In a sweeping opening statement released ahead of his testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, former FBI Director James Comey detailed a series of interactions with Donald Trump in which he says the president left him feeling uncomfortable and "concerned," pressed him for "loyalty," pushed him to clear the president's name and drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

In the statement, Comey painted a cringe-worthy portrait of his meetings and calls with the newly-minted commander-in-chief -- closed-door meetings, private dinners and phone calls in which he says Trump harped on the subject of Flynn and the Russia investigation. The interactions left him in an "awkward silence" with Trump at one point and drove him to beseech Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to allow "any further direct communication between the President and me."

What Comey and Trump discussed has become a matter of intense debate after news surfaced last month that Trump asked Comey to put the brakes on the Flynn investigation, allegations contained in a memo that was described to ABC News. The alleged request raised the specter of obstruction of justice, but he White House denied wrongdoing.

Read Comey's prepared testimony

Trump's motivations for firing Comey in May have also come under scrutiny. Initially, the White House referred to a letter from the deputy attorney general citing Comey's botched handling of the Clinton investigation, but he later said he was thinking about Russia when he decided to fire Comey.

And Trump's claim in his letter firing Comey that the FBI director assured him three times that he was not under investigation also became a point of contention. Comey associates were skeptical, but the former director is set to testify tomorrow that he did offer those assurances (though it's unclear if Comey was referring to "counter-intelligence" investigations as he states at one point or any investigation).

“The President is pleased that Mr. Comey has finally publicly confirmed his private reports that the President was not under investigation in any Russian probe," Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz said in a statement. "The President feels completely and totally vindicated. He is eager to continue to move forward with his agenda.”

Here's a look at what Comey is expected to say in his testimony Thursday:

"Loyalty"

In one notable exchange, Comey described a private dinner at the White House on Jan. 27 when Trump turned to his future as FBI director.

"A few moments later, the President said, 'I need loyalty, I expect loyalty,'" the statement reads.

"I didn’t move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed. We simply looked at each other in silence."

When Trump returned to the top at the end of the dinner, Comey only promised "honesty."

"He paused and then said, 'That’s what I want, honest loyalty,'" the statement said. "I paused, and then said, 'You will get that from me.'"

During a May 12 press briefing, Press Secretary Sean Spicer denied that Trump had asked Comey for loyalty.

"No," Spicer said when asked if "the President implore him to pledge his loyalty to the President."

Flynn

Comey also detailed his version of a Feb. 14 meeting, where he says Trump asked him to drop any investigation into former national security adviser Mike Flynn after dismissing other advisers, as well as the attorney general, from the Oval Office.

Some have suggested that obstruction of justice may apply to Trump because of his request to Comey about Flynn, but the White House has denied that the president tried to block the probe.

"The president has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn," the White House statement from May said.

In Comey's statement, he details Trump's alleged closed-door efforts to get him to look the other way.

“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.” Trump said, according to the prepared statement from Comey.

Trump's alleged request to Comey -- first reported last month after sources described a memo Comey wrote about the matter -- came a day after Flynn had resigned.

Comey, who said he agreed Flynn was a "good guy," writes in his statement that he did not tell Trump he would let the Flynn investigation go.

Story continues