>> that's how i understood it. yes, sir. >> as you perceived it, while he hoped you did away with it, you perceived it as an order, given the setting, the position and some of the circumstances? >> yes. >> at the time, did you say something to the president about, that is not an appropriate request, or did you tell the white house counsel, it's not an appropriate request? someone needs to tell the president he can't do these things. >> i didn't, no. >> why? >> i don't know. i think -- as i said earlier, i think the circumstances were such that it was -- i was a bit stunned and didn't have the presence of mind. i don't know. i don't want to make you sound like i'm captain courageous. i don't know if i would have said to the president with the presence of mind, sir, that's wrong. in the moment, it didn't come to my mind. what came to my mind is be careful what you say. i said, i agree flynn is a good guy. >> on the cloud, we keep talking about this cloud, you perceive the cloud to be the russian investigation in general?