Donald Trump was asked this afternoon about the reporting that he spoke to former Acting AG Matthew Whitaker months ago about getting US attorney Geoffrey Berman to oversee the Michael Cohen investigation despite his recusal.

The New York Times broke news on this in an in-depth report today that includes details on Trump’s public and private fight against the investigations surrounding him and people in his orbit.

During an event to sign the Space Force directive, Trump was asked if he asked Whitaker to “change the leadership” of the investigation.

“No, not at all. I don’t know who gave you that,” the president responded, “That’s more fake news. There’s a lot of fake news out there. No, I didn’t.”

He proceeded to praise Whitaker as a “very fine man” for whom he has a lot of respect.

WATCH:

Reporter: “Did you ask acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to change the leadership of the investigation into former personal attorney Michael Cohen?”

Trump: “No, not at all. I don’t know who gave you that. That’s more fake news. There’s a lot of fake news out there.” pic.twitter.com/pHktd6DyZw

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 19, 2019

The Times reported that Trump requested Berman be put in charge of the investigation that has since resulted in jail time for Cohen, even though Berman recused himself from the probe.

Whitaker, whose tenure ended last week with the confirmation of Attorney General William Barr, knew Berman could not un-recuse himself, the Times reported. Trump then grew frustrated with Whitaker and the appointee’s inability to address his mounting legal problems.

The Times cited the previously unreported request from Trump to Whitaker as one of several examples of the president seeking to influence the investigations into his presidency, his associates and his business interests.

Berman, who donated to Trump’s 2016 campaign, recused himself from the investigation prior to an FBI raid of Cohen’s hotel room and office last April. Trump had interviewed Berman personally for the U.S. attorney job in New York’s Southern District in a break with traditional hiring practices for the role.