Trump under fresh scrutiny over relationship with Putin

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump faced uncomfortable new questions Sunday about his relationship with Vladimir Putin despite his angry dismissal of a report that he has kept top aides in the dark about his private conversations with the Russian leader.

Republicanlawmakersgenerally defended the president, saying he had been tougher on Russia than his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, but some had questions.

“I want to find out a little bit more about what happened there,” said Senator Ted Cruz, on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I want to learn more than just the allegations in the press.”

But he said most Americans outside of Washington were not interested in the subject.

The Post reported that Trump has gone to unusual lengths to keep his private talks with Putin secret, withholding details from senior officials and at one point even taking away his own interpreter’s notes.

That account followed another in The New York Times that the FBI became so alarmed after Trump fired director James Comey in May 2017 that it opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether he was acting on Russia’s behalf.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican, told “Fox News Sunday” that he does not trust the Times, but added that “if this really did happen, Congress needs to know about it.”

Trump, asked in an interview with Fox News late Saturday, “Are you now or have you ever worked for Russia,” responded: “I think that’s the most insulting thing I’ve ever been asked.”

“I’m not keeping anything under wraps, I couldn’t care less. I mean, it’s so ridiculous,” he told Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, without directly denying the Post story.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders issued a statement calling the Post story “so outrageously inaccurate it doesn’t even warrant a response.”

Democrats weren’t convinced, however.

“You know, there’s so many questions raised,” said Senator Dick Durbin, a top Democrat, on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” — AFP