Trump meets with intelligence leaders after calling Russia case 'witch-hunt'

President-elect still does not publicly support conclusion of Russia interference in US election but calls the meeting 'constructive'

Donald Trump struck a conciliatory tone with US intelligence officials after meeting with their leadership, but did not publicly support their conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential contest.

In a statement issued ahead of the release of a declassified version of the intelligence assessment, Trump said he had "tremendous respect for the work and service done by the men and women of this community", describing his meeting with James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, and other senior intelligence officials, as "constructive".