Sen. Risch has managed to ask a question of former FBI Director Comey that summarizes much of Comey’s testimony. Continuously, Comey has tried to propel the narrative that Trump demanded him to interfere in the Russia investigations. When it was finally Sen. James E. Risch of Idaho’s turn to question Comey, he managed to expose much of what Comey was attempting to do with his testimony.
According to Comey’s notes, Trump told him, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.” Comey attempted to push this prompt as an “order” or “command” from POTUS; although he goes on to say he did not follow it.
Sen. Risch immediately saw this display on Comey’s part for what it was, and proceeded to grill Comey on the matter: “Do you know of any case where a person has been charged for obstruction of justice, or for that matter any other criminal offense where they said or thought they hoped for an outcome?” Risch asked.
Comey immediately back-tracked: “I don’t know well enough to answer, and the reason I keep saying his words is, I took it as a direction. I mean this is the president of the United States with me alone saying ‘I hope this,’ I took it as this is what he wants me to do.”
Catching Comey in the act, Sen. Risch clarified: “You may have taken it as a direction but that’s not what he said.”
Comey: “Correct…”
Risch: “He said, ‘I hope.’ You don’t know of anyone that’s ever been charged for hoping something. Is that a fair statement?”
Comey: “I don’t as I sit here.”
