Donald Trump Jr. Admits to Attempted Russian Collusion

It took over a year for the truth to be exposed, but the truth always prevails. After months masquerading like he was personally offended by insinuations of Russian collusion, Donald Trump Jr. finally admitted that he secretly engaged with a Kremlin-connected lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, to gather negative research against Hillary Clinton. 

This meeting was made a high priority by the Trump campaign. Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, both attended this meeting with the Kremlin-connected lawyer. Despite Trump officials best efforts to distract from the New York Times bombshell reporting, three central campaign advisors would not take a meaningless meeting just a few weeks after securing the Republican nomination.

The same unanswered question looms heavy - Did the Trump campaign collude with the Russian government to attack the United States using cyber methods to impact the 2016 presidential election? As the investigations grow longer and evidence is brought to light, the answer appears to be yes. If Robert Mueller, special counsel leading the investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, determines that collusion did exist, that would indicate a clear violation of U.S. election law. 

In addition, a conclusion that collusion existed would expose the most effective and damaging act of espionage in U.S. history. Contrary to Fox News punditry, colluding with a foreign enemy to commit espionage against the United States is treason, plain and simple. Trump advisor and spin doctor extraordinaire Kellyanne Conway may use special semantics to qualify Donald Jr.'s actions. But the fact remains, colluding with a foreign power to attack the United States is treason and should be punished as such.  

To excuse the interaction with Veselnitskaya, Donald Jr. changed his story twice (and counting). Initially, Donald Jr. alleged the meeting was merely to discuss adoption policy. Soon after news broke of the connection between Donald Jr. and the Kremlin-connected lawyer, Donald Jr. changed his excuse to then claim Veselnitskaya was offering damaging information about Hillary Clinton.

To preserve a semblance of plausible deniability, Donald Jr. has alleged he was not even aware of Veselnitskaya's name. Note: Even before Trump was the Republican nominee for president, guests of Trump Tower (location of the meeting) were required to show identification before receiving access. Do not be discouraged by White House advisors from accepting facts.

When asked about Trump officials meeting with the Russians about the election, Donald Jr. asserted, "It just goes to show you [the Clinton campaign's] moral compass...It's disgusting, it's so phony." Facts indicate that Trump-Russia allegations are far from 'phony' and the only 'disgusting' aspect is the behavior of Trump officials and their continual lies regarding their contact with Russians. Yes, campaigns work to gather opposition research to damage their opponents candidacy. The difference with the Trump campaign, their opposition research appears to have derived from foreign entities. 

Unlike previous assertions, this New York Times report offers definitive proof that high level Trump campaign officials actively pursued and engaged with Russian officials for assistance with the Trump campaign. Donald Jr. may seem like a fool for admitting to this meeting. But it was widely known that an email existed confirming the meeting took place. Thus, Donald Jr. was compelled to disclose that he entertained Veselnitskaya. Common sense will be our guide to determine why Donald Jr. has changed his stories so many times. He appears to be covering up his seemingly illegal actions. 

If Donald Jr. is to be taken at his word, and the evidence uncovered by the New York Times is accepted as factual, then Donald Jr. met with foreign nationals to assist them in their attempt to influence the U.S. election. That reality establishes a clear nexus of collusion and should serve as the foundation for a criminal prosecution. Why? Because meeting with foreign nationals to commit espionage is more than a violation of election law - it is a willful attack on the sovereignty of the United States of America.