Hours after President Donald Trump threatened former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey on Twitter by claiming the ousted director “better hope” there are no secret tapes of their conversations, Democrats are demanding the White House release those recordings, if they exist.
Elijah Cummings, a ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, and John Conyers, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a joint letter to Donald McGahn Friday morning, requesting “all documents, memoranda, analyses, emails, and other communication related to the President’s decision to dismiss Director Comey … and all discussions with Director Comey.” McGahn is the president’s White House counsel.
James Comey better hope that there are no "tapes" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2017
Cummings and Conyers also point out that it’s a crime to “intimidate or threaten any potential witness with the intent to influence, delay, or prevent their official testimony” under Section 1512 of Title 18 of United States Code.
Comey reportedly earned the ire of the president by refusing to pledge his full loyalty to him during the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s relationship with Russian officials.
