FBI officials debated whether President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE was "acting at the behest of" Russia after he fired former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyTrump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa Graham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' MORE in 2017, the FBI's general counsel told House investigators last year, according to CNN.

James Baker told investigators that the possibility Trump was working for Russia was "one extreme" that FBI officials debated, according to transcripts that CNN obtained.

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"The other extreme is that the President is completely innocent, and we discussed that too. There's a range of things this could possibly be," he said, according to the news network.

"We need to investigate, because we don't know whether, you know, the worst-case scenario is possibly true or the President is totally innocent and we need to get this thing over with — and so he can move forward with his agenda," Baker added.

The New York Times reported on Friday that the FBI in 2017 opened a counterintelligence investigation into whether Trump was working on behalf of Russia. The Times reported that Trump's firing of Comey prompted the probe.

Special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible obstruction of justice on the part of Trump, who has repeatedly dismissed the probe as a "witch hunt."

CNN also reported that former FBI lawyer Lisa Page testified that the bureau was considering opening a probe into whether Trump was working on behalf of Russia even before he fired Comey.

"This case had been a topic of discussion for some time," Page testified, according to CNN. "The 'waiting on' was an indecision and a cautiousness on the part of the bureau with respect to what to do and whether there was sufficient predication to open."

It has previously been reported that Peter Strzok, the former FBI agent who was fired because he made comments critical of Trump, told Page in a text message following Comey's dismissal that the FBI needed "to open the case we've been waiting on."

"Lyin’ James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter S and his lover, agent Lisa Page, & more, all disgraced and/or fired and caught in the act. These are just some of the losers that tried to do a number on your President. Part of the Witch Hunt. Remember the 'insurance policy?' This is it!" Trump wrote.