Australia confirms May 2016 meeting between Alexander Downer and George Papadopoulos.

[pnwmom]

This is important because it confirms that the FBI's interest in Trump/Russia began long before they were contacted by Christopher Steele.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/downer-papadopolous-trump-mueller-russia

Until now, the Australian government and Downer have refused to confirm or give any details about the meeting central to the beginning of the Trump-Russia investigation, repeatedly citing the need to preserve national security.

But in a letter sent to Australia's Information Commissioner after a 15 month-long FOI battle with BuzzFeed News, a senior foreign official said his department was ready to confirm the meeting and release redacted documents, because Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation was now finished.

"I have again reviewed these matters and, while standing by the validity of the original decisions at the time they were made, the Department has reassessed its position in relation to Mr Di Stefano's three requests in light of the recent conclusion of the U.S. Special Counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Election," the official wrote.

"Notably, in light of the conclusion of that investigation, the Department is now ready to confirm that a meeting occurred between Mr Downer and Mr Papdopolous (sic), on 10 May 2016, whilst Mr Downer was High Commissioner to the United Kingdom."

[mr_lebowski]

1. It doesn't quite prove that. It proves that Downer and Papadoupolous actually met

and that Downer 'phoned home' to mention the meeting the day after ... according to Australia, who had been refusing to admit that they'd ever met.

Doesn't, sadly, confirm that Downer was told about Russian dirt on Hillary, nor does it confirm Australia contacted the FBI to tell them about it.