FBI Director James B. Comey prepared extensively for his discussions with President Trump, out of concern that the president was unlikely to respect the legal and ethical boundaries governing their respective roles, according to associates of the now-fired FBI chief.
The associates recounted how worried Comey was about meeting with Trump and recalled conversations in which they brainstormed how to handle moments in which the president asked for details of an investigation.
One associate referred to Comeys preparation as a kind of murder board a phrase used to describe a committee of questioners that hurl tough questions at someone as practice for a difficult oral examination.
The director did not take notes during the dinner with the president, but there were times, one associate recalled, when after meeting with Trump, Comey started writing notes as soon as he got into a car, to make sure he could accurately record what was said.
Another associate said the notes of the January dinner conversation contained very nuanced quotes from the president and a high level of detail.