Sean Spicer stood behind the podium for the first time since June 26 to answer inquiries from the members of the media. As expected, the White House press secretary was asked about the ongoing controversy of Donald Trump Jr. on his private meeting with a Russian lawyer in the wake of the presidential election last year.
Spicer sticks to the initial statement made by presidential son
On his Monday press briefing, the press secretary reiterated that the private meeting between Trump Jr. and Atty. Natalia Veselnitskaya was held to discuss an adoption policy as well as the Magnitsky Act.
All throughout the conference, the White House press secretary emphasized that the meeting revolved around these two subjects and nothing more.
His statements came after the presidential son confirmed that he agreed to meet the Russian lawyer after they offered him information which can be used against Hillary Clinton who was then running against Trump for the presidential seat. Trump Jr. even uploaded his exchange of emails with Rob Goldstone, who assisted in setting up the private meeting in Manhattan.
The reams of emails proved that Trump's eldest son was fully aware of what the Russians were up to when they asked to meet him at Trump Tower in Manhattan. This was contrary to his initial statements wherein he denied any knowledge of the proposed incriminating information about Clinton.
Inside Trump Jr. and Russia's private meeting
A few days after claiming that there was "nothing" significant about his meeting with Veselnitskaya, Trump Jr. had a change of heart and said he wanted to be transparent about the ongoing issue. Hence, he uploaded his conversation with Goldstone to the public.
"There was nothing, as far as we know, that would lead anyone to believe that there was anything except for a discussion about adoption and the Magnitsky Act," Spicer insisted at the press briefing.
"But I would refer you back to counsel on that one."
The presidential son, however, stated that they did not discuss Magnitsky Act during the June 2016 meeting. Spicer's statements are also contradictory to the president's thoughts regarding the issue. "Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don Jr. attended in order to get info on an opponent.
That's politics," he wrote on social media, seemingly confirming the real objective of the private meeting.
Spicer and the White House have yet to make a clarification on the press secretary's version of the ongoing controversy.
