Trump is encouraging foreign espionage- Clinton camp
Thu Jul 28, 2016 03:10:pm World
4K By Buchi Obichie
Republican Presidential Nominee, Donald Trump, was scolded by the Hillary Clinton camp on Wednesday, for encouraging Russia to hack the former Secretary of State's emails, describing his comments as a "national security issue."
Top Clinton advisor, Jake Sullivan, stated: "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. "This has gone from being a matter of curiosity, and a matter of politics, to being a national security issue."
Donald Trump, who is expected soon to receive his first government intelligence briefing, on Wednesday, suggested that Russia could help find emails known to have been deleted from Clinton's private server when she was Secretary of State on the grounds they were personal.
"Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing," Trump told a news conference.
The FBI concluded earlier this month that Clinton had been "extremely careless" in her handling of classified material via a private email server, but did not recommend that she face criminal charges.
Republicans think otherwise.
The Clinton campaign's explosive accusation of inviting foreign spying came as US intelligence agencies pointed to Russia as the cause of a mass hack of Democratic Party emails which show that the Democratic National Committee had been heavily biased towards Hillary Clinton (and against Bernie Sanders), during the nomination process.
Clinton's camp believes that Moscow gave the mails to WikiLeaks, which released them last week.
The scandal caused the resignation of Democratic Committee Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and led to infighting at the ongoing Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Trump has however denied being in cahoots with Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
"I have nothing to do with Putin," Trump said. "Never spoken to him. I know nothing about him other than he will respect me."
"If it is Russia. Nobody knows. It's probably China, or it could be somebody sitting in his bed. But it shows how weak we are. It shows how disrespected we are," he said.
Trump's Vice-Presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, quickly tried to limit the fallout from the billionaire's comments.
In a statement, Pence said, "The FBI will get to the bottom of who is behind the hacking.
If they are interfering in our elections, I can assure you both parties and the United States Government will ensure there are serious consequences."
Top Clinton advisor, Jake Sullivan, stated: "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. "This has gone from being a matter of curiosity, and a matter of politics, to being a national security issue."
Donald Trump, who is expected soon to receive his first government intelligence briefing, on Wednesday, suggested that Russia could help find emails known to have been deleted from Clinton's private server when she was Secretary of State on the grounds they were personal.
"Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing," Trump told a news conference.
The FBI concluded earlier this month that Clinton had been "extremely careless" in her handling of classified material via a private email server, but did not recommend that she face criminal charges.
Republicans think otherwise.
The Clinton campaign's explosive accusation of inviting foreign spying came as US intelligence agencies pointed to Russia as the cause of a mass hack of Democratic Party emails which show that the Democratic National Committee had been heavily biased towards Hillary Clinton (and against Bernie Sanders), during the nomination process.
Clinton's camp believes that Moscow gave the mails to WikiLeaks, which released them last week.
The scandal caused the resignation of Democratic Committee Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and led to infighting at the ongoing Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Trump has however denied being in cahoots with Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
"I have nothing to do with Putin," Trump said. "Never spoken to him. I know nothing about him other than he will respect me."
"If it is Russia. Nobody knows. It's probably China, or it could be somebody sitting in his bed. But it shows how weak we are. It shows how disrespected we are," he said.
Trump's Vice-Presidential running mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, quickly tried to limit the fallout from the billionaire's comments.
In a statement, Pence said, "The FBI will get to the bottom of who is behind the hacking.
If they are interfering in our elections, I can assure you both parties and the United States Government will ensure there are serious consequences."
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