Report: Trump Wrote Son’s Misleading Russia Denial

THANKS, DAD

Updated Aug. 01, 2017 7:26AM EDT / Published Jul. 31, 2017 8:14PM EDT

REUTERS/Brian Snyder

President Donald Trump personally dictated his son Donald Trump Jr.’s initial, misleading statement on his June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer and lobbyist in Trump Tower, The Washington Post reports. The president reportedly drafted the statement while aboard Air Force One, after The New York Times first contacted Trump Jr. over allegations that he met with a Russian lawyer who promised dirt on Hillary Clinton. The president’s advisers reportedly feared the Times learning more about Trump Jr.’s meeting and argued for transparency with the paper. But Trump reportedly overruled them, crafting a statement that was later attributed to Trump Jr. “We primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children that was active and popular with American families years ago and was since ended by the Russian government, but it was not a campaign issue at the time and there was no follow up,” the statement read. The Times later reported that Trump Jr. agreed to the meeting because he believed he would be provided with compromising information on Clinton.

Read it at The Washington Post

Hackers Steal Large Sum From Anti-Trump Super PAC

The Lincoln Project said hackers set their eyes on a committee vendor, “producing authentic-looking invoices”

Kanye West Wants to Open a Porn Studio: Report

A rep for the embattled artist told TMZ that he’s in “advanced talks” to set up the project as part of his Yeezy company.

Several Crew Injured in Crash on Set of Eddie Murphy Film

Eddie Murphy and the film’s other stars, Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson, weren’t on the set at the time.

‘Giant’ Coyote Spotted Prowling Central Park Spooks Joggers

Brett Cohn said the animal stopped him “in his tracks” on Saturday morning.

Black British ‘Homeland’ Actor Clarifies Blackface Comments

David Harewood initially said actors should be able to play any character, even in blackface, as long as it’s “good.”

Scholz to Putin: Keep Kant’s Name Out of Your Mouth

Olaf Scholz says the Russian president doesn’t have the “slightest right” to cite Imannuel Kant.

Marathoner Sips Glass of Wine at Every Mile, Still Finishes

He blindly taste-tested each glass and correctly identified 21 of them.

India’s Modi Slammed for Calling Muslims ‘Infiltrators’

His campaign speech was seen as an ominous warning for India’s religious minorities if he wins a third term this year.

Report: Trump Wrote Son’s Misleading Russia Denial

REUTERS/Brian Snyder