Comey to Testify Trump Asked How to ‘Lift Cloud’ of Russia Investigation

"The President began by asking me whether I wanted to stay on as FBI director, which I found strange because he had already told me twice in earlier conversations that he hoped I would stay, and I had assured him that I intended to," Comey writes.

"He said that lots of people wanted my job and, given the abuse I had taken during  the previous year, he would understand if I wanted to walk away," the memo continues. "My instincts told me that the one-on-one setting, and the pretense that this was our first discussion about my position, meant the dinner was, at least in part, an effort to have me ask for my job and create some sort of patronage relationship. That concerned me greatly, given the FBI’s traditionally independent status in the executive branch.

"I replied that I loved my work and intended to stay and serve out my ten-year  term as director. And then, because the set-up made me uneasy, I added that I was not 'reliable' in the way politicians use that word, but he could always count on me to tell him the truth. I added that I was not on anybody’s side politically and could not be counted on in the traditional political sense, a stance I said was in his best interest as the President.

"A few moments later," Comey says, "the President said, 'I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.'"

Comey says he "didn’t move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed. We simply looked at each other in silence. The  conversation then moved on, but he returned to the subject near the end of our dinner."

Comey will confirm Trump's claim that he assured the president personally he was not under investigation.

In a discussion following Comey's March 20 disclosure of the existence of the investigation, Comey will testify, he told the president that he had informed congressional leadership on which individuals were currently under investigation.

"I explained that we had briefed the leadership of Congress on exactly which individuals we were investigating and that we had told those Congressional leaders that we were not personally investigating President Trump. I reminded him I had previously told him that. He repeatedly told me, 'We need to get that fact out.'

"I did not tell the President that the FBI and the Department of Justice had been reluctant to make public statements that we did not have an open case on President Trump for a number of reasons, most importantly because it would create a duty to correct, should that change," Comey writes.

"Shortly afterwards, I spoke with Attorney General Sessions in person to pass along the President’s concerns about leaks. I took the opportunity to implore the Attorney General to prevent any future direct communication between the President and me," Comey says.

It was unclear as of Wednesday what, if any, records or documents Comey will turn over to the committee.

As for how the White House will be reacting to Comey's testimony, it has been reported the president will live Tweet during the hearing before delivering a speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, D.C.

Later on Thursday, he is scheduled to meet with governors and mayors to discuss ongoing infrastructure projects.

Last week, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told ABC's "Good Morning America" that the president and members of staff would be watching the hearing.

On Tuesday, when reporters questioned Trump about the upcoming hearing, the president was short on words.

"I wish him luck," he said.

- Developing story.

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