WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says the investigation into Russia meddling into the 2016 election did not come up Monday in a meeting between President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe was not discussed during the long-scheduled lunch meeting at the White House.
Vice President Mike Pence joined the pair in the president’s private dining room off the Oval Office hours after Mueller released indictments against two former Trump campaign aides.
Trump has mused in the past about firing Mueller and Sessions has recused himself from the Russia probe because of his campaign advocacy for Trump.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Monday there is “no intention or plan to make any changes in regards to special counsel.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump says alleged misdeeds by his former campaign chairman were “years ago” and insists there was “NO COLLUSION” between his 2016 campaign and Russia.
Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were indicted Friday on money laundering and conspiracy charges. The indictment says money laundering occurred through “at least 2016.”
Trump reacted on Twitter Monday. He says “Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren’t Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????”
He then added: “Also, there is NO COLLUSION!”
The indictments are the first arising from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s sprawling investigation into possible coordination between Russia and Trump’s 2016 election effort.
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