In a startling remark from a top US intelligence official, former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe says that it is “possible” that Donald Trump is a Russian asset.

Mr McCabe made the comments on Tuesday, when he said that the FBI’s Russia investigation was launched to suss out the president’s ties to Moscow, and that he is eager to see what special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation uncovers.

“I think it’s possible,” Mr McCabe told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “I think that’s why we started our investigation, and I’m really anxious to see where Mueller concludes that.”

Mr McCabe is promoting his new book, “The Threat”, and has given several shocking interviews detailing his views on the president and his oversight of the US government.

In response, the president has attacked Mr McCabe alongside prominent members of the Trump administration. White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway, for instance, responded soon after Mr McCabe’s comments in a later show.

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“He’s a liar and a leaker,” Ms Conway said.

Before his CNN appearances, Mr McCabe had said on “60 Minutes” that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had raised the idea of wiring himself to record the president, and that there had been talks in the highest levels of US government about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Mr Trump from office.

Mr McCabe said that they did not ultimately use a wire to record the president.

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The former intelligence official took over at the FBI after former FBI Director James Comey was fired suddenly by Mr Trump.