Trump reportedly asked intelligence chiefs to deny any evidence of collusion with Russians
President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump reportedly asked the directors of national intelligence and the National Security Agency to deny the existence of any evidence of collusion between his campaign and the Russian government.
Both officials turned down Trump’s requests in March for a public denial, according to the Washington Post, which based its reports on information from unnamed current and former officials.
Trump’s conversation with Adm. Michael Rogers, the NSA director, was documented in an internal memo written by a senior NSA official, according to the Post.
Trump spoke with Rogers and Daniel Coats, the director of national intelligence, after then-FBI Director James Comey told Congress that the agency was investigating links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Comey also said the agency was investigating whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts.
A White House spokesman said there would not be confirmation or denial of “unsubstantiated claims based on illegal leaks from anonymous individuals.”
According to the Post, “The new revelations add to a growing body of evidence that Trump sought to co-opt and then undermine Comey before he fired him May 9.”
