Trump Asked Comey to Drop FBI Investigation Into Mike Flynn

Obstruction of Justice?

President Donald Trump asked FBI Director Jim Comey in February to drop the Bureau’s investigation into Mike Flynn, Trump’s now-fired National Security Adviser. 

“I hope you can let this go,” Trump told the FBI Director, according to a memo written by Comey immediately after the Oval office conversation, The New York Times reports. That conversation took place the day after Flynn resigned. If accurate, it is the strongest example to date President Donald Trump engaged in obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense.

“The existence of Mr. Trump’s request is the clearest evidence that the president has tried to directly influence the Justice Department and F.B.I. investigation into links between Mr. Trump’s associates and Russia,” the Times reports. “The memo was part of a paper trail Mr. Comey created documenting what he perceived as the president’s improper efforts to influence an ongoing investigation.”

The Times notes: “An F.B.I. agent’s contemporaneous notes are widely held up in court as credible evidence of conversations.”

NBC News’ Peter Alexander says the memo reads: “I hope you can see your way to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.”

NBC News’ Ali Vitali reports the Trump White House denies the report:

Some responses via Twitter:

UPDATE I: 5:46 PM EDT –
Jeffrey Toobin calls it “obstruction of justice” if Comey is telling the truth:

UPDATE II: 5:52 PM EDT –
The Times adds these points:

“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Mr. Trump told Mr. Comey, according to the memo. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

 

Mr. Comey created similar memos — including some that are classified — about every phone call and meeting he had with the president, the two people said. It is unclear whether Mr. Comey told the Justice Department about the conversation or his memos.

 

Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information, according to one of Mr. Comey’s associates.

 

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