Trump’s lawyer points out Comey testimony absolves Trump of wrongdoing
Jun 8, 2017, 2:03 PM
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
Less than two hours after former FBI Director James Comey testified Thursday in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump’s personal attorney said Comey’s own words were proof his client was never under investigation.
Marc Kasowitz wrote in a statement, and repeated at a press conference, that “… it is now established that … the president was not being investigated for colluding with the or attempting to obstruct that investigation.”
He was speaking of monthslong questions about possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Kasowitz said Trump “never, in form or substance” directed Comey to stop investigating anyone, including former national security Michael Flynn.
Comey told a Senate intelligence panel in the morning that the president had he “took it as an order” to drop an inquiry of Flynn’s ties with Russia.
In a statement, Kasowitz said the president was “entitled to expect loyalty” from those serving the administration.
But he said Trump never told Comey, “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty,” in form or substance, as Comey claimed.
Comey said he believed that not making that pledge at a private dinner in January with the president cost him the directorship of the FBI. He was fired in May.
During testimony, Comey admitted he had leaked notes of his conversations with Trump to a friend.
Kasowitz said Trump’s team will “leave it the appropriate authorities” to decide if the leak should be investigated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
