What did we learn from James Comey, the fired FBI director, when he testified on June 8 before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee? Not enough to prove Donald Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors warranting impeachment, as the president’s most strident opponents were hoping. Neither did Comey’s testimony vindicate Trump of ethical wrongdoing or inappropriate behavior, as the White House had claimed it would.
The truth is more complex. In Comey’s telling, the president leaned hard on his FBI director to rein in the investigation of Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Comey said he took the president’s February 14 words—”I hope you can let this go”—as a direction to do so. He also claimed that Trump asked for Comey’s loyalty during a private dinner in January. “I need loyalty, I expect loyalty,” said Trump.
