Donald Trump 'asked James Comey to shut FBI investigation into Michael Flynn'

Donald Trump asked James Comey, the former FBI director, to end an investigation into Michael Flynn's links to Russia, it was reported on Tuesday night.

"I hope you can let this go,” Mr Trump reportedly told Mr Comey, the day after Mr Flynn, the former national security adviser, had resigned over his undeclared contacts with Moscow.

The New York Times cited a memo that Mr Comey wrote shortly after the meeting with the US president in early February. Mr Trump fired Mr Comey, who was leading the investigation into links between the Trump campaign and Russia, last week.

If confirmed, it would be evidence that the US president had directly tried to influence the FBI investigation.

Calls for impeachment

Democrats said such an act would classify as an obstruction of justice and that Mr Trump could face impeachment.

"We are witnessing an obstruction of justice case unfolding in real time," Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Judiciary Committee member and former federal prosecutor, said in a statement. He called for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate.

According to two unnamed sources speaking to the newspaper, Mr Comey documented his interactions with Mr Trump because he perceived the US president was improperly attempting to influence the investigation.

"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr Trump allegedly told Mr Comey. "He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

According to the report of the memo, all Mr Comey replied was: "I agree he is a good guy.”

The New York Times said that during the Oval Office meeting, Mr Trump condemned a series of government leaks to the news media and said the FBI director should consider prosecuting reporters for publishing classified information.

White House hits back

The White House said the report was "not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey" and that Mr Trump never asked his former FBI director to end any investigations involving him.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they wanted to see the memo.

Republican US Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of a House of Representatives oversight committee, said his committee "is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready."