Pressure on US president Donald Trump has intensified after the New York Times reported that he asked then-FBI director James Comey to close an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn's Russia contacts in February.
The paper said Mr Comey had documented what he saw as Mr Trump’s improper efforts to influence him.
Citing a memo written by Mr Comey on a meeting with Mr Trump in the Oval Office, the report claims Mr Trump told the FBI chief Mr Flynn had done nothing wrong.
As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
...to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
I have been asking Director Comey & others, from the beginning of my administration, to find the LEAKERS in the intelligence community.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 16, 2017
The White House immediately hit back at the report, denying its account of events.
“The president has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn,” a statement said.
“The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey.”
Memo
The memo was shown by Mr Comey to senior FBI officials and close associates, the report states, though a copy of the report has not been seen by the newspaper.
Mr Flynn was fired by the president in February after he failed to disclose a conversation with the Russian ambassador to the United States.
Mr Comey, who as FBI director was leading an investigation into links between the Trump campaign team and Russia, was fired by Mr Trump last week.
While the White House originally said the decision to dismiss the FBI chief was linked to his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server controversy, Mr Trump later said in an interview with NBC that he had been considering firing Mr Comey for some time.
Responding to the reports, Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Mr Comey should testify in Congress to “share what he knows”.
The development comes after a tumultuous 24 hours in Washington following reports that the US president shared classified information with the Russian foreign minister during a meeting in the Oval Office last week.
Mr Trump took to Twitter to defend his actions, stating he had “the absolute right” to share “facts” with Russia.
Mr Trump's move to inform Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and ambassador Sergei Kislyak about classified information involving a planned Islamic State attack which had been provided to Washington by a third country has sparked alarm among US allies.
