Donald Trump
© Reuters/Dominick Reuter
In yet another statement that is certain to spark outrage among Democrats, moments ago Donald Trump said he hopes that Russian hackers accused of breaching the DNC have obtained the tens of thousands of emails that Hillary Clinton deleted from her private email server, and that they will release them.

"If they hacked, they probably have her 33,000 emails. I hope they do," Trump told reporters on Wednesday at a press conference at his Miami-area hotel, adding that "I wish I had that power. I'd love to have that power" to orchestrate the alleged email hack and leak.

"They probably have her 33,000 emails that she lost and deleted. You'd see some beauties, so we'll see."


He went on to address Russia directly: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails that are missing," Trump said at a press conference. "I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. Let's see if that happens. That'll be nice."

He continued: "Russia has no respect for our country. And that's why, if it is Russia, nobody even knows it's Russia, it was probably China. ... It shows how weak we are. It shows how disrespected we are."

Moments ago, he emphasized his position, saying on twitter if Russia has Hillary's emails, it should share them with the FBI.


He also said that the Russia-DNC hacking allegations are a "total deflection" from the scandal plaguing the Democratic party. He also slammed the DNC for what was seen as conspiring against Sanders to ensure that Clinton won the Democratic nomination. "I'm not gonna tell Putin what to do. Why should I tell Putin what to do?" Trump said. "It's not even about Russia or China or whoever it is that's doing the hacking. It's about the things they said in those emails. They were terrible things."

He also accused Clinton of being in on the conspiracy. "Believe me, as sure as you're sitting there, Hillary Clinton knew about it," Trump said. "She knew everything. Debbie Wasserman Schultz could not breathe without speaking and getting approval from Hillary Clinton."

He then repeated what he has said previously, namely that "I have nothing to do with Russia."

Trump made it clear that there would most likely never be any damning revelations into his own email usage as he "almost never sends emails" as he is just not a believer in the medium.


Finally, when responding to a question whether he'd threat Putin as an adversary or an ally, he said he would rather be friendly with Russia so "we could knock out ISIS with other people. Wouldn't it be nice if we got along with Russia"


Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, released a statement after the press conference that discouraged Russian involvement in a US election.

"The FBI will get to the bottom of who is behind the hacking," Pence said in the statement. "If it is Russia and they are interfering in our elections, I can assure you both parties and the United States government will ensure there are serious consequences."