Report: Trump Asked Coats to Get Comey to Back Off Flynn

Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats reportedly told his associates that President Donald Trump asked him to convince former FBI Director James Comey to back off on the investigation into Trump’s former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Coats, according to The Washington Post, decided against it. Trump reportedly asked Coats and CIA Director Mike Pompeo to remain in the room after a briefing with other officials. During this meeting, Trump allegedly went off about Comey and the investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election. “Director Coats does not discuss his private conversations with the president,” DNI spokesman Brian P. Hale told the Post. “However, he has never felt pressured by the president or anyone else in the administration to influence any intelligence matters or ongoing investigations.” Coats is slated to testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.