Former FBI Director James Comey's Senate testimony Thursday refuted or countered several narratives about President Donald Trump and the wider Russia probe, including saying that Trump himself was not under investigation.
He stated the investigation into ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was not impeded after his conversation where Trump said he hoped he could let the matter go. He also said that neither Trump nor anyone in the administration directed him to end the wider probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
He said he it was not for him not say whether obstruction had occurred with Trump's conduct, he called a New York Times story about contacts between Russians and Trump campaign officials not true, and he confirmed that Trump was not personally under investigation when he was at the FBI.
CNN initially reported that Comey would refute Trump's claim that he was not under investigation.
Comey also testified, however, that Trump lied and defamed him and the FBI in the wake of his firing, saying the president cited false reasons for his dismissal. He also said he felt he was dismissed because of the way the Russia investigation was being handled.
Trump claimed Friday he did not put pressure on Comey regarding Flynn, and he also said he never asked Comey for his "loyalty."