FBI warned Trump adviser about Russian outreach

FBI officials warned one of President Donald Trump’s top advisers, Hope Hicks, earlier this year about repeated attempts by Russian operatives to make contact with her during the presidential transition, according to people familiar with the events.

The Russian outreach efforts show that, even after U.S. intelligence agencies publicly accused Moscow of trying to influence the outcome of last year’s presidential election, Russian operatives were undaunted in their efforts to establish contacts with Trump’s advisers.

There is no evidence that Hicks did anything improper.

After Trump took office, senior FBI counterintelligence agents met with Hicks in the White House Situation Room at least twice, gave her the names of the Russians who had contacted her, and said that they were not who they claimed to be.

The FBI was concerned that the emails to Hicks may have been part of a Russian intelligence operation, and they urged Hicks to be cautious.

On Thursday and Friday, investigators working for Robert Mueller, the special counsel, interviewed Hicks as part of his investigation into Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election and whether any of Trump’s advisers assisted the Russian campaign.

From wire reports