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Helicopter CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY nearly hit by drone at ballpark Comey says Trump

BY MARK PRICE, JANE WESTER AND GAVIN OFF [email protected] lied about his firing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are seeking the drone pilot who nearly caused a crash uptown Wednesday with a police hel- icopter above BB&T Ballpark – which was crowded at the time for a game. Investigators are asking for the public’s help finding the drone owner, who flew illegally within 20 feet of the helicopter. “Nearly struck a drone over Uptown at 8:50 pm tonight,” said a tweet sent out by the department. “Anyone w/ info about drone pilot, please call Crime Stoppers.” Sgt. Kenneth Anderson said the helicopter pilots, who were returning to their hangar after assisting at traffic incidents, had to take evasive maneuvers to get away from the drone. Details of the drone’s appear- ance aren’t available yet be- cause the helicopter pilots were flying in the dark and at a high speed – about 100 miles per hour. The culprit could end up with jail time, not to mention fines. Police said the drone’s owner broke the law and violated a whole list of Federal Aviation Administration rules by flying at night, flying above 400 feet, flying too close to Charlotte ALEX BRANDON AP Douglas International Airport, Former FBI Director James Comey is sworn in Thursday during the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in Washington. flying over a crowded area and not notifying air traffic control officers about the flight. It is the second time in two years that the helicopter, named BY GREG GORDON, COMEY DESCRIBED Snoopy, has dodged a collision Burr offers low-key MATTHEW SCHOFIELD with a drone. AND STUART LEAVENWORTH HOW HE BECAME An incident last year led to McClatchy Washington Bureau ‘CONCERNED’ AND the arrest of a 26-year-old Con- defense of Trump WASHINGTON ‘CONFUSED’ WHEN cord man. n extraordinary testimo- and , long- In that case, the drone pilot ny to Congress on Thurs- TRUMP SAID HE HAD was accused of purposely flying BY WILLIAM DOUGLAS time ogres of the conser- AND LESLEY CLARK day, former FBI Director a drone near a CMPD helicopter vative cause, into the mix. UNDERMINED McClatchy Washington Bureau James Comey accused Burr’s was a strategy as it tracked a suspect. President MORALE AT THE FBI. WASHINGTON designed to offer conser- The helicopter pilot had to of pressuring him to end an Senate Intelligence vatives a simple, sound I “immediately and abruptly” investigation into the presi- former FBI director’s disclo- Committee Chairman bite-friendly way to sup- alter the helicopter’s flight path dent’s ousted national security sure builds a case for obstruc- came out port the White House. to avoid a midair collision with adviser, , and tion of justice against Trump, swinging at former FBI The senator was trying the drone. also claimed that Trump lied but many are doubtful Con- Director James Comey – in to “reduce this to the low- Police arrested and charged about the reasons that Comey gress will pursue such allega- his low-key, genteel way – est common denominator, Christopher Baucom with inter- himself was ultimately fired. tions. A Trump lawyer force- and Trump administration that at the end of the day, ference with manned aircraft by From their first meeting, fully rejected them Thursday. supporters loved it. the president was not unmanned aircraft system and Comey said, he felt uncomfort- Less than three hours after Leading off questioning trying to obstruct the in- resisting a public officer. able with the president’s de- Comey’s testimony, Trump’s at Thursday’s intensely vestigation,” said Kenneth Anderson said police expect mands that he demonstrate personal lawyer, Marc Kaso- watched hearing, the Khachigian, a former aide encounters with drones to be- loyalty, so he started taking witz, disputed that Trump had North Carolina Republican to President Richard Nix- come more common as drones detailed notes because he sus- pressured Comey to let go of had Comey state that on and speechwriter for get more popular. Some new pected Trump “might lie” about the Flynn investigation and President Donald Trump President Ronald Reagan. technology can keep people safe their conversations. After being insisted the president never didn’t pressure him to stop Trump backers quickly by keeping the drone grounded fired, Comey said, he felt the demanded loyalty from the an investigation into Rus- embraced and trumpeted in restricted areas, he said, but need to leak some of those FBI director. sian interference in No- Burr’s approach, taking to risks also increase as drones get notes to the media, through a “There are those in govern- vember’s election. Twitter and television to more powerful. friend, so that the Justice De- ment trying to undermine the And to the delight of say he bolstered the presi- Anyone with information partment would be compelled president with leaked informa- Trump loyalists, not to dent’s argument that all about Wednesday’s drone in- to appoint a to tion,” said Kasowitz, adding mention many Repub- cident is asked to call Crime probe the Trump campaign’s that Comey has joined that licans, Burr injected Bill SEE BURR, 2A Stoppers at 704-334-1600. ties with Russia, which is what group with his disclosure that ultimately happened. he passed on some of his me- OTHER DRONE PROBLEMS Speaking under oath to the mos to Nationally, pilots, police and Senate Intelligence Commit- through a friend. citizens report more than 100 tee, Comey said that Trump, Comey acknowledged that drone sightings a month to the during a Valentine’s Day meet- there’s no corroboration for his Federal Aviation administration, ing in the White House, urged account. data show. him to “let this go,” referring “Lordy, I hope there are From January 2016 through to the Flynn probe. Comey tapes” of the conversations, he September 2016, the most re- deflected senators’ questions said – a retort to a threatening cent data available, they report- on whether Trump was at- tweet Trump made in response ed more than 1,360 drones, tempting to obstruct justice to leaked reports about Co- according to federal records. with his urgings, but he said mey’s memos. The tweet said Twenty-six were reported in that the president was making that Comey had better hope North Carolina, including 16 in his desires clear. there were not tapes of their Charlotte – the most of any city “I took it as a direction,” conversations. in the Carolinas. Twenty-one J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE AP Comey said in describing his Comey testified for more drones were reported over South meeting with Trump, which than two hours in an open ses- Republican Sen. Richard Burr, right, led off Thursday’s Carolina. left him “stunned,” he added. sion of the Senate Intelligence Intelligence Committee hearing with a genteel defense Many of the sightings came “What was playing in my mind Committee, in a packed hearing of the Trump administration. from pilots near airport run- is how we respond.” Some legal experts say the SEE COMEY, 2A SEE DRONE, 8A

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