Donald Trump

Meet Daniel Richman, the Columbia Law Professor Comey Asked to Leak a Memo

"I don't think he takes glee in being contrary for its own sake," Richman once said of Comey

Columbia Law Professor Daniel Richman is the "good friend" of James Comey who leaked one of former FBI director's memos on private conversations with President Donald Trump, friends of Richman told NBC News.

Richman, who leaked the unclassified memo a week after Trump fired Comey, is a former federal prosecutor and has been friends with Comey for 30 years, he told NBC News in the fall. He could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Comey testified to the Senate Thursday that he gave a friend one of his memos in an effort to prompt the appointment of a special prosecutor who could verify the contents of the memos.

The professor spoke out publicly in defense of Comey last fall when Comey came under fire for re-examining Hillary Clinton's emails, telling NBC News, "I don't think he takes glee in being contrary for its own sake."

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