CNN Guest Explains Why the New Revelation About the Trump Tower Meeting with a Russian Lawyer Is So Damning

Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer who met with President Donald Trump's campaign officials in June 2016 at Trump Tower, has closer ties to the Kremlin than she has previously revealed, the New York Times reported Friday. On CNN, former FBI intelligence adviser Phillip Mudd explained why this information is damaging for the president and his team.

"Let's cut to the chase: A U.S. campaign is considering accepting information about another candidate, not only from a foreign entity but from a foreign entity that is the most significant rival to America in Europe and elsewhere," Mudd said on "The Lead" with host Jake Tapper. "Whether or not it breaks the law — and it would, I think, if Don Jr. had acquired that information—"

Tapper interjected: "Which he says he did not, for the record."

"That's correct," Mudd said. "But we're talking about legalities! I don't think it's that complicated. Why are politicians, whether they're Democrats or Republicans, bringing people into an office who represent a foreign adversary, and they're saying: 'I encourage you to acquire information about my adversary, Hillary Clinton, and if you do, I want it.' That's encouraging influence in an American election — I don't understand it."

Watch the clip below:

As the New York Times reports that the Russian lawyer at the Trump Tower meeting had previously unknown Kremlin ties, fmr. FBI adviser Phil Mudd slams those who'd encourage "influence in the American election" https://t.co/0z9paIYvGK https://t.co/gGjLk50KC9 pic.twitter.com/W5QU4DmkAa

— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) April 27, 2018