One Trump campaign foreign policy adviser is saying Donald Trump listened when another foreign policy adviser -- in a March 31, 2016 meeting -- spoke of Russian connections and the ability to set up a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
J.D. Gordon tells the New York Times George Papadopoulos "went into the pitch right away":
"He said he had a friend in London, the Russian ambassador, who could help set up a meeting with Putin.”
Mr. Trump listened with interest. Mr. Sessions vehemently opposed the idea, Mr. Gordon recalled. “And he said that no one should talk about it because it might leak,” he said.
Two current White House officials also attended that March 31st meeting: Communications Director Hope HIcks, whom Special Counsel Robert Mueller will interview mid-November when she returns from Asia, and Senior Policy Advisor Stephen Miller.
At a news conference on February 16, 2017, a reporter asked President Trump directly about his knowledge of campaign advisers' ties to Russia:
QUESTION: Thank you. I was just hoping that we could get a yes or no answer on one of these questions involving Russia. Can you say whether you are aware that anyone who advised your campaign had contacts with Russia during the course of the election?
TRUMP: Well I told you, Gen. Flynn obviously was dealing. So that’s one person. But he was dealing, as he should have been.
QUESTION: During the election?
TRUMP: No. Nobody that I know of. Nobody...
QUESTION: So you’re not aware of any contact during the course..
TRUMP: Look, look, look...
QUESTION: ... of the election?
TRUMP: How many times do I have to answer this question?
QUESTION: Can you just say yes or no? TRUMP: Russia is a ruse
Trump and Sessions Denied Knowing About Russian Contacts. Records Suggest Otherwise (NYT)
Mueller schedules interview with Hope Hicks (Politico)