Putin Denies Having Compromising Info on Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin scoffed at speculation the Kremlin has some form of leverage over U.S. President Donald Trump, in an interview broadcast Sunday night. Asked by NBC News’ Megyn Kelly whether he had any damning information on Trump, Putin said, “Well, this is just another load of nonsense.” The former KGB man’s comments—the latest denial of Russian involvement in Trump’s presidential campaign—comes just days before former FBI Director James Comey is set to testify to the Senate about Trump’s behavior during the agency’s investigation into Russian election interference. Comey’s firing last month triggered concerns he was ousted to sabotage that investigation. His departure came as several former Trump allies were under scrutiny for their ties to Moscow, and amid intense speculation that the Kremlin had obtained compromising information on the U.S. president. Putin reacted with exasperation to the notion that Moscow has a hidden relationship with the U.S. president, however, noting that at least 100 American executives reside in Russia for business. “Do you think we’re gathering compromising information on all of them right now or something? Have you lost all your senses?” he asked Kelly. Putin also played down concerns over his contacts with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was famously photographed sitting next to the Russian president at a 2015 dinner. “I didn’t even really talk to him,” Putin said, adding that he was only informed later of Flynn’s background in intelligence.

President Donald Trump has an increasingly negative view of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, blaming him for the White House’s blocked travel ban against immigrants from certain Muslim-majority countries, among other legal woes, The New York Times reports. In a series of Monday morning tweets, Trump accused the Justice Department of producing a “watered down, politically correct version” of the ban, which was blocked in the courts. Trump is also reportedly upset with Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from an investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Session recused himself under intense political pressure, after it was revealed that he had not disclosed all his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Trump reportedly views Sessions’ recusal as a major contributor to the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the Trump team’s dealings with Russia.

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