What is Watersportsgate? Donald Trump Russia claims explained
DONALD TRUMP has denied explosive reports alleging that Russia has compromising information about him, including claims that he hired prostitutes in a Moscow hotel.
Trump thanks journalists for ignoring recent allegations
What is Watersportsgate?
A shock dossier has been released which claims that the Russian government has been “cultivating, supporting and assisting” Mr Trump “for at least five years”.
The unsubstantiated document claims that Mr Trump has declined “sweetener” real estate deals offered to him in Russia but has accepted a “regular flow of intelligence from the Kremlin on his political rivals”.
Moscow is also alleged to have “compromising” information on the President-elect – namely that Mr Trump engaged prostitutes in a hotel room monitored by Russian intelligence services.
A shock dossier has alleged that Russia has 'compromising' information on Donald Trump
He allegedly “hired the presidential suite of the Ritz Carlton, where he knew President and Mrs Obama (whom he hated) had stayed on one of their official trips to Russia, and defiled the bed where they slept”.
The documents were published in full by BuzzFeed News who stressed that the allegations are “unverified and potentially unverifiable”.
Both Mr Trump and President Obama were briefed on the allegations last week by senior intelligence chiefs, CNN has reported.
The files claim that Mr Trump 'defiled' the presidential suite of the Ritz Carlton
James Comey: No evidence Russia hacked Trump campaign
The US news giant added that the FBI was given the information in August – some two months before the US election.
Senator John McCain has released a statement confirming that he received “sensitive information” last year that he in turn passed on to the FBI.
The memos were reportedly compiled in part by a former British MI6 agent.
Why has it been called Watersportsgate?
The report alleges that Mr Trump had prostitutes urinate on each other in the presidential suite, an act commonly referred to as watersports.
Watersportsgate is a take on Watergate – the infamous 1970s scandal involving the administration of President Richard Nixon.
Mr Trump has denied the claims
What has Donald Trump said?
The President-elect has labelled the claims “fake news” and tweeted: “Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is "A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE." Very unfair!
“Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA - NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!
“I win an election easily, a great "movement" is verified, and crooked opponents try to belittle our victory with FAKE NEWS. A sorry state!
“Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to "leak" into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?”
He will likely address the claims at a press conference due to be held this afternoon which you can watch online here.
Mr Trump will make a statement today at Trump Tower
What has Russia said?
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin, branded the dossier “pulp fiction” and denied that the Kremlin has any compromising material on the President-elect.
He said: “This is an absolute fabrication and it’s complete nonsense.
Mr Peskov called the news an “obvious attempt to harm bilateral relations” between the US and Russia.
He added: “There are those who bend over backwards to ratchet up tensions and continue the witch-hunt. This is necessary so relations remain in a state of degradation.”