Trump claims FBI's reputation is 'worst in history' as he faces questions over ex-adviser's lies to agents
Donald Trump has claimed the FBI's reputation is "in tatters" and at its lowest point in history amid questions over his sacking of a former national security adviser.
The US President is facing claims he obstructed justice after appearing to confirm for the first time that he knew ex-adviser Michael Flynn lied to the FBI over conversations with Moscow's ambassador to the US.
Responding to allegations he attempted to pressure ex-FBI director James Comey "to let Flynn go" after learning that the retired general made false statements to agents, Mr Trump said he "never asked Comey to stop investigating Flynn".
In a series of tweets, the President attacked the intelligence agency's reputation and said it was a case of "fake news covering another Comey lie".
He said: "After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in tatters - worst in history! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness."
On Saturday, the President tweeted that he had fired Flynn "because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI" - however at the time of the dismissal the White House acknowledged only that Flynn had lied to VP Mike Pence .
Amid questions over the admission he then attempted to shift the focus on to Hillary Clinton, describing his former election opponent as "crooked" and suggesting either a "rigged system" or "double standard" prevented her from further FBI investigation.
Sources close to Mr Trump distanced the President from his tweet describing why he sacked Flynn, saying it was "crafted" by John Dowd, one his personal lawyers.
Mr Dowd declined to comment on the claim, but said the post "was a paraphrase" of an FBI statement released after Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI.
In the wake of the President's comments on Flynn, Mr Comey posted a cryptic message on Instagram which read: "Three things cannot be long hidden: the Sun; the Moon; and the truth."
Meanwhile, senior Democrats tore apart Mr Trump's account of why he sacked the former national security adviser.
Congressman Ted Lieu tweeted: "THIS IS OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. @POTUS now admits he KNEW Michael Flynn lied to the FBI. Yet Trump tried to influence or stop the FBI investigation on #Flynn.
"Trump's folks are so freaked out by @realDonaldTrump tweet that establishes Obstruction of Justice that they are trying to blame lawyer Dowd. If true, they should fire him for malpractice. But it doesn't absolve Trump. If lawyer drafts X & I say X, then I have adopted X as my own."
Fellow California congressman Adam Schiff asked the President that if he knew Flynn lied "why did you fail to act until his lies were publicly exposed?
"And why did you pressure Director Comey to 'let this go?'"
Court filings show Flynn faces six months in jail after agreeing a plea deal. The charge he pleaded guilty to carries a maximum sentence of five years.
As part of the plea agreement, Flynn has agreed to co-operate with the probe into alleged Russian meddling led by special counsel Robert Mueller.
Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday he was not worried about what Flynn may tell prosecutors, adding there was "absolutely no collusion" between his campaign team and Russia in the 2016 presidential election.
