pen... now sing like a bird jr. Sing and be free.
8
"This is what Pappy told me to say".
6
What about the damaging info they had on Daddy?
8
Like father (liar), like son (liar).
7
Fitness for office? That's rich coming from a trump; who's less "fit" for office than any of those grifter pig traitors.
12
These people are such habitual liars that they don't seem to realize how obvious their lies are to everybody else. There must be some psychiatric term for it.
12
What a bunch of hooey. Flim-flam artists and cons with not an ethical bone in their collective bodies, these Trumps are nothing but liars and thieves. Please! Get rid of them ASAP and learn from their immoral behavior so that it may never happen again. (If our country, indeed can survive these terrible, terrible people).
10
Funny... He see the straw in Hillary's eye, and not the huge rafter in his own father's brain...
18
Sure you did Junior...sure you did.
17
The idiot son of the most unfit person to ever sit in the White House was going to get information from a Russian sleazeball that would help decide Hillary Clinton's "fitness" for office in the eyes of the Trump misfits. LOL
These people have zero morals, decency, intelligence etc. and, yes, they are treasonous and should be in prison.
These people have zero morals, decency, intelligence etc. and, yes, they are treasonous and should be in prison.
49
Today, the "latest" reason for the meeting with Russians is to protect American democracy?! And, we, the citizens of this country , have to keep going with our daily chores with this bunch of unfitted "leaders"? Seriously, I am personally offended, the Trump family, all of them and their minions, think I am, actually that we all are gullible idiots.
21
Clinton's "fitness" for office? Really Fredo? Your dad is the most unfit person who had ever occupied the Oval Office. You should have had the Russians dig up dirt on him.
23
Maybe they have.
5
Honestly, I just don't believe anything any Trump family member says. They think we're all stupid and gullible but we know they're all ignorant and conniving.
14
So his excuse is that they were too stupid to have colluded with the Russians?
20
Malarkey.
10
There are lies and damn lies....
9
"Despite his interest, he said, he always intended to consult with his own lawyers about the propriety of using any information..."
So are we supposed to just take this guy at his word? Has he provided any proof that he did indeed consult with his lawyers about this?
So are we supposed to just take this guy at his word? Has he provided any proof that he did indeed consult with his lawyers about this?
17
Younger Donald has been disingenuous about the meeting since it was revealed and verified. And responding to an offer from Russia to help his father get elected by saying "I'd love it" is quite incriminating. Lying about the participants and about the purpose was unwise. Trying to say it's about adopted children when the email subject message reads Russia-Clinton is beyond absurd. It is almost as if they reside in a bubble.
Digging deeper is a mistake. The investigators have the emails, Manafort was raided and has been repeatedly interviewed. The contents of his phone potentially incriminate the RNC for political contributions from Russia. There's the draft of the letter dictated by his father on Air Force One that is full of evidence of collusion as to the firing of Comey--and the memos that Comey wrote when certain he was being pressed by Trump to drop the investigation on Russian ties to his campaign if he wanted to stay in the job.
Digging deeper is a mistake. The investigators have the emails, Manafort was raided and has been repeatedly interviewed. The contents of his phone potentially incriminate the RNC for political contributions from Russia. There's the draft of the letter dictated by his father on Air Force One that is full of evidence of collusion as to the firing of Comey--and the memos that Comey wrote when certain he was being pressed by Trump to drop the investigation on Russian ties to his campaign if he wanted to stay in the job.
11
"Every single day I fielded dozens, if not hundreds, of emails and phone calls". I'd like that job, sounds like a snooze compared to an average day in the office.
11
He tells a different story every time. As for his contention that the Trump campaign was too inept and unsophisticated to coordinate with Russia: seems to me that makes the Trumps an ideal vehicle for Russian interference in the election, because they were breaking laws they could pretend they didn't know exist.
19
The Wikileaks release of DNC hacked emails began the following month, or "later in the summer" as Donald Jr. suggested in his message.
What are the odds that this data dump intended to damage Hillary was never discussed at a meeting attended by such high level people in the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence? It was conspiracy with a hostile government to throw the election to Trump. Of course they're saying nothing happened at the meeting.
What are the odds that this data dump intended to damage Hillary was never discussed at a meeting attended by such high level people in the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence? It was conspiracy with a hostile government to throw the election to Trump. Of course they're saying nothing happened at the meeting.
16
I can't stop laughing! Does he really think anyone believes he was interested in Clinton's "fitness for office?!" This contradicts his comments about being inexperienced and a novice. So -- he's an inexperienced little boy when it comes to his dealings with the Russians; however, he is experienced enough to judge Hillary Clinton's competency? The Trump family is so comfortable with lies that they don't even understand the truth anymore.
27
Does Trump Jr. or his attorney(s) really believe what was said..I doubt it..and will lead to further and more depth of the investigation. Is it possible, Trump Jr could be trouble with respect to felony crimes..and possible eventual incarceration...Yes!
9
The delivery by him, in his behalf, written by his father, of a completely FALSE statement, after REPEATED LIES about who was there, including those told on Hannitys show, puts the lie to his claim he would have taken a legal route after consulting with his lawyers. To know Trumps is to know this is a lie.
12
@Frank Cohen: What law was broken? The federal election laws that prohibit getting anything of value from a foreign national to help you get elected. Dirt on your opponent is "something of value" (the law intentionally does not restrict it to money) and, at the very least, DT Jr. attempted to do this. It is, after all, the reason he took the meeting. Did he get anything of value? He says no. Pardon me if I find him less than credible and I look forward to what Mueller finds. Lastly, a hostile foreign government tried to determine the outcome of our presidential election. That much is certain. Whether or not Trump colluded with them to make it happen remains to be seen but it is anything but a molehill.
10
"Nothing ever came of it".
That actually doesn't matter. Intent to commit a crime that falls through is still conspiracy.
That actually doesn't matter. Intent to commit a crime that falls through is still conspiracy.
10
I just have one question; What would Jr. have done if, as a result of the meeting, he was convinced that Clinton was absolutely well qualified and fit to be the President of the United States, (especially when compared to his father)?
13
As a former opposition researcher, I was looking for the proverbial dirt on the political opponent. What we found made a 1988 Republican Primary Candidate Angry beyond belief. In our case, the dirt was factual and showed our opponent as not honorable. Trump Jr was doing the oppo research, but with foreign interference. He was caught and like his father is a list!
1
Really, how dare he? What makes him qualified to even think this, let alone say it aloud? To make a judgment about a person who had been in public service all her life?
10
Astounding that it was thought such an explanation would fly. Why didn't he just go with 'I wasn't feeling well that day or the dog chewed my homework'?
13
"Sorry, my mistake. I meant to say Professor Plum with a wrench in the Billiard Room, not the Conservatory. I'm new at this having a Clue thing.
13
His defense seems to be, "I couldn't have actually colluded with Russia because when I was actively trying to collude with Russia they didn't have any useful information."
Solid. Let's see how this plays out. I have to say I don't think most of these people even knew they were doing anything wrong - they were just trying to get an edge - but this is what happens when amateurs run a campaign who reject any sort of counsel from those with experience.
Solid. Let's see how this plays out. I have to say I don't think most of these people even knew they were doing anything wrong - they were just trying to get an edge - but this is what happens when amateurs run a campaign who reject any sort of counsel from those with experience.
13
If they didn't think they were doing anything wrong, why did they keep lying about it and changing their stories?
2
His comfort level in taking this meeting - on his own? - is hard to imagine.
Obviously, foreign collusion is an aspect in how the Trumps conduct their business, but I have a hard time believing Jr. did not get the ok from someone, probably his father, before taking this meeting.
The shifting explanations is surely the lawyers and the president speaking.
Obviously, foreign collusion is an aspect in how the Trumps conduct their business, but I have a hard time believing Jr. did not get the ok from someone, probably his father, before taking this meeting.
The shifting explanations is surely the lawyers and the president speaking.
5
It would be un-American not to collude with a hostile foreign power because winning by any means is the American Way.
We learn that from team sports. Integrity is not lost in a day, it requires practice.
We learn that from team sports. Integrity is not lost in a day, it requires practice.
5
Thank you for including the several prior versions that Don Jr. has given of his contacts with Russians last year. It gives us perspective to judge the truthfulness of his current version. However, a colloquial way of saying "Mr. Trump has given differing accounts of his contacts last year with Russians," is probably not printable in this newspaper.
7
Hey, yeah, sure I robbed the bank.
But I only did it as a public service, to check and see if they were keeping the money safe.
But I only did it as a public service, to check and see if they were keeping the money safe.
20
This is the very definition of collusion with a foreign power during an election. This is one of those precluded acts by the Federal Elections Commission and this "nice boy" needs to be prosecuted.
13
Fredo had never even heard of "colloquial" until his lawyers drafted his statement.
68
At last we have a close presidential relative who exceeds even Billy Carter's previous record for sleaze (recall his "negotiations" with Libya and Qaddafi during brother Jimmy's presidency?).
14
He perjured himself plain and simple.
78
hahahahaha:
It all depends on the meaning of "I love it" is.
I was in over my head so I was just overwhelmed by emails
I was too inexperienced to understand that meeting with Russian government officials might be wrong
I was vetting HRC to see if she was fit for office.
I woulda called my lawyer if I had received any information that HRC was not qualified or fit for office.
Boy we all know which end of the bull we're lookin' at.
It all depends on the meaning of "I love it" is.
I was in over my head so I was just overwhelmed by emails
I was too inexperienced to understand that meeting with Russian government officials might be wrong
I was vetting HRC to see if she was fit for office.
I woulda called my lawyer if I had received any information that HRC was not qualified or fit for office.
Boy we all know which end of the bull we're lookin' at.
108
It is absolution appalling that someone so intelectual incapable and politically unfit, would dare try and judge Clinton's, or anyone else's, fitness for office. We've hit bottom, deep undergoing bottom.
56
Hillary was the most capable person to ever run for the Presidency. Unfortunately, the Republicans have lied about her for over 30 years and many believed these lies, Add to that Comey's reopening the investigation of her 11 days before the election and then Bernie's supporters went against her. I heard 12 percent of his supporters voted for Trump. Frankly if that is true, I would like those 12 percent to get out of my party. Hillary deserves out applause and our appreciation.
4
Clarification for you. He wasn't trying to judge her fitness. That's his lie. He was trolling for dirt.
Another finger in the eye of our country. It's been done to us so often we are now blind to justice. When will sanity and the law prevail? The Trumps will not stop until someone stops them. GOP you have sold out your country. Your greed has made you delirious.
43
He is fit for prison and little else.
47
Yes, it will teach him not to listen to Pappa!
3
How many do-overs does this guy get, for cryin' out loud?
70
It's "Afflluenza" defense gone political.
I'm sorry your honor I'm too important and too rich to be expected to be responsible for ALL of my actions... just the one which I don't get caught for.
I'm sorry your honor I'm too important and too rich to be expected to be responsible for ALL of my actions... just the one which I don't get caught for.
2
So, Jr. allegedly was going to consult legal counsel but decided to take the meeting first.
What about Kushner? What about Manafort? They attended the meeting too.
We are supposed to believe that all three somehow did not know that federal election laws state it is unlawful to solicit anything of value from a foreign national? They knew nothing about that, not one of them? They all thought, let's hear the dirt, and then we'll ask a lawyer? [Question, how were they then going to un-hear the dirt?]
Manafort was at one point Trump's campaign manager. But he knew nothing about this law?
To anyone who believes that, I have a lovely bridge to sell you.
What about Kushner? What about Manafort? They attended the meeting too.
We are supposed to believe that all three somehow did not know that federal election laws state it is unlawful to solicit anything of value from a foreign national? They knew nothing about that, not one of them? They all thought, let's hear the dirt, and then we'll ask a lawyer? [Question, how were they then going to un-hear the dirt?]
Manafort was at one point Trump's campaign manager. But he knew nothing about this law?
To anyone who believes that, I have a lovely bridge to sell you.
69
Nah! All of them didn't know nothing about all them pesky laws!
3
This is such a farce. So a family with long historical ties to Russian oligarchs and even Putin himself says they want dirt on Clinton....without ever considering that they are talking to a long standing enemy of the United States?!!
And to add to this, they, as Mueller's team is investigating, then decided to distribute propaganda and possibly hack election machines so that their own guy and Putin confidant could get into the highest office in the land?
These are people who have absolutely no love of democracy. They take part in efforts to bring down the entire idea of it, starting with the EU and on to the US.
We are fighting for the survival of the entire free world. And if you think that is an overstatement or exaggeration, read the article again.
And to add to this, they, as Mueller's team is investigating, then decided to distribute propaganda and possibly hack election machines so that their own guy and Putin confidant could get into the highest office in the land?
These are people who have absolutely no love of democracy. They take part in efforts to bring down the entire idea of it, starting with the EU and on to the US.
We are fighting for the survival of the entire free world. And if you think that is an overstatement or exaggeration, read the article again.
59
At the time of the June meeting, Trump Jnr. was certain his father was fit to be president of the USA. He still needed some facts from the Russians to vouch for the suitability of Ms Clinton.
It is getting interesting by the day
It is getting interesting by the day
13
Yes. If the Russians had told him Clinton was suitable for the job he would have worked on his father to quit the race!
1
Little Donnie thought, as only the narcissistic Trumps can, that he'd be the star of the campaign. And by getting what he thought was "the goods" on Secretary Clinton... Daddy would be SO proud of his boy. Pitiful. This family chokes on themselves and the truth is a commodity.
I am dreaming of jumpsuits.
I am dreaming of jumpsuits.
28
Melania in flats... bright orange flats.
2
I'd like to offer a differing point of view. However my recent experience is that comments with dissenting opinions often disappear as if they have been flagged for not agreeing 100% with most of the rest of you.
My charge here is that individuals or groups of users are using the flag option to censor differing points of view. I wish the NY Times would look in to it.
My charge here is that individuals or groups of users are using the flag option to censor differing points of view. I wish the NY Times would look in to it.
3
Maybe you should offer your dissenting point of view and see what happens....? Just sayin.
4
Wait...I thought it was all that high-mindedness about adopting Russian orphans.. oh, no, that didn't work because of the US legislation in the tit-for-tat battle after the Ruskies said we couldn't adopt those kids.
Good thing that, like Dubya, Cheney and Rove before him, he wasn't under oath and he was behind closed doors.
Please tell me someone let out the horse laugh that this latest Trumpist lie deserves.
Good thing that, like Dubya, Cheney and Rove before him, he wasn't under oath and he was behind closed doors.
Please tell me someone let out the horse laugh that this latest Trumpist lie deserves.
9
Am I hearing this right? It sure sounds like Tjr just admitted the purpose of the meeting was to collude with Russia.
39
Exactly, but Jr doesn't know the meaning of "collude" , now if someone had only explained that to him he could have made up another story.
1
Near the end of one of the debates, HRC was asked to say something good about Trump. She complemented his kids.
I think she didn't know them well at all, because they're liars and schemers just the ol' Daddy.
I think she didn't know them well at all, because they're liars and schemers just the ol' Daddy.
20
"Because there's no better way to determine an opponent's fitness than by colluding with a foreign power!" The End. D. Trump, Jr.
22
Baloney, who is he to determine who is fit or who is not fit?
16
Donald Trump Jr wants to learn about Clinton's "fitness" to be president. When can we learn about his father's taxes?
27
Hillary in a coma would still provide this nation with more competent leadership than Trump and Pence combined.
DD
Manhattan