Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation -<br />By MATT APUZZO, MAGGIE HABERMAN and MATTHEW ROSENBERGMAY 19, 2017<br />WASHINGTON — President Trump told Russian officials in the Oval Office this month that firing the F. B.I.<br />Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, said he expects Mr. Comey to “shed light on issues<br />critical to this committee’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.”<br />The day after firing Mr. Comey, Mr. Trump hosted Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, in<br />the Oval Office, along with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak.<br />Mr. Trump added, “I’m not under investigation.”<br />The conversation, during a May 10 meeting — the day after he fired Mr. Comey — reinforces the notion<br />that Mr. Trump dismissed him primarily because of the bureau’s investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russian operatives.<br />The idea, the official suggested, was to create a sense of obligation with Russian officials and to coax concessions out of Mr. Lavrov — on Syria, Ukraine and other issues — by saying<br />that Russian meddling in last year’s election had created enormous political problems for Mr. Trump.<br />“By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia’s actions, James Comey created<br />unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia,” Mr. Spicer said.
