Exclusive: Russian ex-diplomat Kislyak downplays Trump campaign contacts

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN




By Matthew Chance, Emma Burrows and Zachary Cohen, CNN
Updated 12:45 PM ET, Wed August 23, 2017

Saransk, Russia (CNN)Russia's former ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak downplayed his contact with members of the Trump campaign on Wednesday, calling allegations that he worked as a spymaster and tried to recruit people within President Donald Trump's orbit "nonsense" during an exclusive interview with CNN.

Kislyak left the US for Russia last month after concluding his tour of service but remains a central figure in the federal and congressional Russia probes -- causing extensive problems for Trump campaign aides because of multiple failures to disclose talks with him.

In March, CNN reported that Kislyak is considered by US intelligence to be one of Russia's top spies and spy-recruiters in Washington, citing senior US government officials. Russia's Foreign Ministry strongly rejected the allegations.

CNN managed to catch up with Kislyak in the Russian city of Saransk where he was attending a campaign event as a candidate for the Federation Council -- a governing body akin to the US Senate.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/23/politics/ex-russian-diplomat-sergey-kislyak-cnn-interview/index.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Of course.

He doesn't want polonium in his afternoon tea.

[DK504]

2. He will be claimed as persona non grata

Manafort will probably flip any second now. Rumor has it there were dozens of meeting between Donnie Two Scoops people and the Kremlin.

The noose is tightening.

[lark]

3. Duh!

Of course Kislyak isn't going to spill the beans on an ongoing operation by his country against the US. At this time, it's still in Russia's best interests to keep Drumpf around, doing Putin's bidding like the abberant dog he is. I bet he was laughing after the reporter walked away.