Trump appears to become own 'leaker' with tweet about Russia probe

A Department of Justice spokesperson declined to address what prompted the statement.

This isn't the first report to suggest that the presidency was taking an unexpected toll on Trump.

It's been another big week in the investigation into Russian meddling in the US elections. "It could be a prelude to firing the special counsel".

On Twitter, Mr Trump dismissed as "phony" the idea his campaign colluded with any Russian effort to sway the 2016 U.S. election. He heads the McDermott, Will and Emery firm's government strategies practice.

It was a memo written by Rosenstein that was originally used by the White House as justification for Comey's firing.

Trump did not make it clear whom his tweet was referring to.

But Trump tried to remain on the offensive yesterday, charging on Twitter that investigators have so far turned up no evidence of wrongdoing.

Rosenstein serves under Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Next week's witnesses include officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, election officials, and an expert on election security.

The special counsel is following two major lines of investigation, said one USA official familiar with the rough outlines of Mueller's probe who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"He's driving this", the White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss West Wing internal deliberations.

Also Wednesday, Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley said his panel will investigate the removal of former FBI Director James Comey and "any alleged improper partisan interference in law enforcement investigations". But on Friday, Trump said he is being investigation for firing Comey.

United States media had reported that Trump is personally being probed.

When Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey last month, he initially cited a memo written by Rosenstein as the basis for the dismissal. "Witch Hunt", Trump tweeted on Friday, apparently referring to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to overtake the sprawling Russian Federation probe.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she is concerned that Trump might try to fire both Rosenstein and Mueller.

In an attempt to sound upbeat and to downplay the new developments in a controversy that has now reached the Oval Office, Trump also said that "despite the phony witch Hunt going on in America, the economic & jobs numbers are great". Still, the rate declined mainly for a less-than-encouraging reason: People stopped looking for work in May and so were no longer counted as unemployed. Such ad hominem attacks are electrifying his support base even as they are said to be driving his legal team to despair.

Not all of Trump's social media followers are supporters.

The Republican president has repeatedly complained about the probe, calling it a witch hunt and saying Democrats can not accept his election victory. In the same interview the President suggested that he was thinking about the Russian Federation investigation at the time he terminated Comey.

Mr Comey said he was "sure" Mr Mueller was looking at whether Mr Trump had obstructed justice, but added that to his knowledge, the president had not tried to impede the Russian Federation inquiry.

President confirms he is the subject of an inquiry into obstruction of justice and abuses of power.

After the statement, The Post updated the Kushner article so that its first sourcing reference was to "US officials".