<P> "Meddlesome priest" is indelibly associated with Becket, whose death made him into a revered saint . The New York Times commented that even though Henry may not actually have said it, "in such matters historical authenticity may not be the point ." The phrase has been cited as an example of the shared history that all British citizens should be familiar with, part of "the collective memory of their country". </P> <P> Former FBI director James Comey, in his 8 June 2017 testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, invoked this phrase to explain that he took President Donald Trump's statement, "I hope you can let this go" regarding the investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn as a directive, even though Trump did not explicitly order Comey to drop the investigation . During the testimony Senator Angus King asked Comey, "When the president of the United States, in the Oval Office, says something like' I hope,' or' I suggest,' or' would you,' do you take that as a directive?" Comey replied, "Yes . It rings in my ears as kind of' will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"' King replied, "I was just going to quote that!" </P>

Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest quote