This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39080673
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| White House asked FBI to discredit reports of Russia links | White House asked FBI to discredit reports of Russia links |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The White House has confirmed it asked an FBI official to discredit reports President Trump's campaign aides were in touch with Russian intelligence. | The White House has confirmed it asked an FBI official to discredit reports President Trump's campaign aides were in touch with Russian intelligence. |
| The White House acknowledged its chief of staff Reince Priebus asked the FBI's deputy director to dispute a New York Times article alleging Moscow links. | The White House acknowledged its chief of staff Reince Priebus asked the FBI's deputy director to dispute a New York Times article alleging Moscow links. |
| CNN reports the FBI refused, citing an ongoing inquiry into claims of contacts between Trump aides and Russia. | CNN reports the FBI refused, citing an ongoing inquiry into claims of contacts between Trump aides and Russia. |
| Mr Trump has responded on Twitter by railing against FBI "leakers". | Mr Trump has responded on Twitter by railing against FBI "leakers". |
| "The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security 'leakers' that have permeated our government for a long time," Mr Trump tweeted. | |
| "They can't even find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on US. FIND NOW." | "They can't even find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on US. FIND NOW." |
| Later at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Mr Trump lambasted media for using anonymous sources, which he said were often made up. | |
| "They [the media] shouldn't be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody's name," Mr Trump said in his keynote speech. "Let their name be put out there." | |
| But critics pointed out that in 2012, Mr Trump cited an "extremely credible source" while perpetuating the false claim that President Barack Obama was born outside the US. | |
| The New York Times reported last week that US agencies intercepted phone calls last year between members of Mr Trump's presidential campaign and Russian intelligence agents. | The New York Times reported last week that US agencies intercepted phone calls last year between members of Mr Trump's presidential campaign and Russian intelligence agents. |
| Mr Priebus asked FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe to pour cold water on suggestions of communications between Mr Trump's staff and Moscow. | Mr Priebus asked FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe to pour cold water on suggestions of communications between Mr Trump's staff and Moscow. |
| As of Friday, the FBI has not commented publicly on the report. | As of Friday, the FBI has not commented publicly on the report. |
| White House press secretary Sean Spicer refuted the CNN report. | White House press secretary Sean Spicer refuted the CNN report. |
| "We didn't try to knock the story down. We asked them to tell the truth," he said. | "We didn't try to knock the story down. We asked them to tell the truth," he said. |
| A senior administration official also pushed back on the CNN report, telling CBS News that it was false, disgusting and erroneous. | |
| Mr McCabe reportedly met with a senior administration on 14 February, the day the Times story broke, and told him the report was "garbage", according to CBS. | |
| When the official asked what he could do to counter the story, Mr McCabe said the FBI could not issue statements about particular stories. | |
| Mr Trump has been dogged by claims of alleged links to Moscow since his presidential campaign. | Mr Trump has been dogged by claims of alleged links to Moscow since his presidential campaign. |
| The president asked for national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation last week after he misled Vice-President Mike Pence about his contacts with a Russian ambassador during the transition. | The president asked for national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation last week after he misled Vice-President Mike Pence about his contacts with a Russian ambassador during the transition. |
| When pressed about Moscow ties last week, Mr Trump said "nobody that I know of" spoke with Russian intelligence officials during the campaign. | When pressed about Moscow ties last week, Mr Trump said "nobody that I know of" spoke with Russian intelligence officials during the campaign. |
| Michael Flynn: Trump's national security adviser resigns | Michael Flynn: Trump's national security adviser resigns |
| Democrats said Mr Priebus was in violation of a policy limiting communication between the White House and law enforcement on pending investigations. | Democrats said Mr Priebus was in violation of a policy limiting communication between the White House and law enforcement on pending investigations. |
| Michigan Representative John Conyers, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said: "The White House is simply not permitted to pressure the FBI to make public statements about a pending investigation of the president and his advisers." | Michigan Representative John Conyers, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said: "The White House is simply not permitted to pressure the FBI to make public statements about a pending investigation of the president and his advisers." |