Russia probe: Donald Trump supporter says he would believe US President over Jesus

A Donald Trump voter has said he would believe the US president over Jesus Christ, amid the Russia collusion claims, even if the Messiah “got off the cross” and said the allegations were true.

Pest control company owner Mark Lee threw his support behind the White House chief, whom he said stood up for the “little guy”, as he took part as a panellist in a CNN debate on the matter.

Mr Trump has been fighting off claims that officials in his election campaign had reached out to Moscow to dig up “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, his then rival last year for the Oval Office job.

The pressure piled on Mr Trump over the supposed collusion has deepened after campaign member George Papadopoulos admitted that he had lied to an investigation into the Russia links.

Mr Lee, a supporter of Mr Trump, weighed in behind the US president while speaking as a panellist in a CNN debate – titled “Pulse of the People – Trump Voters One Year After Election”.

When the presenter put the issue of the claims of ties between the tycoon’s campaign and the Kremlin, Mr Lee showed his apparent blind faith in belief for the White House chief.

The pest company owner said he had voted for Mr Trump over one of his pledges to “drain the swamp” that is Washington.

Mr Lee said: “The swamp is horrible, and Trump is there, he’s there for the small guy, he’s there for people like myself.”

Pressed to clarify what he meant by “the swamp”, he said: “For me it’s the mainstream, it’s the elites that look down upon a small guy like myself."

He added: “Let me tell you, if Jesus Christ gets down off the Christ and told me Trump is with Russia, I would tell him hold on a second, I need to check with the president if it’s true", adding: "I love the guy.”

Special counsel Robert Mueller is leading the investigation into the supposed links between Mr Trump’s election campaign and Russia.

In the latest twist, he has reportedly requested that the Justice Department turn over a range of documents, including some about the dismissal of former FBI director James Comey.

A lawyer who represents Mr Trump said the campaign was in “total cooperation” with the special counsel’s investigation and had already begun handing over material.

The president’s personal attorney Michael Cohen said in a statement last month that both he and Mr Trump had “nothing to do with any Russian involvement in our electoral process”.