The president of the United States, Donald Trump, demanded "loyalty" from the former director of the FBI, James Comey, asking him to "let go", i.e. to cover up, the investigation into Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser of the White House, then forced to resign due to Russiagate. This is what emerges from the written testimony released yesterday and which Comey himself (who was fired by Trump after this episode) will read today before the members of the Senate Intelligence Commission, the one investigating possible interference by Russia in the US presidential election last November and on possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.
Another request made by Donald Trump to Comey emerges from the text: to "come out" publicly, saying that the president "was not personally under investigation". Comey responded by saying he forwarded this request to the Justice Department. “I need loyalty. I expect loyalty,” Trump told him. According to his testimony, Comey did not move, speak or change his facial expression "during the awkward silence that followed."
In short, an explosive revelation, which could trigger the impeachment of the President. Still, Trump "feels totally and completely exonerated" by Comey's testimony. His lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, said this, underlining that the President "is eager to move forward with his agenda" and that Comey confirmed that he had told Trump that he was not under investigation. No mention, in the lawyer's note, of the fact that Comey also reported that the president had asked him to close the investigation.
Just yesterday, Trump nominated Comey's successor at the top of the FBI.
