As it happened: Joseph Maguire: Spy chief backs Trump whistleblower - BBC News
The intelligence chief was grilled on why concerns raised about Trump call with Ukraine were held up.
"I believe that Mr Giuliani is the president's personal lawyer, and whatever conversation that the president has with his personal lawyer" would be covered under attorney-client privilege, says Maguire as the hearing neared its end.

"I am in no position to criticise the president of the United States on how he wants to conduct that and I have no knowing of what Mr Giuliani does or does not do," continued the intelligence chief.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, now Trump's personal lawyer, has dismissed a whistleblower's claim that US officials were "deeply concerned" about Giuliani's efforts relating to Ukraine, and that they took efforts to "contain the damage" to US national security.

In a call with CNN on Thursday, which he said was placed from the Trump International Hotel in Washington, Giuliani told the network he has "no knowledge of any of that crap".

He says he remained in touch with Kurt Volker, US special representative for Ukraine, and other State Department officials "at least 10 times".

Giuliani maintains he has text messages that prove the US government was aware of his efforts on behalf of Trump.