President Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out at US news media over coverage of his work habits and Russia investigation in a series of tweets.

According to him, he works from early in the morning until late at night and have not left the White House in so many months. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-worth-the-time-us-president-donald-trump-says-about-media-briefings-after-backtracking-on-his-controversial-comment-294807">Not worth the time: US President Donald Trump says about media briefings after backtracking on his controversial comment</a> 
 
In his Tweets he also said that people call him the "hardest working president", claiming that he has possibly done more work in his first tenure than any other president in the country's history.

"The people that know me and know the history of our country say that I am the hardest working president in history. I don't know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten more done in the first 3 1/2 years than any President in history. The fake news hates it!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

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The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history. I don’t know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten more done in the first 3 1/2 years than any President in history. The Fake News hates it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1254475682723307520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I work from early in the morning until late at night, haven't left the White House in many months (except to launch hospital ship comfort) in order to take care of trade deals, military rebuilding etc, and then I read a phoney story in the failing NYTimes about my work," he said in another tweet.

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I work from early in the morning until late at night, haven’t left the White House in many months (except to launch Hospital Ship Comfort) in order to take care of Trade Deals, Military Rebuilding etc., and then I read a phony story in the failing <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> about my work....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1254477490678104064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Lawsuits should be brought against all, including the fake news organisations to rectify this terrible injustice," he said criticising the US media.

"When will all of the "reporters" who have received Noble Prizes for their work on Russia, Russia, Russia, only to have been proven totally wrong (and, in fact, it was the other side who committed the crimes), be turning back their cherished "Nobles" so that they can be given to the REAL REPORTERS &amp; JOURNALISTS who got it right," the president tweeted.

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Does anybody get the meaning of what a so-called Noble (not Nobel) Prize is, especially as it pertains to Reporters and Journalists? Noble is defined as, “having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals.” Does sarcasm ever work?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1254544354603143168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"When will the Noble Committee Act? Better be fast!" he added, repeating his misspelling of the Nobel Prize Committee." he stated attacking US news media.

President Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out at US news media over coverage of his work habits and Russia investigation in a series of tweets. According to him, he works from early in the morning until late at night and have not left the White House in so many months.

President Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out at US news media over coverage of his work habits and Russia investigation in a series of tweets. According to him, he works from early in the morning until late at night and have not left the White House in so many months. Not worth the time: US President Donald Trump says about media briefings after backtracking on his controversial comment In his Tweets he also said that people call him the "hardest working president", claiming that he has possibly done more work in his first tenure than any other president in the country's history. "The people that know me and know the history of our country say that I am the hardest working president in history. I don't know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten more done in the first 3 1/2 years than any President in history. The fake news hates it!" Trump wrote on Twitter. The people that know me and know the history of our Country say that I am the hardest working President in history. I don’t know about that, but I am a hard worker and have probably gotten more done in the first 3 1/2 years than any President in history. The Fake News hates it! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 26, 2020 × "I work from early in the morning until late at night, haven't left the White House in many months (except to launch hospital ship comfort) in order to take care of trade deals, military rebuilding etc, and then I read a phoney story in the failing NYTimes about my work," he said in another tweet. I work from early in the morning until late at night, haven’t left the White House in many months (except to launch Hospital Ship Comfort) in order to take care of Trade Deals, Military Rebuilding etc., and then I read a phony story in the failing @nytimes about my work.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 26, 2020 × "Lawsuits should be brought against all, including the fake news organisations to rectify this terrible injustice," he said criticising the US media. "When will all of the "reporters" who have received Noble Prizes for their work on Russia, Russia, Russia, only to have been proven totally wrong (and, in fact, it was the other side who committed the crimes), be turning back their cherished "Nobles" so that they can be given to the REAL REPORTERS & JOURNALISTS who got it right," the president tweeted. Does anybody get the meaning of what a so-called Noble (not Nobel) Prize is, especially as it pertains to Reporters and Journalists? Noble is defined as, “having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals.” Does sarcasm ever work? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 26, 2020 × "When will the Noble Committee Act? Better be fast!" he added, repeating his misspelling of the Nobel Prize Committee." he stated attacking US news media.

People say I am the hardest working president: Trump in a Twitter tirade against media

President Donald Trump Sunday intensified his attacks on Robert Mueller&#39;s Russia investigation as biased against him, but stopped just short of targeting the special counsel &mdash; whose ouster lawmakers warned would cross a &quot;massive red line.&quot;

In a morning flurry on Twitter, Trump insisted that Mueller&#39;s team of investigators is staffed with &quot;hardened&quot; Democrats biased against him.

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Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans? Another Dem recently added...does anyone think this is fair? And yet, there is NO COLLUSION!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/975350027169206273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Does anyone think this is fair? And yet, there is NO COLLUSION!&quot; Trump wrote. The night before, he had tweeted, &quot;The Mueller probe should never have been started.&quot;

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The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime. It was based on fraudulent activities and a Fake Dossier paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC, and improperly used in FISA COURT for surveillance of my campaign. WITCH HUNT!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/975163071361683456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The salvo was the latest in a growing confrontation over Mueller`s investigation, which is probing whether Trump`s campaign colluded with Russian attempts to sway the 2016 election in his favour, but also whether the president sought to obstruct justice.

Trump also took aim at former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, who was sacked on Friday two days before his retirement, and former FBI director James Comey, who was fired by Trump last year over the Russia probe. McCabe had an early role in the Russia inquiry and has knowledge of Trump and Comey`s interactions.

McCabe`s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, offered a scathing response to the attacks on his client, saying on Twitter, &quot;We will not be responding to each childish, defamatory, disgusting &amp; false tweet by the President... But the tweets confirm that he has corrupted the entire process that led to Mr&nbsp;McCabe`s termination and has rendered it illegitimate.&quot;

It remains unclear when Mueller will conclude his investigation, but as it moves steadily closer to the president, his inner circle, and his business interests, he has lashed out ever more sharply.

Trump had warned last July that if Mueller broadened his inquiry to include the finances of the Trump Organization, it would be a &quot;violation.&quot;

But Mueller`s team has now subpoenaed Russia-related documents from the president&#39;s business, the New York Times reported Thursday.

Until now, the president has steered clear of directly attacking Mueller, the former FBI director who took over the Russia probe after Comey`s firing May 9, 2017.

But he has taken aim at the special counsel`s large team of lawyers, who were selected for their experience in financial fraud, money laundering, corruption, bribery and organized crime.

&quot;Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans? Another Dem recently added,&quot; Trump said.

Republican allies of the president have seized upon the fact that some of Mueller`s team -- seven out of 17 lawyers, according to The Washington Post -- previously donated money to Democratic political candidates. 
The conservative website Daily Caller reported last month that 13 of the team were registered, Democrats.

But Mueller defenders say he, and more broadly the FBI, have safeguards in place to avoid letting any investigation be tainted by politics.

Mueller, who is widely respected in both political camps, was appointed FBI chief by the Republican president George W Bush and kept on under the Democrat Barack Obama.Lawmakers, including heavyweights from Trump`s own Republican Party, issued pointed warnings Sunday that any attempt by the president to oust Mueller as special counsel would have grave consequences.

&quot;He is following the evidence where it takes him and I think it`s very important he be allowed to do his job, without interference,&quot; Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on CNN. &quot;And there are many Republicans who share my view.&quot;

Any move to oust Mueller, Graham said, &quot;would be the beginning of the end of his presidency. Because we`re a rule of law nation.&quot; 
The Republican senator and frequent Trump critic Jeff Flake likewise warned on CNN that ousting Mueller was seen as &quot;a massive red line that can`t be crossed.&quot;

Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC that firing Mueller &quot;would undoubtedly result in a constitutional crisis.&quot;

In earlier tweets, Trump accused Comey of lying under oath in congressional testimony and dismissed as &quot;fake memos&quot; contemporaneous notes McCabe and Comey took of their interactions with the president.

Those memos could be fodder for Mueller`s probe regarding potential obstruction of justice by the US leader.

After reports that Mueller had the memos, Trump tweeted, &quot;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.&quot;

McCabe has said he is the victim of a Trump administration &quot;war&quot; against the FBI and the special counsel.

Comey has pushed back as well. &quot;Mr. President, the American people will hear my story very soon. And they can judge for themselves who is honorable and who is not,&quot; tweeted the former FBI chief, whose memoir is set for release a month from now.

In a morning flurry on Twitter, Trump insisted that Mueller's team of investigators is staffed with 'hardened' Democrats biased against him

President Donald Trump Sunday intensified his attacks on Robert Mueller's Russia investigation as biased against him, but stopped just short of targeting the special counsel — whose ouster lawmakers warned would cross a "massive red line." In a morning flurry on Twitter, Trump insisted that Mueller's team of investigators is staffed with "hardened" Democrats biased against him. Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans? Another Dem recently added...does anyone think this is fair? And yet, there is NO COLLUSION! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2018 × "Does anyone think this is fair? And yet, there is NO COLLUSION!" Trump wrote. The night before, he had tweeted, "The Mueller probe should never have been started." The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime. It was based on fraudulent activities and a Fake Dossier paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC, and improperly used in FISA COURT for surveillance of my campaign. WITCH HUNT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2018 × The salvo was the latest in a growing confrontation over Mueller`s investigation, which is probing whether Trump`s campaign colluded with Russian attempts to sway the 2016 election in his favour, but also whether the president sought to obstruct justice. Trump also took aim at former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, who was sacked on Friday two days before his retirement, and former FBI director James Comey, who was fired by Trump last year over the Russia probe. McCabe had an early role in the Russia inquiry and has knowledge of Trump and Comey`s interactions. McCabe`s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, offered a scathing response to the attacks on his client, saying on Twitter, "We will not be responding to each childish, defamatory, disgusting & false tweet by the President... But the tweets confirm that he has corrupted the entire process that led to Mr McCabe`s termination and has rendered it illegitimate." It remains unclear when Mueller will conclude his investigation, but as it moves steadily closer to the president, his inner circle, and his business interests, he has lashed out ever more sharply. Trump had warned last July that if Mueller broadened his inquiry to include the finances of the Trump Organization, it would be a "violation." But Mueller`s team has now subpoenaed Russia-related documents from the president's business, the New York Times reported Thursday. Until now, the president has steered clear of directly attacking Mueller, the former FBI director who took over the Russia probe after Comey`s firing May 9, 2017. But he has taken aim at the special counsel`s large team of lawyers, who were selected for their experience in financial fraud, money laundering, corruption, bribery and organized crime. "Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans? Another Dem recently added," Trump said. Republican allies of the president have seized upon the fact that some of Mueller`s team -- seven out of 17 lawyers, according to The Washington Post -- previously donated money to Democratic political candidates. The conservative website Daily Caller reported last month that 13 of the team were registered, Democrats. But Mueller defenders say he, and more broadly the FBI, have safeguards in place to avoid letting any investigation be tainted by politics. Mueller, who is widely respected in both political camps, was appointed FBI chief by the Republican president George W Bush and kept on under the Democrat Barack Obama.Lawmakers, including heavyweights from Trump`s own Republican Party, issued pointed warnings Sunday that any attempt by the president to oust Mueller as special counsel would have grave consequences. "He is following the evidence where it takes him and I think it`s very important he be allowed to do his job, without interference," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on CNN. "And there are many Republicans who share my view." Any move to oust Mueller, Graham said, "would be the beginning of the end of his presidency. Because we`re a rule of law nation." The Republican senator and frequent Trump critic Jeff Flake likewise warned on CNN that ousting Mueller was seen as "a massive red line that can`t be crossed." Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC that firing Mueller "would undoubtedly result in a constitutional crisis." In earlier tweets, Trump accused Comey of lying under oath in congressional testimony and dismissed as "fake memos" contemporaneous notes McCabe and Comey took of their interactions with the president. Those memos could be fodder for Mueller`s probe regarding potential obstruction of justice by the US leader. After reports that Mueller had the memos, Trump tweeted, "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." McCabe has said he is the victim of a Trump administration "war" against the FBI and the special counsel. Comey has pushed back as well. "Mr. President, the American people will hear my story very soon. And they can judge for themselves who is honorable and who is not," tweeted the former FBI chief, whose memoir is set for release a month from now.

US President Donald Trump sharpens attacks on Russia probe

Former FBI Director James Comey said on Wednesday that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump asked him to drop an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of a probe into Russia&#39;s alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

In written testimony released the day before he appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Comey said Trump told him at a meeting in the White House in February: &quot;I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.&quot;

The testimony puts more pressure on Trump, a Republican, whose presidency has been overshadowed by allegations that Moscow helped him win last year&#39;s election.

Some legal experts said Comey&rsquo;s testimony could strengthen any impeachment case built on obstruction of justice, but US&nbsp;markets shrugged off the news from the testimony for lack of any major disclosures.

To build a criminal obstruction of justice case, federal law requires prosecutors to show that a person acted with &quot;corrupt&quot; intent. It does not matter whether the person succeeds in impeding an investigation.

While a sitting president is very unlikely to face criminal prosecution, obstruction of justice could form the basis for impeachment.

Comey said he had told Trump on three occasions he was not being investigated, confirming an earlier account from the president.

Trump, who spent part of Wednesday in Ohio talking about the need to fix the nation&#39;s crumbling infrastructure, ignored reporters&rsquo; shouted questions about Comey. On returning to the Oval Office, Trump went into a meeting with top advisers, including chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Later, his outside counsel released a statement saying Trump felt &quot;completely and totally vindicated&quot; by Comey&#39;s account.

&quot;The president is pleased that Mr. Comey has finally publicly confirmed his private reports that the president was not under investigation in any Russian probe,&quot; Marc Kasowitz, Trump&#39;s attorney, said in a statement.

&nbsp;

&#39;AWKWARD SILENCE&#39;

Several congressional committees, as well as the FBI and a special counsel, are investigating whether Russia tried to tilt last November&#39;s election in Trump&#39;s favour, using means such as hacking into the emails of senior Democrats. Trump and the Kremlin have separately denied any collusion.

Trump abruptly fired Comey, who was leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation&#39;s probe, on May 9.

Comey painted a vivid picture for senators of awkward encounters with Trump in seven pages of testimony.

Comey described a private dinner in the Green Room of the White House on Jan. 26, where Trump asked him whether he wanted to stay on as FBI director, telling him: &quot;I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.&quot;

&quot;I didn&rsquo;t move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed. We simply looked at each other in silence,&quot; Comey said in his testimony, explaining he became concerned that Trump was trying to create &quot;some sort of patronage relationship&quot;.

On February&nbsp;14, after an Oval Office briefing on counterterrorism, Trump asked Comey to stay behind, dismissing Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who lingered, and waving off Priebus, who peeked through the door.

&quot;When the door by the grandfather clock closed, and we were alone, the president began by saying, &#39;I want to talk about Mike Flynn,&#39;&quot; Comey said in his testimony.

Trump had fired Flynn the previous day in a controversy over contacts between the retired general and the Russian ambassador to the United States. The FBI has been investigating Flynn as it looks into allegations of links between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Comey quoted Trump as telling him: &quot;I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.&quot;

On March 30, Trump phoned Comey and asked what &quot;we could do to lift the cloud&quot; of the FBI&#39;s Russia investigation.

&quot;He said he had nothing to do with Russia, had not been involved with hookers in Russia, and had always assumed he was being recorded when in Russia,&quot; said Comey, who had briefed Trump on &quot;salacious material&quot; that had arisen in a counter-intelligence investigation.

Michael Cohen, a lawyer for Trump, said in a statement that the uncorroborated dossier of compromising material that Russian operatives allegedly collected on Trump has been &quot;debunked&quot;.

&quot;Comey&rsquo;s statement released today needs to be carefully scrutinised as his testimony claims the president was concerned about the dossier,&quot; said Cohen.

Cohen, along with Flynn, has been subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee, which is also conducting a Russia probe.

&nbsp;

LEGAL FALLOUT?

Some legal experts said Comey&rsquo;s written statement could be used to show that Trump engaged in obstruction of justice.

&ldquo;It shows the president was doing everything he could to shut down the Flynn investigation,&rdquo; said Andrew Wright, a professor of criminal law at Savannah Law School.

Bruce Green, a professor of law at Fordham University School of Law, said it would be difficult, however, to show that Trump intended to obstruct justice. Trump could say he was merely vouching for Flynn&#39;s character and voicing concerns about how the probe was interfering with his ability to function effectively as president, Green said.

Democrats jumped on the testimony, expressing concern that Trump had inappropriately meddled with the probe.

&quot;It&#39;s certainly very possible that this is evidence, in combination with other actions by the president, that could amount to obstruction. It&#39;s certainly an effort to interfere in the investigation,&quot; the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam Schiff, told CNN.

Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, asked about Trump&#39;s request for loyalty from Comey, said it was &quot;very, very critical&quot; that FBI directors remain &quot;independent&quot;.

But Republican Senator Richard Burr, who heads the Senate intelligence panel, said he did not take issue with Trump&#39;s request.

&quot;I don&#39;t think it&#39;s wrong to ask for loyalty from anybody in an administration,&quot; Burr said.

(Reuters)

While a sitting president is very unlikely to face criminal prosecution, obstruction of justice could form the basis for impeachment

Former FBI Director James Comey said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump asked him to drop an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of a probe into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election. In written testimony released the day before he appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Comey said Trump told him at a meeting in the White House in February: "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go." The testimony puts more pressure on Trump, a Republican, whose presidency has been overshadowed by allegations that Moscow helped him win last year's election. Some legal experts said Comey’s testimony could strengthen any impeachment case built on obstruction of justice, but US markets shrugged off the news from the testimony for lack of any major disclosures. To build a criminal obstruction of justice case, federal law requires prosecutors to show that a person acted with "corrupt" intent. It does not matter whether the person succeeds in impeding an investigation. While a sitting president is very unlikely to face criminal prosecution, obstruction of justice could form the basis for impeachment. Comey said he had told Trump on three occasions he was not being investigated, confirming an earlier account from the president. Trump, who spent part of Wednesday in Ohio talking about the need to fix the nation's crumbling infrastructure, ignored reporters’ shouted questions about Comey. On returning to the Oval Office, Trump went into a meeting with top advisers, including chief of staff Reince Priebus. Later, his outside counsel released a statement saying Trump felt "completely and totally vindicated" by Comey's account. "The president is pleased that Mr. Comey has finally publicly confirmed his private reports that the president was not under investigation in any Russian probe," Marc Kasowitz, Trump's attorney, said in a statement. 'AWKWARD SILENCE' Several congressional committees, as well as the FBI and a special counsel, are investigating whether Russia tried to tilt last November's election in Trump's favour, using means such as hacking into the emails of senior Democrats. Trump and the Kremlin have separately denied any collusion. Trump abruptly fired Comey, who was leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation's probe, on May 9. Comey painted a vivid picture for senators of awkward encounters with Trump in seven pages of testimony. Comey described a private dinner in the Green Room of the White House on Jan. 26, where Trump asked him whether he wanted to stay on as FBI director, telling him: "I need loyalty, I expect loyalty." "I didn’t move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed. We simply looked at each other in silence," Comey said in his testimony, explaining he became concerned that Trump was trying to create "some sort of patronage relationship". On February 14, after an Oval Office briefing on counterterrorism, Trump asked Comey to stay behind, dismissing Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who lingered, and waving off Priebus, who peeked through the door. "When the door by the grandfather clock closed, and we were alone, the president began by saying, 'I want to talk about Mike Flynn,'" Comey said in his testimony. Trump had fired Flynn the previous day in a controversy over contacts between the retired general and the Russian ambassador to the United States. The FBI has been investigating Flynn as it looks into allegations of links between Russia and the Trump campaign. Comey quoted Trump as telling him: "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go." On March 30, Trump phoned Comey and asked what "we could do to lift the cloud" of the FBI's Russia investigation. "He said he had nothing to do with Russia, had not been involved with hookers in Russia, and had always assumed he was being recorded when in Russia," said Comey, who had briefed Trump on "salacious material" that had arisen in a counter-intelligence investigation. Michael Cohen, a lawyer for Trump, said in a statement that the uncorroborated dossier of compromising material that Russian operatives allegedly collected on Trump has been "debunked". "Comey’s statement released today needs to be carefully scrutinised as his testimony claims the president was concerned about the dossier," said Cohen. Cohen, along with Flynn, has been subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee, which is also conducting a Russia probe. LEGAL FALLOUT? Some legal experts said Comey’s written statement could be used to show that Trump engaged in obstruction of justice. “It shows the president was doing everything he could to shut down the Flynn investigation,” said Andrew Wright, a professor of criminal law at Savannah Law School. Bruce Green, a professor of law at Fordham University School of Law, said it would be difficult, however, to show that Trump intended to obstruct justice. Trump could say he was merely vouching for Flynn's character and voicing concerns about how the probe was interfering with his ability to function effectively as president, Green said. Democrats jumped on the testimony, expressing concern that Trump had inappropriately meddled with the probe. "It's certainly very possible that this is evidence, in combination with other actions by the president, that could amount to obstruction. It's certainly an effort to interfere in the investigation," the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam Schiff, told CNN. Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, asked about Trump's request for loyalty from Comey, said it was "very, very critical" that FBI directors remain "independent". But Republican Senator Richard Burr, who heads the Senate intelligence panel, said he did not take issue with Trump's request. "I don't think it's wrong to ask for loyalty from anybody in an administration," Burr said. (Reuters)

Ex-FBI chief Comey tells US senators Trump pressured him on Russia probe