The recent revelation of Donald Trump Jr.’s 2016 meeting with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer is causing headaches for the Trump administration. But in their enthusiasm to decry Trump Jr. and the campaign, congressional Democrats are jumping to some shaky conclusions.
Appearing on CNN Friday morning, Democratic congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois insisted that Trump Jr.’s contact with lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya was proof positive of collusion with the highest members of the Russian government.
“I think you are seeing a clear pattern of people in the Trump campaign coordinating with Russians,” Quigley told CNN’s Kate Bolduan. “I think what we are learning with the Trump Jr. meeting is when you met with any Russians, you are meeting with Russian intelligence, and therefore President Putin.”
Quigley was asked whether he thought the Trump campaign had helped to guide Russia’s voter targeting and fake news operations during the campaign—a claim reportedly under investigation, but for which there is so far no public evidence.
“I think that there was coordination,” Quigley replied. “I think you are starting to see public evidence of that coordination, not just the meeting with Trump Jr., but others as well.”
Trump Jr. has maintained that the Veselnitskaya had no good information about Hillary Clinton, as he was promised beforehand. Veselnitskaya has denied any connection to the Russian government, and the Kremlin has denied any knowledge of the Trump Jr. meeting.
In a Friday morning press release, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called Trump Jr.’s meeting “a desecration of our democracy not seen since Watergate.”
