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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Lucy Pasha-Robinson

Russian politician says 'let's hit Trump with our Kompromat' on state TV

A Russian politician has threatened to "hit Donald Trump with our Kompromat" on state TV. 

Speaking on Russia-24, Nikita Isaev, leader of the far-right New Russia Movement, said the compromising material should be released in retaliation over the closure of several Russian diplomatic compounds across the US. 

When asked whether Russia has such material, Mr Isaev, who is also director of the Russian Institute of Contemporary Economics, replied: "Of course we have it!"

The exchanges were first translated and reported by Russian media analyst Julia Davis.

Tensions between Russia and the US have been mounting in recent weeks following an order by the state department for the Russian government to vacate three diplomatic compounds.

The measure came after the Kremlin forced the US to reduce its staff in Russia by more than 750 people.

State department spokesperson Heather Nauert said the US had complied with Russia’s demands and had made its own “in the spirit of parity invoked by the Russians.”

In December, former President Barack Obama closed two of Russia's compounds in Maryland and New York State as part of sanctions on the Russian government for its alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. 

Mr Trump has been plagued by allegations of Russian collusion since his election campaign.

An explosive dossier compiled by a former British spy earlier in the year included salacious allegations about the former real estate mogul's personal conduct, which many speculated could leave him vulnerable to blackmail by the Kremlin.

The claims made in the dossier remain unverified, with Mr Trump labelling them "fake news", but the special investigation into Mr Trump's ties to Russia has been heating up in recent months.

In September, it emerged Robert Mueller, the special prosecutor assigned to the case, had teamed up with the Internal Revenue Service as part of the investigation

Last month, Mr Trump’s son-in-law and White House adviser, Jared Kushner, met with the Senate Intelligence Committee, telling investigators that he neither colluded with Russians nor knew anyone in the campaign who did. 

Mr Trump's former chief of staff Reince Preibus is also due to be interviewed as part of the investigation. 

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