A Senate Judiciary Democrat is alleging that Donald Trump Jr. gave false testimony in a September 2017 interview with the committee, in which the President’s son denied that foreign governments or foreign nationals sought to assist President Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), in a Thursday letter to Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), pointed to a recent report that Trump Jr. met at Trump Tower in August 2016 with an Israeli social media specialist and an emissary for princes in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Israeli, Joel Zamel, touted his firm’s ability to manipulate social media to boost Trump’s campaign, while the emissary, George Nader, told Trump Jr. that the princes he represented would also like to help his father’s election, the New York Times reported. Trump Jr.’s attorney Alan Futerfas confirmed the meeting happened but claimed that his client was not interested in the attendees’ pitches.
Coons is asking for Grassley to bring Trump Jr. back in front of the committee for public testimony. His letter included a transcript from Trump Jr.’s committee interview, when he was asked about foreign countries other than Russia.
Coons’ letter also cited the referral Grassley sent the Justice Department calling for it to investigate alleged false statements Republicans accused Christopher Steele — the ex-British spy who assembled the Trump-Russia dossier — of making to the FBI.
A committee spokesman for Grassley did not immediately respond to TPM’s inquiry, nor did Trump Jr.’s lawyer.
Read the full letter below:
