Donald Jr.: My father said he ‘hoped’ Comey would let go of investigation

Donald Trump Jr. defended his father Saturday after former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony, saying that his father never told the ousted top cop to end investigations into former National Security adviser Michael Flynn, but merely told Comey he “hoped” that he would.

“I think it’s clear that everything that went on in the Comey testimony was basically ridiculous,” Trump told Fox’s Jeanine Pirro on Saturday.

“You and I both know my father a long time. When he tells you to do something, guess what, there’s no ambiguity in it. There’s no, ‘Hey I’m hoping’. You and I are friends, ‘Hey hope this happens but you get to do your job’. That’s what he told Comey.”

Comey testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday that Trump had said to him during a meeting, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.”

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Comey also said Trump said he “hoped” the then-FBI director would pledge his loyalty to the president.

Donald Trump Jr. on Saturday seemed to confirm Comey’s account of the meeting by saying that his father didn’t tell Comey to end the investigation, but only said he hoped he would.

Many have made the argument that Trump’s request can not be considered obstruction of justice because he used the word “hope” and did not tell Comey directly to end the investigation.

Republican senators suggested Comey may have misinterpreted the words of Trump, whom they noted has no experience in government. He also acknowledged he was not directly told by Trump to drop the Russia probe.

Trump’s personal attorney vociferously disputed Comey’s account of their conversations and said that the president “never pressured Mr. Comey.”