Donald Trump has admitted that he did not make secret recordings of his meetings with former FBI director James Comey, but left open the possibility that someone else might have done.

In a series of tweets, the President wrote: "With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea...

"...whether there are "tapes" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings."

Mr Comey had been overseeing an investigation into whether Mr Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to swing the election when he was abruptly fired by the President in May.

Comey: 'Lordy, I hope there are tapes'

Mr Comey subsequently said he felt that Mr Trump had put him under pressure to end the FBI's investigation into former national security adviser General Michael Flynn's ties to Moscow, and to "lift the cloud" of the Russia investigation.


In response, the President said Mr Comey had "better hope" there weren't any tapes of the conversations before he started "leaking to the press".

...whether there are "tapes" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2017

The House Intelligence Committee, one of four congressional committees probing Russia's involvement in the election, wrote to Mr Trump's lawyer to ask if such recordings existed.

Mr Trump's tweet comes as the FBI and department of justice-appointed special counsel Robert Mueller are also continuing to conduct wide ranging investigations into Russia's role in the November election.

Earlier in June, the Washington Post reported Mr Mueller's inquiries now include whether or not Donald Trump himself attempted to obstruct justice in his dealings with Mr Comey.

In an interview with Fox News, Mr Trump has again denied there had been any obstruction of the FBI investigation or collusion with Moscow.

He also expressed concern about what he described as the close relationship between Mr Comey and Mr Mueller.

"Well he's very, very good friends with Comey, which is very bothersome," said Mr Trump, according to a transcript of the interview.