Washington Post reporter stands by story on Trump leak to Russians

The White House denied claims President Donald Trump told Russian officials classified information, but the reporter who broke the story maintains what he wrote is true.

Washington Post reporter Greg Miller.

Washington Post reporter Greg Miller. Source: CNN

Washington Post reporter Greg Miller told CNN that he stands by his story "absolutely".

Mr Miller accused the White House of "playing word games" after they announced his

National security adviser HR McMaster told reporters in Washington that "no sources and methods were disclosed” in the meeting, but Mr Miller maintains his report does not say the President disclosed sources or methods - only that a specific plot was discussed.

Washington Post story is 'false' says McMaster


Mr Miller challenged White House officials to defend themselves against the CIA director being contacted after President Trump’s meeting with concerns for national security.

"If this was all so above-board and not problematic in any way, why did the National Security Council coming out of this meeting feel it was necessary to contact the CIA director and the director of the National Security Agency to give them a heads' up on what Trump had just told the Russians?" Mr Miller said.

The Washington Post report released on Monday referenced current and former US officials, who said Donald Trump told classified information to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

The information President Trump let slip in the meeting was allegedly provided through a highly sensitive intelligence-sharing partnership and the partner concerned had not given permission to the White House to release the information to Russia.

According to the Post report, President Trump's actions risk losing the cooperation of the partner with access to the inner workings of ISIS.

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Published 16 May 2017 1:53pm
By Amanda Copp

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