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George W Bush: 'There's pretty clear evidence Russia meddled' in US election won by Trump George W Bush: 'There's pretty clear evidence Russia meddled' in US election won by Trump
(about 1 hour later)
George W Bush has said “there’s pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled” in the US election that saw Donald Trump become President.George W Bush has said “there’s pretty clear evidence that the Russians meddled” in the US election that saw Donald Trump become President.
The former President also warned that Russia’s Vladimir Putin “is zero-sum. He can’t think, ‘How can we both win?’ He only thinks, ‘How do I win, you lose?’”The former President also warned that Russia’s Vladimir Putin “is zero-sum. He can’t think, ‘How can we both win?’ He only thinks, ‘How do I win, you lose?’”
Russia has denied trying to influence the November 2016 vote but US intelligence agencies concluded it had.Russia has denied trying to influence the November 2016 vote but US intelligence agencies concluded it had.
Mr Trump has previously downplayed the findings but last year said he was “with our agencies, especially as currently constituted with the leadership”.Mr Trump has previously downplayed the findings but last year said he was “with our agencies, especially as currently constituted with the leadership”.
Mr Bush said it wasn't clear if Russia's "meddling" directly affected the election, though he said it was clear they tried. "It's problematic that a foreign nation is involved in our election," he added at a conference in Abu Dhabi. Mr Bush said it wasn’t clear if Russia’s “meddling” directly affected the election, though he said it was clear they tried. ”It’s problematic that a foreign nation is involved in our election,” he added at a conference in Abu Dhabi.
The Republican leader, who occupied the Oval Office from 2001 to 2009, said Mr Putin "is pushing, constantly pushing, probing weaknesses. That's why Nato is very important."  The Republican leader, who occupied the Oval Office from 2001 to 2009, said Mr Putin ”is pushing, constantly pushing, probing weaknesses. That’s why Nato is very important.” 
Former FBI director Robert Mueller is currently investigating alleged links between the Kremlin and Mr Trump’s campaign team.Former FBI director Robert Mueller is currently investigating alleged links between the Kremlin and Mr Trump’s campaign team.
Several people including the Republican’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, have been charged.Several people including the Republican’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, have been charged.
Mr Trump denies any such links, and has called the investigation a “witch hunt”. Mr Trump denies any such links, and has called the investigation a “witch hunt” perpetrated by his political opponents.
  The 43rd US President has intervened a number of times to apparently rebuke Mr Trump during the latter’s time in office.
More follows… In a book he said “this guy doesn’t know what it means to be President”, and last October, while not mentioning his fellow Republican by name, he said that in recent times “bigotry seems emboldened. Our politics seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication”.
  Mr Bush broke a longstanding silence in February last year to say that a free press was “indispensable to democracy”, after Mr Trump attacked a number of media companies as “enemies of the people”.
“Power can be very addictive, and it can be corrosive, and it’s important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere”, he added.