Mueller apparently wants to interview the Russian pop star who organized 2016 Trump Tower meeting


A Russian pop star may be the next lead in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
Mueller has requested an interview with Emin Agalarov, the Russian singer who helped organize the June 2016 meeting between Trump affiliates and Kremlin-linked lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, NBC News has learned from Agalarov's lawyer.
Veselnitskaya possessed incriminating information on Hillary Clinton, Agalarov's father Aras wrote in an email to publicist Rob Goldstone, who passed the information on to Donald Trump Jr. President Trump's eldest son infamously responded with, "If it's what you say, I love it." Trump Jr., the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner, then-Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, and Veselnitskaya met in Trump Tower days later. Veselnitskaya said she was there to lobby against U.S. sanctions, and Trump Jr. later said he never got information on Clinton.
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.
Aras Agalarov sent the email to Goldstone, but Veselnitskaya told NBC News last year that son Emin played a key role in organizing the meeting. President Trump appeared in an Emin Agalarov music video in 2013, and the singer released a 2018 video parodying the Mueller investigation. The pop star's lawyer did not tell NBC News if Mueller wants to speak with Aras Agalarov, who's tied to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The IDF's manpower problem
The Explainer Israeli military's shortage of up to 12,000 troops results in call-up for tens of thousands of reservists
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 – 22 August
Quiz Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Can Soho House get its edge back?
Talking Point The private members' club has lost its exclusive appeal – but a £2 billion buy-out could offer a fresh start
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps up
Speed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless