contacts with russia. a source told cnn comey was so surprised by the president's request he documented everything he could remember for senior fbi officials. in his memo, comey said the president told him, i hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting flynn go. he is a good guy. i hope you can let this go. a source told cnn, comey was concerned that the president was trying to stop the investigation. >> did you at any time urge former fbi director james comey in any way, shape or form to close or back down the investigation into michael flynn? also, as you -- >> no. no. next question. >> reporter: despite that, just days after firing comey in may, president trump dropped this bombshell. suggesting he let comey go because of the russia investigation. >> when i decided to just do it i said to myself, i said, you know, this russia thing with trump and russia is a made up