Trump wants Russian Federation to hack Clinton emails

But, now, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump is seeking out the Russians for support, actively encouraging Russia to hack rival Hillary Clinton’s private emails, saying “I think you’ll be rewarded mightily by our press”.

Here’s what he actually said: “If Russia or China or any other country has those emails, I’ve got to be honest with you I’d love to see them”. “I hope they do”, Trump told reporters Wednesday morning during a press conference at his golf club in Doral, Florida.

Trump on Wednesday said he does not know Putin personally despite previously remarking the pair have met. “That’s not hyperbole, those are just the facts”.

Later, he dismissed concerns raised by Ms Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook that his comments raised national security concerns.

“But you have 33,000 emails (by Clinton) deleted, and the real problem is what was said on those emails from the Democratic National Committee”, he said, referring to hacked emails released last weekend by WikiLeaks.

Clinton has handed over about 30,000 work-related emails to the State Department, but she deleted about half of her emails that were “personal” in nature. Let’s see if that happens.

Trump replied: “No I didn’t say that”.

The emails would contain some “beauties”, he said.

Former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta told the Democratic National Convention, “It’s inconceivable to me that any presidential candidate would be this irresponsible”.

Wednesday’s exchange occurred hours after Obama identified Russian Federation as nearly certainly responsible for hacking the Democratic National Committee in a different case. Trump has no national security experience and few ties to the norms that have governed USA foreign policy under presidents from both parties, including standing by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies threatened by countries including Russian Federation. “I said that Putin has much better leadership qualities than Obama, but who doesn’t know that?” “They were bad things, talking about Jewish, talking about race, talking about atheist, trying to pin labels on people – what was said was a disgrace, and it was Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and believe me, as sure as you’re sitting there, Hillary Clinton knew about it. She knew everything”.

“Of course I’m being sarcastic”, the Republican presidential nominee told Fox News one day after making the sensational suggestion at a news conference. He also has downplayed his affection for Putin and said he would treat the Russian leader “firmly”, though he said he wanted to improve relations with Russia.

It was not immediately clear where or how Clinton’s deleted emails might be recovered, unless an adversary had previously hacked the computer server she operated in her basement in Chappaqua, New York, before she had deleted the messages.