Trump disputes Comey’s claims regarding loyalty, Flynn: report

by Rebecca Savransky - 06/08/17 10:21 AM ET

President Trump will reportedly dispute specific pieces of former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony.

Citing a person close to the president’s legal team, the Associated Press reported Thursday that Trump disputes Comey’s claims that Trump requested his loyalty.

Trump also does not agree with Comey’s claims about the conversation the two had regarding the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

{mosads}The report comes the same day as Comey’s highly anticipated appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

According to prepared testimony by Comey released Wednesday, Trump repeatedly sought to influence the FBI’s investigation into Russian election meddling before firing Comey.

Comey’s opening statement details multiple interactions with the president, including a January dinner at the White House where Trump said he needed and expected the FBI director’s loyalty.

The one-on-one dinner, Comey felt, was an attempt to create “some sort of patronage relationship” with the president — something that “concerned me greatly, given the FBI’s traditionally independent status.”

Following that discussion, Trump on several occasions raised the Russia investigation with Comey in ways that unnerved him.

On Feb. 14, Trump cleared the Oval Office after a counterterrorism meeting to speak with Comey alone, according to the testimony.

Trump then asked Comey to “let go” of any investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had been forced to resign the previous day for misleading Vice President Pence about his conversations with the Russian ambassador.

Trump is expected to watch part of Comey’s testimony Thursday alongside his legal team and advisers.