Trump suggests Russia investigation’s recent focus on Facebook ads is part of grand 'hoax'

U.S. President Donald Trump looks up during his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, U.S., September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Thomson Reuters

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is continuing to dismiss investigations into Russian interference in last year's U.S. election as a "hoax," as Russian-purchased Facebook advertising comes under scrutiny.

Trump says on Twitter Friday: "The Russia hoax continues, now it's ads on Facebook." Then he takes a shot at his 2016 rival Hillary Clinton, saying: "What about the totally biased and dishonest Media coverage in favor of Crooked Hillary?"

Facebook announced Thursday that the company is going to provide Congress with thousands of ads bought by Russians and increase transparency.

The move came as the company has faced growing pressure from members of Congress to release the content of the ads. Facebook had already released the ads to federal authorities investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.