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| President Trump Escalates Criticism of F.B.I. Role in Russia Inquiry | President Trump Escalates Criticism of F.B.I. Role in Russia Inquiry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| WASHINGTON — President Trump escalated his criticism of the F.B.I. on Friday over its investigation of possible links between Russia and his campaign, calling the inquiry a “very sad thing to watch.” | WASHINGTON — President Trump escalated his criticism of the F.B.I. on Friday over its investigation of possible links between Russia and his campaign, calling the inquiry a “very sad thing to watch.” |
| “It’s a shame what’s happened with the F.B.I.,” the president told reporters before departing for an event at the F.B.I. Academy in Quantico, Va. “It’s a very sad thing to watch.” | “It’s a shame what’s happened with the F.B.I.,” the president told reporters before departing for an event at the F.B.I. Academy in Quantico, Va. “It’s a very sad thing to watch.” |
| Without citing specifics, Mr. Trump said there was an extraordinary “level of anger” at the F.B.I. over the investigation. He labeled “disgraceful” recently released text messages between one of the agents on the investigation and a lawyer for the bureau who were critical of him. The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, removed the agent from the investigation as soon as he learned of the texts. | Without citing specifics, Mr. Trump said there was an extraordinary “level of anger” at the F.B.I. over the investigation. He labeled “disgraceful” recently released text messages between one of the agents on the investigation and a lawyer for the bureau who were critical of him. The special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, removed the agent from the investigation as soon as he learned of the texts. |
| The president also said it was premature to discuss whether he would pardon Michael T. Flynn, his former national security adviser who pleaded guilty this month to lying to the F.B.I. in connection with the investigation. | The president also said it was premature to discuss whether he would pardon Michael T. Flynn, his former national security adviser who pleaded guilty this month to lying to the F.B.I. in connection with the investigation. |
| He did not repeat his criticism at the F.B.I. Academy event, a ceremony to honor local police officers and sheriffs who had received specialized training. Mr. Trump sat alongside the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and the F.B.I.’s director, Christopher A. Wray. | |
| But his earlier remarks kept alive a rare public feud between a president and the nation’s premier law enforcement agency, friction that could be seen as Mr. Trump undermining faith in the integrity of the investigation. | |
| Mr. Trump has shown open disdain for the F.B.I., saying that the standing of the nation’s premier law enforcement agency was the “worst in history” and its reputation was in “tatters.” | Mr. Trump has shown open disdain for the F.B.I., saying that the standing of the nation’s premier law enforcement agency was the “worst in history” and its reputation was in “tatters.” |
| Last week, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said that the president supported Mr. Wray and rank-and-file agents — but that he had issues with top officials who served under the previous F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, whom the president fired in May. | |
| Mr. Wray, in testimony to Congress recently, strongly defended the F.B.I., telling its 35,000 agents and support staff that he was “inspired by example after example of professionalism and dedication to justice demonstrated around the bureau.” | Mr. Wray, in testimony to Congress recently, strongly defended the F.B.I., telling its 35,000 agents and support staff that he was “inspired by example after example of professionalism and dedication to justice demonstrated around the bureau.” |
| But the president’s criticism was notable because of his long-stated belief that the Justice Department investigation into links between his campaign and Russia was a “witch hunt.” | But the president’s criticism was notable because of his long-stated belief that the Justice Department investigation into links between his campaign and Russia was a “witch hunt.” |