Administration currently has were sessions fault. Theres a New York Times report just out tonight that says james comey told attorney general sessions that he, comey, didnt want to be left alone with donald trump. And just tonight, a story from the Washington Post saying the president s brandnew director of National Intelligence, former longtime Indiana Republican senator dan coats, was approached by the president to try to make comeys russia investigation go away. The intelligence director, coats, is due to testify tomorrow before the Senate Intelligence committee. Its not known if, as a sitting cabinet member and the keeper of our National Secrets easy going to be willing to comment on any of this. He was reluctant to say anything damaging the last time he testified in an open hearing. A spokesman for coats just released this statement, in fact, quote, director coats does not discuss his private conversations with the president. However, he has never felt pressured by the pressure or
Over this white house and its contacts with russia. The Washington Post was first to report tonight that ousted National Security adviser Michael Flynn was warned by top officials from the Trump Transition Team about talking to russias ambassador, sergey kislyak. Officials were so concerned that flynn didnt understand the motives of russias ambassador they asked the Obama Administration for their Background Information on kislyak. The document was delivered in days but its not clear flynn ever read it. Greg miller is one of the two Washington Post reporters who broke that story tonight and is with us. Greg, thanks for being with us late on a friday night. Sure. Thank you. It seems like a shocking revelation that the same team that has accused president obama of wiretapping them turned to them for help with flynn. Well, i think that its important to understand this was a small group of people within the Trump Transition Team who, in some ways, were at odds with the Broader Campaign and
Our headquarters in new york. Day 132 of the trump administration, and again tonight, the russia story seemingly without end. Supplies us with our lead story and that is were going to hear from james comey. A source close to comey tells nbc news, the fired fbi director has been, quote, cleared for takeoff, to testify in public next week to the Senate Intelligence committee. That clearance came from special counsel, bob mueller whos now over seeing the russia investigation. It will be comeys first Public Comment since he was fired by donald trump. Its been 22 days ago now. And about what comey will say. Tonight the wall street journal reports, comey to testify that trump asked him to back off flynn investigation. That would certainly match his notes. And although we werent allowed to see him today, heres how sean spicer reacted when asked about comeys testimony in the offcamera audioonly briefing. Did the president engage in obstruction of justice in repeated meetings with james comey .
Investigation as a private citizen than he had as fbi director. Comey might have been fired by donald trump but before that day came, he wrote a lot down. Weve been reading reports of it but today we saw what comey plans to say tomorrow because its been posted by the Senate Committee on intelligence for all the world to see. It show as man who took copious notes, something he says he hasnt done before but he immediately started after talking to this president. A man who was made to feel uncomfortable by donald trump, who was asked to drop an investigation and asked for his loyalty to the president. This was day 139 of the trump administration. The theme again was supposed to be infrastructure but instead it was another day dominated by investigation and the run up to tomorrows testimony. About the comey notes, the introduction we expect him to read in the morning to the committee, theres a lot. But here now are the highlights. Beginning with comeys one on one dinner with the president
Tonight we need to make America Great again. My sense was the attorney general knew he shouldnt be leaving which was why he was linger. The massive question facing the attorney general as sessions prepares to testify before a surprise hearing less than this hours from now. As the special counsel hires more fire power. I think hes considering perhaps terminating the special counsel. The growing group of republicans trying to get Robert Mueller fired, comey was not allowed, what we learned when he broke his silence. When ive been reading the stories about how hes been contacting jim comey over time, like deja vu. Mitch mcconnell and republicans are planning to spring on american sight unseen, all in starts right now. And what now may be an investigation to criminal obstruction of justice, attorney general, Jeff Sessions, the nations top Law Enforcement officer will testify less than 24 hours from now before an open session, Senate Intelligence committee. Sessions appearance tomorrow at 2