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Russian lawyer Veselnitskaya says Magnitsky Act lobbyist Browder behind Trump Jr. scandal Russian lawyer Veselnitskaya says Magnitsky Act lobbyist Browder behind Trump Jr. scandal
(about 13 hours later)
The scandal concerning the meeting between US President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya was orchestrated by Magnitsky Act lobbyist William Browder, the lawyer told RT in an exclusive interview. Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya, who has become a poster child for the mainstream media's claims of collusion between the Trump administration and the Kremlin, agreed to speak to RT on the streets of Moscow.
"I´m ready to clarify the situation behind this mass hysteria – but only through lawyers or testifying in the Senate," Veselnitskaya told RT. The attorney, who met with Donald Trump Jr. during his father's campaign for the presidency, said she knows who was behind the "mass hysteria" related to the meeting.
“I can only assume that the current situation that has been heated up for ten days or so by now is a a very well-orchestrated story concocted by one particular manipulator – Mr. Browder. He is one of the greatest experts in the field of manipulating mass media,” Veselnitskaya said.  She accuses Magnitsky Act lobbyist William Browder of masterminding the disinformation campaign, aiming to harm her as revenge for a defeat he suffered in a US court in 2013 at the hands of a team of lawyers that included Veselnitskaya.
She went on to say that Browder, who is the founder and CEO of the Hermitage Capital investment company, orchestrated this whole disinformation campaign as revenge for the defeat he suffered in a US court in 2013 from a team of lawyers that included Veselnitskaya. “I have absolutely no doubt that this whole information [campaign] is being spun, encouraged and organized by that very man as revenge for the defeat he suffered in the court of the Southern State of New York in the ‘Prevezon’ company case,” she said.
“I have absolutely no doubt that this whole information [campaign] is being spun, encouraged and organized by that very man as revenge for the defeat he suffered in court of the Southern State of New York in the ‘Prevezon’ company case,” she said. In 2013, Veselnitskaya was one of the lawyers who represented Cyprus-based holding company Prevezon, owned by Russian businessman Denis Katsyv, in its defense against allegations of money laundering.
"He wasn't able to convince the court with his lousy human tragedy that actually never happened, about the fate of a dead man - who he only learnt about after his death." 
In 2013, Veselnitskaya was one of the lawyers who represented a Cyprus-based holding company Prevezon, owned by Russian businessman Denis Katsyv, in its defense against allegations of money laundering in a court of the Southern State of New York.
The case was settled with no admission of guilt by Prevezon.The case was settled with no admission of guilt by Prevezon.
The lawyer insisted her meeting with Trump Jr. was aimed at countering Browder’s lobbying in America and had nothing to do with the US presidential election. "He wasn't able to convince the court with his lousy human tragedy that actually never happened, about the fate of a dead man – who he only learnt about after his death," Veselnitskaya said, referring to the 2009 death of Russian lawyer and auditor Sergey Magnitsky in a Moscow detention center.
READ MORE: 'Inane nonsense’: Trump Jr. releases Russian lawyer meeting emails Browder, the CEO of Hermitage Capital Investment company, is a big name in Russia, known mostly for his business dealings there in the 1990s and his economic crimes. He was also the boss of the late Magnitsky.
He has remained one of the main vocal opponents of the Kremlin, long after leaving Russia.
READ MORE: 'Inane nonsense’: Trump Jr. releases Russian lawyer meeting emails
Veselnitskaya also said that Browder and his team began spying on her before her meeting with Trump Jr.
“It’s been revealed that Mr Browder and his team have been gathering information about my family,” she told RT, adding that Browder’s team “found photos of my house and sent them to Kyle Parker… a famous man in the House of Representatives, who worked for Mr Browder for many years – and not for any congressmen or congress as a whole.”
An email reportedly containing a photo of Veselnitskaya’s house was discovered in a trove of emails published online by an unidentified party. It was allegedly obtained from the account of a US State Department intelligence official tasked with monitoring Russia. The email was presumably sent by Browder to Parker on June 6, 2016.
Veselnitskaya said the meeting with Trump Jr. was aimed at informing him about Browder and his actions. 
“I am already tired of talking about it, but apparently nobody wants to hear. This was the story that I brought to Donald Trump Jr. I wanted him to know that Browder, a person who gave up his US citizenship, is trying to manipulate people in Congress,” she said.“I am already tired of talking about it, but apparently nobody wants to hear. This was the story that I brought to Donald Trump Jr. I wanted him to know that Browder, a person who gave up his US citizenship, is trying to manipulate people in Congress,” she said.
“If the Senate wishes to hear the real story, I will be happy to speak up and share everything I wanted to tell Mr. Trump,” she added, referring to the alleged economic crimes that Browder is suspected of in Russia. “I will share everything I know about this situation when millions came into my country and billions left it – and nobody paid taxes.” Browder, according to Veselnitskaya, used the meeting as ammunition to harm both her and the Kremlin.
Veselnitskaya also said she is now concerned for the safety of her family as it's been revealed that Browder’s team spied on her family's activities even before her meeting with Trump Jr. Now Veselnitskaya is ready to testify to the Senate. Her only condition is that she receives security guarantees.
“It’s been revealed that Mr. Browder and his team have been gathering information about my family,” she told RT, adding, that Browder’s team “found photos of my house and sent them to Kyle Parker… a famous man in the House of Representatives, who worked for Mr Browder for many years – and not for any congressmen or congress as a whole.” “If the Senate wishes to hear the real story, I will be happy to speak up and share everything I wanted to tell Mr. Trump,” she added, referring to the economic crimes that Browder is suspected of in Russia.
People working for Browder also shared all her personal details with representatives of the State Department, Veselnitskaya said. "I will share everything I know about this situation when millions came into my country and billions left it – and nobody paid taxes.”
Earlier, an email containing an alleged photo of the Veselnitskaya’s house was discovered in a trove of emailspublished online by an unidentified party. It was allegedly obtained from the account of a US State Department intelligence official tasked with monitoring Russia. The email was presumably sent by Browder to Parker on June 6, 2016. Browder was sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison for tax evasion. According to the 2013 court verdict, Browder together with Magnitsky failed to pay over 552 million rubles in taxes (about US$16 million).
Veselnitskaya also complained about the media attention she now endures over her meeting with Trump Jr., saying the story has been blown out of proportion. Critics of President Donald Trump see the meeting as evidence of his campaign’s collusion with the Russian government meant to undermine his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. The Russian lawyer firmly denied speculation that the meeting was coordinated by the Russian Prosecutor General’s office. The businessman was also found guilty of illegally buying shares in the country’s natural gas monopoly, Gazprom, costing Russia at least 3 billion rubles (US$100 million).
Browder has a long history of hostility against Russia. In 2013, he was sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison for tax evasion. He was also the boss of the late Russian auditor Sergey Magnitsky.
According to the 2013 court verdict, Browder together with Magnitsky failed to pay over 552 million rubles in taxes (about US$16 million). The businessman was also found guilty of illegally buying shares in the country’s natural gas monopoly, Gazprom, costing Russia at least 3 billion rubles (US$100 million).
Magnitsky died in pre-trial custody in 2009. His death led to a strain in Russian-American relations. US authorities eventually imposed sanctions against Russian officials they deemed responsible for the auditor’s death by issuing the so-called Magnitsky list in 2012. Browder also lobbied European states to follow Washington’s lead.
The Magnitsky Act is a 2012 law that allows the United States to seize assets from a number of alleged Russian human rights abusers, as well as barring them from entering the country. Russia retaliated by prohibiting American families from adopting Russian children.The Magnitsky Act is a 2012 law that allows the United States to seize assets from a number of alleged Russian human rights abusers, as well as barring them from entering the country. Russia retaliated by prohibiting American families from adopting Russian children.