A number of news organizations previously reported that the president had asked both Coats and Rogers to publicly deny allegations of collusion with Moscow, while Ledgett reportedly wrote an internal NSA memo about a phone conversation Rogers had with Trump.
The White House noted in a statement last month that FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe testified that "there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date". Experts point out that the Supreme Court ruled during the Watergate scandal that officials can not use privilege to withhold evidence in criminal prosecutions.
Comey said he believed Mueller would look into Trump for obstruction of justice. Mueller's office has resumed that work and early interviews scheduled to take place with intelligence officials indicate that his team is actively pursuing potential witnesses in and out of the government.
Mueller was named by Rosenstein on May 17 to lead the Russian Federation investigation as a special counsel, a position created to conduct investigations when a normal Justice Department probe would present a conflict of interest. Any findings by the department's investigation would be referred to Congress, where lawmakers would determine whether to impeach the president.
None of the men were involved with Trump's campaign.
Following Comey's blockbuster appearance before Congress, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll shows 68 percent of Americans are at least moderately concerned about the possibility that Trump or his campaign associates had inappropriate ties to Russian Federation. He said he was untroubled by claims Trump tried to persuade Comey to back off the investigation, saying those revelations only emerged after Comey was sacked and wanted to defend himself.
Soon after, Trump spoke to Coats and Rogers about the Russian Federation investigation.
"Whoever leaked [news of the obstruction investigation] was obviously reading that he was thinking about giving Mueller the boot", an official told the Daily Beast. When that ended, Trump allegedly asked everyone to leave the room except for Coats and CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Officials with knowledge of the matter told the Post the FBI and federal prosecutors have also been scrutinizing the finances of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and other Trump associates.
Cuomo to make Paul Feinman first gay man on top court
He earned a graduate degree from Columbia University and a law degree from the University of Minnesota. If confirmed, he will be the first openly LGBT judge to the sit on the high court's bench.
"The president did this to himself", that official added.
Comey testified last week that he also felt pressured to drop the Flynn probe. The president has accused Comey of lying about those encounters.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel shortly after Comey's firing. The investigation is examining possible contacts with Russian operatives as well as any suspicious financial activity related to those individuals.
Reporter Tony Mauro noted the addition of Dreeben may signal that "Mueller may be seeking advice on complex areas of criminal law, including what constitutes obstruction of justice".
During the meeting at Trump Tower with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, Kushner reportedly floated the possibility of establishing a back-channel line of communication between the Trump transition team and Russia. Ultimately, it would be up to Mueller to decide whether there is enough evidence to recommend pursuing charges on any part of the investigation.
Coats will also meet with members of the Senate intelligence committee Thursday, one week after his tense grilling by the panel, according to a committee source.
"If I had nothing to hide and someone wanted to investigate, I would say, 'Go ahead, do your thing, I don't care, because you won't find anything, '" said Younger, a Democrat who imports jewelry supplies.
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