Trump wanted ally to lead probe targeting him: report

The probe centers on payments made by Michael Cohen, Trump's attorney at the time, to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, who allegedly had affairs with Trump.

According to The New York Times, Trump late last year asked Matthew Whitaker -- who at the time was his acting attorney general -- whether a sympathetic prosecutor could head up the probe.

Asked whether he had made such a request, Trump told reporters he had not.

"More fake news," Trump said. "There is a lot of fake news out there. No, I didn't."

According to the Times, Trump asked Whitaker if Geoffrey Berman, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York and a Trump supporter, could oversee the probe.

After Whitaker said that was not possible because Berman had already recused himself from the case, Trump reportedly grew frustrated with Whitaker, the Times said, citing anonymous US officials.

Whitaker was replaced last week by Bill Barr, following his Senate confirmation.

Cohen has said $130,000 was paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels and $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Prosecutors have described the payments as illegal campaign contributions intended to influence the election and Cohen said they were made "in coordination and at the direction" of Trump.

Cohen has been sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion and other crimes he said were undertaken at Trump's bidding.