If Trump taped his conversation with Comey, the Secret Service doesn't have it


President Trump warned former FBI Director James Comey in early May that he better "hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press." The president stoked curiosity further Friday, telling reporters, "I'll tell you about that maybe sometime in the very near future." But in response to a freedom of information request submitted by The Wall Street Journal, the Secret Service says that if there is a tape out there, they aren't the ones who have it.
The agency's response to a freedom of information request submitted by The Wall Street Journal doesn't exclude the possibility that recordings could have been created by another entity.The Secret Service handled recording systems within the White House for past presidents, including presidents Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. [The Wall Street Journal]
Evidence is mounting that there aren't any tapes. Author Timothy L. O'Brien wrote in Bloomberg on Monday that a decade ago, Trump threatened reporters by telling them that they were being recorded while in Trump Tower, but under oath he admitted his office was not, in fact, "equipped to tape-record." Trump additionally told reporters Friday that they would be "very disappointed when you hear the answer [to the tape question], don't worry."
Comey, for his part, told the Senate last week: "Lordy, I hope there are tapes."
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
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.
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda