<p>President Donald Trump on Friday claimed "total and complete vindication" after ousted FBI director James Comey said he was not personally under investigation in a probe into Russian interference in last year's US election.<br /><br />The early morning tweet was Trump's first response to Comey's testimony Thursday before a Senate committee in which he accused the president of lies and defamation.<br /><br />But Comey also confirmed that Trump was not being probed.<br /><br />"Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication... and WOW, Comey is a leaker!" Trump said.<br /><br />Comey admitted in his sworn testimony that he had asked a friend to leak notes he kept detailing his meetings with Trump to a reporter.<br /><br />"I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel, Comey said.<br /><br />The ploy worked. The Russia investigation is now being handled by a high-powered special prosecutor.<br /><br />Comey painted a devastating picture of an untrustworthy president, who at best unknowingly shred the norms of office by pressing him on the Russia probe, and at worst may have criminally obstructed justice.<br /><br />But Trump and his supporters focused instead on the confirmation that he was not a target of investigation, easing months of speculation.</p>
<p>President Donald Trump on Friday claimed "total and complete vindication" after ousted FBI director James Comey said he was not personally under investigation in a probe into Russian interference in last year's US election.<br /><br />The early morning tweet was Trump's first response to Comey's testimony Thursday before a Senate committee in which he accused the president of lies and defamation.<br /><br />But Comey also confirmed that Trump was not being probed.<br /><br />"Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication... and WOW, Comey is a leaker!" Trump said.<br /><br />Comey admitted in his sworn testimony that he had asked a friend to leak notes he kept detailing his meetings with Trump to a reporter.<br /><br />"I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel, Comey said.<br /><br />The ploy worked. The Russia investigation is now being handled by a high-powered special prosecutor.<br /><br />Comey painted a devastating picture of an untrustworthy president, who at best unknowingly shred the norms of office by pressing him on the Russia probe, and at worst may have criminally obstructed justice.<br /><br />But Trump and his supporters focused instead on the confirmation that he was not a target of investigation, easing months of speculation.</p>