Trump slams FBI for failing to track down leakers

President Trump on Friday blasted the FBI for failing to track down people who are leaking information to journalists about the new administration.

Mr. Trump went on say that classified information is being relayed to the press, which he said could have a “devastating effect” on the U.S. He demanded that the leakers be found immediately.

This comes after CNN reported Thursday night that the FBI recently rejected a request from the White House to publicly dismiss or knock down reports that President Trump’s associates had repeated contact with Russians known to U.S. intelligence during the campaign last year.

CBS News has not confirmed the report, and the FBI has no comment on it. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the FBI investigation into alleged contacts between Trump associates and those with ties to Trump and the Russians is continuing and ongoing. The FBI is also continuing to investigate alleged Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.

Last week, Mr. Trump said at a White House meeting that leakers will “pay a big price” for leaking damaging information. This came after the resignation of Gen. Michael Flynn as national security adviser after he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. before the inauguration.

“We’re gonna find the leakers. They’re gonna pay a big price for leaking,” the president said.

In:
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Donald Trump