Report: Trump asked intel chief to steer Comey off Russia inquiry

Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats told associates in March that President Trump had asked him to urge then-FBI Director James Comey to back off the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn's contacts with Russian officials, according to a report in The Washington Post. Trump reportedly asked Coats and CIA Director Mike Pompeo to stay behind after a March 22 White House meeting ended, and complained to them about Comey's handling of the investigation into Russia's alleged attempts to influence last year's presidential election. The meeting occurred two days after Comey told a congressional panel that the FBI was looking into whether any Trump associates had colluded with Russian officials. Flynn was a focus of that part of the investigation. Coats discussed the meeting with other officials and decided that intervening with Comey would be inappropriate, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Source: The Washington Post

Editor's Note:
Highlighting this story, by pointing out the meeting took place on March 22nd, may seem like a stretch, to some; I even debated about posting it, but I couldn't help to wonder why the story specifically mentioned March 22. Why not, "in March", or "after a meeting in March", or "shortly after he was confirmed by the Senate, in March"? It just seemed odd to me that they would be so specific.