this year. quote, a long time republican operative with ties to the controversial data firm hired by president donald trump's campaign team also has a nearly 2000 decade long friendship and business relationship with a suspected russian intelligence agent con stand tin kilimnik who has landed in mueller's crosshairs. the washington based operative sam patten would not say whether he has been interviewed by mueller's team as part of the investigation into russia's election interference and potential collusion between trump campaign and moscow. but mr. patten says that his relationship with kilimnik, the former officer in gru who worked closely with paul manafort and his deputy rick gates for over a decade, patten said that his relationship with kilimnik has been quote thoroughly explored by relevant government entities." this is how you know you're following a good reporter. dude, you have never heard of before, turns up in one of her profiles as a potentially interesting connection between two big parts of a big sprawling scandal that otherwise as yet