Top intelligence chiefs testifies before Senate committee on Russia investigation

Top US intelligence officials repeatedly declined or evaded questions from lawmakers before Senate committee on Wednesday on Russia investigation.

Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats, Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, National Security Agency Director Michael Rogers and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein testified at the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The hearing comes hours after it was reported that Coats told associates that Trump asked him if he could persuade former FBI Director James Comey to ease off a probe into former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who was fired for lying to members of the administration about his links to Moscow.

Fired FBI director James Comey confirmed on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump urged him to drop a probe into his former national security advisor Michael Flynn -- a bombshell revelation ahead of his hotly-anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill. Comey also said Trump demanded he pledge his loyalty in a White House meeting on January 27, just days after he took office under the cloud of allegations that Russia's interference helped him win election.

Comey was fired as he was overseeing an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)