Trump's Son Backs Up One Comey Assertion

When James Comey was finished testifying before a Senate panel, President Trump's attorney quickly rebutted one key part of his testimony. The president, he said, “never, in form or substance, directed or suggested that Mr. Comey stop investigating anyone.” But in an appearance on Fox News Saturday, presidential son Donald Trump Jr. seemed to have a different view of his father's intention, reports the Washington Post. “When he tells you to do something, guess what? There's no ambiguity in it, there's no, 'Hey, I'm hoping,'" Trump Jr. said. “You and I are friends: 'Hey, I hope this happens, but you've got to do your job.' That's what he told Comey."

The former FBI chief has quoted the president as saying, "I hope you can let this go," referring to the agency's investigation of Michael Flynn. Trump's attorney suggested that the president didn't even go that far, but his son suggested that he did. As the Hill notes, it speaks to a line of defense that seems to be emerging for Republicans: Even if Trump said he "hoped" the investigation would go away, that's far short of directing Comey to drop it. (The FBI chief testified that he interpreted the message as a "direction" from Trump to drop the inquiry.)