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FBI acting boss Andrew McCabe stands by Russia probe Trump insists he's not under FBI investigation
(about 1 hour later)
The FBI investigation into alleged links between Russia and the Donald Trump election team will carry on unimpeded by the sacking of its head, James Comey, his successor has said. US President Donald Trump has insisted he is not under investigation, as he dismissed the FBI director he fired as a "showboat" and "grandstander".
Acting Director Andrew McCabe told a Senate committee his boss's dismissal had not affected the work of the FBI. Mr Trump also revealed to NBC News it was his decision to sack James Comey.
He also said Mr Comey had "broad support" within the agency, which contradicted White House officials. Mr Comey was leading an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the US election and possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Moscow.
They contend Mr Comey was fired because the FBI had lost confidence in him. Mr Trump has dismissed the probe as a "charade", a claim directly contradicted by Mr Comey's successor.
The White House says his competence had come into question over the way he handled the case of Democratic Party election candidate Hillary Clinton's emails. In his first interview since firing the FBI director, Mr Trump told NBC News he had asked Mr Comey whether he was under investigation.
But critics accuse Mr Trump of sacking him for leading the Russia investigation. "I said, if it's possible would you let me know, 'Am I under investigation?' He said: 'You are not under investigation.'"
"Director Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI and still does to this day," Mr McCabe told the panel on Thursday. "I know I'm not under investigation," Mr Trump told the interviewer, repeating a claim he first made in a letter to Mr Comey, firing him.
"I can confidently tell you that the vast majority of employees enjoyed a deep and positive connection to Director Comey." The president also appeared to undercut the initial White House explanation that he fired Mr Comey on the recommendation of top justice officials.
He also called the Russia inquiry a "highly significant investigation", countering the White House depiction of it as "probably one of the smallest things" that the FBI has "got going on their plate". "He's a showboat. He's a grandstander. The FBI has been in turmoil. I was going to fire Comey. My decision," Mr Trump said.
Mr McCabe also vowed not to update the White House on the status of the investigation and to notify the Senate panel of any attempt to interfere with the inquiry. "I was going to fire regardless of recommendation."
The White House has depicted the Russia inquiry as "probably one of the smallest things" that the FBI has "got going on their plate".
But acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe said on Thursday that it was "a highly significant investigation".
In testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, he also cast doubt on White House claims that Mr Comey had lost the confidence of his staff.
"I can confidently tell you that the vast majority of employees enjoyed a deep and positive connection to Director Comey," Mr McCabe said.
The acting FBI director vowed not to update the White House on the status of the investigation and to notify the Senate panel of any attempt to interfere with the inquiry.
Republican committee chairman Richard Burr asked Mr McCabe if he had ever heard Mr Comey tell Mr Trump the president was not the subject of investigation.
Mr McCabe said he could not comment on an ongoing inquiry.
There are reports the ex-FBI boss had asked for more resources to conduct the probe and Democrats in the US Senate have formally requested details from the Justice Department on any additional funding he requested.There are reports the ex-FBI boss had asked for more resources to conduct the probe and Democrats in the US Senate have formally requested details from the Justice Department on any additional funding he requested.
Some Democratic senators say they believed the reports to be true, although a Justice Department spokeswoman rejected them as "totally false". Some Democratic senators say they believed the reports to be true; a Justice Department spokeswoman rejected them as "totally false".
Democrats have also called for a special prosecutor to take over the Russia investigation. Democrats are also calling for a special prosecutor to take over the Russia investigation.
In other developments:
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was reportedly on the verge of resigning after the White House cast him as the prime catalyst for firing Mr Comey, US media reported.Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was reportedly on the verge of resigning after the White House cast him as the prime catalyst for firing Mr Comey, US media reported.
He detailed Mr Comey's "serious mistakes" in a memo to President Trump, just prior to the firing. He detailed Mr Comey's "serious mistakes" in a memo to President Trump, just before the firing.
Mr Rosenstein reportedly made his threat unless the White House conveyed that the decision began with the president, according to US media. Mr Rosenstein demanded the White House make clear the decision was the president's, according to US media.
"I'm not aware of his threatening to resign," White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on ABC's programme Good Morning America on Thursday. "I'm not aware of his threatening to resign," White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told ABC's programme Good Morning America on Thursday.
She maintained that Mr Trump "very much had been thinking about letting Mr Comey go since 9 November". In other developments:
Rosenstein's way out - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, WashingtonRosenstein's way out - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington
Rod Rosenstein brought a reputation for even-handedness and probity with him to the job of deputy attorney general. Two weeks later, that reputation is being put to the test.Rod Rosenstein brought a reputation for even-handedness and probity with him to the job of deputy attorney general. Two weeks later, that reputation is being put to the test.
Such is life in the Trump White House, where every appointee and aide is just one tweet, event or press conference away from the maelstrom.Such is life in the Trump White House, where every appointee and aide is just one tweet, event or press conference away from the maelstrom.
On Tuesday night, as the administration press shop scrambled to explain the president's surprise decision to sack his FBI director, Trump supporters leaned hard on Mr Rosenstein's credentials to paint the move as a nonpartisan decision based on Mr Comey's overall job performance.On Tuesday night, as the administration press shop scrambled to explain the president's surprise decision to sack his FBI director, Trump supporters leaned hard on Mr Rosenstein's credentials to paint the move as a nonpartisan decision based on Mr Comey's overall job performance.
The deputy attorney general reportedly balked at the characterisation that he was the driving force behind Mr Comey's dismissal, however.The deputy attorney general reportedly balked at the characterisation that he was the driving force behind Mr Comey's dismissal, however.
Mr Rosenstein's threat to resign is different than actually packing bags, of course, and his fate at this point is still tethered firmly to the president he chose to serve.Mr Rosenstein's threat to resign is different than actually packing bags, of course, and his fate at this point is still tethered firmly to the president he chose to serve.
There is a way out, though. Due to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal on the matter, it's Mr Rosenstein's call whether to appoint a special counsel to head the Justice Department's Russia investigation. It may be the one card he can play to sidestep the growing frenzy that spins around him.There is a way out, though. Due to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal on the matter, it's Mr Rosenstein's call whether to appoint a special counsel to head the Justice Department's Russia investigation. It may be the one card he can play to sidestep the growing frenzy that spins around him.
President Trump defended his actions on Wednesday, saying Mr Comey was fired "because he was not doing a good job".
Republicans and Democrats vowed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees' investigations into the Russia claims would continue.
The Senate Intelligence Committee moved forward by issuing a rare subpoena for documents from Michael Flynn, Mr Trump's former national security adviser, after he rejected its request to do so in April.
Mr Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, misled the White House about discussing US sanctions against Russia with the country's envoy, Sergei Kislyak, before Donald Trump's inauguration in January.
His links to Russia are being scrutinised by the FBI and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, as part of wider investigations into claims Moscow sought to tip the election in favour of Mr Trump, and into contacts between Russia and members of the president's campaign team.
At the centre of the storm - Rod RosensteinAt the centre of the storm - Rod Rosenstein
Read more about Rod RosensteinRead more about Rod Rosenstein