Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him To Drop Flynn Investigation

(NEWSER) – President Trump asked James Comey to stop the federal investigation into Michael Flynn, according to a memo written after a February meeting with the president by the former FBI director. “I hope you can let this go,” the New York Times quotes the memo as saying. Comey, in the memo, says Trump hoped Comey would agree to “letting Flynn go.”

Flynn was—and remains—under federal investigation for his financial ties to Russia and Turkey. He resigned as Trump’s national security adviser a day before the conversation between Trump and Comey detailed in the memo. The memo provides more evidence that Trump has tried to influence the investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia. Last week, the president said he fired Comey over “this Russia thing.”

Comey is said to have created a paper trail documenting what he believes was inappropriate behavior by Trump, detailing all phone calls and meetings with the president in memos. Such notes by FBI agents are often considered credible evidence in court.

The White House issued a statement denying the contents of the memo: “The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.” According to Comey’s memo, Trump also told Comey he should possibly start jailing reporters for publishing classified information. Read the full Times piece here.