appointed Holder. I appointed you and you recused yourself. You left me on an 394 island. I can’t do anything.” The President said that the recusal was unfair and that it was interfering with his ability to govern and undermining his 395 authority with foreign leaders. Sessions responded that he had had no choice 396 but to recuse, and it was a mandatory rather than discretionary decision. Hunt recalled that Sessions also stated at some point during the conversation that a new start at the FBI would be appropriate and the President should consider 397 replacing Comey as FBI director. According to Sessions, when the meeting concluded, it was clear that the President was unhappy with Comey, but Sessions 398 did not think the President had made the decision to terminate Comey. Bannon recalled that the President brought Comey up with him at least eight 399 times on May 3 and May 4, 2017. According to Bannon, the President said the same thing each time: “He told me three times I’m not under investigation. He’s a showboater. He’s a grandstander. I don’t know any Russians. There was 400 no collusion.” Bannon told the President that he could not fire Comey 401 because “that ship had sailed.” Bannon also told the President that firing Comey was not going to stop the investigation, cautioning him that he could fire 402 the FBI director but could not fire the FBI. 2. The President Makes the Decision to Terminate Comey The weekend following Comey’s May 3, 2017 testimony, the President 403 traveled to his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey. At a dinner on Friday, May 5, attended by the President and various advisors and family members, including Jared Kushner and senior advisor Stephen Miller, the President stated that he wanted to remove Comey and had ideas for a letter that would be used to make 404 the announcement. The President dictated arguments and specific language 405 for the letter, and Miller took notes. As reflected in the notes, the President told Miller that the letter should start, “While I greatly appreciate you informing me that I am not under investigation concerning what I have often stated is a fabricated story on a Trump-Russia relationship — pertaining to the 2016 presidential election, please be informed that I, and I believe the American 406 public – including Ds and Rs – have lost faith in you as Director of the FBI.” Following the dinner, Miller prepared a termination letter based on those notes