Trump-linked data firm asked WikiLeaks about Clinton's emails

Alexander Nix — CEO of Cambridge Analytica, a data analysis and targeting firm used by the Trump campaign — reached out to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about "somehow helping [him] release Clinton's missing emails," the Daily Beast's Betsy Woodruff reports. The 33,000 missing emails were a common talking point for President Trump on the campaign trail.

Why it matters: This is the closest connection between Trump's campaign and Assange that has come to light. Assange confirmed "an approach by Cambridge Analytica" to the Daily Beast and added that WikiLeaks turned them away.

The Trump campaign statement on the report says the campaign partnered with the RNC on data, and doesn't mention Assange.

Go deeper: House Intel's Russia probe reaches Cambridge Analytica