Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman)

Another day, another bogus anti-Trump/Russia accusation.

The latest one comes from the disreputable NYT - gratuitous mudslinging its speciality, especially anything about Trump team and Russia.

On July 9, it claimed Donald Trump Jr. met with “Kremlin-connected lawyer (Natalya Veselnitskaya) for “promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign” - according three unnamed sources, another Times specialty.

Allegedly Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager at the time Paul Manafort were involved in the meeting. The Times cited unverified “confidential government documents” - perhaps nonexistent ones.

The meeting supposedly took place on June 9, 2016 in Trump Tower New York. The Times, without justification, alleged it’s more evidence of Kremlin meddling in last year’s presidential election, saying:

“The accounts of the meeting represent the first public indication that at least some in the campaign were willing to accept Russian help.”

“It is unclear whether the Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, actually produced the promised compromising information about Mrs. Clinton. But the people interviewed by The Times about the meeting said the expectation was that she would do so.”

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin never heard of this woman is. It’s unaware of any meetings she may have had with members of Trump’s team.

Trump Jr said “(a)fter pleasantries were exchanged, the woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Mrs. Clinton.”

“Her statements were vague, ambiguous and made no sense. No details or supporting information was provided or even offered. It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information.”

As for compromising information about Hillary, volumes of it exists in the public domain, easily obtainable by any diligent researcher wishing to discuss it.

Numerous anti-Trump/anti-Russia accusations proved dubious or entirely discredited - after the media damage was done by blasting it in headlines, The Times perhaps the leading offender, publishing rubbish amounting to disinformation, Big Lies and fake news.

Commenting on the latest issue, Law Professor Jonathan Turley quoted GW Bush administration so-called ethics lawyer Richard Painter, saying Trump Jr’s meeting with a Russian lawyer for damaging information on Hillary “borders on treason,” Turley adding:

Others call the disclosure a possible long-sought “smoking gun,” exposing Trump team collusion with Russia.

Not according to Turley, saying “(t)here is not a clear criminal act in such a meeting based on” what’s known. “Moreover,” the meeting “is not necessarily unprecedented.”

“There is no crime in listening to people who say that they have incriminating information on a political opponent, even a foreigner.”

Constitutional “Article III defines treason as ‘levying War against (the United States), or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.’ “

“To say that this type of meeting even borders on treason is quite a departure from the language and cases governing that crime.”

It’s also neither unusual, disturbing or shocking for members of one political campaign wanting dirt on another.

It’s common practice practically everywhere. It’s the nature of politics to want to besmirch or denigrate the reputation or integrity of an opponent.

The Times and other media scoundrels attack Trump this way daily, inventing reasons to bash him instead of focusing on plenty of legitimate ones.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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