Russian spymaster denies meddling in US election

MOSCOW – The head of Russia’s top domestic security agency is rejecting allegations of interference in the U.S. election.

Alexander Bortnikov, the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the main KGB successor agency, said Thursday that he discussed claims of Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential vote with John Brennan when he led the CIA.

Bortnikov reaffirmed that “Russia has never interfered and won’t interfere in sovereign nations’ affairs.”

The statement carried by Russian news agencies Thursday was the latest in a stream of denials issued by Russian officials in response to the meddling accusations.

Bortnikov said that despite Russia-U.S. tensions he and his agency have maintained contacts with U.S. counterparts on Syria and the fight against terrorism. He said Russia and the U.S. share information about potential terror threats.