Who exactly leaked Trump Jr. emails story to The New York Times?


Trump Jr. tweeted a statement and emails clarifying his meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. (July 11, 2017)

By Luis Gomez Contact Reporter

Before the world saw them, The New York Times had knowledge of the exchange of emails that led Donald Trump Jr. to meet with a Russian lawyer promising damaging information about Hillary Clinton during last year’s campaign.

The story — which the paper broke Sunday and reverberated Tuesday when Trump Jr. himself published the emails on Twitter — leaned on five unnamed sources confirming the existence of those emails. At least two of those came from inside the White House.

Related: Will Trump Jr.-Russian 'opposition research' defense hold?

Speculation about the sources, especially if they are inside President Donald Trump’s close circle of advisers, added another element of drama to an already-frenzied political environment.

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Jonathan Swan
✔@jonathanvswan

Rampant speculation among WH advisers about who leaked on Don Jr to NYT..evidence-free blame shooting in all directions...no trust in there
1:10 PM - 11 Jul 2017


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The emails create a huge problem for the president, who has insisted that his campaign did not collude with Russians to influence the election.

Related: 3 key exchanges in Donald Trump Jr.'s emails over Russian meeting

This has led many to wonder who within or close to the White House would leak such a damning scoop to The Times. Here are some potential suspects:

Corey Lewandowski

One-time Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski emerged as a possible source. He was running the campaign in June 2016, when Trump Jr. met with the Russian lawyer, and was fired less than two weeks after the meeting.

Though Lewandowski is not now a White House adviser, his possible knowledge of the meeting led some to believe he had an axe to grind. Was he one of those sources?

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Mark Sumner @Devilstower

Replying to @Scout_Finch
Suspect #1: Corey Lewandowski who argued with both Trump Jr and Manafort and was fired shortly after this meeting. Proven ass with a grudge.
8:43 AM - 11 Jul 2017


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BuzzFeed News also quoted Trump adviser Roger Stone as saying on the record that he and Sam Numberg, another adviser, also suspected Lewandowski as one of the potential sources for The Times’ story.

“Donny was a vocal critic of Corey, he walked him towards the exits, and fits the broad definition of a White House adviser,” Stone told BuzzFeed News. “I’m not unbiased, but he’d be my choice.”

Jared Kushner

Trump adviser Jared Kushner also emerged as a possible source, according to BuzzFeed News and others reporting the search for those sources. After all, Kushner had knowledge of those emails and the meeting because he attended it along with one-time campaign manager Paul Manafort.
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S.E.K. @knowshismasters

Replying to @langdaleca
Who do you think leaked emails? Couldn't have been Goldstone. That leaves Kushner and Manafort, right?
2:51 PM - 11 Jul 2017


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But what motivations would Kushner have to disclose that meeting? Such a leak would seemingly complicate things for Kushner, who is already under scrutiny for not previously disclosing his contacts with Russians when he sought security clearance.

Stephen Bannon

Trump adviser Steve Bannon does not appear to fit in the picture, but given his history of speaking anonymously to the press, it’s possible the former Breitbart chief could be the source.

A few theorized that the emails and the meeting implicated another top White House official believed to be a foe of Bannon: Kushner.

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Kurt Bardella
✔@kurtbardella

Who's the leak? #bannon has the most to gain by weakening Kushner and the family dynamic - who benefits by taking out #trump - #pence does
4:28 PM - 11 Jul 2017


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Again, there’s very little to suggest Bannon could have spoken to The Times, but he is known as an infighter.

The Russians

Were the Russians mad that the U.S. didn’t lift its sanctions after the G20 summit meeting between Trump and Vladimir Putin? Even if there was no suggestion of a Russian source at play in The Times story, the motive of retaliation would fit the action.

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Karen M Bailey @Bailey2Karen

Replying to @JoyAnnReid
How about the Russians? Putin not happy at G20 meeting. No sanctions lifted. Leak Jr meeting to NYT in retaliation. Reminder of his power.
4:42 PM - 11 Jul 2017


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Diane Traenkle @Dtrenk

Replying to @tribelaw
I'm wondering if the Russians were involved in the leak so that it can be used as a threat if big D doesn't lift sanctions. More to come
4:29 PM - 11 Jul 2017


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And there is another possible Russian motive as well: the hope of bringing chaos to American politics with the leak.

Mike Pence

And one very big name has also emerged as a possible source: the vice president himself.

Conservative writer Allahpundit was willing to point to Pence. And that theory was promptly followed by a vote of confidence from political writer Josh Barro.
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22h
Allahpundit @allahpundit

Replying to @jbarro
Why would Pence have those emails?

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Josh Barro
✔@jbarro

Well, it was Manafort's idea to put Pence on the ticket to begin with. He marooned Trump in Indianapolis for the pitch.
1:43 PM - 11 Jul 2017


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Pence is not known to speak to the press anonymously, and on Tuesday, the vice president distanced himself from the story and the controversy surrounding it.
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NBC Politics
✔@NBCPolitics

Vice President Pence's Press Secretary Marc Lotter releases statement on Donald Trump Jr. meeting: "He was not aware of the meeting."
9:50 AM - 11 Jul 2017


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But of course Pence has the ultimate motivation — to be the 46th president if the 45th president is forced out.

So who else might have leaked information about the emails and the meeting Trump Jr. had with a Russian contact promising damaging information about Clinton? Share your theories with us.

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Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet.
Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @RunGomez
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