Donald Trump wanted to prosecute his former election rival Hillary Clinton and ex-FBI director James Comey before being talked out of the move, it has been reported.
The president told Don McGahn, then White House counsel, that he wanted to order the Justice Department to bring charges against the pair, according to the New York Times.
But Mr McGahn, following the US leader’s requests, wrote a memo to Mr Trump outline the consequences if the he did order such prosecutions, the newspaper wrote.
The outcomes reportedly ranged from congressional probes and voter outcry to the Justice Department refusing to comply.
The Times also reported Mr Trump's lawyers privately asked the Justice Department to investigate Comey for mishandling sensitive government information and his role investigating Clinton's use of a private email account and server.
It was not clear if Mr Trump read the memo or pursued the prosecutions further, the newspaper reported. Nor was it clear what specific charges Trump wanted the Justice Department to pursue against the two.
Mr Trump has publicly railed against Mrs Clinton's private email use during her tenure as US Secretary of State, as well as her role in the Obama administration's decision to allow a Russian company to buy a uranium mining firm.
He has also accused Mr Comey, without evidence, of leaking classified information.
The White House and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Agencies contributed to this report.
