Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation -
By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDTMAY 16, 2017
WASHINGTON — President Trump asked the F. B.I.
director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Mr. Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael
T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo Mr. Comey wrote shortly after the meeting.
“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 statement said.
At that dinner, on Jan. 27, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Comey at least two times for a pledge
of loyalty — which Mr. Comey declined, according to one of Mr. Comey’s associates.
Mr. Comey wrote the memo detailing his conversation with the president immediately after the meeting,
which took place the day after Mr. Flynn resigned, according to two people who read the memo.
Mr. Comey and his aides perceived Mr. Trump’s comments as an effort to influence the investigation, but they decided
that they would try to keep the conversation secret — even from the F. B.I.
New disclosures on Tuesday allege that in February, President Trump asked James B. Comey, then the F. B.I.