Report: President Trump asked Comey to shut down Flynn investigation



WASHINGTON — The White House disputed a report Tuesday, May 16th that President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to shut down an investigation into ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The New York Times reported that President Trump made the request during a February Oval Office meeting. The newspaper cited a memo Comey wrote shortly after the conversation.

Flynn resigned the day before the February 14th meeting, after it was revealed he apparently had lied to his about the nature of his contacts with Russia's ambassador.

The Times said President Trump told Comey, "I hope you can let this go."

The White House denied the report.

"While the president has repeatedly expressed his view that General Flynn is a decent man who served and protected our country, the president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," the White House said in a statement.

President Trump abruptly fired Comey last week, saying he did so based on his very public handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

According to the Times, Comey wrote in the memo that President Trump told him Flynn had done nothing wrong. But Comey did not say anything to President Trump about limiting the investigation, replying, "I agree he is a good guy."