Kash Patel, a senior National Security Council official accused of running a secret backchannel to President Trump on Ukraine matters, has categorically denied ever discussing Ukraine with the president. Patel told Axios on Friday night: “A number of media outlets have falsely reported that, as senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council, I have communicated with President Trump regarding Ukraine,” “At no time have I ever communicated with the president on any matters involving Ukraine. “Any reporting to the contrary, and any testimony provided to Congress, is simply false, and any current or former staff who suggest I have raised or discussed Ukraine matters with President Trump, are similarly misinformed or spreading outright falsehoods.” Why it matters: Trump’s former top Russia adviser, Fiona Hill, told impeachment investigators that she heard Trump thought Patel was his Ukraine directorand that Patel was slipping Ukraine-related “materials” to the…
Source: Another blind alley for Dems: Natl. Security Council staffer denies secret Ukraine conversations with Trump