RAND PAUL/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday [8-8-18] that he delivered a letter from President Trump to Vladimir Putin during his trip to Moscow this week, a move that comes amid heightened scrutiny of the president’s relationship with the Russian leader. Mr. Paul (R., Ky.) tweeted Wednesday that he was ‘honored’ to deliver the letter, which he said ’emphasized the importance of further engagement in various areas including countering terrorism, enhancing legislative dialogue and resuming cultural exchanges.’ White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Mr. Paul had asked the president to write a ‘letter of introduction’ ahead of his visit, and said Mr. Trump in the letter had ‘mentioned topics of interest that Senator Paul wanted to discuss with President Putin.’ Mr. Putin is not in Moscow during Mr. Paul’s visit, and the two did not meet, Mr. Paul’s office said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Wednesday confirmed the letter had been delivered to ‘the Russian side’ through diplomatic channels, according to the official state news agency TASS, but said the Kremlin had ‘not familiarized itself with the letter as of yet.’”
–Rebecca Ballhaus, “Rand Paul Delivers Letter From Trump to Putin During Moscow Trip,” The Wall Street Journal, August 8, 2018 2:43 pm