US President Donald Trump says he did not make secret recordings of ex-FBI chief James Comey despite an earlier hint to the contrary.
Donald Trump, left, said he did not make secret recordings of the former FBI head James Comey. Photo: AFP
He said in a tweet: "I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings."
Speculation that there were tapes arose after he tweeted last month, days after he had fired Mr Comey, "James Comey better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations..."
He has been under pressure to produce the tapes amid inquiries into alleged Russian meddling in the election.
"With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea whether there are 'tapes' or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings," Mr Trump wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
The House Intelligence Committee had earlier this month asked the White House to hand over any such recordings.
Mr Comey was heading the FBI inquiry into alleged Russian interference in last year's presidential election, and whether the Trump team had any links to Moscow, when he was fired on 9 May.
- BBC / Reuters