Trump rejects alleged Russian blackmail threat as ‘witch hunt’

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected reports that Russian intelligence is in possession of sensitive material that could be used to blackmail him. In a Twitter message, using only capital letters, he called the allegation "FAKE NEWS-A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!". The information on alleged financial and other personal material was said to have been leaked to US magazines by a credible senior British spy whose identity was not revealed. The CIA and the FBI declined to comment. Russia's Foreign Ministry denied the allegation, with its spokesperson Maria Zakharova saying on her Facebook page, referring to the nine days left until US President Barack Obama leaves office, that "God created the world in 7 days. The Obama administration for two days more to destroy it."