Trump told Russian officials firing Comey eased "great pressure"
What's the story
President Donald Trump told Russian officials during a meeting last week that firing FBI director James Comey has eased "great pressure" on him, the New York Times (NYT) reported.
NYT cited a document summarizing from the meeting which stated that Trump called Comey a "real nut job."
Comey was leading an FBI investigation into possible collusion between Trump's election campaign and Russia.
14 Feb 2017
Trump's NSA Michael Flynn resigns over Russia links
In February, US President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was reportedly forced to resign.
The move came after several news-outlets reported that former acting attorney general Sally Q. Yates had warned the White House that Flynn may have been vulnerable to blackmail from Russia.
Flynn had reportedly spoken to the Russian ambassador about sanctions prior to Trump's inauguration and misled US officials.
10 May 2017
Trump fires FBI director James Comey over Clinton emails
On May 10, US President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey over his handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails.
His dismissal came after it emerged that he provided inaccurate information about Clinton's emails in a Congressional testimony last week.
The White House announcement has sent shockwaves across Washington.
Comey was investigating the Trump team's alleged links to Russia.
17 May 2017
Sources- Trump asked ex-FBI chief Comey to halt Flynn investigation
It was reported on May 17 that Trump had asked Comey, who he recently fired, to end an investigation into alleged links between former national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia.
Trump reportedly told Comey: "I hope you can let this go," after a White House meeting in February, according to a memo written by Comey.
The White House had rejected the reports.
Quote
NYT calls Trump's comments to Russia "extraordinary"
According to NYT, Trump's "comments represented an extraordinary moment in the investigation, which centers in part on the administration's contacts with Russian officials: A day after firing the man leading that inquiry, Mr. Trump disparaged him - to Russian officials."
Response
White House doesn't dispute NYT report
"I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job," Trump reportedly told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak during their meeting in the White House.
"I faced great pressure because of Russia. That's taken off," he added.
The White House hasn't disputed the report.
Details
White House official a "person of interest" in Russia probe
The NYT reports come as the Washington Post reported that a serving White House official was named a "significant person of interest" in the probe into Russia's alleged links to the Trump campaign.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the person was someone "close to the president" but didn't provide further information.
The Trump administration has denied reports of collusion with any "foreign entity."
Details
Comey to testify before Congress over Russia probe
Comey has agreed to testify in front of the US Senate intelligence committee as part of the panel's investigation into Russia alleged interference in the US election.
Comey's appearance will be intensely scrutinized especially following reports that Trump had urged him to end the FBI investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn's connections to Moscow.
The hearing is scheduled after May 29.