Several weeks after his inauguration, President Trump contacted James Comey, then the FBI director, and asked him when federal authorities planned to spread the word that he was not personally under investigation, two people with knowledge of the call told The New York Times. At the time, Comey was overseeing the investigation into ties between Trump associates and Russia. Comey apparently worried the call jeopardized the FBI's independence, especially in light of two other interactions he'd had with Trump: when the president asked him to pledge his loyalty, and when he asked if the FBI could halt its investigation of Michael Flynn. Trump has denied both interactions.

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