US President Donald Trump launched an unprecedented attack on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for not being able to stop the leak of classified information and said it could have a "devastating effect" on the US.
Trump's public criticism of the FBI, the country's top intelligence and investigating agency, was a rare one that has not been seen in the past.
It came after CNN reported that the FBI rejected a recent request by the White House to dispute media reports that Trump campaign officials had regular contacts with Russian intelligence officials before the election.
A furious White House has described the report as inaccurate and false.
"What you guys have done is indefensible and inaccurate," a senior administration official told reporters.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official gave a time line of the White House Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, meeting with the FBI Assistant Director Andrew McCabe on 15 February.
During a one-on-one meeting between the two, after the conclusion of their official discussions, McCabe reportedly said, "I want you to know (the) story" in The New York Times report about FBI investigating contacts between Trump campaign people and Russian intelligence "is BS".
According to the account of the senior administration official, Priebus asked "what can we do about this?" McCabe demurred and said he will get back to Priebus.
Later on, McCabe called back and told Preibus that the FBI cannot say anything.
(With PTI inputs)
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