The New York Times reports that President Donald Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to drop a federal investigation into now-former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to a memo Comey wrote after a February meeting with Trump. The memo reportedly said that Trump said to Comey, “I hope you can let this go.”
The Times reported that Comey showed the memo to associates, one of whom read parts of it to a Times reporter.
Comey wrote that the conversation took place in the Oval Office, after a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and other senior officials. Trump reportedly asked everyone else to leave, and then spoke to Comey about Flynn, saying he’s a good man and, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.” Comey reportedly responded, “I agree he is a good guy.”
The White House denied the report, saying in a statement:
While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn. … This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr. Comey.