Trump accuses EX-FBI chiefs of manufacturing ‘fake memos’

DONALD TRUMP intensified his attack on the FBI yesterday, calling for notes of conversations with him, written by former director James Comey and his recently fired deputy Andrew Mccabe, to be written off as “fake memos”.

He accused Mr Comey of lying under oath during evidence to a senate committee last year and condemned the investigation led by Robert Mueller into Russian election meddling as overwhelmingly staffed by Democrats.

Mr Trump’s early morning Twitter salvo came after a long weekend of aggression from the president, triggered by the firing on Friday of Mr Mccabe.

He wrote: “Spent very little time with Andrew Mccabe, but he never took notes when he was with me. I don’t believe he made memos except to help his own agenda, probably at a later date. Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?”

Mr Trump’s remarks refer to news that both men kept contemporaneous notes of interactions with the president which are now with the Mueller team.

It is believed they support the view that Mr Trump sought to obstruct justice by asking Mr Comey to drop an inquiry into Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser. The president has always denied he put any pressure on the former director.

Mr Mccabe is known to have had at least three meetings with Mr Trump and, according to Associated Press, his records include details of his interactions with the president and his recollection of those he had with Mr Comey.

He was fired by Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, after an investigation found he made leaks to the media and that he had been less than candid under oath during interviews. He was two days away from retiring on a full pension after 21 years’ service.

Mr Trump appeared to delight in the development, declaring Friday a “great day for the hardworking men and women of the FBI” and describing Mr Comey as “sanctimonious”.

In turn, Mr Comey, who publishes a book next month, said: “The American people will hear my story very soon. And they can judge for themselves who is honourable and who is not.”

The spat continued yesterday when Mr Trump accused Mr Comey of lying under oath at a hearing last May, when he denied he was the source of leaks. He later admitted to authorising a leak.

“Wow, watch Comey lie under oath to Senator G when asked “have you ever been an anonymous source... or known someone else to be an anonymous source...?” He said strongly “never, no.” He lied as shown clearly on @foxandfriends.”

Mr Mccabe said he was sacrificed as part of Mr Trump’s war on the FBI and partly to undermine the special counsel investigation. A lawyer for Mr Mccabe said: “We will not respond to each childish, defamatory, disgusting and false tweet by the president.”