Comey: Trump asked me to help 'lift the cloud' of the Russia investigation

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June 7, 2017 7:31 PM

Trump, according to Comey's remarks, said the Russia probe was a "cloud" that had impaired his ability to carry out his agenda.

President Donald Trump complained to former FBI director James Comey about the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's potential ties to Russia, according to Comey's opening remarks, which were posted to the Senate website on Wednesday. Comey will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee in an open hearing on Thursday.

According to Comey's remarks, Trump called him in March and described the Russia probe as "a cloud" that was stalling his agenda and "ability to act on behalf of the country."

Trump then asked Comey for his help to "lift the cloud" created over his administration by the FBI's Russia probe, according to the remarks.

"I responded that we were investigating the matter as quickly as we could, and that there would be great benefit, if we didn’t find anything, to our having done the work well," Comey wrote. "He agreed, but then re-emphasized the problems this was causing him."

During a separate phone call, Trump again broached the topic of the Russia "cloud."

Comey wrote that the president called him in April and asked about his request that Comey publicly confirm that Trump was not under investigation. When Comey replied that he had passed Trump's request on to the Acting Deputy Attorney General, Trump allegedly said that "the cloud" was impairing his ability to carry out his agenda.

Then, according to Comey's remarks, Trump said that "perhaps he would have his people reach out to the Acting Deputy Attorney General. I said that was the way his request should be handled. I said the White House Counsel should contact the leadership of DOJ to make the request, which was the traditional channel."

Trump then said that he would do so and added, "Because I have been very loyal to you, very loyal; we had that thing you know," according to Comey's prepared remarks.

Comey continued: "I said only that the way to handle it was to have the White House Counsel call the Acting Deputy Attorney General. He said that was what he would do and the call ended."

Comey, who was fired on May 9, has not yet spoken publicly about his interactions with Trump before he was fired.

His appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday will be the first public comments he makes. Though the White House initially said that the Russia investigation had nothing to do with Comey's firing, Trump later told NBC News' Lester Holt that "this Russia thing" had been a factor in his decision.

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