British political operatives met with Russian ambassador days after Trump visit

Source: CNN




By Donie O'Sullivan, Nina dos Santos and Drew Griffin, CNN

Updated 6:46 PM ET, Wed June 13, 2018

London (CNN)Two British political operatives were in regular contact with the Russian ambassador in London while they campaigned for, and met with, Donald Trump in the United States in 2016, a review of emails and social media posts shows.

Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore were prominent figures in the 2016 campaign for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Banks' donation of more than 8 million pounds (nearly $11 million) to the pro-Brexit campaign is the subject of a probe by the country's Electoral Commission, amid concerns of Russian interference.

After successfully campaigning for Brexit in June, the men's attention appeared to turn to the United States.

In August 2016, Banks and Wigmore attended a Trump rally in Mississippi with Nigel Farage from the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/13/politics/banks-wigmore-russian-ambassador-meetings/index.html