F.B.I. Warned Hope Hicks About Emails From Russian Operatives

F.B.I. Warned Hope Hicks About Emails From Russian Operatives
The Russian outreach efforts show that, even after American intelligence agencies publicly accused Moscow of trying to influence the outcome
of last year’s presidential election, Russian operatives were undaunted in their efforts to establish contacts with Mr. Trump’s advisers.
But after a yearlong campaign in which the Russian government frequently succeeded in making contact with people around Mr. Trump, the overtures to Ms. Hicks also demonstrate
that Russian officials seemed intent on gaining access to Mr. Trump’s inner circle by any means they could.
American intelligence officials were alarmed about repeated contacts during the campaign between Mr. Trump’s staff and outside advisers and Russians, and feared
that Russia was trying to influence the Trump campaign.
In early January, American intelligence agencies formally accused Russian intelligence agencies of trying
to tip the presidential election toward Mr. Trump, who was reluctant to accept that conclusion.
According to former officials, American intelligence and law enforcement agencies became alarmed by introductory emails
that Ms. Hicks received from Russian government addresses in the weeks after Mr. Trump’s election.
On Thursday and Friday, investigators working for Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, interviewed Ms. Hicks as part of his investigation into Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election
and whether any of Mr. Trump’s advisers assisted the Russian campaign.