Trump attacks on fired FBI chief meet resistance; Russia probe proceeds WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday ran into resistance for calling ousted FBI chief James Comey a “showboat,” an attack that was swiftly contradicted by top U.S. senators and the acting FBI leader, who pledged that an investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia would proceed with vigor.  In his first interview since firing Comey on Tuesday, Trump appeared to try to underscore that Comey’s dismissal was about his performance at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and not about the Russia probe.  Trump faces accusations from Democrats that he fired Comey to hinder the FBI investigation into U.S. intelligence agency allegations that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election to benefit Trump. The probe has hung over Trump’s presidency since he took office in January and threatens to overwhelm his policy priorities.  “He’s a showboat. He’s a grandstander,” Trump told NBC News. “The FBI has been in turmoil. You know that, I know that, everybody knows that.”  Trump’s characterization was at odds with that of the top Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee.  At a hearing on Thursday, the Republican chairman of the panel, Richard Burr, and the top Democrat, Mark Warner, praised Comey. Warner said he was offended at Trump’s remarks.  Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, testifying in place of Comey, contradicted Trump’s appraisal of turmoil at the FBI, saying that Comey had “broad support” from the rank and file “and still does to this day.”  A White House spokeswoman on Thursday morning had said that Trump was expected to soon visit FBI headquarters, but MSNBC later reported that plan had been thrown out after agency officials told the White House that Trump would not be greeted warmly following his firing of Comey.  Several candidates are being considered to replace Comey, a senior White House official said, including Mike Rogers, a former Republican representative; Trey Gowdy, a Republican representative and former federal prosecutor; Alice Fisher, assistant attorney general in the George W. Bush administration; and Ray Kelly, former commissioner of the New York Police Department.  The nominee must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.  McCabe promised to tell senators of any White House meddling into the agency’s probe on Russia. Democrats have called for a special counsel to look into the matter.  “It is my opinion and belief that the FBI will continue to pursue this investigation vigorously and completely,” McCabe told the senators.  Moscow has denied interference in the election, and the Trump administration denies allegations of collusion with Russia.  In firing Comey, Trump said he knew he ran the risk he would “confuse people” and “lengthen out the investigation” into ties to Russia.  “In fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, ‘You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won,” he told NBC.  Trump said in the interview that he never pressured Comey into dropping the FBI probe, adding: “If Russia did anything, I want to know that.” Trump said there was no “collusion between me and my campaign and the Russians,” but that “the Russians did not affect the vote.”  His explanation of why he fired Comey ran counter to previous administration explanations of Comey’s dismissal.  The White House and Vice President Mike Pence had said Trump fired Comey on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and No. 2 Justice Department official Rod Rosenstein.  On Thursday, Trump said he would have taken the action regardless. “I was going to fire Comey. My decision,” Trump said. “I was going to fire regardless of recommendation.”  Rosenstein, who met privately with some senators on Thursday, was invited to brief all 100 senators next week, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. Schumer said he hoped that Sessions would also speak to senators separately on the firing of Comey.  In the House of Representatives, Justin Amash, a Republican member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said on Twitter that he had signed onto Democratic-sponsored legislation calling for an independent, bipartisan commission to probe Russian meddling in last year’s U.S. election campaign.  U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an effort to disrupt the election that included hacking into Democratic Party emails and leaking them, with the aim of helping Trump.  Leaders of the U.S. intelligence agencies, including Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and CIA chief Mike Pompeo, testified to the senators on Thursday that they agreed with that finding.  Trump, in his interview, also gave further details of his account that Comey had told him on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation in the Russia matter.  Trump said he had asked Comey once over dinner and twice by telephone. “I said: ‘If it’s possible, would you let me know, am I under investigation?’” Trump told NBC. “He said: ‘You are not under investigation.’”  Trump said the dinner with Comey was at the White House and Comey wanted to discuss staying on as FBI chief. “We had a very nice dinner. And at that time, he told me: ‘You are not under investigation.’”  White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she believed it was not a conflict of interest for a president to ask the FBI chief such a question.  Comey has not publicly discussed any conversations he had with Trump.  At the Senate hearing, McCabe testified it was not typical practice to tell people they were not a targets of an investigation.  Republican chairman Burr asked McCabe whether he ever heard Comey tell Trump that the president was not the subject of investigation. McCabe sidestepped the question, saying he could not comment on an ongoing probe.  Warner, the top Democrat on the panel, said it was “hard to avoid the conclusion” that Trump’s firing of Comey was related to the Russia investigation.  “And while it’s clear to me now more than ever that an independent special counsel must be appointed, make no mistake our committee will get to the bottom of what happened during the 2016 presidential election,” Warner said.  politicsNews
trump attacks fired fbi chief meet resistance russia probe proceeds washington reuters president donald trump thursday ran resistance calling ousted fbi chief james come showpost attack swiftly contradicted top senators acting fbi leader pledged investigation possible trump campaign ties russia would proceed vigor in first interview since firing come tuesday trump appeared try underscore come dismissal performance federal bureau investigation russia probe trump faces accusations democrats fired come hinder fbi investigation intelligence agency allegations russia muddled presidential election benefit trump the probe hung trump presidency since took office january threatens overwhelm policy priorities he showpost he grandstand trump told nbc news the fbi turmoil you know i know everybody knows trump characterization odds top republican democratic lawmakers senate intelligence committee at hearing thursday republican chairman panel richard burn top democrat mark warner praised come warner said offended trump remarks acting fbi director andrew mccain testifying place come contradicted trump appraisal turmoil fbi saying come broad support rank file still a white house spokeswoman thursday morning said trump expected soon visit fbi headquarters msnbc later reported plan thrown agency officials told white house trump would greeted warmly following firing come several candidates considered replace come senior white house official said including mike rogers former republican representative they rowdy republican representative former federal prosecutor alice fisher assistant attorney general george bush administration ray kelly former commissioner new york police department the nominee must confirmed senate mccain promised tell senators white house meddling agency probe russia democrats called special counsel look matter it opinion belief fbi continue pursue investigation vigorously completely mccain told senators moscow denied interference election trump administration denies allegations collusion russia in firing come trump said knew ran risk would confuse people length investigation ties russia in fact i decided i said i said you know russia thing trump russia story excuse democrats lost election told nbc trump said interview never pressured come dropping fbi probe adding if russia anything i want know trump said collusion campaign russian russian affect his explanation fired come ran counter previous administration explanations come dismissal the white house vice president mike pence said trump fired come recommendation attorney general jeff sessions no justice department official rod rosenstein on thursday trump said would taken action regardless i going fire come my decision trump said i going fire regardless rosenstein met privately senators thursday invited brief senators next week senate democratic leader chuck scheme said scheme said hoped sessions would also speak senators separately firing come in house representatives justin smash republican member conservative house freedom caucus said twitter signed onto legislation calling independent bipartisan commission probe russian meddling last year election campaign intelligence agencies concluded russian president vladimir putin ordered effort disrupt election included hacking democratic party emails leaking aim helping trump leaders intelligence agencies including director national intelligence dan coats cia chief mike pope testified senators thursday agreed finding trump interview also gave details account come told three separate occasions investigation russia matter trump said asked come dinner twice telephone i said if possible would let know i investigation trump told nbc he said you trump said dinner come white house come wanted discuss staying fbi chief we nice dinner and time told you white house spokeswoman sarah huckabee sanders said believed conflict interest president ask fbi chief question come publicly discussed conversations trump at senate hearing mccain testified typical practice tell people targets investigation republican chairman burn asked mccain whether ever heard come tell trump president subject investigation mccain sidestepped question saying could comment ongoing probe warner top democrat panel said hard avoid conclusion trump firing come related russia investigation and clear ever independent special counsel must appointed make mistake committee get bottom happened presidential election warner said politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump attacks on fired FBI chief meet resistance; Russia probe proceeds WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday ran into resistance for calling ousted FBI chief James Comey a “showboat,” an attack that was swiftly contradicted by top U.S. senators and the acting FBI leader, who pledged that an investigation into possible Trump campaign ties to Russia would proceed with vigor.  In his first interview since firing Comey on Tuesday, Trump appeared to try to underscore that Comey’s dismissal was about his performance at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and not about the Russia probe.  Trump faces accusations from Democrats that he fired Comey to hinder the FBI investigation into U.S. intelligence agency allegations that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election to benefit Trump. The probe has hung over Trump’s presidency since he took office in January and threatens to overwhelm his policy priorities.  “He’s a showboat. He’s a grandstander,” Trump told NBC News. “The FBI has been in turmoil. You know that, I know that, everybody knows that.”  Trump’s characterization was at odds with that of the top Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee.  At a hearing on Thursday, the Republican chairman of the panel, Richard Burr, and the top Democrat, Mark Warner, praised Comey. Warner said he was offended at Trump’s remarks.  Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, testifying in place of Comey, contradicted Trump’s appraisal of turmoil at the FBI, saying that Comey had “broad support” from the rank and file “and still does to this day.”  A White House spokeswoman on Thursday morning had said that Trump was expected to soon visit FBI headquarters, but MSNBC later reported that plan had been thrown out after agency officials told the White House that Trump would not be greeted warmly following his firing of Comey.  Several candidates are being considered to replace Comey, a senior White House official said, including Mike Rogers, a former Republican representative; Trey Gowdy, a Republican representative and former federal prosecutor; Alice Fisher, assistant attorney general in the George W. Bush administration; and Ray Kelly, former commissioner of the New York Police Department.  The nominee must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.  McCabe promised to tell senators of any White House meddling into the agency’s probe on Russia. Democrats have called for a special counsel to look into the matter.  “It is my opinion and belief that the FBI will continue to pursue this investigation vigorously and completely,” McCabe told the senators.  Moscow has denied interference in the election, and the Trump administration denies allegations of collusion with Russia.  In firing Comey, Trump said he knew he ran the risk he would “confuse people” and “lengthen out the investigation” into ties to Russia.  “In fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, ‘You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won,” he told NBC.  Trump said in the interview that he never pressured Comey into dropping the FBI probe, adding: “If Russia did anything, I want to know that.” Trump said there was no “collusion between me and my campaign and the Russians,” but that “the Russians did not affect the vote.”  His explanation of why he fired Comey ran counter to previous administration explanations of Comey’s dismissal.  The White House and Vice President Mike Pence had said Trump fired Comey on the recommendation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and No. 2 Justice Department official Rod Rosenstein.  On Thursday, Trump said he would have taken the action regardless. “I was going to fire Comey. My decision,” Trump said. “I was going to fire regardless of recommendation.”  Rosenstein, who met privately with some senators on Thursday, was invited to brief all 100 senators next week, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. Schumer said he hoped that Sessions would also speak to senators separately on the firing of Comey.  In the House of Representatives, Justin Amash, a Republican member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said on Twitter that he had signed onto Democratic-sponsored legislation calling for an independent, bipartisan commission to probe Russian meddling in last year’s U.S. election campaign.  U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an effort to disrupt the election that included hacking into Democratic Party emails and leaking them, with the aim of helping Trump.  Leaders of the U.S. intelligence agencies, including Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and CIA chief Mike Pompeo, testified to the senators on Thursday that they agreed with that finding.  Trump, in his interview, also gave further details of his account that Comey had told him on three separate occasions that he was not under investigation in the Russia matter.  Trump said he had asked Comey once over dinner and twice by telephone. “I said: ‘If it’s possible, would you let me know, am I under investigation?’” Trump told NBC. “He said: ‘You are not under investigation.’”  Trump said the dinner with Comey was at the White House and Comey wanted to discuss staying on as FBI chief. “We had a very nice dinner. And at that time, he told me: ‘You are not under investigation.’”  White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she believed it was not a conflict of interest for a president to ask the FBI chief such a question.  Comey has not publicly discussed any conversations he had with Trump.  At the Senate hearing, McCabe testified it was not typical practice to tell people they were not a targets of an investigation.  Republican chairman Burr asked McCabe whether he ever heard Comey tell Trump that the president was not the subject of investigation. McCabe sidestepped the question, saying he could not comment on an ongoing probe.  Warner, the top Democrat on the panel, said it was “hard to avoid the conclusion” that Trump’s firing of Comey was related to the Russia investigation.  “And while it’s clear to me now more than ever that an independent special counsel must be appointed, make no mistake our committee will get to the bottom of what happened during the 2016 presidential election,” Warner said.  politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump attacks fired fbi chief meet resistance russia probe proceeds washington reuters president donald trump thursday ran resistance calling ousted fbi chief james come showpost attack swiftly contradicted top senators acting fbi leader pledged investigation possible trump campaign ties russia would proceed vigor in first interview since firing come tuesday trump appeared try underscore come dismissal performance federal bureau investigation russia probe trump faces accusations democrats fired come hinder fbi investigation intelligence agency allegations russia muddled presidential election benefit trump the probe hung trump presidency since took office january threatens overwhelm policy priorities he showpost he grandstand trump told nbc news the fbi turmoil you know i know everybody knows trump characterization odds top republican democratic lawmakers senate intelligence committee at hearing thursday republican chairman panel richard burn top democrat mark warner praised come warner said offended trump remarks acting fbi director andrew mccain testifying place come contradicted trump appraisal turmoil fbi saying come broad support rank file still a white house spokeswoman thursday morning said trump expected soon visit fbi headquarters msnbc later reported plan thrown agency officials told white house trump would greeted warmly following firing come several candidates considered replace come senior white house official said including mike rogers former republican representative they rowdy republican representative former federal prosecutor alice fisher assistant attorney general george bush administration ray kelly former commissioner new york police department the nominee must confirmed senate mccain promised tell senators white house meddling agency probe russia democrats called special counsel look matter it opinion belief fbi continue pursue investigation vigorously completely mccain told senators moscow denied interference election trump administration denies allegations collusion russia in firing come trump said knew ran risk would confuse people length investigation ties russia in fact i decided i said i said you know russia thing trump russia story excuse democrats lost election told nbc trump said interview never pressured come dropping fbi probe adding if russia anything i want know trump said collusion campaign russian russian affect his explanation fired come ran counter previous administration explanations come dismissal the white house vice president mike pence said trump fired come recommendation attorney general jeff sessions no justice department official rod rosenstein on thursday trump said would taken action regardless i going fire come my decision trump said i going fire regardless rosenstein met privately senators thursday invited brief senators next week senate democratic leader chuck scheme said scheme said hoped sessions would also speak senators separately firing come in house representatives justin smash republican member conservative house freedom caucus said twitter signed onto legislation calling independent bipartisan commission probe russian meddling last year election campaign intelligence agencies concluded russian president vladimir putin ordered effort disrupt election included hacking democratic party emails leaking aim helping trump leaders intelligence agencies including director national intelligence dan coats cia chief mike pope testified senators thursday agreed finding trump interview also gave details account come told three separate occasions investigation russia matter trump said asked come dinner twice telephone i said if possible would let know i investigation trump told nbc he said you trump said dinner come white house come wanted discuss staying fbi chief we nice dinner and time told you white house spokeswoman sarah huckabee sanders said believed conflict interest president ask fbi chief question come publicly discussed conversations trump at senate hearing mccain testified typical practice tell people targets investigation republican chairman burn asked mccain whether ever heard come tell trump president subject investigation mccain sidestepped question saying could comment ongoing probe warner top democrat panel said hard avoid conclusion trump firing come related russia investigation and clear ever independent special counsel must appointed make mistake committee get bottom happened presidential election warner said politicsnews