Russia Probe: Senator Schumer invites Trump to testify before Senate

Senator Chuck Schumer has invited U.S. President Donald Trump to testify before the U.S. Congress on his campaign's alleged ties to Russia after the latter expressed his "100 percent" willingness to testify under oath about the events that led to the firing of James Comey as FBI director.

Fears exist that with President Trump testifying in public, the Senate hearing surrounding Comey's intelligence committee testimony would take the controversial matter to a very high level that could affect the country's image in the short and long term.

"I'd like to invite the president to testify before the Senate," the Fox news quoted the Democratic Party Senator, as saying.

Schumer said Trump should not only testify, but also release any "tapes" of White House conversations if he indeed has them.

"He ought to say what he means and if he does, we'll take him up on each case," he said.

Schumer has acknowledged that he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, would have to consult on the issue with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is heading the Justice Department's investigation.

Schumer has insisted that Trump's testimony could be done in a "dignified" manner, but there is a is doubt whether McConnell would agree to seeking such testimony.

Suggesting Trump's testifying could help clear the "cloud" hanging over the administration with regard to the Russia probe.

While some GOP senators have indicated they could have questions for Trump, but Senator Lindsey Graham has voiced concern about the matter becoming a "circus."

"I think it's inappropriate for the president to testify publicly," Graham said, "If you want to come to the judiciary committee and testify under oath, we'll put Comey right by you, it'd be the highest rated TV show in the history of the world -- but it's not good for our democracy."Fox News reported .

Meanwhile, House and Senate investigators have sought for memos of former FBI director James Comey 's private discussions with President Donald Trump and any records the White House kept of their discussion, including audio recordings.

"The leaders of the House Russia investigation, Reps. Michael Conaway, a Texas Republican, and Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, sent a request directly to Comey for copies of his memos. They sent a separate request to Trump's White House counsel, Don McGahn, for any record the White House had of their meetings."

These developments come after Comey testified that Trump asked him to drop an investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn.

Comey has repeatedly called Trump a liar to which the latter responded by saying "Comey was a liar."

-ANI