Senate panel asks Trump associates for records

Requests open door to subpoenas for those who refuse.

WASHINGTON — The Senate Intelligence Committee, seeking to accelerate its broad investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election, has asked a number of high-profile Trump campaign associates to hand over emails and other records of communications and dealings with Russian officials and businesspeople.

The requests, made in letters sent by the committee in the past 10 days, are a preliminary step and open the way to subpoenas for anyone who does not comply, said two officials with knowledge of the Senate investigation. They said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., chairman of the committee, was prepared to compel the Trump associates to turn over their records.

Among those who said t h e y h a d r e c e i v e d t h e requests were Roger Stone, an informal adviser to President Donald Trump, and Carter Page, a businessman and former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign. Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman, and Michael Flynn, former national securit y adviser, were also sent letters, said the officials with knowledge of the investigation. Representatives for both men declined to comment.

Stone said he planned to comply with the request and noted that he has said in the past that he will testify voluntarily.

“I am eager, indeed anxious, to testify in full public session, have requested no immunity and am ready to go,” he said.

Page was more circumspect. In an email, he said, “Although I will help in any way that I can, please note that any records I may have saved as a private citizen with limited technology capabilities will be minuscule in comparison to the full database of information which has already been collected under last year’s completely unjustified FISA warrant.”

He was referring to a warrant issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court allowing the Justice Department to secretly wiretap his communications.