Trump Considered Going To Moscow During Presidential Campaign - Mueller Report

WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 19th April, 2019) US President Donald Trump considered traveling to Russia during the 2016 US presidential campaign to discuss the construction of Trump Tower in Moscow, the Mueller report revealed.

Earlier in the day, the long-awaited report on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into election meddling was released, which concluded that the Trump campaign did not collude with Russia ahead of the 2016 vote.

"The investigation identified evidence that, during the period the Trump Moscow project was under consideration, the possibility of candidate Trump visiting Russia arose," the report said on Thursday, citing former Trump adviser and lawyer Michael Cohen. "Trump indicated a willingness to travel if it would assist the project significantly."

Cohen to coordinate Trump's schedule reportedly spoke to then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, the Mueller report claimed. Lewandowski suggested regrouping when Cohen had particular dates in mind.

In addition, the report said Trump received and declined an invitation to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The invitation was from then-Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Prikhodko. Trump did not recall discussing the events of the trip, according to the appendix to the report.

Earlier on Thursday, US Attorney General William Barr said Mueller's report did conclude that Russia tried to influence the election, but emphasized that no American was part of those efforts.

Russia has repeatedly refuted claims of interfering in the US political system, saying the allegations were made up to excuse the election loss of a presidential candidate as well as to deflect public attention from actual instances of election fraud and corruption.