Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe won’t confirm President Donald Trump’s account that fired director James Comey told him he wasn’t under investigation.
Mr McCabe is testifying at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on national security threats.
The committee’s chairman, Rep. Richard Burr, asked McCabe if Mr Comey had ever told Trump that he was not the subject of any investigation. In his letter Tuesday firing Mr Comey, President Trump said Comey had told him three times that he was not under investigation.
Mr McCabe told Burr that he could not comment on any conversations between Trump and Comey.
In March, Mr Comey confirmed the FBI is investigating any possible links between members of the Trump campaign and the Russian government.
"That includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government; and whether there was any co-ordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts," he said.
Mr Comey was fired by President Trump on Tuesday, with the FBI chief reported to have learned of his dismissal from TV news while talking to agents in Los Angeles.
The White House has officially cited recommendations from the US attorney general and deputy attorney general for the decision to fire Mr Comey, specifically referencing his handling of the Hillary Clinton email controversy.
The New York Times reported that the firing came only days after Mr Comey asked for additional resources to "accelerate the bureau’s investigation" into Russia.
Following his firing, Mr Comey has said he "will be fine" and told his former colleagues that he "will miss you and the mission deeply".
Contradictions
Mr McCabe said Mr Comey had broad support within the FBI, contradicting White House claims, adding that it was the “greatest privilege” of his career to serve under him.
President Trump claimed Mr Comey wasn't good enough job in his role as FBI director, and that someone better would inevitably replace him.
Dems have been complaining for months & months about Dir. Comey. Now that he has been fired they PRETEND to be aggrieved. Phony hypocrites!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017
This is a developing story...
