Former U.S. Attorney Joseph diGenova said President Donald Trump’s conversation with former FBI Director James Comey about the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn doesn’t “rise to the level” of “obstruction of justice,” during an interview Wednesday on “The Laura Ingraham Show.”

DiGenova, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia in the Reagan administration, addressed a bombshell New York Times report Tuesday concerning a memo Comey allegedly wrote following a February meeting with Trump. In his memo — which The Times did not actually view — Comey reportedly wrote that Trump told him, “I hope you can let” the Flynn investigation “go.”

“I don’t think there was any effect, nor do I think the president had any intention of trying to stop the legitimate investigation.”

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that what the president said — if the memo is correct — is not an obstruction,” diGenova said. “He didn’t order the FBI director to do anything. He asked him a question. And so, I don’t think that rises to that level.”

The former U.S. attorney noted that Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified last week that, to his knowledge, the White House had not attempted to impede or obstruct the FBI’s investigation into Trump associates and any connections with Russia.

“There’s no doubt that nothing that the president said or did with the director had any effect whatsoever. And of course, McCabe testified to that effect, as you just pointed out,” diGenova said. “I don’t think there was any effect — nor do I think the president had any intention of trying to stop the legitimate investigation.”

Nevertheless, diGenova criticized the president for speaking alone with Comey about the Flynn investigation, saying, “that should never have been allowed to happen.”

“I think it was an unwise discussion. And I think the notion that he was having that type of discussion with the FBI director is an error in judgment,” diGenova said. “It’s just stupid. And it shows how bad the staff is.”

Claiming that “there is no one who is senior enough, serious enough” to advise or prevent the president from engaging in unwise behavior, diGenova begged Trump to surround himself with the appropriate staff and advisers while heeding their advice.

“But the bottom line is, we are where we are now, and the president needs around him a group of people who are seasoned and aware of Washington and have done this before,” diGenova said. “And I think he needs some added troops in the White House to assist during this process.”

“But the point will then get down to: Who will be able to control what the president says or tweets? Because that is why we are in this problem,” diGenova lamented. “It is because of the tweet about possible recording, which piqued everyone’s interests … Bottom line is, the president needs some help, and he needs some good advice. And he certainly isn’t getting it.”

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DiGenova pointed to one of Trump’s most iconic campaign slogans: “Drain the swamp.” Although he conceded that there are many corrupt individuals in “the Washington swamp,”diGenova urged the president to look for the “good swamp people” and bring them on board.

“There’s some good things in the swamp. I’m a swamp creature. I’ve been here since 1967. I don’t consider myself a bad swamp person. I consider myself a good swamp person. And the fact is, if you live here, you live in the swamp and you have to navigate it,” diGenova said. “There are some wonderful, wonderful senior Republicans and independents who could help the president.”

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In order for Trump to more effectively weather this latest storm, diGenova said both he and the Republicans need “some wins.”

“But the legislative area is where there is going to be the biggest problem because of the obstruction of the Democrats,” diGenova said. “So they have to find a way to get momentum going. Perhaps this foreign trip will provide some of that.”

Trump is set to travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy beginning later this week.

“But Republicans are not strong-willed when they get in trouble like this. They don’t hang together the way the Democrats do. And they’re certainly horrible at messaging. That has become a major problem for them over the years and it hasn’t gotten any better,” diGenova lamented.

“It’s up to him to change the narrative, which [Trump’s] perfectly capable of doing,” diGenova added.

“Let’s face it. A lot of Republicans simply do not like the president. They don’t like the way he campaigned. They don’t like the way he won. They don’t like the way he governs. And they are in fact a major problem because you don’t have a bench. You don’t have a base. You don’t have people you can turn to who are going to help you,” diGenova concluded. “And I think that’s why the president needs around him a fully staffed senior group of Washington experts.”