WaPo Editorial Board: Trump-Russia Story ‘No Longer Just Smoke. It’s Fire’
Washington Post: There is now fire in Trump-Russia scandal.
The Washington Post just published an editorial saying that with the latest developments revealing Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer who promised help from the Russian government in the campaign there is now evidence of “fire.”
“THERE CAN now be no doubt: The Russia meddling story is not just smoke but fire. Donald Trump Jr.’s interactions with Russians during last year’s presidential campaign were abnormal and alarming. An incriminating email chain has made it impossible for the administration to deploy its always flimsy argument of last resort — that the whole story is just ‘fake news,'” the piece opens saying.
The Washington Post points to the series of misleading and false statements from Trump Jr. and other in the White House.
The Post also asks how long Republicans are going to defend Trump asking, “How long can the rest of the Republican Party prioritize partisanship and agenda over decency and patriotism?”
Here is another key section of the piece:
Donald Trump Jr.’s reply was damning: “If it’s what you say I love it.” In subsequent emails, it was explicit that he would meet with a “Russian government attorney” in order to get the information.
The younger Mr. Trump and his apologists claim that he responded as would any campaign operative seeking dirt on an opponent. No. A ny ethical operative confronted by a foreign power’s attempt to meddle in this way in U.S. elections would refer the matter promptly to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Instead, Mr. Trump was enthused, drawing Mr. Manafort and Mr. Kushner into a meeting with someone he believed to be a Russian government attorney. Even if the Trump camp got no dirt on Ms. Clinton out of that meeting, the Russians could have used the email chain and subsequent meeting as leverage over Mr. Trump and Mr. Kushner, who is now a top White House adviser. Mr. Trump’s enthusiasm may also have communicated to the Kremlin that the Trump camp would welcome Kremlin election meddling. The Russians went on to run an anti-Clinton hacking campaign.
The final question the Washington Post asks is if or when Republican leadership will say enough is enough. The Washinton Post asks Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan: “Is this really okay? Are they really prepared to debase themselves in defense of a president whose closest advisers may have welcomed underhanded interference in America’s election from a hostile foreign power?”
You can read the full Washington Post editorial here.
[image via screenshot]
