FBI chief confirms probe into ‘Russia-Trump links’

FBI director James Comey has confirmed an investigation is under way into possible links between Russia and associates ofUS president Donald Trump, as part of a wider probe into Russian interference in the presidential election.

This is the first public confirmation of an investigation which began last summer, and it comes at the outset of Mr Comey’s opening statement to a congressional hearing examining Russian meddling and possible connections between Moscow and Mr Trump’s campaign.

The director acknowledged that the FBI does not ordinarily discuss ongoing investigations, but said he has been authorised to do so given the extreme public interest in this case.

He told the House intelligence committee: “This work is very complex, and there is no way for me to give you a timetable for when it will be done.”

Under questioning from the committee’s top Democrat, Adam Schiff, he also publicly contradicted a series of tweets from Mr Trump which declared the Republican candidate’s phones had been ordered tapped by then-president Barack Obama during the campaign. Mr Comey said: “I have no confirmation that supports those tweets, and we have looked carefully inside the FBI.”

The same was true, he added, of the Justice Department.

Mr Trump took to Twitter before the hearing began, accusing Democrats of making up allegations about his campaign associates’ contact with Russia during the election.

He said Congress and the FBI should be going after media leaks – and maybe even Hillary Clinton – instead.

“The real story is the leaking of classified information. Must find leaker now,” said Trump.

President Donald Trump salutes as he steps off Marine One at the White House