Copyright
Reuters
Donald Trump has suspected his ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin
A Republican-led Senate panel has concluded that Trump’s campaign contacts with Russia in 2016 “represented a serious counterintelligence threat.”
The nearly 1,000-page report to intelligence committees revealed links between President Donald Trump’s colleagues and Kremlin officials.
It is the fifth and probably last report on Russian mediation during the 2016 presidential election.
When asked about the report on Tuesday, Mr. Trump said he “did not read it.”
According to the commission, the comprehensive report is “the most comprehensive description to date of Russia’s activities and the threat it poses”.
It describes the interactions between Trump campaign personnel and Russian operatives, including a Kremlin intelligence officer.
The findings also confirm aspects of Special Attorney Robert Mueller’s report of his criminal probe into the Trump campaign and Russian election interference.
What’s in the report?
The Bilingual Senate committee’s investigation was not a criminal investigation, but was intended to provide recommendations to prevent future interference.
The report concluded that the Kremlin’s 2016 elections were “engaged in an aggressive, multifaceted effort to influence, or attempt to influence”, and that some Trump officials feared for Russia’s help.
It said the Trump campaign, with many branches having no government experience, was easy targets for foreign influence.
The commission also highlighted the role of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was convicted of the charges and fraud during the Mueller investigation.
- Manafort: Trump’s former campaign chair
Manafort’s contacts with Russian oligarchs and branches of intelligence – namely Konstantin Kilimnik – and his access to Mr Trump “created opportunities for Russian intelligence services to exert influence and obtain confidential information about the Trump campaign,” the commission said.
The commission also reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin was behind the WikiLeaks attempt to hack Democratic Party officials and leak information to undermine Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
The report confirmed that the Kremlin used Manafort and WikiLeaks to help Mr. Trump win the 2016 election, and that WikiLeaks was aware that it was helping Russian intelligence.
- Everything you need to know about the story of Trump Russia
- The Trump-Russia saga in 350 words
It also found that the Trump campaign sought to obtain information about the leak of Roger Stone – a longtime ally and adviser to Trump. However, the commission could not determine how much access Stone had to WikiLeaks, however.
Mr. Trump has said he does not recall talking about WikiLeaks with Stone, but Tuesday’s report found that “despite Trump’s recollection”, he spoke with Stone and other campaign staff about the matter “on multiple occasions”.
Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, obstructing and allegedly witnessing, but was forgiven in July by Mr. Trump.
What did Trump say?
The president has long since denied claims that his election victory was influenced by Russia, at times doubting the findings of his own bodies.
In response to a question about the report, Mr. Trump told reporters: “I know nothing about it. I have not read it.”
He added: “It’s all a hoax.”
However, White House spokesman Judd Deere said the report was a further confirmation that “there was absolutely no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia”.
