US President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on the Justice Department, suggesting the FBI may have planted or recruited an informant in his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump stopped short of accusing the FBI of spying on his campaign, instead citing unnamed reports that at least one FBI representative was "implanted" for political purposes into his campaign.
"If true - all time biggest political scandal!" Trump said in a tweet.
Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, now one of Trump's personal lawyers, almost immediately undercut Trump's speculation about an informant.
"I don't know for sure, nor does the president, if there really was one," he told CNN.
"For a long time we've been told there was some kind of infiltration.
"At one time, the president thought it was a wiretap."
Neither Trump nor Giuliani provided any evidence of government infiltration into Trump's presidential campaign.
With Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigating possible collusion between Trump's election campaign team and Russia, Trump and some of his allies have alleged elements inside the Justice Department are seeking to undermine his administration.
Trump has denied any collusion with Russia and repeatedly called Mueller's investigation a "witch-hunt".
Russia has denied meddling in the US presidential election.
The FBI declined to comment on Friday.
Australian Associated Press
