White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Friday denied the report that President Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to pledge loyalty to him at a dinner meeting shortly after his inauguration.
According to the New York Times, Comey and Trump met for a private dinner one week after Trump took office in January. There, Comey told associates the conversation turned to loyalty. Comey said he did not make any such pledge, promising to be honest with the president but not to be counted on as a political ally.
"Did the president implore him to pledge his loyalty to the president? Is that true?" a reporter asked.
"No," Spicer said.
The reporter followed up to ask what loyalty would look like to Trump and if it was a quality he wanted to see in his FBI director.
"I think the president wants loyalty to this country and to the rule of law," Spicer said.
Trump himself said this week that no such conversation took place.
