Jared Kushner releases details of four Russian contacts, denies collusion

Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has released details of four Russian contacts he had during and after the 2016 US presidential election during testimony given to the Senate intelligence committee.

The committee is investigating alleged collusion between members of President Trump’s campaign and officials linked to the Kremlin, but Kushner rejected that any of his meetings were related to the Russian government.

Trump’s presidency has unfolded under a black cloud of accusations surrounding his campaign’s relations with Russia following his defeat of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton last year.

Kushner confirmed four contacts with Russia during the campaign

Kushner confirmed four contacts with Russia during the campaign in a written statement ahead of his behind-closed-doors meeting with committee members. Among the four were Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and banker Sergey Gorkov.

“I did not collude, nor know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded, with any foreign government,” Kushner said in the statement on Monday. “I had no improper contacts. I have not relied on Russian funds to finance my business activities in the private sector.”

Kushner will also be questioned about his attendance at a controversial meeting which was attended by Donald Trump Jr and campaign manager Paul Manafort, where the three men met with a Russian lawyer who had promised damaging information about Clinton.

In his statement Trump’s adviser said the meeting was of little significance, referring to it as ‘time not well-spent’.