Donald Trump launched an extraordinary attack on the FBI, declaring it a biased institution and that's its reputation “is in tatters”.
In a series of more than a dozen tweets, the US president said the law enforcement agency’s makeup is currently the “worst in history”.
His Twitter rant came after his former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
It also came as fresh questions were raised about his decision to fire James Comey, the bureau’s former director, and on the impartiality of the team handling the Russia inquiry.
Mr Trump tweeted: “After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters — worst in History!”
He hinted that he was preparing a move to reform the agency, adding: “But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness.”
The US leader also retweeted a demand from a conservative commentator that the current head of the FBI, Chris Wray, “needs to clean house”.
Mr Trump was reacting to news that Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian meddling in last year’s election, removed a senior FBI agent from his team for sending anti-Trump text messages to a colleague over the summer.
Peter Strzok, the agent in question, last year worked on the FBI investigation into whether Hillary Clinton mishandled classified information.
The president wrote: “Anti-Trump FBI agent led Clinton email probe. Now it all starts to make sense!”
His supporters argued that Mr Mueller, who is a long-time colleague of Mr Comey, is incapable of conducting a fair investigation.
Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, told news agency Associated Press Mueller removed Strzok from the team "immediately upon learning of the allegations."
Read More
Following the tweets, Senator Lindsey Graham, warned the president to tread cautiously. He said: "You tweet and comment regarding ongoing criminal investigations at your own peril. I'd be careful if I were you, Mr. President. I'd watch this.”
