CNN, USA Today sue for release of Comey memos

CNN filed a lawsuit in federal court Thursday to “force the FBI to turn over former director James Comey’s memos documenting his conversations with President Donald Trump,” according to a story on CNN.com.

“Despite high public interest in the content of the memos, Comey’s testimony that the records are not classified and a ruling from the Justice Department that the FBI should expedite CNN’s FOIA request for the memos, the FBI has not provided either the documents or a reason to withhold them,” according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Testifying on June 7 before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Comey said he wrote several memos following meetings with Trump, which included detailed descriptions of the president asking him to drop an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. 

CNN argues that the FBI withholding the memos “constitutes a violation of the federal Freedom of Information Act.” 

CNN has requested the court to rule that the agency must release the documents “unredacted, and without further delay.”

Comey said copies of the memo are now in the possession of special counsel Robert Mueller. 

Comey also said his friend, Columbia University professor Daniel Richman, returned his copy to the FBI after leaking the memo on the former FBI director’s behalf to The New York Times.

USA Today filed a similar request on Thursday, according to the outlet’s investigative reporter Brad Heath. 

New: @USATODAY has filed a lawsuit against the FBI seeking fired director James Comey’s memos of his conversations with President Trump. pic.twitter.com/V3p9ABx6rB

— Brad Heath (@bradheath) June 15, 2017