US president under probe
Trump acknowledges for the first time that he is under federal investigation as part of the expanding probe into Russia’s election meddling.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has acknowledged for the first time that he is under federal investigation as part of the expanding probe into Russia’s election meddling.
He lashed out on Friday at a top Justice Department official overseeing the inquiry, reflecting his mounting frustration with the unrelenting controversy that has consumed his early presidency.
“I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt,” the president wrote on Twitter.
His morning missive apparently referred to Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney-general whose role leading the federal investigation has become increasingly complicated.
The White House has used a memo he wrote to justify Trump’s decision to fire FBI director James Comey, but that Trump action may now be part of the probe.
On Thursday night, Rosenstein issued an unusual statement complaining about leaks in the case.
Trump advisers and confidants described the president as increasingly angry over the investigation, yelling at television sets in the White House carrying coverage and insisting he is the target of a conspiracy to discredit – and potentially end – his presidency.
Some of his ire is aimed at Rosenstein and investigative special counsel Robert Mueller, both of whom the president believes are biased against him, associates said.
Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said she was “increasingly concerned” that Trump would fire both Mueller and Rosenstein.
“The message the president is sending through his tweets is that he believes the rule of law doesn’t apply to him and that anyone who thinks otherwise will be fired,” Feinstein said.
“That’s undemocratic on its face and a blatant violation of the president’s oath of office.”
Aides have counselled Trump to stay off Twitter and focus on other aspects of his job. They have tried to highlight the positive reviews he received on Wednesday, when he made a statesman-like appearance in the White House to address the nation after Rep Steve Scalise was shot during a congressional baseball practice.
Yet, the president’s angry tweets on Friday underscored the near-impossible challenge his advisers and legal team have in trying to get him to avoid weighing in on an active probe.
The tweets came shortly after Rosenstein issued his unusual statement, which appeared to be warning about the accuracy of such reports.
“Americans should be sceptical about anonymous allegations,” Rosenstein said.
“The Department of Justice has a long-established policy to neither confirm nor deny such allegations.” — AP
The message the president is sending through his tweets is that he believes the rule of law doesn’t apply to him.
Dianne Feinstein