Comey told the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8 he believed Trump had directed him in February to drop an FBI probe into former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, that was part of the broader Russian Federation investigation. Recent news reports have suggested Trump sought all three officials' help in pressuring FBI Director James Comey to drop his investigation into former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn. That's particularly the case since other high-ranking administration officials have declined under oath in open testimony to provide more details about whether Trump asked them in any way to influence Comey or the investigation.
It stands to reason that the circumstances surrounding Comey's firing would now be at the center of Mueller's query.
Trump did not directly address the allegations he obstructed justice - a potentially impeachable offense - neither did he deny he has entered the miniscule ranks of sitting presidents who have become the subject of a criminal investigation. What is clear is that he could order the Justice Department to ax Mueller, which may result in Rosenstein's departure and would certainly intensify the uproar over the investigation. When asked about a letter he wrote recommending firing Comey, Rosenstein said that Mueller could be looking into the decision-making process for the firing - and he was therefore "not at liberty to talk about that now".
The New York Times released an additional report stating that members of Trump's circle are being investigated for potential money laundering.
Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, Mike Rogers, the head of the National Security Agency, and Richard Ledgett, the former deputy director at the NSA, had agreed to be interviewed by Mueller's investigators as early as this week, the Post said. It was not known whether the Federal Bureau of Investigation was the source of the information.
Trump Attorney Insists President Is Not Under Investigation
Sekulow, who is 61, isn't new to the Washington scene - he's made a career championing conservative causes in court for decades. He said Trump's tweet was not a confirmation of the investigation, but instead a response to a report in The Washington Post .
"If the President tries to fire him to diminish or stop this investigation, I would hope that finally there would be a bipartisan uproar against it".
Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Trump's personal lawyer, had responded Wednesday evening to the Post report by saying: "The FBI leak of information regarding the president is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal".
Trump's tweet that he's being investigated "by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director" may refer to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Aides said that the President had chose to take matters into his own hands and believed he was his own best defender in the escalating crisis surrounding the White House.
"I don't think it's for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct", Comey said. "It is my view that fully investigating the facts, circumstances, and rationale for Mr. Comey's removal will provide us the opportunity to do that on a cooperative, bipartisan basis", according to the letter.
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