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Senator Lindsey Graham questions Trump business deals | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says he has further questions about President Donald Trump's business dealings in relation to Russia. | |
The South Carolina senator asked former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper about the matter on Monday as he testified before a Senate panel. | |
Mr Clapper declined to answer a question about concern over any Russian ties to Mr Trump's business interests. | Mr Clapper declined to answer a question about concern over any Russian ties to Mr Trump's business interests. |
Mr Graham said it would be "helpful" to see President Trump's tax returns. | Mr Graham said it would be "helpful" to see President Trump's tax returns. |
Russia: The scandal Trump can't shake | Russia: The scandal Trump can't shake |
"I want to know more about Trump's business dealings," Mr Graham told CNN on Tuesday. | "I want to know more about Trump's business dealings," Mr Graham told CNN on Tuesday. |
But he added it was too soon to determine whether he would be willing to subpoena them from the White House. | But he added it was too soon to determine whether he would be willing to subpoena them from the White House. |
CNN reported that Mr Graham intended to scrutinise possible links between Mr Trump's business and Russia. | |
Mr Graham later clarified that the Senate judiciary committee he leads was not actively looking into Mr Trump's business relations. | |
"There's no effort by the judiciary committee to go after business interests because I don't know of any that are illegal or irresponsible, but if you can show me there is some evidence of that I'd be interested in it," he said. | |
The White House on Tuesday said it did not oppose any inquiries by Mr Graham. | |
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president "has no business in Russia; he has no connections to Russia." | |
"So he welcomes that," he added. | |
During Monday's testimony, Mr Clapper was asked whether he had any concerns about Mr Trump's business interests and a possible connection to Russia. | During Monday's testimony, Mr Clapper was asked whether he had any concerns about Mr Trump's business interests and a possible connection to Russia. |
"Not in the course of the preparation of the intelligence communities assessment," said Mr Clapper, who served under former President Barack Obama. | "Not in the course of the preparation of the intelligence communities assessment," said Mr Clapper, who served under former President Barack Obama. |
But when Mr Graham pressed the former spy chief on whether he had ever discovered any Trump business ties to Moscow, Mr Clapper alluded to an ongoing FBI investigation. | But when Mr Graham pressed the former spy chief on whether he had ever discovered any Trump business ties to Moscow, Mr Clapper alluded to an ongoing FBI investigation. |
"Senator Graham I can't comment on that because that impacts an investigation," he said. | "Senator Graham I can't comment on that because that impacts an investigation," he said. |
The president took to Twitter to cast doubt on any questions surrounding Mr Clapper's refusal to comment on Monday. | The president took to Twitter to cast doubt on any questions surrounding Mr Clapper's refusal to comment on Monday. |
"Director Clapper reiterated what everybody, including the fake media already knows- there is 'no evidence' of collusion w/ Russia and Trump," he wrote. | "Director Clapper reiterated what everybody, including the fake media already knows- there is 'no evidence' of collusion w/ Russia and Trump," he wrote. |
He later added: "The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?" | He later added: "The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?" |
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