This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/world/europe/trump-campaign-russia.html

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Russian Officials Were in Contact With Trump Campaign, Diplomat Says Russian Officials Were in Contact With Trump Campaign, Diplomat Says
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — The Russian government had contact with advisers to Donald J. Trump during the American presidential campaign, one of Russia’s top diplomats said Thursday. MOSCOW — The Russian government maintained contacts with advisers to Donald J. Trump during the American presidential campaign, one of Russia’s top diplomats said Thursday — an assertion a Trump spokeswoman flatly denied.
“There were contacts,” Sergei A. Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. “We continue to do this and have been doing this work during the election campaign,” he said.“There were contacts,” Sergei A. Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. “We continue to do this and have been doing this work during the election campaign,” he said.
Mr. Ryabkov said officials in the Russian Foreign Ministry were familiar with many people in Mr. Trump’s entourage. “I cannot say that all, but a wide range of them were in touch with Russian representatives,” Mr. Ryabkov said.Mr. Ryabkov said officials in the Russian Foreign Ministry were familiar with many people in Mr. Trump’s entourage. “I cannot say that all, but a wide range of them were in touch with Russian representatives,” Mr. Ryabkov said.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Trump said she was not aware of any contacts with the Russian government until after his victory. “We are not aware of any campaign representatives that were in touch with any foreign entities before yesterday, when Mr. Trump spoke with many world leaders,” the spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said. “Those discussions were congratulatory and forward looking.” The Trump spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said Thursday, “That is absolutely not true.”
It was unclear why the Russian government made the information public on Thursday. A senior government official in Moscow said that the contacts with the Trump campaign had been routine and that they had been carried out through the Russian ambassador in Washington. The meetings with campaign staff members were similar to those the ambassador has with members of Congress to clarify their statements about Russia, the official said. It was unclear why the Russian government made the assertion on Thursday. A senior government official in Moscow said that the contacts with the Trump campaign had been routine and that they had been carried out through the Russian ambassador in Washington. The meetings with campaign staff members were similar to those the ambassador has with members of Congress to clarify their statements about Russia, the official said.
It is not uncommon for the presidential nominees of major parties to have contact with foreign leaders, or to meet with heads of foreign governments. During the campaign, Mr. Trump traveled to Mexico to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto, and Mr. Trump and Hillary Clinton met separately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in September. It is not uncommon for the presidential nominees of major parties to have contact with foreign leaders, or to meet with heads of foreign governments. During the campaign, Mr. Trump traveled to Mexico to meet with President Enrique Peña Nieto, and Mr. Trump and Hillary Clinton met separately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in September. Mrs. Clinton also met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt during the United Nations General Assembly session in October.
But those countries, close American allies, were not accused of trying to interfere with the election.But those countries, close American allies, were not accused of trying to interfere with the election.
After embarrassing emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee and other institutions and prominent individuals were released by WikiLeaks, the Obama administration said in October that Russia had ordered the hacking — an assertion the Russians denied.After embarrassing emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee and other institutions and prominent individuals were released by WikiLeaks, the Obama administration said in October that Russia had ordered the hacking — an assertion the Russians denied.
Beyond that, the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation in August to investigate whether Russia might be trying to manipulate the vote.Beyond that, the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation in August to investigate whether Russia might be trying to manipulate the vote.
Law enforcement officials said that their investigations into the hacking of the Democrats’ computers, into any financial connections between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russian financial institutions, and into possible secret emails from the Trump Organization to a Russian bank found no conclusive or direct link between Mr. Trump and the Russian government. Law enforcement officials said that their investigations into the hacking of the Democrats’ computers and into any financial connections between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russian financial institutions found no conclusive or direct link between Mr. Trump and the Russian government.
On Thursday, Mr. Rybakov sought to play down the perception that Moscow was thrilled by Mr. Trump’s victory — though members of the state Duma, or Parliament, did burst into applause at the news.On Thursday, Mr. Rybakov sought to play down the perception that Moscow was thrilled by Mr. Trump’s victory — though members of the state Duma, or Parliament, did burst into applause at the news.
“We feel no euphoria,” Mr. Rybakov was quoted as saying in an interview in Moscow.“We feel no euphoria,” Mr. Rybakov was quoted as saying in an interview in Moscow.
He said: “There is diverse experience in dealing with U.S. administrations, representing both Republican and Democratic periods. There were periods when we started on a good note, but then rolled down to crisis. There were other periods in our complicated history.”He said: “There is diverse experience in dealing with U.S. administrations, representing both Republican and Democratic periods. There were periods when we started on a good note, but then rolled down to crisis. There were other periods in our complicated history.”
Ms. Hicks, the spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, said she knew of no contact with Russian officials before Wednesday, when Mr. Trump spoke with world leaders, including Mr. Putin. “Those discussions were congratulatory and forward looking,” Ms. Hicks said.
Mr. Trump’s ties to Russia were an issue in the bitter presidential campaign, during which he praised Mr. Putin. In October, Mr. Trump said that should he win, he would consider meeting with the Russian president ahead of the inauguration.Mr. Trump’s ties to Russia were an issue in the bitter presidential campaign, during which he praised Mr. Putin. In October, Mr. Trump said that should he win, he would consider meeting with the Russian president ahead of the inauguration.
Russian state-run media made no secret of its preference for Mr. Trump, prompting Mrs. Clinton to accuse her rival of being Moscow’s “puppet.”Russian state-run media made no secret of its preference for Mr. Trump, prompting Mrs. Clinton to accuse her rival of being Moscow’s “puppet.”