US President Donald Trump has said he would be open to hearing any dirt on opponents offered by foreign powers.
His words come despite a number of investigations into alleged collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.
Mr Trump told ABC he would feel no obligation to inform the FBI if someone from a country such as Russia or China offered him information on a political rival.
He said: "I think you might want to listen – there isn't anything wrong with listening.
"If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said] 'We have information on your opponent' – oh, I think I'd want to hear it."
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When asked if he wanted "that sort of interference in our elections", Mr Trump replied: "It's not an interference, they have information – I think I'd take it.
"If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI – if I thought there was something wrong.
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"But when somebody comes up with oppo research, right, they come up with oppo research, 'Oh, let's call the FBI'.
"The FBI doesn't have enough agents to take care of it.
"When you go and talk, honestly, to congressman, they all do it, they always have, and that's the way it is. It's called oppo research."
The most publicised investigation into contact between the Trump campaign and Russia was done by special counsel Robert Mueller.
He documented a number of efforts by Russia to undermine rival Hillary Clinton's campaign but did not establish that members of Mr Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow.
US President Donald Trump has said he would be open to hearing any dirt on opponents offered by foreign powers.
His words come despite a number of investigations into alleged collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.
Mr Trump told ABC he would feel no obligation to inform the FBI if someone from a country such as Russia or China offered him information on a political rival.
He said: "I think you might want to listen – there isn't anything wrong with listening.
"If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said] 'We have information on your opponent' – oh, I think I'd want to hear it."
Advertisement
When asked if he wanted "that sort of interference in our elections", Mr Trump replied: "It's not an interference, they have information – I think I'd take it.
"If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI – if I thought there was something wrong.
More from Donald Trump
"But when somebody comes up with oppo research, right, they come up with oppo research, 'Oh, let's call the FBI'.
"The FBI doesn't have enough agents to take care of it.
"When you go and talk, honestly, to congressman, they all do it, they always have, and that's the way it is. It's called oppo research."
The most publicised investigation into contact between the Trump campaign and Russia was done by special counsel Robert Mueller.
He documented a number of efforts by Russia to undermine rival Hillary Clinton's campaign but did not establish that members of Mr Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow.
