Hackers Tried To Access Clinton Emails On Same Day Trump Called On Russia To Find Them

Friday brought the blockbuster Mueller probe indictments of twelve Russian intelligence officers on conspiracy and hacking charges related to the 2016 election. The indictments detailed how Russian GRU spies were behind the DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0 aliases that released damaging information stolen from the DNC, DCCC, and members of the Hillary Clinton campaign.

As we’ve seen in the wake of other Mueller indictments, Trump’s allies and advisers highlighted that this news actually vindicated the president because it didn’t reveal any collusion or cooperation with Russia when it came to election meddling, especially since there were no Americans indicted.

Buried within the lengthy indictment, however, was this little tidbit:

“The Conspirators spearfished individuals affiliated with the Clinton Campaign throughout the summer of 2016. For example, on or about July 27, 2016, the Conspirators attempted after hours to spearfish for the first time email accounts at a domain hosted by a third-party provider and used by Clinton’s personal office. At or around the same time, they also targeted seventy-six email addresses at the domain for the Clinton Campaign.”

July 27 just so happens to be the same day that then-candidate Donald Trump, during a press conference, called on Russia to search for his Democratic opponent’s lost emails.

“Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” he declared at that time. “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. Let’s see if that happens.”

Sure, it doesn’t prove willing collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, but that clip is going to be replayed over and over and over again on cable news.

Meanwhile, the president is scheduled to meet with Putin next week and the two men are supposed to have a meeting with no one else present.

Watch the clip above, via CSPAN.