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Donald Trump Jr: Former Soviet counter intelligence officer 'attended the Russia meeting' Donald Trump Jr: Former Soviet counter intelligence officer confirms he attended Russian lawyer meeting
(35 minutes later)
The Russian lawyer who met with Donald Trump Jr after he had been told she wanted to provide him with incriminating evidence against Hillary Clinton, was reportedly accompanied by a Russian-American lobbyist who is said to have formerly worked for Russian military intelligence. The Russian lawyer who met with Donald Trump Jr after he had been told she wanted to provide him with incriminating information against Hillary Clinton, was accompanied by a Russian-American lobbyist who is said to have formerly worked for Russian military intelligence.
A US media report said when Kremlin-linked lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya went to Trump Tower for the meeting with Mr Trump Jr, Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort, she was accompanied by the man who holds dual citizenship and has been lobbying in Washington on behalf of many pro-Russian issues. Rinat Akhmetshin, a dual Russian-US citizen who is said to have formerly worked for Russian military intelligence and has worked as a Washington lobbyist on Russia issues for several years, has confirmed he attended the meeting with lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.
Mr Trump Jr said in a statement he agreed to the meeting because he was told Ms Veselnitskaya had information damaging to Ms Clinton that was “level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump”. He responded to the offer by saying: “If it’s what you say I love it especially later in the summer.” Mr Trump Jr said in a statement he had had agreed to the meeting - also attended by Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort - because he was told Ms Veselnitskaya had information damaging to Ms Clinton that was “high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump”. He responded to the offer by saying: “If it’s what you say I love it - especially later in the summer.”
Mr Trump Jr has insisted the meeting did not amount to much, that he was offered no such information and that in truth Ms Veselnitskaya wanted to talk about the Magnitsky Act, a piece of US legislation that sanctions a handful of Russians the US believes were linked to the 2009 death in jail of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. Mr Trump Jr has insisted the meeting did not amount to much, that he was offered no such information and that in truth Ms Veselnitskaya wanted to talk about the Magnitsky Act, a piece of US legislation that sanctions a handful of Russians the US believes were linked to the 2009 jail death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.
NBC News did not name the man who attended the meeting on the 25th Floor of Trump Tower. It said Ms Veselnitskaya had acknowledged she was accompanied by at least one other man, though she declined to identify him. She has denied offering any information or working for the Russian state. NBC News first reported a former Russian intelligence agent attended the meeting, but did not name him. It said Ms Veselnitskaya had acknowledged she was accompanied by at least one other man, though she declined to identify him. She has denied offering any information to Mr Trump Jr or working for the Russian state.
However, one Russian-born lobbyist who has been closely associated with Ms Veselnitskaya for several years and who has worked with her in the effort to overturn the Magnitsky Act is Rinat Akhmetshin. Mr Akhmetshin is also said to have formerly worked for Russian military intelligence. However, Mr Rinat has been closely associated with Ms Veselnitskaya for several years and has worked with her in an effort to overturn the Magnitsky Act. 
 Mr Akhmetshin is also said to have formerly worked for Russian military intelligence.
In 2016, Ms Veselnitskaya’s client, Denis Katsyv, head of the company Prevezon, registered a nonprofit company in Delaware called the Human Rights Accountability Global Initiative Foundation (HRAGIF) in February 2016, which says its aim is to overturn an adoption ban on impacting American couples but which many believe is a front to overturn the Magnitsky Act, the passage of which is said to have infuriated Vladimir Putin.In 2016, Ms Veselnitskaya’s client, Denis Katsyv, head of the company Prevezon, registered a nonprofit company in Delaware called the Human Rights Accountability Global Initiative Foundation (HRAGIF) in February 2016, which says its aim is to overturn an adoption ban on impacting American couples but which many believe is a front to overturn the Magnitsky Act, the passage of which is said to have infuriated Vladimir Putin.
The HRAGIF’s registered lobbyist was Rinat Akhmetshin, who took UK citizenship in 2009. Earlier this year, senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he wanted to learn more about Mr Akhmetshin’s activities.The HRAGIF’s registered lobbyist was Rinat Akhmetshin, who took UK citizenship in 2009. Earlier this year, senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he wanted to learn more about Mr Akhmetshin’s activities.
In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security in April, Mr Grassley wrote: “I write to obtain information regarding Mr Rinat Akhmetshin, a Russian immigrant to the United States who has been accused of acting as an unregistered agent for Russian interests and apparently has ties to Russian intelligence.” In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security in April, Mr Grassley wrote: “I write to obtain information regarding Mr Rinat Akhmetshin, a Russian immigrant to the United States who has been accused of acting as an unregistered agent for Russian interests and apparently has ties to Russian intelligence.” 
He added: "Mr Akhmetshin is a Russian immigrant to the US who has admitted having been a “Soviet counterintelligence officer.” In fact, it has been reported that he worked for the GRU and allegedly specialises in “active measures campaigns,” i.e, subversive political influence operations often involving disinformation and propaganda.”He added: "Mr Akhmetshin is a Russian immigrant to the US who has admitted having been a “Soviet counterintelligence officer.” In fact, it has been reported that he worked for the GRU and allegedly specialises in “active measures campaigns,” i.e, subversive political influence operations often involving disinformation and propaganda.”
Mr Akhmetshin did not respond to repeated inquiries from The Independent. He has previously denied working for the Kremlin. President Donald Trump’s lawyers also failed to respond. Ms Veselnitskaya has denied offering incriminating information to the Trump campaign. Mr Akhmetshin did not respond to repeated inquiries from The Independent, though he did confirm his presence at the meeting to the Associated Press.. He has previously denied working for the Kremlin. President Donald Trump’s lawyers also failed to respond.
The admission by Mr Trump Jr that he met with someone he believed was able to provide incriminating information about his father’s rival has led many legal commentators to suggest he may have committed collusion. The admission by Mr Trump Jr that he met with someone he believed was able to provide incriminating information about his father’s rival has led many legal commentators to suggest he may have committed collusion. Now, his account of the meeting, which has shifted several times, appears to have changed again - at least in his failure to mention the presence of Mr Akhmetshin.
The development has infuriated the President, who had hoped to get away from the Russia story, even as special prosecutor Robert Mueller continues a probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia’s alleged effort to interfere in the 2016 election.The development has infuriated the President, who had hoped to get away from the Russia story, even as special prosecutor Robert Mueller continues a probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia’s alleged effort to interfere in the 2016 election.
Earlier this week, Mr Trump was obliged to defend his eldest son, saying that “anyone” would have taken the meeting.Earlier this week, Mr Trump was obliged to defend his eldest son, saying that “anyone” would have taken the meeting.
Speaking in France, where he was meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, he said: “I do think this, that taken from a practical standpoint … most people would’ve taken that meeting. It’s called opposition research, or even research into your opponent. I’ve only been in politics for two years, but I’ve had many people call up, ‘Oh gee, we have information on this factor or this person’, or, frankly, Hillary.”Speaking in France, where he was meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, he said: “I do think this, that taken from a practical standpoint … most people would’ve taken that meeting. It’s called opposition research, or even research into your opponent. I’ve only been in politics for two years, but I’ve had many people call up, ‘Oh gee, we have information on this factor or this person’, or, frankly, Hillary.”
He added: “That’s very standard in politics. Politics is not the nicest business in the world.”He added: “That’s very standard in politics. Politics is not the nicest business in the world.”