Former U.S. national security advisor Michael Flynn, and other advisors to the president, Donald Trump had contacts with representatives of the Russian government in at least 18 calls and e-mails over the last seven months of the presidential campaign in 2016.
This is according to current and former u.s. representatives familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The previously known connectors are part of the ongoing investigations within the FBI and congress about Russian interference in the election.
Six of the contacts were the talks between Russia’s U.S. ambassador Sergey Kisljak and the Trump adviser, including Flynn. The contacts between the Kisljak and Flynn accelerated after the election on 8 november, when the two discussed a separate communication channel between Trump and the president of Russia Vladimir Putin, who would be able to bypass the bureaucracy within the national security service, which are both considered to be hostile, addressed to the improved relations.
According to the sources, has not seen any evidence of irregularities or secret deals in the material, but it can increase the pressure on Trump and his helpers to give the FBI and congress have full access to the contacts between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign before and after the elections.
The us department of justice appointed on Wednesday former FBI director Robert Mueller to investigate the alleged Russian involvement in the u.s. elections.
Previously, Donald Trump accused of having leaked secret intelligence information to Russia, and the growing political controversy around Trump has dampened risk appetite in the markets during the week.
Tradingportalen/Agency Directly.
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