Sessions is told to find writer

President Trump called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to investigate the identity of the author of an anonymous opinion piece that claims there is a “resistance” movement within his administration.

Trump, aboard Air Force One, told reporters that he believes the critical column is a "national security" issue.

The President said that if the person has a high-level security clearance, "I don't want him in those meetings."

Asked if he would take any action against The New York Times for publishing the piece, Trump said, "We're going to see, I'm looking at that right now."

He reiterated that it was a "disgrace" that the Times would publish the piece.

The Times stood strong in the face of Trump's threats.

“We're confident that the Department of Justice understands that the First Amendment protects all American citizens and that it would not participate in such a blatant abuse of government power,” the newspaper said.

Trump has raged to confidantes that a "deep state" within his administration is conspiring against him. He has ordered aides to unmask the writer, as his top officials issued a string of denials.

Secretary of State Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis denied authorship on a visit to India; Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke chimed in from American Samoa. In Washington, the claims of "not me" echoed from Vice President Pence's office, from Energy Secretary Rick Perry, from Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman from Dan Coats, director of national intelligence, and other cabinet members.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, now the President's attorney, suggested that it “would be appropriate” for Trump to ask for a formal investigation into the identity of the op-ed author.

"Let's assume it's a person with a security clearance. If they feel writing this is appropriate, maybe they feel it would be appropriate to disclose national security secrets, too. That person should be found out and stopped," Giuliani told the Associated Press.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called for the President to order those suspected of being the author to undergo lie-detector tests.

"People are suggesting it," Trump said Friday, steering clear of explicitly endorsing the proposal. "Eventually the name of this sick person will come out."