Sam Clovis, an Iowa political operative and Donald Trump's presidential campaign co-chairman, encouraged a low-level campaign representative to pursue a meeting with Russian officials.

"Make the trip, if it is feasible," Clovis wrote in an email to George Papadopoulos, according to court papers unsealed Monday.

Those court records do not name Clovis, but his attorney confirmed Clovis' identity to NBC News Tuesday.

Papadopoulos at the time was serving as a foreign policy adviser to the campaign and had repeatedly offered to broker meetings between Russian officials and members of the campaign.

"I am willing to make the trip off the record if it's in the interest of Mr. Trump and the campaign to meet specific people," he wrote in a June 19 email, prompting Clovis' reply.

The emails were among court documents that showed Papadopoulos pleaded guilty earlier this month to making false statements and material omissions to the FBI about his communications with the Russians.

Clovis’ attorney Victoria Toensing, told the Washington Post that Clovis has "always vigorously opposed any Russian trip for Donald Trump and/or the campaign."

The Post wrote:

"She said Clovis was 'being polite' when he encouraged Papadopoulos to meet with Russian officials in August, adding that the campaign had a 'strict rule that no person could travel abroad as a representative of the campaign.' Clovis could not stop an American citizen from traveling abroad 'in his personal capacity,' she said."

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts told Politico Monday that Clovis has been "a fully cooperative witness" in the Senate Intelligence committee's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Roberts also described Clovis as as someone likely on the fringes of the inquiry, according to Politico.

Clovis is now the U.S. Department of Agriculture's liaison to the White House, and he is the nominee for undersecretary for research, education and economics. His hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled for Nov. 9.

NBC News also reported, citing one unnamed source, that Clovis last week was interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team and testified before the grand jury. Toensing neither confirmed nor denied that, according to NBC News.

Papadopoulos' plea agreement was unveiled the same day former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates turned themselves into the FBI after being indicted on 12 counts. The charges, which are not directly linked to their activities in the 2016 campaign, include money laundering and making false statements.

Trump has pushed back, saying on Twitter Tuesday, "The Fake News is working overtime."

"Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign," he posted Monday. "But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus????? ... Also, there is NO COLLUSION!"