Donald Trump ‘asked FBI boss James Comey to drop probe into his aide’s links with Russia’ – then fired him weeks later
The demands made in February were detailed by James Comey in notes he wrote following the meeting
DONALD Trump has been accused of demanding FBI Director James Comey abandon a probe into his top adviser Michael Flynn just weeks before going on to sack him, in the latest explosive claim to rock the White House.
Comey was said to have been so shocked by the president's request that he made notes on the exchange shortly after the February meeting.
The damning memo reportedly claims Trump demanded the agency chief "let go" of the bureau’s probe into Flynn.
The FBI was investigating reported links between the top Trump adviser and Russia at the time, which had left the White House embroiled in a dramatic scandal just weeks after Trump took office.
But the sensational document claims the president told Comey that Flynn was a “good guy” and pressured him to drop the case.
The White House has since hit back with a furious denial of the claims, branding them “untruthful”.
“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.
“He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”
Comey reportedly replied only: “I agree he is a good guy.”
Trump eventually fired Flynn on February 13 on grounds that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russians.
But just weeks later, Trump sensationally sacked Comey as head of the FBI, saying the director "wasn't doing a good job".
The Flynn investigation was part of a broader probe into Russian interference in last year's presidential election.
Critics have argued Comey's memo would be clear and damning evidence the president had tried to influence the investigation.
And some - like seasoned presidential adviser David Gergen - have even suggested the scandal could lead to the president being impeached.
In a statement to the media, the White House denied the allegations, saying: "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.
"The president has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations.
"This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and Mr Comey."
Jason Chaffetz, Republican chairman of the House oversight committee, sent a letter to the FBI on Tuesday requesting that it turn over all documents and recordings that detail communications between Comey and Trump.
He said he would give the FBI a week and then "if we need a subpoena we'll do it".
The panel's top Democrat, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, a constant Trump critic, called the allegation of Trump pressure on Comey "explosive" and said "it appears like a textbook case of criminal obstruction of justice".
Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said simply: "It would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the White House."
The bombshell news came as the beleaguered administration was still struggling to explain Monday’s claims that the president disclosed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister.
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