Daily Times

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump angrily decried as a ‘distraction’ the ‘witch hunt’ against him Sunday, as his lawyer insisted the US leader was not under criminal investigation in the sweeping probe of Russian meddling in American elections.

The contradictory messages came after Trump first answered – and seemingly confirmed – reports that he is personally being investigated for obstruction of justice when he tweeted on Friday: “I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt.”

But Jay Sekulow, who is part of Trump’s legal team, said Trump was in fact writing about reports of an investigation, not an actual probe.

“The tweet from the president was in response to the five anonymous sources purportedly leaking info to The Washington Post,” Sekulow told NBC television’s ‘Meet the Press’.

Sekulow was referring to a report in the Post this week that said Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in November’s presidential election was now also trying to determine whether Trump obstructed justice.

On Sunday, Trump again referred to the probe, but dismissed it as a ‘distraction’.

“The MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN agenda is doing very well despite the distraction of the Witch Hunt. Many new jobs, high business enthusiasm, massive regulation cuts, 36 new legislative bills signed, great new SC Justice, and Infrastructure, Healthcare and Tax Cuts in works!” he said.