(RNN) - The special counsel investigating Russia's meddling in the 2016 election has expanded the inquiry to include examination of possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump, the Washington Post reported Wednesday afternoon.
Robert Mueller's investigation is looking into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, and is also looking into financial crimes among Trump associates, the Post wrote, citing five unnamed intelligence officials.
The president previously said that fired FBI Director James Comey assured him in private conversation that he was not under investigation. But that changed shortly after Trump fired Comey last May, the Post's sources said.
Daniel Coats, the current director of national intelligence, Adm. Mike Rogers, head of the National Security Agency, and Richard Ledgett, Rogers' former deputy will be interviewed by Mueller's investigators, perhaps as early as this week, the article said.
A spokesman for Trump's attorney Marc Kasowitz fiercely denied the allegations.
"The FBI lead of information regarding the president is outrageous, inexcusable and illegal," Mark Corallo told the Post.
It is not clear whether the White House could use executive privilege to try to block them from speaking to the investigators.
Reports that Trump was considering firing Mueller surfaced last week, again citing unnamed sources. House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican leaders publicly said they thought the investigation should be allowed to run its course, and that firing the special counsel would be a mistake.
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