President Donald Trump emphatically denied asking former FBI Director James Comey to end the agency’s investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking at a press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in the White House’s East Room, Trump said “no, no, next question” when asked directly whether or not he asked Comey to end the FBI’s investigation.
On Wednesday, a special counsel was appointed by the Department of Justice to oversee the investigation.
Trump was also asked about his thoughts on the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Muller to lead the probe.
“Well, I respect the move, but the entire thing has been a witch hunt,” Trump said, echoing a tweet he sent out earlier on Thursday. “I think it divides the country, I think we have a very divided country because of that many other things.”
Reporter: Did you ask Comey to back off of investigation of Michael Flynn?
— CNN (@CNN) May 18, 2017
Pres. Trump: "No. No. Next question." https://t.co/ypM5cKP3xt
Trump continued to assert that there was “no collusion,” between his campaign and Russia.
The president has faced scrutiny since his surprising firing of Comey last week. After the firing, the New York Times reported that Comey kept memos of his meetings with Trump—specifically in regards to the FBI’s investigation into Flynn.
“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” Trump allegedly told Comey, according to the memo. “He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”
Comey has been called to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee by chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) next week.