Trump says payments to women were private transactions, no Russian collusion

US President Donald Trump said Monday that the latest Congressional testimony of former FBI Director James Comey has shown that his campaign had not colluded with the Russians and claimed that his payments to women were private transactions.

His tweets came days after Comey, who was fired by Trump as FBI director, testified before a House committee. As per the transcripts of the testimony, the FBI investigations against the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential polls did not include the president.

"Democrats can't find a Smocking Gun tying the Trump campaign to Russia after James Comey's testimony. No Smocking Gun...No Collusion'. @FoxNews That's because there was NO COLLUSION," Trump said in a tweet Monday morning.

"So now the Democrats go to a simple private transaction, wrongly call it a campaign contribution... which it was not (but even if it was, it is only a CIVIL CASE, like Obama's - but it was done correctly by a lawyer and there would not even be a fine. Lawyer's liability if he made a mistake, not me). Cohen just trying to get his sentence reduced. WITCH HUNT!" Trump said.

Last week, Special Counsel Rober Muller, who is probing the allegations of Russian interference into the 2016 presidential elections and collusion with the Trump campaign, filed two separate court papers, none of which directly answered the question of direct involvement of the president in alleged Russian interference.

So far, more than 30 people have been charged or pleaded guilty in Mueller's investigation. President Trump's campaign chairman, top campaign aide, former national security advisor and longtime personal attorney are all cooperating in the inquiry, which the president calls a "witch hunt".