GOP senators say latest Trump-Russia revelation is overblown

Republican senators are downplaying revelations that the US president’s son agreed to hear damaging information on Hillary Clinton as part of the Russian government’s effort to help his father.

Senior Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah calls the matter “overblown,” describing Donald Trump Jr. as “a very nice young man.”

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina appears at a news conference with seven other GOP senators, insisting that Republicans should not be “distracted” by the latest reports on Russia and instead stay focused on their agenda. None of the other attendees at the press conference respond to a question on the new emails released by Trump Jr.

Sen. David Perdue of Georgia says several congressional committees are already looking at the matter.

— AP