Former FBI director James Comey made a quiet visit to The New York Times building on Thursday, one of few public outings since he admitted leaking stories to the newspaper about President Trump before the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8.

Comey kept his sunglasses on and his gaze forward as he marched through the front entrance of the Eighth Avenue office building which houses the publication. He was accompanied by his wife Patrice Failor who also wore sunglasses.

Unmistakable as he towered over the crowds in a crisp navy suit and tie on one of the warmest days of the year, Comey drew second-glances from some stunned by-passers.

A New York Times Company spokeswoman poured cold water on the visit, insisting Comey did not visit the paper's newsroom.

That statement does not rule out the possibility that he met with a Times reporter elsewhere.

Comey was photographed at a charity event in a different office suite inside the building.

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Former FBI director James Comey leaves The New York Times with his wife on Thursday

Comey was stern as he emerged holding his wife's hand. She appeared to be in a slightly friendlier mood

He spent almost three hours inside before emerging, having removed his sunglasses, to hail a cab.

The New York Times Company occupies 27 of the building's 52 floors, according to developer Forest City Ratner. It downsized its operation last year, vacating eight floors to be rented out to generate income for the company.

Other businesses which hold space there include the tech start-up Datadog and Dean and DeLuca.

Comey's visit to the skyscraper came just a few weeks after the president's suggestion that he may be responsible for more leaks about the administration since being fired on May 9.

Comey confessed to being the source of a leak to the Times about private, unorthodox meeting he had with the president before he was fired in June.

The subject of their conversation was former National Security Adviser General Michael Flynn and the FBI's investigation into his ties with Russia.

Comey claimed that during their conversation, the president pressured him to drop the probe and asked him to show his loyalty. Concerned about the nature of their meeting, he recorded details of the meeting in a memo and stored it.

After his firing on May 8, Comey gave details of the memo to 'a friend' at the Times in response to a tweet from the president who threatened: 'Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!'

After the two-hour meeting, Comey took a call in the lobby before emerging with his wife

Comey's visit to the newspaper came as speculation surrounding how much he leaked to the press grew in the administration

The couple waited patiently for a taxi on the sidewalk after their dusk meeting

He and his wife hopped into a cab after spending almost three hours inside

The pair were spotted coyly entering with their sunglasses on earlier in the day

Unmistakable as he towered over the rush hour crowds, Comey attempted to hide his gaze with some sunglasses

Comey, a towering 6ft 8in, drew stunned looks from passers-by as he made his entrance

As he gave testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee in June - which has been tasked with probing any collusion between the Trump election campaign and Russia - Comey said he believed the president was subtly asking him to drop the investigation into Flynn and that it was his failure to do so which led to his sudden and shocking dismissal.

The president, maintaining that Comey was fired for his handling of a prior investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server during her time as Secretary of State, is focused on the leak and has suggested his belief that it was one of many.

'I believe the James Comey leaks will be far more prevalent than anyone ever thought possible. Totally illegal? Very 'cowardly!' he said on June 11, alluding that there was more than one.

Exactly what words were exchanged by the pair during their meeting about Flynn remains in dispute.

What would have resolved the argument - recordings or tapes of their conversation - may not be in existence.

Despite floating the idea that they existed first, Trump admitted on Thursday that he did not make any recording himself but says someone else could have.

Once inside, he checked in at reception with his wife and waited to be shown upstairs

The visit came as the administration's curiosity grows over how much Comey told the press about his conversations with the president

Once they'd checked in, the pair made their way through the turnstiles with guest passes

The Times Square office building which Comey visited

The president has speculated there the former FBI director is responsible for more than one leak

President Trump admitted on Thursday that he does not have recording of their conversations

'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,' he said in a tweet.

For his part, Comey says he hopes there is evidence of their conversations.

'Lordy I hope there are tapes,' he said as he gave testimony on June 8.

President Trump's administration has been plagued by leaks since he took office.

It has been a source of frustration for the president and his supporters.

He regularly compels the media not to use anonymous sources in its reporting and has even questioned whether stories based around nameless contributors are true.