Trump sacked me after I refused to stop Russia probe
THE former director of the FBI will tell Congress today that he was forced out by Donald Trump because he would not pledge his loyalty.
James Comey will claim the US President wanted him to kill an investigation into possible links with Russia and told him “I expect loyalty”.
Mr Comey will also say Mr Trump pressured him to release a statement saying he was not personally being investigated. He also asked him to drop the investigation into Mike Flynn, his former national security adviser, and his dealings with Russia.
Mr Trump fired Mr Comey on May 9 in what his critics say was an attempt to thwart the FBI’s investigation into possible collusion between his campaign team and the Kremlin. But it backfired and the investigation is now being dealt with by a special, independent counsel, former FBI director Robert Mueller. Mr Comey’s seven-page opening remarks were published yesterday ahead of his much anticipated testimony today.
He made notes of each meeting with the President as he became increasingly uncomfortable with their tone. Their first one-on-one meeting was a dinner in the Green Room of the White House on January 27, after Mr Trump took office.
As they discussed the Russia investigation Mr Comey wrote that Mr Trump told him: “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.” Mr Comey wrote: “We simply looked at each other in silence.”
The bombshell testimony came as Mr Trump yesterday tried to move on from the FBI probe by nominating a successor to Mr Comey.
Mr Trump said in a tweet that seasoned criminal lawyer Christopher Wray had “impeccable credentials”.
Mr Wray was an assistant attorney general under President George W Bush and his appointment as FBI director was welcomed by Democrats and Republicans.