Article snippet: In a sweeping opening statement released ahead of his testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, former FBI Director James Comey detailed a series of interactions with Donald Trump in which he says the president left him feeling uncomfortable and "concerned," pressed him for "loyalty," pushed him to clear the president's name and drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn. In the statement, Comey painted a cringe-worthy portrait of his meetings and calls with the newly-minted commander-in-chief -- closed-door meetings, private dinners and phone calls in which he says Trump harped on the subject of Flynn and the Russia investigation. The interactions left him in an "awkward silence" with Trump at one point and drove him to beseech Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to allow "any further direct communication between the President and me." What Comey and Trump discussed has become a matter of intense debate after news surfaced last month that Trump asked Comey to put the brakes on the Flynn investigation, allegations contained in a memo that was described to ABC News. The alleged request raised the specter of obstruction of justice, but he White House denied wrongdoing. Read Comey's prepared testimony Trump's motivations for firing Comey in May have also come under scrutiny. Initially, the White House referred to a letter from the deputy attorney general citing Comey's botched handling of the Clinton investigation, but he... Link to the full article to read more