Barack Obama's former Russia advisor says he met with 'zero Russians' during 2008 transition

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Barack Obama's former Russian adviser has said he met with "zero Russians" during the 2008 transition, as more reports emerged of contact between the Trump campaign team and Vladimir Putin.

It was reported on Monday that a secret meeting had been arranged between major Trump campaign donor Erik Prince and a Russian close to Mr Putin in January.

The rendezvous was part of an apparent attempt to establish a back channel of communication between Moscow and then-President-elect Donald Trump, The Washington Post reported.

Responding to the report on Twitter, former US Ambassador to Moscow Michael Mc Faul said: "This story just gets weirder and weirder. During Obama transition in 2008 (I was his Russia advisor back then) we met with zero Russians. Zero."

The FBI in March disclosed that the Trump administration was under investigation for its potential ties to Russia. Separate investigations have been launched by the House of Representatives and the Senate into the influence of Russian hacking on the US presidential election.

It was reported on Monday that a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign met with a Russian intelligence operative in 2013 and provided him documents about the energy industry.

Mr Trump has vigorously denied that he or his associates were in contact with Russia during the election and over the weekend lambasted the media for its continued focus on the Russia story.

“When will Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd and @NBCNews start talking about the Obama SURVEILLANCE SCANDAL and stop with the Fake Trump/Russia story?” he said, in reference to a news presenter he has previously attacked.