President Donald Trump asked the former FBI director, James Comey, to drop an investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. This has been revealed by memos from Comey.
The recent reports claiming that Trump shared classified intelligence with Russia incited Republicans in the House of Representatives at the critical moment when President Trump needs their support.
The FBI was formally asked by the chairman of the oversight and government reform Committee, Jason Chaffetz, to turn over to the committee all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings referring or related to any communications between Comey and President Trump.
Paul Ryan’s spokesperson said that it’s important to have all the facts, adding that it is appropriate for the House oversight committee to request the memo.
In response, the White House released a statement on Tuesday denying that the president had told Comey to drop his investigation while acknowledging a conversation had happened between the two.
The New York Times reported that Comey’s memo was a part of a paper trail he created a series of interactions with Trump. Andrew McCabe, who is the acting FBI director, told Congress in testimony last week that the White House had not sought to interfere in the bureau’s investigation.
The Republican chairman, Richard Burr, who is leading the Senate intelligence committee’s investigation into potential ties between Trump and Russia, suggested that the steady flow of leaks may be part of an effort to undermine the president.
Burr told reporters that he thinks the burden is on the New York Times, adding that if they’re reporting it and they’ve got somebody who’s got the document, they need to get the document and get it released.
The Senate intelligence committee issued a subpoena request for documents from Flynn related to Russia that the former national security adviser had refused to provide.
The top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, Adam Schiff, said the numerous reports surrounding Trump and Russia had reached a fever pitch. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he was shaken by the report and warned that history is watching.
Source:
https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/theres-major-fuckery-afoot-with-the-washington-post-and-i-think-i-know-why-fc32e574d49f