FBI chief to testify Trump pressured him to axe inquiry
Hearing on Russia links
THE fired director of the FBI will confirm Donald Trump badgered him to drop the inquiry into his election team’s ties to Russia.
Former intelligence chief James Comey is due to testify as early as next week before the Senate, according to US reports.
The former FBI boss was sacked last month, days after requesting an increase in money and staff for the probe into links the US President’s election team had with Moscow.
Initially, the White House said Mr Comey had been fired over his handling of the inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s use of an unsecured server to send classified emails.
However, a day later, Trump claimed it was his decision alone.
The President allegedly told Russian officials in the Oval Office: “I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nutjob.
“I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
Mr Comey has spoken privately with special counsel Robert Mueller, a former FBI director appointed as an independent investigator into Russia’s alleged election links.
Sources say Mr Comey is unlikely to speak about the FBI inquiry in detail when he appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee. But it is understood he will discuss his dealings with President Trump before he was sacked.
The US leader has been accused of trying to obstruct the Russian inquiry, leading some Democrats to call for his impeachment.
Mr Trump said the probe was “the single greatest witch-hunt of a politician in American history”. Already, it has emerged that several of Mr Trump’s aides had 18 previously undisclosed discussions with Moscow officials in the seven months before the election.
They included ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn who was fired, Mr Trump said, after failing to disclose his links with Moscow. Flynn had been secretly working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the campaign.
I just fired the head of the FBI. It’s taken great pressure off over Russia DONALD TRUMP ON WHY HE SACKED JAMES COMEY