Another former Trump aide talks to Russia probe

  • 10/03/2018
Sam Nunberg
Sam Nunberg. Photo credit: Reuters

Former Donald Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg, who had baulked at testifying in the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, has appeared at the federal courthouse in Washington as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe.

Mr Nunberg, who was seen by reporters arriving at the US District Court in Washington on Friday, had been subpoenaed by a grand jury but in a daylong televised circus on Monday he said he would ignore the order, even at the risk of going to jail. Later in the day he said he would comply with the subpoena.

Mr Nunberg shocked Washington observers with his series of unfiltered and sometimes contradictory interviews on Monday. He offered speculation on figures in the Russian investigation and said he did not want to sort through his emails as Mr Mueller's subpoena had ordered.

A CNN interviewer told Mr Nunberg she smelled alcohol on his breath, but he denied he had been drinking.

Mr Nunberg, 36, is an associate of Mr Trump ally and longtime political consultant Roger Stone. Mr Mueller wants to determine whether Mr Stone played any role in the publication of Democratic emails hacked by Russian intelligence operatives, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Russia has denied the allegations and Mr Trump has said there was no collusion between Moscow and his campaign.

Mr Nunberg first worked for one of Mr Trump's businesses and later helped advise his presidential campaign, but he was fired in August 2015 amid reports that he posted racially charged messages on Facebook.

Mr Nunberg also was close to former White House adviser Steve Bannon, who has met with Mr Mueller's team on several occasions last month, the sources said.

Reuters