National Security Agency Director Adm. Michael Rogers said that he had never been asked to do anything illegal or inappropriate during testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.
Sen. Mark Warner (D., Va.) brought up reports that President Donald Trump asked Rogers and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to push back against the FBI investigation into possible coordination between his campaign and the Russian government.
Warner said he wanted Rogers to have a chance to confirm or deny the reports.
"In your experience, would it be in any way typical for a president to ask questions or bring up an ongoing FBI investigation, particularly if that investigation concerns associates and individuals that might be associated with the president's campaign or his activities?" Warner asked.
Rogers said he would not discuss "theoreticals" or specifics of any interactions with Trump.
"I will make the following comment," he said. "In the three-plus years that I have been the Director of the National Security Agency, to the best of my recollection, I have never been directed to do anything I believed to be illegal, immoral, unethical or inappropriate."
He added he never recalled feeling "pressured to do so."
"Did the president ... ask you in any way, shape or form to back off or downplay the Russia investigation?" Warner asked.
"I'm not going to discuss the specifics of conversations with the president of the United States, but I stand by the comment I just made to you, sir," Rogers said.
Warner said he was "disappointed" in the answer.