Quote (CoheedAndCambria @ Jul 18 2017 11:49am)
Let's think for a second. If they were lobbying about the Magnitsky Act, wouldn't providing damning evidence against Hillary only help them with pushing through their agenda about the act? Why are you viewing these topics as mutually exclusive? If anyone were to randomly offer you dirt against your opponent, it's pretty obvious they would want something in return.
As for Trump Sr.'s claims of not knowing about the meeting:
Donald Trump Jr. met the Russians in Trump tower, one floor below Trump Sr.'s office. Trump Sr. claimed he didn't know about the meeting, however, secret service and reception must be made aware of visitors and the Russians were logged. Later that very night, after the Russians met with his son, Trump Sr. said in a speech, "I am going to give a major speech ... we're going to be discussing all of the things taking place with the Clintons ... [with] the Russians, the Saudis, the Chinese all gave money to Bill and Hillary and got favorable treatment in return."
So he certainly did use this information during the campaign.
Even Christopher Wray, Trump's FBI Director nomination, said in his hearing that if a foreign government contacts you with intention to interfere with an election, you need to report that to the FBI directly.
Here's some background on the Magnitsky Act and why it plays a major role in U.S.-Russia relations, and why when Trump Jr. says they were just talking about "adoptions," the Russians were most definitely lobbying to change this act.
This act froze U.S. money and bank assets of 40 of Russia's most powerful oligarchs and is probably one of the largest U.S. thorns in Putin's side:
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/07/14/537304186/episode-784-meeting-the-russians