Mueller's team interviews Hope Hicks for TWO DAYS – as it is revealed FBI warned Trump aide about repeated Russian attempts to contact her
- White House Communications Director Hope Hicks served as Donald Trump's spokeswoman throughout his campaign
- She met with investigators for Robert Mueller Thursday and Friday
- Her meeting had been anticipated
- The FBI twice warned her about repeated attempts by Russians to contact her
- Briefings in the White House Situation Room
- Agents urged caution about possible Russian intelligence operation
- No suggestion Hicks did anything improper
Repeated efforts by Russians to contact Hope Hicks, one of President Trump's closest advisors, led FBI agents to meet with her in the White House to warn her off, according to a new report.
Hicks, 29, was the recipient of repeated efforts by Russians to contact her during the presidential transition, the New York Times reported.
The efforts set off alarm bells among intelligence and law enforcement officials, following the multi-agency conclusion that Russia interfered in the presidential election.
Once President Trump took office, counterintelligence officials met with Hicks in the secure White House Situation Room 'at least twice,' according to the report, to warn her that the Russians who contacted her by email were not who they claimed to be.
White House communications director Hope Hicks, 29, was the recipient of repeated efforts by Russians to contact her during the presidential transition, according to a report
The warning was described as a 'defensive briefing' to warn of an possible Russian intelligence operation, and goes well beyond the standard fare given to new government employees.
The report does not say whether Hicks responded to any of the overtures or how the government came to know about the Russian contacts.
It notes that Hicks is not alleged to have done anything improper simply by being the recipient of an outreach attempt.
The Times based its report on two unnamed sources, and was not able to obtain information about the content of the emails.
Hicks joined Trump's presidential campaign from the Trump Organization, and was a close advisor throughout his campaign.
She is considered a key figure to investigators because of her close contacts with key Trump campaign figures and familiarity with high-level thinking inside the campaign and White House.
Counterintelligence officials met with Hicks in the White House situation room to warn her of the attempted contacts
The Russian outreach occurred during the presidential transition before Donald Trump took office
Special counsel Robert Mueller's team is probing Russian interference in the presidential election
CNN reported following Donald Trump Jr.'s testimony to the House Intelligence Committee this week state that Trump Jr. testified that he communicated with Hicks while hammering out a statement to the press to describe a June 2016 meeting he attended at Trump Tower with a Kremlin-linked lawyer.
Trump Jr. said he did not communicate directly with his father, who was with Hicks aboard Air Force One at the time. Hicks was communicating with the president about the statement while it got worked out.
The initial statement did not accurately reflect that the meeting was initially set up with the offer of dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Most watched News videos
- Donald Trump uses two hands to drink water from glass
- ISIS claims it has hacked US Army sites in new propaganda video
- F***ing joke? Paula Radcliffe's husband on Mo Farah's SPOTY win
- Sheriff reveals horrifying details about woman mauled by dogs
- Saudi air forces intercept ballistic missiles fired by Yemen rebels
- Woman brings BABY into out-of-control brawl at Florida mall
- Terrifying moment plane crashes at airshow in the Russian Arctic
- Adorable video of husky dog nuzzling up to newborn baby
- 'Several people killed' after Amtrak train derails near Seattle
- Fire rages from car after it exploded with driver stuck inside
- Student gets into epic dance battle with teacher
- Liam Allan says: 'the next steps are to sue' the police
- Wife is covered in bruises so husband could degrade her...
- Queen appoints Prince Harry to take over from his...
- Indiana pastor remarries after his first wife was...
- Parents pull their children out of Connecticut high...
- PIERS MORGAN: She might look better doing it but...
- 'Beautiful' mother-of-two and her scientist boyfriend who...
- Britain's FILTHIEST house: Revolting scene including...
- Thought you knew the Tube map? Not any more - THIS is how...
- Hollywood's first major sex scandal: 'Prince of silent...
- What do gynecologists and pizza delivery guys have in...
- Ex-nurse, 27, who pretended to be a man to pursue online...
- 'Several Americans among 12 killed' after a bus carrying...
- Wife, 31, 'stabs her husband to death with their children...
- Moment Yemen rebels launch ballistic missile that was...
- Kim Jong-un 'executes' ANOTHER official over a launch...
- A tent riddled with Nazi bullets, bikinis on parade and a...
- How many more texts have police 'sat on'? Hundreds of...
- Family are ordered to GIVE their £600,000 home to their...