US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner says he "did not collude" with Russia, despite having roughly four meetings with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign and presidential transition.

Key points: Mr Kushner says he does not know anyone in the campaign who colluded with Russia

Mr Kushner says he does not know anyone in the campaign who colluded with Russia He faces Congress questioning over links between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign

He faces Congress questioning over links between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign Mr Kushner says Mr Trump prevailed over Hillary Clinton due to a "smarter campaign"

Mr Kushner, who met behind closed doors with Senate Intelligence Committee staff, issued a written statement before that session that gave the fullest account to date of his contacts with Russian officials during the campaign and the presidential transition.

Mr Kushner — like President Trump, a businessman — portrayed himself as someone who was new to politics when he became a top adviser to his father-in-law's campaign and was often so frantic fielding phone calls and emails that his recollections of some meetings was somewhat hazy.

"I did not collude, nor know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded, with any foreign government," Mr Kushner said in his statement.

"I had no improper contacts. I have not relied on Russian funds to finance my business activities in the private sector."

The Senate Intelligence Committee is one of several congressional panels investigating the Russia matter, along with a federal criminal probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mr Kushner faces two days of closed-door questioning from Congress this week as US politicians try to determine whether Mr Trump's campaign enlisted Russia's help to win the White House in last year's election.

Trump ran a 'smarter campaign' than Clinton

Jared Kushner departs his closed-door Senate Committee meeting. ( Reuters: Jonathan Ernst )

He met with officials from the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday, and is expected to meet with the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee on Tuesday.

Speaking at the White House after the meeting, Mr Kushner said all of his actions were proper and occurred within a "very unique campaign".

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Mr Kushner said Mr Trump prevailed over his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in November 2016 because he ran a "smarter campaign" and that to suggest otherwise "ridicules those who voted for him".



Mr Trump has been dogged by allegations that his campaign aides worked with Russia, which US intelligence agencies have accused of interfering in the election.

Moscow has denied any interference, and Mr Trump said his campaign did not collude with Russia.

In his statement, Mr Kushner detailed four meetings he held during the 2016 campaign and presidential transition with Russian officials, all of which he maintained were innocent.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump's son Donald Trump Jr released emails that showed he appeared to welcome the prospect of damaging information from the Russian Government about Mr Trump's Democratic rival Mrs Clinton.

Sorry, this video has expired Donald Trump and his son have denied colluding with Russia during the campaign. (Photo: Reuters/Aaron Josefczyk)

Members of both committees say they are eager to hear about the June 2016 meeting involving Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.

Mr Trump's son, Mr Kushner and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort all participated in the meeting.

In his statement, Mr Kushner described the meeting with the Russian-American lawyer as such a "waste of time" that he asked his assistant to call him out of the gathering.

"I actually emailed an assistant from the meeting after I had been there for ten or so minutes and wrote 'Can u pls call me on my cell? Need excuse to get out of meeting'," he said.

Kushner attempted to 'start a dialogue' after the election

Another congressional panel, the Senate Judiciary Committee, is negotiating with Mr Manafort and Mr Trump Jr about testifying in a public hearing.

Mr Kushner will also face questions about reports he tried to set up a secret back channel to Moscow, as well as other contacts with top Russian officials and business leaders during the presidential campaign and the transition period before he took office.

Mr Kushner said he first met Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyakin Washington in April 2016 and shook hands.

He said he did not recall phone calls with Mr Kislyak between April and November of that year as reported by Reuters, had not found evidence of the calls in phone records and was sceptical they took place.

In a meeting with Mr Kislyak after the election, on December 1, Mr Kushner said he articulated a desire for the United States to have a fresh start with Russia.

"The fact that I was asking about ways to start a dialogue after election day should of course be viewed as strong evidence that I was not aware of one that existed before election day," he said.

Mr Kushner did not initially disclose any meetings with Russians on forms he filed to get a government security clearance.

He has since revised those forms several times.

Mr Kushner said the form was initially submitted prematurely in error and omitted all foreign contacts he had had, not just those with Russian officials.

Mr Trump has said the investigations in Congress and the Justice Department are politically motivated.

"As the phony Russian Witch Hunt continues, two groups are laughing at this excuse for a lost election taking hold, Democrats and Russians!" the President wrote on Twitter on the weekend.

Reuters