Chaffetz seeks copies of Comey's memos, saying 'I have my subpoena pen ready'

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White House: Trump never asked Comey to end Flynn probe

Says New York Times report is not a 'truthful or accurate portrayal' of conversation between the president and then-FBI Director Comey; John Roberts reports from the White House

The chairman of the House oversight panel said Tuesday he will seek copies of memos from James Comey in the wake of a report that Trump asked the ex-FBI director to end the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said in a tweet "@GOPoversight is going to get the Comey memo, if it exists. I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready."

Chaffetz later sent a letter to Justice Department officials seeking Comey's memos.

"If true, these memoranda raise questions as to whether the President attempted to influence or impede the FBI's investigation as it release to Lt. Gen. Flynn," Chaffetz wrote.

He also gave a deadline of May 24 to provide "all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring or relating to any communications between Comey and the President."

The move by Chaffetz came hours after the New York Times reported Comey wrote the memo shortly after an Oval Office meeting on Feb. 14, the day after Flynn resigned from the Trump administration.

The paper acknowledged it had not seen a copy of the memo, but said a Comey associate read parts of it to a reporter over the phone.

The memo was presented as the clearest evidence yet that Trump tried to influence the Justice Department and FBI probe into any Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign and alleged links to Trump’s associates.

The White House rejected the characterization that the president tried to shut down an investigation.

“[T]he President has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn,” an official told Fox News. “The President has the utmost respect for our law enforcement agencies, and all investigations. This is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the President and Mr. Comey.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.