The UK Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6, is trying to prevent Washington from declassifying documents related to the probe into Moscow's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, UK media reported on Thursday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd November, 2018) The UK Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6, is trying to prevent Washington from declassifying documents related to the probe into Moscow's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, UK media reported on Thursday.According to The Telegraph newspaper, the case deals with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) requests to wiretap Carter Page, US President Donald Trump's former campaign adviser, on the suspicion that he possibly colluded with the Russian government.
The FBI was authorized to tap Page's communication for a period of 90 days and later received several renewals of said authorization, the news outlet added.
UK intelligence officers claim that the declassification of the FBI requests would endanger the agency's sources and make people less eager to share information with investigative bodies, The Telegraph indicated, adding that this stance raised serious concerns regarding the United Kingdom's role in the ongoing probe.
Trump initially announced his plans to make one of the FBI applications public in September but then hesitated to proceed. Earlier in November, the US president stated that he was considering the matter again.
US Special Counsel Robert Mueller is currently leading a probe into Russia's purported meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and whether Trump or his campaign colluded with the Kremlin.
Trump has dismissed the Mueller probe as a witch hunt, while the Kremlin has openly refuted the meddling allegations as absurd.
