Not so 'fake' news? Comey testimony will confirm media reports the White House has tried to knock down

• The White House denied reports that Trump asked Comey to pledge his loyalty and back off the FBI investigation into former security advisor Michael Flynn.
• Comey detailed both accounts to the Senate Intelligence Committee in his sworn testimony.

James Comey

Getty Images

The White House regularly tries to shoot down unfavorable news reports about President Donald Trump, but former FBI chief James Comey appears set to back up some of them.

May 12 - White House press secretary Sean Spicer was asked more than once about the validity of a New York Times story stating that Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to pledge his loyalty. Spicer denied the report emphatically — twice.

Testimony expected Thursday: Comey will state before the Senate Intelligence Committee that at a dinner in the Green Room at the White House on Jan. 27, Trump said to him, "I need loyalty." To which Comey says he replied, "You will always get honesty from me." The president allegedly responded, "That's what I want, honest loyalty."

May 17 - One day after The New York Times reported — and other media confirmed — that Trump urged Comey to end the FBI's investigation into Flynn, Spicer insisted that account of the meeting was not accurate.

One day after that, reporter asked Trump at a press conference whether he had in any way urged Comey to back off or end the FBI's investigation into Flynn.

Trump was unequivocal: "No. No. Next question."

Testimony expected Thursday: According to his prepared remarks, Comey will say that Trump told him at a February Oval Office meeting, "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."