Trump claims Russia probe will 'meddle' in elections

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday without presenting evidence that the special counsel investigation looking into Russia and possible Trump campaign collusion will seek to interfere in this year's midterm elections.

It is unclear what, if any, information Trump is basing his claim on, but it fits into his and his administration's efforts to discredit Robert Mueller's probe, which Trump has consistently derided as a "witch hunt".

Trump continued to deny any collusion between his campaign and the Russian effort U.S. intelligence officials have called a multi-faceted effort to bolster Trump and undercut his Democratic challenger ahead of the November 2016 election.

"The 13 Angry Democrats (plus people who worked 8 years for Obama) working on the rigged Russia Witch Hunt, will be MEDDLING with the mid-term elections, especially now that Republicans (stay tough!) are taking the lead in Polls. There was no Collusion, except by the Democrats!" he wrote on Twitter.

Speaking to CNN Sunday, Rudy Giuliani, the public face of Trump's legal team dealing with the Mueller investigation, acknowledged that part of their effort to combat the special counsel probe is to discredit it in the court of public opinion while claiming that the basis on which Mueller was appointed is "illegitimate".

"They're giving us the material to do it. Of course, we have to do it in defending the president. To a large extent, remember Dana, what we're doing here, it is the public opinion, because eventually the decision here is going to be impeach or not impeach," Giuliani told CNN's Dana Bash.

Trump is traveling to Tennessee on Tuesday to take part in an election rally aimed at bolstering the electoral prospects of Republican congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, who is seeking to replace outgoing Senator Bob Corker.

The Senate hopeful is facing stiff competition from Democratic former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen.

The race is critical to Republican chances of maintaining their slim one-seat majority in the Senate, as Trump seeks to ensure the chances of his legislative agenda making its way through congress.