Trump dismisses Russia controversy as ‘scam’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) President Donald Trump dismissed a growing controversy about ties between his aides and Russia on Thursday as a and perpetrated by a hostile news media, and denied any of his associates had Canada Goose Outlet contacts with Moscow before last year election.
leaks are absolutely real. Canada Goose online The news is fake, Trump told a news conference, referring to media reports that his presidential campaign canada goose outlet toronto factory team had contacts with Russian intelligence officials. sanctions before taking office.
Trump buy canada goose jacket said he had asked the Justice Department to look into canadian goose jacket the leaks of information that was given canada goose coats on sale illegally to journalists regarding the relationship Canada Goose Parka between his aides and Russia.
He also said he did not think that Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking actions that would test him early in his term in office.
Trump, who https://www.canadagoosejacketca.ca took office on Jan. 20 and has voiced support for improved ties with Russia, added he personally had no business deals in that country.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that phone call records and intercepted calls showed members of Trump presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence Canada Goose Jackets officials in the year before the Nov. 8 election in canada goose which Trump defeated canada goose clearance sale Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Pressed by reporters about whether he was aware if any member of his presidential campaign team had contacts with Russia before the election, the Republican canada goose outlet store locations president said: that I Canada Goose Coats On Sale know of.
Wary Democratic lawmakers challenged Republicans, who control Congress, on Thursday to conduct a credible investigation into contacts between Trump associates and Russia. The process could take months and might never be made public. intelligence agencies concluded last year that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the election campaign as part of an effort canada goose store to tilt the vote in Trump favor.
Trump has spoken admiringly of Putin, who had a tense relationship with former President cheap Canada Goose Barack Obama over Moscow 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, Canada Goose sale Russian military actions in Syria and other matters. Even fellow Republicans have expressed unease about Trump comments about Putin. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
DEFENDING FLYNN Flynn, a close adviser to Trump during his campaign, was seen by Moscow as a leading advocate of warmer ties with Russia. sanctions on Moscow.
Flynn told FBI agents last month he had canada goose replica not discussed sanctions against Russia with the ambassador before Trump took office, the Washington Post reported on Thursday. Flynn Jan. 24 interview with the FBI could expose him to charges, since lying to the agency is a felony, but any decision to prosecute would lie with buy canada goose jacket cheap the Justice Department. intelligence agencies intercepted Flynn call with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak after Trump election, in which the linked site two discussed sanctions, the Post reported canada goose black friday sale previously.
Obama imposed the new sanctions on Russia on 2018 canada goose outlet Dec. intelligence community conclusion about Moscow interference in the election campaign.
Trump forcefully defended Flynn discussion with the Russian ambassador.
he did wasn wrong, Trump told the news conference.
was doing his job. He was calling countries and his counterparts. So, Canada Goose Online it certainly would have been OK with me if he did it.. Democrats challenge Republicans to conduct credible Russia probe
I didn direct him, but I would have directed him if he didn do it. OK? said Trump, who added the problem was Flynn having misled Pence.
A wealthy new York canada goose coats real estate developer with global business interests, Trump also portrayed himself as having no ties to Russia.
can tell you, speaking for myself, I own nothing in Russia. I have no loans in Russia. I don have any deals in Russia, Trump said.
Critics of the president have called on him since the election campaign to release his tax returns, saying that would shed more light on his business dealings. Trump has said he will not do so while his tax affairs are under audit by the Internal Revenue Service.
have nothing to do with Russia, haven made a phone call to Russia in years, don speak to canada goose clearance people from Russia. Not that I wouldn I just have nobody to speak to, Trump said.
Reporting by Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Writing by Will Dunham and Jeff Mason; Editing by canada goose deals Frances Kerry and Peter Cooney.