Pro-Russia ties: Trump's top aide calls NYT report "unfounded, silly"

New York, Aug 16: Paul Manafort, top aide of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, has slammed the New York Times calling its report suggesting him accepting money from pro-Russian groups in Ukraine as "unfounded, silly and nonsensical", a New York Post report said.

"The New York Times has chosen to purposefully ignore facts and professional journalism to fit their political agenda, choosing to attack my character and reputation rather than present an honest report," Manafort said in a statement on Monday (Aug 15), said the report.

The NYT report alleged that a secret handwritten ledger seen in Ukraine revealed Manafort was on the books for a previously undisclosed payout of $12.7 million. It said the money was a part of the illegal payments aimed at rigging elections in Ukraine.

Trump's aide denied the charges, saying he had not taken a single 'off-the-books cash payment' as "falsely" reported by the NYT.

The campaign of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic rival of Trump in this year's election, grabbed the opportunity and sought an explanation from Trump about Manafort's ties with Russia, the Post said.

"Given the pro-Putin policy stances adopted by Donald Trump and the recent Russian government hacking and disclosure of Democratic Party records, Donald Trump has a responsibility to disclose campaign chair Paul Manafort's and all other campaign employees' and advisers' ties to Russian or pro-Kremlin entities, including whether any of Trump's employees or advisers are currently representing and or being paid by them," Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a statement late Sunday (Aug 14), according to the Post.

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