Fired FBI chief James Comey claims Donald Trump 'wanted to jail journalists to stop White House leaks'

Donald Trump raised the possibility of jailing journalists to stop leaks from the White House, newly-released notes of candid conversations between the president and former FBI boss James Comey revealed today.

A series of bombshell memos written by Mr Comey, fired as FBI director by Mr Trump last May, also reveal the president’s serious concerns about the judgment of a top adviser and how Vladimir Putin apparently boasted to him that Russia had “the most beautiful hookers in the world”.

The encounters between Mr Trump and Mr Comey were detailed in the previously secret memos provided to Congress.

They are now believed to be a crucial part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Mr Trump and some senior members of his administration over possible meddling by Russia in the 2016 US presidential campaign.

Mr Trump immediately disputed the memos in a tweet claiming there was “NO COLLUSION and NO OBSTRUCTION.”

The president again accused Mr Comey of leaking classified information and added: “WOW! Will the Witch Hunt continue?”

In one previously undisclosed exchange, according to copies of the memos seen by the Standard, Mr Trump said he had serious doubts about the competence of national security adviser General Mike Flynn after the president was mistakenly led to believe Theresa May was the first world leader to congratulate him after his inauguration.

Mr Trump was praising Mrs May when General Flynn interrupted and told him the leader of another country had in fact called him first.

Mr Comey claimed Mr Trump “pointed his fingers at his head and said ‘the guy has serious judgement issues’”, referring to the general.

Although the name of the leader who called first was blacked out in the memo, it was reported to be Mr Putin.

Mr Comey, who is promoting his book A Higher Loyalty, said he recorded his conversations with the president because they were so unnerving.

He said Mr Trump had denied claims he consorted with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel during a 2013 visit.