Ex-Trump staffer at center of Mueller probe sat next to Sessions at campaign dinner: report

The former Trump campaign staffer who pled guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials was in contact with top Trump campaign officials, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

George Papadopoulos was reportedly seated next to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at a dinner weeks ahead of the Republican National Convention. A spokeswoman for Sessions declined to comment to the Post about the report.

Papadopoulos also reportedly bragged to a British official that he was in touch with senior officials in the Russian government, according to the Post.

{mosads}But the officials at the British Foreign Office apparently determined that Papadopoulos was not a major figure in the Trump campaign and did not stay in touch with him, the Post reported.

Trump officials have claimed that Papadopoulos was a low-level staffer in the campaign with little influence and a minor role in the operation.

“Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar,” President Trump tweeted early Tuesday.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty last month to lying to federal officials about his contacts with Russian officials. The charges were revealed on Monday.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Richard Gates were also charged Monday in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.