The New York Times wrote Friday that Russian government attempts to connect with Donald Trump aide Hope Hicks undercut the theory that the Kremlin had deep ties with the Trump campaign.

“The Russian emails to Ms. Hicks occurred six months after the F.B.I. had begun investigating possible connections between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia,” the Times reported about Russian operatives’ emails to Hicks during the presidential transition.

“In some ways, the Russian outreach to Ms. Hicks undercuts the idea that the Russian government had established deep ties to the Trump campaign before the election. If it had, Russian officials might have found a better entrèe to the White House than unprompted emails to Ms. Hicks.”

Special Counsel Robert Mueller continues to conduct a wide-ranging probe into Russian election interference. Four Trump campaign aides have been charged due to the probe, however, none of the charges related to any sort of collusion with the Kremlin.

Hicks was interviewed by Mueller’s investigators Thursday and Friday.