MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Congressional and intelligence officials told CNN a private meeting might have taken place on April 27 at a Washington hotel where they both attended a reception prior to Trump’s first foreign policy address.
The new channel cited its unnamed sources as saying investigators did not rule out that no additional private meeting was held or that it might have been incidental.
"It is unfortunate that anonymous sources whose credibility will never face public scrutiny are continuously trying to hinder that process by peddling false stories to the mainstream media. The facts haven't changed; the then-Senator did not have any private or side conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel," the CNN quoted a statement by DoJ as saying.
In March, Sessions recused himself from the investigation after the Washington Post reported that he held two meetings with the Russian ambassador, despite denying contacts with Russian officials at his confirmation hearing.
The Kremlin called the allegations absurd and repeatedly denied trying to sway US voters in Trump's favor.
The Russian Embassy in the United States reiterated, in a reply to RIA Novosti, that the Russian Foreign Ministry did not comment on working contacts of its diplomats. It cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov who responded to similar accusations against Kislyak on May 30, saying a disclosure would violate the diplomatic code of conduct.
The Kremlin called the allegations absurd and repeatedly denied trying to sway US voters in Trump's favor. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian government had no official contacts with Trump's campaign. Trump has also denounced the allegations.
