A replacement for sacked FBI director James Comey could be announced by late next week, says United States President Donald Trump.
James Comey. Photo: AFP
Mr Comey's dismissal has caused an outcry in Washington, with some accusing the president of trying to stifle a probe into alleged Russian links to his election campaign.
About 11 people are being considered for the top job at the FBI, including the acting director Andrew McCabe and the Republican Senator from Texas, John Cornyn.
Addressing reporters onboard the presidential plan Air Force One, Mr Trump said the selection process would be fast.
"I think the process is going to move quickly because almost all of them are very well-known, they've been vetted over their lifetime essentially," he said.
Mr Trump said it was "possible" he could name someone by Friday, before he leaves for his first foreign trip.
Defence lawyer Alice Fisher was the first candidate interviewed at the justice department, US media report.
Ms Fisher was an assistant attorney general for the justice department's criminal division. She currently works at a law firm.
Meanwhile, President Trump is facing growing questions about whether he secretly recorded his conversations with Mr Comey after he appeared to tweet a thinly veiled threat to the former FBI director.
He said Mr Comey "better hope there are no tapes" of their conversations at a private White House dinner in January during which the president claims Mr Comey assured him he was not being investigated over alleged links to Russia.
- BBC