White House ducks questions on Comey testimony

by Jordan Fabian - 06/07/17 4:12 PM ET

The White House on Wednesday repeatedly ducked questions about former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony, which outlines dramatic details of his previous conversations with President Trump.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters on Air Force One she was “not aware” whether Trump had reviewed the seven-page testimony, which was released while the president was flying back to Washington from a trip to Ohio.

“I think they’re reviewing that now,” Sanders said when asked if the White House disputes Comey’s account. “It was just released a few minutes ago.”

{mosads}Upon his return to the White House shortly afterward, Trump ignored shouted questions from reporters on the South Lawn about Comey’s claims.

Sanders said she found the timing of the release of the testimony “interesting.” Comey’s opening statement was released the same day as a hearing that included testimony from Navy Adm. Mike Rodgers, the head of the National Security Agency, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.

“I did find the timing of the release a little bit interesting, directly after testimony from … [the] hearing earlier today,” she said.

Both Coats and Rodgers repeatedly refused to say whether Trump asked them to sway or downplay the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and if any Trump associates colluded with the effort.

In Comey’s remarks, which he plans to deliver in person to the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday morning, he says that Trump asked him to “let go” of the probe into ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn and urged him to “lift the cloud” of the Russia probe.

Comey claims that Trump repeatedly for his loyalty before firing him on May 9, a claim the White House has denied.

Sanders said she “can’t imagine the president not standing by his own statement,” but directed specific questions to the president’s outside lawyer, Marc Kasowitz.

Kasowitz did not reply to an email requesting comment.

Tags Dan Coats Donald Trump James Comey