Trump says probe of Russia link is ‘greatest witch hunt’ in US history

President Donald Trump on Thursday described the appointment of a special counsel to probe his links with Russia as “the single greatest witch hunt” in US history.

This is coming hours after he said he looked forward to a thorough investigation regarding the issue.

The US justice department had named Robert Mueller, former FBI director, as special counsel to investigate alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

The counsel is also investigating possible collusion between Trump’s presidential campaign and Moscow.

In a statement on Thursday, Trump said: “A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know, there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity.”

But he also expressed his reservations about the counsel.

“With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign and Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

“This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history.”

With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special counsel appointed!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2017

This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2017

Russia already denied US intelligence agencies’ claim that it interfered in the election campaign to try to tilt the vote in Trump’s favour.

Trump, on the other hand, also denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

The appointment of a special counsel to take over the Russia probe was praised by Democrats and Trump’s fellow Republicans.

Charlie Dent, Republican representative, said there was no question that the Russians meddled in the election.

He said the goal of the special counsel probe was to determine whether there was collusion between Trump associates and Russia to do so.

“I believe that’s why we’re having this investigation, to find out if in fact there was collusion,” Dent told CNN.

“I certainly hope there wasn’t any but if there is there are going to be very serious consequences.”

Moments before Trump expressed his reservations on Twitter, Joe Manchin, a democratic senator, welcomed the special counsel investigation.

He said it was important to get facts in the Russia probe, adding, “I am not on a witch hunt. I am on a fact-finding mission”.