Turley: Comey Knew He Couldn't Publish Leaked Trump Memos

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And last Friday, the day after Comey testified on Capitol Hill and the same day Trump again refused to say whether tapes existed - the two leaders of the Russian Federation investigation in the House fired off a request to the White House: If there are recordings, Congress wants to see them by June 23.

Finally, under oath, Trump should be pinned down on whether he asked Comey for a personal loyalty vow, and whether he told Comey he hoped he could let go the investigation into Flynn's contacts with Russian Federation. Trump did not try to stop the Russian Federation investigation and did not obstruct justice, as had been alleged. "He's a leaker", Trump said of Comey.

Comey was unabashed about accusing Trump and his administration of telling "lies", and said he began the practice of immediately making notes after talking with the president because "I was honestly concerned that he might lie" about the conversations.

Asked if he was willing to give his side of the story, Mr Trump replied: "100 per cent".

Trump was addressing reporters at the White House for the first time since Comey's explosive appearance, in which he branded the president a liar and said he believed he was sacked over his handling of the Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into Russian election meddling.

Bharara says Trump called him twice before the inauguration, to "shoot the breeze". Pressed on the issue, he insisted he wasn't "hinting anything", before adding, "Oh you're going to be very disappointed when you hear the answer, don't worry". There's nothing among them that describes the sort of conversation that Trump had with Comey about Flynn and loyalty. The committee is seeking the materials by June 23.

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Contradicting Comey's testimony, Kasowitz said Thursday the president never told Comey he "need [s] loyalty" and he never asked Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Mike Flynn.

"But I did not say that". It was a forceful endorsement of this week's move by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to cut off ties to Qatar, but a very different message from the one delivered just an hour before by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Kasowitz disputed those points and attacked Comey for leaking "privileged communications" to the media. He testified Thursday he didn't think about the possibility of their talks being recorded until Trump tweeted about it after his firing, "James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!"

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller attends the ceremonial swearing-in of FBI Director James Comey at the FBI headquarters in 2013.

Trump lashed out at Comey, dubbing him a "leaker" for indirectly providing reporters with the contents of his memos summarising their private conversations in the weeks before he was sacked.

Two officials familiar with Trump's legal strategy said his lawyers plan to file a complaint about Comey's leak with the Inspector General's office at the Department of Justice, and with the Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is in for sharp questioning on Tuesday by senators on the Senate intelligence committee. Almost a dozen people from all of those walks of life told CNN they suspect it's merely Trump bluster and there's no such taping mechanism. When he tells you to do something, guess what, there's no ambiguity in it.

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