The proof is in the emails

We’ve said it on this page before and we’ll likely say it again: intent counts.

Case in point? The scandal created by Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian attorney before the November elections, to learn information harmful to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Trump Jr., eldest son of President Donald Trump, has defended his meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya ever since news of it went public. But if we look at the email chain between Trump Jr. and Rob Goldstone, the music publicist who set up the encounter, we can see why no defense is adequate.

Goldstone, on June 3, 2016, at 10:36 a.m., wrote the following:

“[Veselnitskaya] offered to provide the Trump campaign with some official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary and her dealings with Russia, and would be very useful to your father.

“This is obviously very high level and sensitive information, but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump …”

Trump Jr., on June 3, at 10:53 a.m., wrote back.

“Thanks, Rob, I appreciate that … and if it’s what you say, I love it, especially later in the summer.”

Trump Jr. has justified the meeting, stating nothing came of it. Because of the lack of results, he argues, he committed no wrong.

Let’s be clear: it matters not if Trump Jr. got the goods on Hillary. Rest assured, if there was dirt, the Trump campaign would have capitalized on it. The fact Veselnitskaya didn’t produce doesn’t make the meeting any more appropriate. Intent counts — regardless of results.

Trump Jr.’s intention was clearly to collude with the Russians to discredit Clinton. 

The president, though, has refused to criticize his son’s actions.

“I think many people would have held that meeting,” Trump said. “It was a 20-minute meeting … many people, and many political pros, said everybody would do that.”

Firstly, the time of the meeting is irrelevant. Twenty minutes or 20 seconds — inappropriate is inappropriate.

Secondly, just because “many people” might have held the meeting doesn’t, frankly, mean it was the right thing to do. Shouldn’t the president and all the president’s men be held to the highest possible standards?

Sure, Trump Jr. is now saying that “in retrospect” he might have done things differently, as he told Fox News TV host Sean Hannity on July 11. But, Trump Jr. claims, no “sirens” went off when he scheduled the meeting, as it was “pre-Russia fever” and “pre-Russia mania.”

Pre-fever/pre-mania or not, isn’t common sense just plain old common sense? How could any responsible U.S. campaign official who cares about appearances take a closed-door meeting with a Kremlin-linked attorney?

Additionally, Trump Jr. was joined by then-Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort and Trump son-in-law and current White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner. Also, there were Goldstone and Russian American lobbyist and Soviet military veteran Rinat Akhmetshin. Where was the transparency in all of this? 

Political insiders wonder. Now the Senate Judiciary Committee is requesting Trump Jr. testify on Capitol Hill. We’re glad. He should be held accountable for his actions — regardless of his father’s position.

The emails referencing the now infamous meeting are perhaps the strongest evidence that Trump campaign officials colluded with the Russians. Even if the hoped-for silver bullet against Clinton never materialized, Trump Jr.’s actions prove his father’s campaign was absolutely willing to work with a foreign government to keep a political rival from winning the election. For that, he and his cohorts should be held responsible.