Trump Reportedly Asked Top Intelligence Official to Intervene With FBI’s Probe of Flynn

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that back in March, President Trump had asked Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats to personally intervene in then FBI Director James Comey’s probe into Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security advisor, as part of the ongoing Russia investigation. Coats at the time was on the job for less than a week.

According to anonymous associates close to Coats, Coats recalled after an intelligence briefing wrapped up with several agencies, President Trump asked everyone to leave but him and CIA Director Mike Pompeo. He began complaining about the FBI investigation into Russia and Comey’s handling of it, which led to him asking the DNI to intervene. This came two days after Comey publicly confirmed to Congress that the FBI was investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Coats determined that what President Trump asked him to do was “inappropriate.”

Coats is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday and Comey is scheduled to testify the following day.

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