President Trump ordered White House counsel Don McGahn to stop Attorney General Jeff Sessions from recusing himself in the investigation into potential ties between Trump's campaign and Russia, according to a new report.

The New York Times reports that after Trump's directive, McGahn attempted to convince Sessions not to recuse himself from the investigation, according to two sources.

Trump was reportedly furious at Sessions's recusal and angrily told White House officials that he needed Sessions to protect him.

The newspaper also reports that Trump intended to send a letter to former FBI Director James Comey describing the Russia investigation as "fabricated and politically motivated," but he was stopped by aides.

Sessions's recusal led to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointing special counsel Robert Mueller to head the Russia investigation.

The newspaper reports that Mueller has been able to substantiate claims made by Comey in memos describing conversations with Trump.

Those memos describe multiple interactions between Comey and Trump before his firing, including one conversation in which Trump asked Comey to end the FBI's investigation into Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Mueller's probe has produced four indictments of former Trump aides and officials, including Flynn and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort.