Adam Schiff questions whether Russia's outreach to Donald Trump Jr. was a 'testing of the waters'

At a Tuesday press conference to discuss the latest developments in the Russia investigation, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) deemed Donald Trump Jr.'s recently released emails "very significant" and "deeply disturbing."
The emails between Trump Jr. and publicist Rob Goldstone about a potential meeting with a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer offer "new public information about direct contacts" between the Trump campaign and Russia, Schiff said. Goldstone reached out to Trump Jr. about a Russian source who could potentially provide damaging information about Hillary Clinton, to which Trump Jr. responded that he'd "love it" if that were the case. Schiff contended "all the campaign denials" about contacts with Russia "obviously now have to be viewed in a completely different context."
Schiff said he now wants to investigate whether the meeting "was just the beginning" or "a testing of the waters by the Russians to see whether the campaign would be receptive to their engagement and involvement in the presidential election." He also made clear the Trump campaign did not disclose the emails to the FBI, which he called a "breach of civic responsibility" and "of norms."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Goldstone claimed in the email exchange that the information "would be very useful" to President Trump and was "part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." Trump Jr. himself publicized the emails in a tweet Tuesday.
Schiff said the House Intelligence Committee "will certainly want" Trump Jr. to testify in a hearing.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Sowaka: a fusion of old and new in Kyoto
The Week Recommends Japanese tradition and modern hospitality mesh perfectly at this restored ryokan
-
Scientists have identified 4 distinct autism subtypes
Under the radar They could lead to more accurate diagnosis and care
-
Crossword: July 21, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department