Trump reportedly asked the national intelligence chief to intervene with Comey on the Russia investigation


Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told associates that in March, President Trump personally requested that he urge then-FBI Director James Comey to back away from investigating former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, The Washington Post reports. Flynn is a central figure in the FBI's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election.
On March 22, Coats was attending a meeting at the White House with officials from other agencies, and when it was over, Trump asked everyone to leave but Coats and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, people with knowledge of the event told the Post. Trump complained about Comey and the investigation, and then made his request of Coats. Coats told associates he spoke about the conversation with other officials, and they agreed it was inappropriate.
In May, the Post reported that Coats and Adm. Michael Rogers, director of the National Security Agency, were asked by Trump separately to publicly deny there was any evidence of collusion during the election. On Wednesday, Coats will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and members of the panel have already said they will ask him about his conversations with Trump regarding the FBI investigation. Spokesmen for Coats and Pompeo declined to comment to the Post.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
5 biting editorial cartoons about 'Alligator Alcatraz'
Cartoons Artists take on dangerous green things, historical precedent, and more
-
A journey into the deep past on beautiful Arran
The Week Recommends New Unesco Global Geopark played a 'key role' in the birth of modern geological science
-
China's London super-embassy
The Explainer The People's Republic wants to build a massive new embassy in central London, and a lot of people aren't happy about it
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami