President Trump directly asked James Comey if he was being investigated for ties to Russia

President Trump and James Comey.
(Image credit: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

On Thursday, President Trump admitted he had asked former FBI Director James Comey directly if he was being investigated for potential ties to Russia. "I actually asked him," Trump told NBC News' Lester Holt. "I said, 'If it's possible, would you let me know, am I under investigation?' He said, 'You are not under investigation.'"

In a letter to Comey informing him of his termination, Trump wrote: "I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation." In responding to Holt's questions, Trump clarified that those occasions were one dinner he had with Comey and then two separate phone calls.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.