NSA Director Mike Rogers, left, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats, center, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, right. (Photo: Reuters)
Mike Rogers, the Director of National Security Agency (NSA), and Defense National Intelligence (DNI) Director Dan Coats, told the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday that President Donald Trump never pressured them to intervene in the Russian probe. In fact, two of the three nation’s top spies said they’ve never been pressured, at all, by anyone throughout the course of their career.
“I’ve never been directed to do anything inappropriate nor have I felt pressured to do so,” Director Rogers said.
The Washington Post reported otherwise:
The nation’s top intelligence official told associates in March that President Trump asked him if he could intervene with then-FBI Director James B. Comey to get the bureau to back off its focus on former national security adviser Michael Flynn in its Russia probe, according to officials.
On March 22, less than a week after being confirmed by the Senate, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats attended a briefing at the White House together with officials from several government agencies. As the briefing was wrapping up, Trump asked everyone to leave the room except for Coats and CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
The accusations are based on a former Obama official’s account, which were allegedly recorded in notes. Director Coats, who said he doesn’t even take notes after conversations with the president, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he would elaborate on his answer and the report in a closed forum.
But his answer was clear nonetheless.
“I’ve never been pressured. I’ve never felt pressured,” Director Coats added. “I’ve never been told to intervene in any way.”
The answer mirrored the statement by Brian P. Hale, a spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). When asked whether President Trump asked Director Coats to intervene with the FBI regarding the Flynn investigation, he returned a public statement.
“Director Coats does not discuss his private conversations with the President,” he said. “However, he has never felt pressured by the President or anyone else in the Administration to influence any intelligence matters or ongoing investigations.”
