Days before he was fired, former FBI Director James Comey asked the Justice Department for additional resources to expand the bureau's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to multiple press reports.
Three congressional officials familiar with the matter told the New York Times, which first reported the story, on Wednesday that Comey made the request last week during a meeting with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Rosenstein authored a letter that condemned Comey's management of the Hillary Clinton email scandal. Attorney General Jeff Sessions used the letter as justification while recommending that President Trump fire Comey, which he did on Tuesday.
According to the Times' sources, Comey subsequently briefed members of Congress on the request.
Following the release of the Times' report, the Justice Department denied that Comey asked for more funds.
"The idea that [Comey] asked for more funding" for the Russia investigation was "totally false," department spokeswomen Sarah Isgur Flores said.
Update:
*DOJ DENIES NYT REPORT, SAYS COMEY DIDN'T ASK FOR MORE FUNDS https://t.co/BTdbESmMno
— David S. Joachim (@davidjoachim) May 10, 2017
Flores then clarified that "more resources" were requested rather than "more money."
https://twitter.com/RamCNN/status/862343478331703296
Several media outlets–including CNN, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press–have reported stories confirming that Comey requested more resources.