High-level advisors, close to then-presidential nominee Donald Trump, were in constant communication with Russians known to U.S. intelligence, multiple current and former intelligence, law enforcement and administration officials, during the campaign trail.
According to CNN, frequency of the communications and the proximity to Trump of those involved cautioned the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement.
The communications were intercepted during routine intelligence collection targeting Russian officials and other Russian nationals known to U.S. intelligence.
Officials emphasised that communications between campaign staff and representatives of foreign governments are not unusual. These communications, however, stood out due to the frequency and the level of the Trump advisors involved.
The extensive contacts drew concerns of U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials in part because it came at a time of Russian cyber activities targeting mostly Democratic Party political organisations.
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The FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies continue to try to determine what the motive for the communications were.
One concern was whether Trump associates were coordinating with Russian intelligence operatives to release damaging information about the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Earlier, the US national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned amid a flow of intelligence leaks that he had secretly discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador to Washington and then tried to cover up the conversation.
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