Consistent with that statement, the President never, in form or substance, directed or suggested that Mr. Comey stop investigating anyone, including suggesting that that Mr. Comey” let Flynn go.” As he publicly stated the next day, he did say to Mr. Comey, “General Flynn is a good guy, he has been through a lot” and also “asked how is General Flynn is doing.” Admiral Rogers testified that the President never “directed [him] to do anything . . . illegal, immoral, unethical or inappropriate” and never “pressured [him] to do so.” Director Coates said the same thing. The President likewise never pressured Mr. Comey.
Comey has stood by his account of what happened, adding that it was more than a casual request.
“When it comes from the president, I took it as a direction,” Comey said.
There’s a split in the Trump camp over how to approach Comey’s testimony, with some supporting Trump’s assertion that the conversation never happened, while others say he was too incompetent to be responsible for what he said. President Trump probably prefers the former story, but his son can’t seem to keep the details straight. The Washington Post reports that Donald Trump Jr. seemed to tell Pirro that Trump said everything Comey alleged, and that’s how you know he wasn’t serious. Emphasis mine:
“When he tells you to do something, guess what? There’s no ambiguity in it, there’s no, ‘Hey, I’m hoping,’” Trump Jr. said. “You and I are friends: ‘Hey, I hope this happens, but you’ve got to do your job.’ That’s what he told Comey. And for this guy, as a politician, to then go back and write a memo: ‘Oh, I felt threatened.’ He felt so threatened — but he didn’t do anything.”
Okay! Trump Jr. also said Comey’s testimony “vindicated” his dad, whch was much more on message.
“I think he’s proven himself to be a liar in all of this. I think he’s proven himself to be a dishonest man of bad character,” he added, meaning Comey if you weren’t sure. The Post reports that Pirro enthusiastically agreed, and that she also attended a baby shower for Lara Trump, Eric Trump’s wife, that very same day.
