Trump campaign accused of contacting Russia at least 18 times
The former national security adviser and other Trump aides during the US presidential campaign are said to have had at least 18 calls and emails with Russian officials.
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President Trump (left) with senior advisers at the White House. Photo: Reuters |
From April to November 2016, Michael Flynn, former security adviser to US President Donald Trump, and other advisers in the election campaign had 18 calls and emails with Russian officials and people with ties to the Kremlin, Reuters reported today, citing current and former US officials.
Six of the contacts described were phone calls betweenSergei Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the US, with Trump advisers, including Flynn.
Flynn and Kislyak increased their communication after the US presidential election on November 8 last year. The two discussed establishing a communication channel between Trump andPutin without going through the US national security system, which both sides say does not help improve bilateral relations.
The FBI and congressional investigators are looking into these interactions as they investigate allegations of Russian interference in the US election.
In January, the White House initially denied any contact with Russian officials during the Trump campaign. Later, the White House and Trump campaign advisers confirmed four meetings with the ambassador.Kislyak.
The sources said they saw no evidence of wrongdoing or collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in those communications. But the new details will increase pressure on Trump and his advisers to provide a full disclosure of their contacts to the FBI and congressional investigative committees.
The White House, Flynn's lawyer and the Russian Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the case.
Portrait of former US national security advisor
According to VNE
