President Trump directly asked James Comey if he was being investigated for ties to Russia

On Thursday, President Trump admitted he had asked former FBI Director James Comey directly if he was being investigated for potential ties to Russia. "I actually asked him," Trump told NBC News' Lester Holt. "I said, 'If it's possible, would you let me know, am I under investigation?' He said, 'You are not under investigation.'"

In a letter to Comey informing him of his termination, Trump wrote: "I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation." In responding to Holt's questions, Trump clarified that those occasions were one dinner he had with Comey and then two separate phone calls.

NBC News notes that "it would be highly unusual for someone who might be the focus of an FBI probe to ask whether he was under investigation and to be directly told by the FBI director that he was not." The FBI has a policy of not talking about open, ongoing investigations. Watch the interview below. Jeva Lange

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