Contradicts Repeated White House Claims
President Donald Trump today contradicted repeated claims by his own White House, saying he was going to fire FBI Director James Comey regardless of the recommendation written by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.Â
“I was going to fire Comey,” President Trump told NBC News anchor Lester Holt in an exclusive interview airing tonight. “Oh, I was going to fire regardless of recommendation” from Rosenstein.
Trump repeated the statement: “Regardless of recommendation I was going to fire Comey.”
The President, asked about the claim he made in Comey’s termination letter that says he is not under FBI investigation, insisted the now-former Director “told me that.”
Trump says Comey told him he was not under investigation once at dinner, and twice in telephone calls.
NBC News’ Justice Correspondent Pete Williams says it is not illegal for Trump to have asked or for Comey to have responded.
UPDATE: 1:17 PM EDT –
CNN White House producer:
EARLIER – RELATED:
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