BREAKING: Trump aides 'repeatedly contacted Russian officials in lead-up to election'
GETTY Trump's team was allegedly in contact with Russian intelligence officials
The New York Times has alleged intercepted phone calls and phone records show several of Trump’s aides were in touch with the Kremlin officials, according to three of the four officials who spoke to the publication. But the allegations have been strongly refuted by former campaign chief Paul Manafort, who has been accused in the report as one of the people in touch with Moscow intelligence.
The newspaper said its allegations were based off interviews it had carried out with four “current and former American officials”. The alleged phone conversations were discovered by US intelligence agencies who were attempting to find out if the President’s campaign team and Russia were working together to hack the Democratic National Committee or influence the outcome of the election in other ways, the NYT claims. There is no such evidence of such cooperation, the NYT points out.
GETTY Paul Manafort has denied the claims
Officials who spoke with the publication wish to remain anonymous due to the ongoing investigation. Mr Manafort, who previously worked as a political consultant in Russia and Ukraine, said: “This is absurd. I have no idea what this is referring to. I have never knowingly spoken to Russian intelligence officers, and I have never been involved with anything to do with the Russian government or the Putin administration or any other issues under investigation today. “It’s not like these people wear badges that say, ‘I’m a Russian intelligence officer’.” The FBI has obtained banking and travel records as well as conducted interviews, officials said.
Thousands of Protesters Across Mexico March Against President Trump Mon, February 13, 2017 Mexicans took to the streets against US President Donald Trump, hitting back at his anti-Mexican rhetoric and vows to make the country pay for his 'big, beautiful' border wall. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 11 Thousands take part in an anti-Trump march in Mexico City
GETTY Michael Flynn had to resign allegedly discussing sanctions with Russia while a private citizen