He claims former FBI Director James Comey told him three times he was not the target of the counter-intelligence probe into Russia’s alleged election meddling.
Democrats and the media worked to contradict him, but now two top Senators just answered the question once and for all.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has been less than pleased with Comey’s conduct during the investigation.
Grassley was furious about the lack of answers about the FBI paying former British Intelligence agent Christopher Steele for his opposition research on Trump during the campaign.
And now Grassley is blasting Comey for not going public with what he told him and Dianne Feinstein in private briefings – that Trump is not under investigation.
Breitbart reports:
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Thursday vouched for President Trump’s assertion in a letter to former FBI Director James Comey that he was not under investigation by the FBI.
Grassley told committee members at an executive meeting that he and ranking member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) had met with Comey last week, and that he had briefed them on who the targets of the various investigations are.
“Senator Feinstein and I heard nothing that contradicted the President’s statement,” he said.
Feinstein then said after Grassley’s statement, “I very much appreciate what you’ve said and it’s very accurate, and we were briefed.”
During his Senate testimony about Russia, Comey refused to confirm or deny that Trump was a target of the investigation.
When Trump canned Comey, Democrats and the media immediately jumped to the conclusion that Trump fired the FBI Director because he was leading an investigation into Trump himself.
That was false, and Trump included the fact that Comey personally told him three times he wasn’t under investigation in his letter where he announced his termination.
Grassley also suggested the media hysteria is helping Russia with their efforts to destabilize American democracy by paralyzing institutions.
Breitbart also reports:
Grassley said wild speculation that the FBI is targeting the president is “not just irresponsible and unfounded,” but also played into Russian goals to undermine the American public’s faith in democratic institutions.
“It provides aid and comfort to the Russians and their goal of undermining faith in our democracy,” he said.
Grassley also suggested other committee members get briefed by the FBI on “what is actually going on” before the committee does anything more in its investigation on Russian interference in the election.
“Hopefully, that will help temper some of the unsubstantiated statements that have been made,” he said.