Transcript for Trump blasting Comey and the FBI’s investigation
Moving now on to that bombshell report in “The new York Times.” About the FBI and president trump. The FBI launched a secret counterintelligence investigation into the president after he fired FBI director James Comey. The goal — to determine whether the president of the united States was a national security threat working for the Russians. Tonight, president trump is responding, blasting Comey and the FBI. And tying the report to what he called the Russia investigation witch hunt. Here’s ABC’s white house correspondent Tara Palmeri. Reporter: Tonight, a bombshell report in “The New York Times,” claiming the FBI opened a secret investigation into whether the president was working on behalf of Russia when he fired FBI director James Comey. Comey had been investigating whether trump’s campaign had colluded with Russia in the 2016 election. According to the paper, the FBI became suspicious after these comments directly following the firing. When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with trump and Russia is a made up story. It’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won. Reporter: Another red flag, a leaked oval office conversation between trump and two high-level Russian officials the day after Comey’s dismissal. He reportedly called him a “Nut job,” and said firing the FBI director took pressure off the administration. Do you think the Russians have something on Donald Trump? I think it’s possible. I don’t know. These are more words that I never thought I’d utter about a president of the United States, but it’s possible. Reporter: According to “The times,” investigators were considering whether the president’s actions amounted to a threat to national security. Agents also looked to determine if the president “Was knowingly working for Russia or had unwittingly fallen under Moscow’s influence.” No evidence has been made public that trump was acting under Russian influence when he fired Comey. The matter was handed over to the special counsel Robert Mueller. There should have never been any Mueller investigation. Its a witch hunt hoax! Reporter: The president this morning firing back in a tweet, saying, quote, wow, just learned in the failing “New York Times” that the corrupt former leaders of the FBI opened up an investigation on me, for no reason and with no proof, after I fired lyin’ James Comey. Tara joins us live from the white house. Democrats now responding to this latest “Times” report. That’s right, Tom. House judiciary chair Jerry Nadler says he wants to further examine the firing of Comey. He also wants to take steps to protect career investigators from, quote, the president’s unhinged attacks. Tom. Tara, thank you.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
