Spicer says Manafort played a 'very limited role' in the campaign

White House press secretary Sean Spicer tried to downplay scrutiny into the Trump campaign’s relationship with Russia on Monday by describing Paul Manafort, the president’s former campaign chairman, as someone “who played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time” in the effort.

Asked at Monday’s press briefing if President Donald Trump stands by his earlier comments that he is not aware of any contacts between his campaign associates and Russia, Spicer acknowledged former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s previous relationship with the country, but described him as a “volunteer of the campaign.”


And then, understating the role of Trump’s former campaign chairman, Spicer added: “There has been discussion of Paul Manafort, who played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time.”

Manafort ran Trump’s campaign for several months last year before he resigned in August, while he was facing scrutiny for his ties to pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine.

Spicer clarified that the president is not aware of contacts between Manafort and Russia beyond those that have “been previously discussed.”

Earlier on Monday, FBI Director James Comey confirmed that the bureau is actively investigating whether there are any links between Trump’s campaign and Russia and whether the campaign coordinated with the country as it attempted to meddle in the presidential election.

The White House has repeatedly denied any such collusion.