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Donald Trump lashes out over obstruction of justice allegations in 'phony' Russia investigation Donald Trump lashes out over obstruction of justice allegations in 'phony' Russia investigation
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has hit out at reports he is to face obstruction of justice charges as part of the investigation into his campaign team's links to Russia.Donald Trump has hit out at reports he is to face obstruction of justice charges as part of the investigation into his campaign team's links to Russia.
The US President, who faces allegations of obstructing justice for firing former FBI director James Comey, is reportedly the subject of a probe by the Special Counsel looking into possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow. The US President, who faces allegations of obstructing justice for firing former FBI director James Comey, is reportedly the subject of a probe by the Special Counsel looking into possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow.
"They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice," wrote Mr Trump on Twitter."They made up a phony collusion with the Russians story, found zero proof, so now they go for obstruction of justice on the phony story. Nice," wrote Mr Trump on Twitter.
When Mr Comey appeared before a Senate committee last week, he confirmed that he had told Mr Trump on several instances that he was personally not under investigation. "You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history – led by some very bad and conflicted people!" he added.
However, according to the Washington Post, since Mr Comey’s firing, Mr Mueller, the special prosecutor, has started to look at Mr Trump’s actions as part of the wider investigation into alleged Russia interference in the 2016 US presidential election. According to the Washington Post, since Mr Comey’s firing on 9 May, Mr Mueller, the special prosecutor, has started to look at Mr Trump’s actions as part of the wider investigation into alleged Russia interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
If confirmed, the news would mark a dramatic shift in the course of the investigation, which Mr Trump has so far sought to dismiss and brush away.If confirmed, the news would mark a dramatic shift in the course of the investigation, which Mr Trump has so far sought to dismiss and brush away.
The Post reported that five sources had said the possible obstruction-of-justice investigation of the New York tycoon began days shortly after Mr Trump fired Mr Comey last month. The Post reported that five officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, had said the possible obstruction-of-justice investigation of the New York tycoon began days after Mr Trump fired Mr Comey.
Mr Trump told a television reporter that one of the reasons he had fired the 56-year-old, was because of the ongoing probe into possible collusion with Russia, something the President said was nothing more than “fake news” being generated by those angry about his election victory. Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, Mike Rogers, the head of the National Security Agency, and Richard Ledgett, the former deputy director of the National Security Agency (NSA), had agreed to be interviewed by Mr Mueller's investigators as early as this week, said the newspaper.
Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Mr Trump's legal team, on Wednesday denounced the report, saying: “The FBI leak of information regarding the President is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal.” A spokesman for Mr Mueller's team declined to comment.
The NSA said in statement that it would “fully cooperate with the special counsel” and declined to comment further. 
Last week, Mr Comey testified in a Senate hearing that he believed he was fired  because of the Russia investigation. Mr Comey also said he had told Trump he was not under investigation.
“I know I was fired because of something about the way I was conducting the Russia investigation was in some way putting pressure on him, in some way irritating him, and he decided to fire me because of that,” he said.
Mr Trump told a television reporter that one of the reasons he had fired the 56-year-old was because of the ongoing probe into possible collusion with Russia – something the President said was nothing more than “fake news” being generated by those angry about his election victory.
“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’ve won’,” Mr Trump told NBC.“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’ve won’,” Mr Trump told NBC.
More follows… Mr Comey would not say in his testimony last week whether he thought the President sought to obstruct justice, but added it would be up to special counsel Mr Mueller “to sort that out”.
  While a sitting president is unlikely to face criminal prosecution, obstruction of justice could form the basis for impeachment. Any such step would face a steep hurdle as it would require approval by the US House of Representatives, which is controlled by Mr Trump’s fellow Republicans.