Trump blasts Russia probe as grand jury is formed
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump described Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election as a “total fabrication” on Thursday amid reports that a special prosecutor had impanelled a grand jury to investigate the issue — a step towards possible criminal indictments.
“We didn’t win because of Russia. We won because of you,” Trump said at a campaign-style rally in West Virginia.
Trying to build support among his core supporters, he said his enemies were “trying to cheat you out of the leadership you want with a fake story that is demeaning to all of us and most importantly, demeaning to our country and demeaning to our constitution”.
“The reason why Democrats only talk about the totally madeup Russia story is because they have no message, no agenda, and no vision,” Trump said.
“The Russia story is total fabrication. It’s just an excuse for the greatest loss in the history of American politics.”
His comments came after the Wall Street Journal revealed that special counsel Robert Mueller had impanelled a grand jury to investigate Russia’s interference with the 2016 presidential election.
The newspaper, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that the grand jury had begun its work in the US capital Washington “in recent weeks”. AFP