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Trump's Eldest Son, Former Campaign Chairman in Talks to Meet with Senate Judiciary Committee

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In this July 11, 2017, photo, Donald Trump Jr. is interviewed by host Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel television program.
In this July 11, 2017, photo, Donald Trump Jr. is interviewed by host Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel television program.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is in talks with President Donald's Trump eldest son and his former campaign chairman about holding a private interview with the two next week in its investigation of Russia's alleged interference in the U.S. election.

The committee said Friday that Donald Trump, Jr. and Paul Manafort are negotiating with the committee about being interviewed and are also discussing the possibility of turning over documents.

A statement from the committee said it will not subpoena the two men to force them to publicly testify next week, but reserved the right to do so in the future.

FILE - Paul Manafort , senior aid to Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves the Four Seasons hotel in New York, after a GOP fundraiser.
FILE - Paul Manafort , senior aid to Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves the Four Seasons hotel in New York, after a GOP fundraiser.

Both men are under scrutiny for meeting with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 presidential campaign. Documents show that Trump Jr. took the meeting in June 2016 with the expectation of receiving information that could be used against his father's opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Another Senate committee, the Intelligence Committee, says it will meet privately on Monday with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, about the Russia investigation. Kushner is also expected to meet with the House Intelligence Committee the following day.

FILE - Susan Rice, U.S. National Security Adviser in the administration of Barack Obama, met with the Senate Intelligence Committee July 21, 2017, as it investigates Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
FILE - Susan Rice, U.S. National Security Adviser in the administration of Barack Obama, met with the Senate Intelligence Committee July 21, 2017, as it investigates Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

Earlier Friday, the Senate Intelligence Committee met with former U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice, one of several Obama administration officials to talk to the committee.

A spokeswoman for Rice confirmed the closed-door meeting, saying Rice met voluntarily with the panel and was pleased to cooperate with the investigation.

Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump have accused Rice of improperly revealing the names of Trump associates mentioned in an intelligence report about the Russia investigation. Rice has denied any wrongdoing.

In addition to Rice, the panel interviewed several members of former President Barack Obama's administration this week, including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former Obama chief of staff Denis McDonough.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, as well as any potential contacts between Trump's campaign and Moscow.

Special counsel Robert Mueller, who was appointed by the attorney general's office after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, is also investigating the role that Russia played in the U.S. election and possible ties to the Trump administration.

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