Ex-Soviet 'spy' admits meeting Donald Trump Jr in 2016
An ex-Russian "spy" has admitted he attended a controversial meeting with Donald Trump's son in 2016.
Rinat Akhmetshin, named in US Senate documents as a former "Soviet counter-intelligence officer", confirmed he was present at the discussion Mr Trump Jr had with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.He claimed the meeting was billed as part of a Russian government effort to help Mr Trump during last year's US presidential election campaign.The lobbyist said Mr Trump Jr was disappointed when he asked for evidence of illicit money flowing to the rival Democratic National Committee and Ms Veselnitskaya could not provide it.Mr Akhmetshin said the group's conversation was "not substantive" and he "actually expected more serious" discussion. he latest revelation adds another shift in the tale that has sparked questions over the Trump campaign's ties to Russia.Mr Trump Jr did not disclose Mr Akhmetshin's presence in statements and emails he released earlier this week about the meeting.The correspondence showed Mr Trump Jr was told Russian figures wanted to meet to pass on negative information about Democrat Hilary Clinton.Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law and current White House senior adviser, and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort also attended the discussion.
The latest revelation adds another shift in the tale that has sparked questions over the Trump campaign's ties to Russia.Mr Trump Jr did not disclose Mr Akhmetshin's presence in statements and emails he released earlier this week about the meeting.The correspondence showed Mr Trump Jr was told Russian figures wanted to meet to pass on negative information about Democrat Hilary Clinton.Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law and current White House senior adviser, and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort also attended the discussion. he latest revelation adds another shift in the tale that has sparked questions over the Trump campaign's ties to Russia.Mr Trump Jr did not disclose Mr Akhmetshin's presence in statements and emails he released earlier this week about the meeting.The correspondence showed Mr Trump Jr was told Russian figures wanted to meet to pass on negative information about Democrat Hilary Clinton.Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law and current White House senior adviser, and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort also attended the discussion.
