Trump told Putin: I’m a big fan, come to my beauty show
DONALD Trump wrote to Vladimir Putin pleading with him to be guest of honour at a Miss Universe pageant adding “I’m a big fan of yours”.
The note was part of evidence contained in a report that shows the President’s campaign team had dealings with Russian intelligence during the 2016 election which posed a “grave” counterintelligence threat.
The Senate Intelligence Committee released letters as part of its probe including one Mr Trump sent in 2007.
He wrote: “Congratulations on being named Time magazine’s Man of theYear – you definitely deserve it.As you have probably heard, I’m a big fan of yours.” A second letter sees Mr Trump trying to persuade Putin to attend the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, which he owned.
He told the Russian leader he would be his guest of honour and suggested a private meeting.
It was also revealed the President’s campaign manager Paul Manafort had deep ties with Moscow officials and shared campaign information.
The Senate Intelligence Committee’s document offers a detailed portrait of the Trump campaign’s connection to Russian intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik. The committee wrote: “On numerous occasions on the Trump campaign, Manafort sought to secretly share internal campaign information with Kilimnik.”
The Senate panel identified Kilimnik as having potential ties to the hacking of Democratic emails during the 2016 election.
The panel concluded associates of Mr Trump had regular contact with Russians and expected to benefit from the Kremlin’s help.
It said Russia launched an aggressive effort to interfere in the 2016 election on Mr Trump’s behalf.