Dianne Feinstein: ‘no evidence’ of collusion between Russia and Trump during 2016 campaign
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday that she has seen no evidence thus far showing collusion between associates of President Donald Trump and the Russian government during the presidential campaign.
“Do you have evidence that there was, in fact, collusion between Trump associates and Russia during the campaign?” Blitzer asked Feinstein, noting that she and her colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee were recently briefed on the subject at the CIA headquarters.
“Not at this time,” Feinstein responded.
“Well, that’s a pretty precise answer,” Blitzer said.
California Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, has said he has seen “more than circumstantial” evidence showing coordination. Last month, California Rep. Eric Swalwell, another House committee member, said “there is evidence of collusion.”
Feinstein and her committee colleagues were briefed at CIA headquarters about Russia’s meddling in the presidential campaign.
Earlier on Wednesday, Feinstein attended a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where FBI Director James Comey was pressed about the investigation.
Journalist and co-founder of The Intercept Glenn Greenwald described Feinstein’s answer as significant for several reasons, including “(a) who is saying it, (b) how decisive her answer is, and (c) that she just got back from a CIA briefing on it.”
Former Republican Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, also tweeted: “This is huge.”