Trump conflates 'phony collusion' and possible obstruction of justice investigation

Trump said in an early morning tweet.

In a second tweet, Trump said, "You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people!"

Recent reports have said Trump also requested help from Coats and Rogers to pressure Comey to end the investigation into Flynn's activities.

The move by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III to investigate Trump's conduct marks a major turning point in the almost year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on Russian meddling during the presidential campaign and on whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Citing officials familiar with the move, the Post notes how the widening of the federal probe to include the president's conduct "marks a major turning point in the almost year-old FBI investigation, which until recently focused on Russian meddling during the presidential campaign and on whether there was any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin".

In their story, the Washington Post cited anonymous sources who were briefed on the interview requests by investigators.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's office has taken up that work, and preliminary interviews scheduled with intelligence officials indicate his team is actively pursuing potential witnesses inside and outside the government.

After Comey's testimony, Trump said he had been vindicated because his former FBI director confirmed telling Trump on three occasions that he was not under investigation.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the launch of the Apprenticeship and Workforce of Tomorrow initiatives in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2017.

In a later tweet, the President once again called the Russian Federation investigation a "witch hunt" and called the people leading it "very bad", apparently a reference to Mueller and others at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The White House has been inconsistent with its public messaging about the dismissal - initially saying Trump took the recommendations of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein about Comey's management of the FBI and his handling of the Clinton email investigation.

Trump has denied any collusion between himself or any of his associates and Russian Federation, and Putin has denied that Moscow sought to interfere in the election.

Comey testified last week before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where he gave a detailed account of his conversations with the President, who he said asked him for his "loyalty" and insinuated that his job as Federal Bureau of Investigation chief might depend on providing such a pledge.

"The FBI leak of information regarding the President is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal", said Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Trump's legal team.

"I think, frankly, our story shows that the president is by no means out of the woods as far as the investigation goes", the Post's Barrett told NPR.

Several US congressional committees are also looking into the question of Russian election interference and possible Trump campaign collusion.

During an event in New Hampshire, Trump said his opponent would be under investigation "for years" - something the country would not have time to navigate should it want to improve.

Ryan told reporters Tuesday: "The best advice would be to let Robert Mueller do his job".

"The investigation has been cloaked in secrecy, and it is unclear how many others have been questioned by the FBI", it said.

That isn't true anymore, according to reporting by The Washington Post on Wednesday night.