(CNN) President Donald Trump did not record his conversations with fired FBI Director James Comey, he tweeted on Thursday, ending weeks of speculation kick-started by the President himself. "With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea whether there are 'tapes' or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings," Trump tweeted. Comey, who Trump fired last month, said he had hoped there were recordings of their conversations. A senior administration official said Thursday that it became clear Trump had to come clean on his lie about the Comey tapes before the Friday deadline set on him by Congress to hand over any recordings. Tim O'Brien, a Trump biographer, told CNN's Brian Stelter on "Reliable Sources" earlier this month that Trump told him during interviews that he was recording their conversations.

Source: CNN June 22, 2017 17:08 UTC