Posted on 07/27/2016 12:37:12 PM PDT by Drango
Trump urged Russian agents to "find" his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's emails and release them, an unprecedented move by a candidate for president encouraging such a foreign breach.
"Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," the GOP presidential nominee said at a news conference in Miami on Wednesday. "I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press."
Trump was referring to the ongoing controversy surrounding the private server Clinton used while secretary of state.
Separately, the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week was upended by a release of hacked emails from the party committee believed to have been orchestrated by Russia. While the motive for intrusion and release of emails isn't known, many Democrats have speculated that it's a possible attempt to influence the outcome of this year's presidential election.
Pressed by NBC's Katy Tur as to whether he had any "pause about asking a foreign government ... to interfere, to hack into the system of anybody's in this country," Trump dismissed that idea and told Tur to "be quiet."
Clinton's campaign responded in disbelief and outrage to Trump's comments.
"This has to be the first time that a major presidential candidate has actively encouraged a foreign power to conduct espionage against his political opponent. That's not hyperbole, those are just the facts," Clinton senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. "This has gone from being a matter of curiosity, and a matter of politics, to being a national security issue."
The Trump campaign appeared to try to clean up Trump's comments with a statement from his running mate, Mike Pence.
"The FBI will get to the bottom of who is behind the hacking" of the DNC emails, said Pence. If it was Russia, "I can assure you both parties and the United States government will ensure there are serious consequences."
The Indiana governor called it "outrageous" that Democrats were "singularly focusing on who might be behind" the breach and not the fallout from the leaked emails, which resulted in the ouster of Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz after some revealed the DNC was rooting for Clinton as their nominee and worked to handicap Bernie Sanders.
But then Trump, taking to his usual medium of Twitter, doubled down on his comments earlier just minutes later.
Follow Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump If Russia or any other country or person has Hillary Clinton's 33,000 illegally deleted emails, perhaps they should share them with the FBI! 10:16 AM - 27 Jul 2016 13,087 13,087 Retweets 31,783 31,783 likes Later Wednesday, Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller maintained that the presidential candidate was simply saying anyone with Clinton's emails should turn them over to federal authorities.
Follow Jason Miller @JasonMillerinDC 3/7 To be clear, Mr. Trump did not call on, or invite, Russia or anyone else to hack Hillary Clinton’s e-mails today. 12:13 PM - 27 Jul 2016 238 238 Retweets 303 303 likes Follow Jason Miller @JasonMillerinDC 4/7 Trump was clearly saying that if Russia or others have Clinton’s 33,000 illegally deleted emails, they should share them w/ FBI immed. 12:15 PM - 27 Jul 2016 234 234 Retweets 266 266 likes Throughout the campaign, Trump has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose rule has become increasingly authoritarian. In the press conference at his own golf course, the GOP presidential nominee again said he hoped he could work with Putin and threw cold water on the idea that the Russians were behind the DNC hack.
"I'm not going to tell Putin what to do. Why should I tell Putin what to do?" Trump retorted. "He already did something today where he said don't blame them, essentially, for your incompetence."
Former CIA Director Leon Panetta called Trump's comments "totally outrageous" and questioned his loyalty to the United States.
"You've got now a presidential candidate who is in fact asking the Russians to engage in American politics," he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
"I just think that that's beyond the pale," Panetta, who is backing Clinton, said. "I think that kind of statement only reflects the fact that he truly is not qualified to be president of the United States."
Thanks. I’ll Tweet it to him.
Their heads are spinning so fast, they can’t keep up. Trump having these events today must be driving them insane!
Following your example here on FR, perhaps ?
Personally, I prefer his chances to yours.
Chelsea does NOT look hot in yoga pants.
Tell that to Vlad.
Glenn Beck, is that you? Please, for your own sake, step away from your computer, put down the scotch and schedule another appointment with your psychiatrist! You poor, poor dear! It must be so awful to live with the reality that you just suck!
How is it possible to hack into a server or email account that no longer exists?
Trump's handling of this today frames the seditious bastards deliciously between the horns of the proverbial dilemna !
The evil nazi cow deserves Leavenworth and/or a noose.
My vote is for both.
Wouldn't the FBI have to prove the emails were national security secrets before it there could be a case against DT?
If that is the case, Hillmeister would be guilty of compromising national security secrets. They had better drop this action and soon.
I can’t come to grips with the whining extremists. They all believe HILLARY! when she claims none of the missing emails is sensitive. In fact, they believe the missing emails are personal. That being the case, how is HILLARY’S! personal correspondence a matter of national security, or treasonous to release?
If the unthinkable happens they'll simply pardon each other. He'll pardon her on the way out; she'll pardon him on the way in. Thanks for the precedent, Gerry.
I honestly believe she is already being blackmailed. JMHO
The Trump camp knows exactly what they are doing. To get the MSM to report on the illegal emails, Trump had to give them some bait aka Russia hacking for them to fall for it. Very clever! Go Trump!!
And at six he’s scheduled for a “Ask Me Anything” for Reddit. Right before Barry hits the convention. He’ll have to rewrite his speech again!
LOL
I am loving this.
I’ll give my take in a group ping later.
Love it!!!
If anyone hasn’t seen Trump’s press conference you need to watch it. WOW! He is going to win this election.
Where’s their call for Hillary to come clean on her Treason?
You were the one who turned me on to the Mossad being behind all of this, for which I owe you credit where it is due. And my thanks. :)
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