WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump encouraged Russia to meddle in American politics Wednesday, with a stunning recommendation to uncover and make public hacked e-mails that might damage his opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Shortly after Trump’s remarks, his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, took a different tact and warned of “serious consequences” if Russia interfered in the election.

The developments came as Democrats met on the third day of their presidential convention in Philadelphia, where Clinton will claim the party’s nomination tonight.

Trump’s comments raised the issue of whether he was condoning foreign government hacking of U.S. computers and the public release of information stolen from political adversaries — actions that are at least publicly frowned upon across the globe.

“I will tell you this. Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing,” Trump said. He was referring to e-mails on Clinton’s private e-mail server that she deleted because she said they were private before she turned other messages over to the State Department.

The Clinton campaign called Trump’s statement the “first time that a major presidential candidate has actively encouraged a foreign power to conduct espionage against a political opponent.”