Hillary Clinton campaign claims Russia is helping Donald Trump after damaging email leaks

HILLARY Clinton’s campaign claims Russia is working to support Donald Trump, blaming the country for hacking and helping to leak damaging emails.

US Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks as she introduces her running mate US Tim Kaine at a campaign rally in Florida. Picture: AFP

HILLARY Clinton’s campaign claims Russia is working to support Donald Trump in the US election, blaming the country for hacking and helping to leak of a series of emails damaging to the Clinton nomination.

On the eve of Ms Clinton’s celebrity-powered Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz was forced to resign after a series of leaked emails showed she and other party operatives had been biased against Clinton opponent Bernie Sanders in the tight primary race. The party operatives are meant to be neutral in the primaries, but actively worked to undermine Mr Sanders’ campaign, the emails showed.

The bias is a boost for the Trump campaign, which has repeatedly criticised Ms Clinton for being “crooked” and a Washington insider not of the people.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has a good relationship with Donald Trump. Picture: AP

The Clinton camp claimed Russians had been involved in the email hack, in a bid to support Trump, who has a friendly relationship with Vladimir Putin. Last year, Mr Trump said he and Mr Putin would get along very well and has subsequently left open the door to America not coming to the aid of NATO allies if Russia was hostile to them.

“There’s evidence Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole those emails and there are experts saying they are releasing these emails for the purpose of helping Donald Trump,” campaign manager Robby Mook told CNN.

Mr Mook pointed to Mr Trump’s NATO remarks, saying: “I think when you put all this together, it’s a disturbing picture, and voters need to reflect on that.”

Mr Trump’s campaign denied the Russians’ involvement.

Democratic presidential candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine. Picture: Getty

The crisis unfolded a day before Ms Clinton was set to bring a squad of celebrities to back her at this week’s Democratic National Convention — a bid to return fire on Donald Trump’s Cleveland show.

The Clinton campaign hopes to use the week to reintroduce Ms Clinton to the US voting population ahead of a general election in a bid to draw in a fresh slate of supporters disenchanted by Mr Trump.

As well as establishment Democrat figures like Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton, Ms Clinton will be supported by a slate of celebrities.

She’ll be backed by Katy Perry, Lena Dunham, Demi Lovato, America Ferrera, Debra Messing and Chloe Grace Moretz.

Democratic National Committee Chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida who has resigned. Picture: AFP

It comes as Ms Clinton yesterday also picked up a high-profile endorsement from one-time Republican Michael Bloomberg.

Mr Bloomberg will deliver one of the prime time addresses at the convention this week, saying Ms Clinton is the best choice for “moderate” voters.

It’s a boost for the Clinton camp, which wants to rack up support from moderate republicans troubled by Mr Trump’s hardline policies.

The celebrity power at the DNC is in contrast to the Trump convention, whose celebrity speakers included Duck Dynasty personality Willie Robertson, former Happy Days actor Scott Baio and 90s soap star Antonio Sabato Jr.

Originally published as Hillary Clinton campaign claims Russia is helping Donald Trump after damaging email leaks