WASHINGTON  — President Donald Trump said he sees no reason why Russia would have interfered in the 2016 election. Minutes earlier, on the same platform, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a reason, even while denying Moscow ever meddled: He wanted Trump to win.

A sampling of their statements Monday:

TRUMP on his intelligence officials: “They said they think it’s Russia. I have President Putin. He just said it’s not Russia. I will say this — I don’t see any reason why it would be.”

THE FACTS: Trump is a nearly solitary figure in his administration in holding on to doubts about whether Russians tried to sway the election.

Continue reading WASHINGTON  | AP FACT CHECK: Trump Isolated in view of Russia meddling at STL.News.