Trump asked FBI to stop Flynn probe

Washington, May 16: As Donald Trump’s beleaguered White House was rocked by allegations that he disclosed highly classified information to top Russian official, it has been reported that he personally tried to quash an FBI investigation.

The Trump administration, now just barely four months old, was left reeling after the news sparked outrage from Democrats who demanded a full explanation.

Either claim on its own — that he divulged topsecret information to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov during an Oval Office meeting, or that he pressed FBI director James Comey to drop a probe into ex-national security advisor Michael Flynn — would plunge any White House into serious crisis.

But the reports — both rebutted by the White House — just add to a mounting perception of an administration in a perpetual state of chaos.

As overwhelmed White House staff struggled to explain Mr Trump’s decision to tell Mr Lavrov about a specific Islamic State bomb threat reportedly gleaned by Israeli intelligence, the New York Times dropped another bombshell.

The paper reported that when Mr Comey met Mr Trump the day after Mr Flynn resigned, according to Mr Comey’s contemporaneous notes, the President tried to halt any FBI investigation.

“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr Trump is accused of telling Mr Comey. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

The White House quickly denied any suggestion that Mr Trump was trying to obstruct justice — a criminal offense — in his dealings with Mr Comey, who he fired last week.

“The President has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation,” a US official said.