The so-called scandal that has been dogging Donald Trump centers around the Trump's campaign staff's alleged collusion with the Russians to interfere with the outcome of the presidential election. The most recent allegations involve Donald Trump, Jr. and his meeting with a group of Russians for the purpose of receiving damning information about Hillary Clinton. Commentators in the media are saying that this is the scandal that could finally bring down the Trump presidency. After all, how dare a presidential candidate meet with a foreign power to effect election results.
But wait! There is another take on this situation that has not been discussed. If a presidential candidate--regardless of who it is--has damaging information about another candidate--regardless of who it is--should they not make it public? If a candidate for president of the United States has engaged in illegal, immoral or unethical behavior, the voters have a right to know. To have knowledge of such behavior and not disclose it, should itself be a crime. Anyone possessing knowledge of a candidate's illegal, immoral or unethical behavior has a civic and moral obligation to disclose this information to the voters of this country. To withhold it would be a moral lapse and potentially damaging to our nation.
Thus, it could be easily argued that the Trump Jr's. meeting with the Russians had the potential to be of public service. Has it turned out, the Russians had no damaging evidence against Clinton. But if they did, why would obtaining this evidence have constituted a scandal and crime? To attack Trump for attempting to obtain and release incriminating evidence would be the political equivalent of shooting the messenger.
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