President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE on Thursday maintained that he did not know Lev Parnas, a former associate of his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani Rudy GiulianiGrand jury adds additional counts against Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and and Igor Fruman Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates Giuliani criticizes NYC leadership: 'They're killing this city' MORE, beyond posing for a photo with the businessman, who has since alleged the president knew about a scheme at the heart of the impeachment proceedings.

"I don't even know who this man is, other than I guess he attended fundraisers so I take a picture with him," Trump told reporters at an Oval Office event to announce protections for prayer in public schools. "I take thousands and thousand of pictures with people all the time. Thousands during the course of a year."

"I don't know him at all," Trump continued. "Don't know what he's about. Don't know where he comes from. Know nothing about him. I can only tell you this thing is a big hoax."

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An attorney representing Parnas has posted photos of the Soviet-born businessman and Trump on social media, but Trump on Thursday denied ever speaking with Parnas.

"I don't know him. Perhaps he's a fine man, perhaps he's not," Trump said.

Parnas turned over a trove of documents and text messages to House investigators that were released Tuesday night, and he sat for an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Rachel Anne MaddowMichael Cohen: Trump hates Obama because he's everything he 'wants to be' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Trump floats 0M+ in personal spending for reelection bid Feehery: Unconventionally debunking the latest political conventional wisdom MORE that aired on Wednesday evening.

The materials released by House investigators offer additional details and corroborate certain allegations at the heart of Trump’s impeachment, including efforts to remove U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch Marie YovanovitchGrand jury adds additional counts against Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and and Igor Fruman Strzok: Trump behaving like an authoritarian Powell backs Biden at convention as Democrats rip Trump on security MORE and create conditions to push for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Biden says Ginsburg successor should be picked by candidate who wins on Nov. 3 MORE and his son Hunter Biden to benefit Trump’s reelection prospects.

The documents say that Giuliani was acting with Trump’s “knowledge and consent” to pursue a shadow foreign policy, with a letter signed by Giuliani asking for a meeting with Zelensky and with the approval of Trump.

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In the MSNBC interview aired Wednesday night, Parnas alleged Trump "knew exactly what was going on" in Ukraine. He further claimed that Vice President Pence and Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrBarr says Ginsburg 'leaves a towering legacy' Republicans call for DOJ to prosecute Netflix executives for releasing 'Cuties' Trump doesn't offer vote of confidence for FBI director MORE were likely aware of the scheme.

Pence, asked about the allegations during a stop in Florida on Thursday, called it "completely false" that he was aware of outreach to the Ukrainian president about investigations into Trump's rivals.

"I don't know the guy," Pence said of Parnas.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice also denied Parnas's claims.

The White House has largely avoided addressing the substance of Parnas's allegations, instead attacking his credibility. Multiple officials on Thursday morning cited his indictment last year on charges of violating campaign finance laws and accused him of being "desperate" for media attention.

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Parnas's allegations have stirred up fresh discussion of allegations of wrongdoing against Trump ahead of his impeachment trial in the Senate, which will begin in earnest on Tuesday.

Democrats have argued Parnas's allegations strengthen their case against the president, which they will present beginning next week in the Senate trial.

But Republicans have initially expressed skepticism about allowing Parnas's new information to factor into the trial and questioned why it was only coming to light now.

Updated: 4:44 p.m.