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A Democratic congresswoman from New York is asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate President Trump’s 2016 campaign committee following revelations that Donald Trump Jr. was open to receiving damaging information about Hillary Clinton from a Russian source.
The email, made public Tuesday, makes a reference to the Russian government wanting to assist the president’s campaign.
After a complaint was filed with the FEC, Rep. Grace Meng sent a letter to the commission Tuesday calling for an official investigation into whether the Trump campaign violated federal election and criminal laws.
Meng argued it is illegal for a “foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation in connection with a federal, state, or local election.”
Meng’s letter also states that it is against the law for someone to “solicit, accept, or receive” such a contribution or donation from a foreign national.
In a series of articles published by the New York Times over the last few days, it was revealed that Trump Jr. attended a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, last year who he believed would provide him with incriminating information about Clinton.
The meeting took place at Trump Tower. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, also attended.
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Before the gathering took place, Rob Goldstone, who orchestrated the meeting, told Trump Jr. in an email that the material on Clinton was part of the Russian government’s efforts to help Trump during the election.
Trump Jr. published his email exchange with Goldstone on his Twitter account Tuesday.
Meng argued in her letter to the FEC that in offering the damaging information on Clinton to Trump Jr., a foreign national made an “express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation” in connection with the presidential campaign a violation of federal law.
The New York Democrat also alleged that the “president’s own campaign attempted to receive the contribution.”
“Clearly, unacceptable encroachments upon the integrity of an American presidential election were not only offered by a foreign national, but were sought to be received by the Trump campaign,” Meng said. “These acts are punishable under federal law, and they have been brought to your attention.”
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