Comey Testifies Trump Fired Him to Scuttle FBI’s Russia Probe
The testimony said that Trump had asked Comey to drop its investigation of former NSA Michael Flynn.
In a hugely anticipated hearing, fired FBI director James Comey recounted a series of conversations with President Donald Trump that he says made him deeply uneasy and concerned about the blurring of boundaries between the White House and a law enforcement agency that prides itself on independence. Follow The Quint for all the live updates of the testimony.
- FBI director James Comey recounted a series of conversations with President Donald Trump
- The outcome of Comey’s testimony could have significant repercussions for Trump’s 139-day-old presidency
- A released transcript of the testimony said Trump had asked Comey to drop its investigation of former NSA Michael Flynn
Trump, as Comey Takes Spotlight, Vows to Stay Strong and Fight
US President Donald Trump, in a speech across town from a closely watched congressional hearing on his dealings with the FBI amid its Russia probe, told supporters on Thursday their movement was "under siege" and vowed to fight on.
"We're under siege...but we will come out bigger and better and stronger than ever," he said during a separate speech in Washington. "We will not back down from doing what is right ...we know how to fight and we will never give up."
White House Spokeswoman Says Trump "Not a Liar"
A White House spokeswoman says President Donald Trump is "not a liar."
Former FBI Director James Comey opened his Senate testimony by saying the administration had spread "lies, plain and simple" and "defamed" him and the agency.
The White House had claimed after Comey's 9 May dismissal that he had lost the confidence of rank-and-file FBI agents.
Trump claimed separately in a television interview that the FBI was "in turmoil" and hadn't recovered.
Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders disputed Comey's testimony when asked about it during an off-camera briefing at the White House, saying "I can definitely say the president's not a liar."
US House Speaker Cites Trump's Lack of Experience Amid FBI Russia Probe
US House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday, asked about President Donald Trump's interactions with former FBI Director James Comey, said Trump "was new at this" and probably not "steeped" in FBI independence from the White House.
"He's new in government, and so therefore I think he's learning as he goes," Ryan told reporters at a news conference. "I'm not saying it's an acceptable excuse. It's just my observation."
Release All the Tapes, Says Comey
When asked if he will consent to releasing the tapes, James Comey said he did not have any problems in releasing the tapes.
Trump's Attorney Marc Kasowitz To Make a Statement
US President Donald Trump's personal attorney Marc Kasowitz plans to make a statement following the congressional testimony of former FBI Director James Comey.
Kasowitz's remarks are expected Thursday afternoon in downtown Washington.
Trump tasked Kasowitz late last month with responding to matters arising from various probes of Russian interference in the election.
This would be the first public appearance by Kasowitz.
Trump Wanted Private Oval Office Meeting: Comey
Comey said that to him, Trump’s decision to speak with him alone in mid-February was a “very significant fact.”
According to Comey, after a large group of intelligence officials and White House aides met in the Oval Office for a counter-terrorism meeting on Feb. 14. That group included Attorney General Jeff Sessions, key Trump adviser Jared Kushner and others.
Donald Trump Jr Defends Father
Republican politician, James Risch, asked for clarification on Trump’s words in relation to Flynn. Comey said that during their conversation, Trump said he “hoped” Comey can let the Flynn investigation go.
Donald Trump Jr picked up on it and tweeted the following.
Trump Disputes Two Key Points in Comey Testimony: Source
President Donald Trump disputes two key points in the written testimony provided by former FBI Director James Comey, a source familiar with Trump's thinking said on Thursday.
Comey testified that Trump asked him to let go of the probe into his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and also said that Trump asked for his loyalty. Trump disputes those points, the source said.
Did not Need to Document Private Conversations With Bush and Obama
Comey said that he made memos of his conversations with Donald Trump as he knew that there might come a day when he needed a record of what happened.
“I interacted with president Obama. I spoke only twice in three years and didn’t document it... I had one one-on-one meeting with President Bush... but I didn’t feel with president Bush the need to document it in that way,” he said.
Comey Says FBI Became Aware of Russian Cyber Intrusion in 2015
Comey said that there were a lot of cyber intrusions but the FBI came to know about the Russian intrusions in the late summer 2015. He calls it a "massive effort”.
Comey says Russians targeted “hundreds, I suppose it could be more than a thousand” entities in an attempt to crack the US election.
White House Chose to Defame Me: Comey
Former FBI director James Comey says administration chose to defame him and the FBI by saying organisation was in disarray.
Comey Begins Testifying
US Senate intelligence committee hearing with former FBI director James Comey begins and he starts testifying after taking oath.
Former FBI Director James Comey Arrives at Senate Hearing
Former FBI Director James Comey arrives at Senate hearing to deliver long-awaited testimony.
Trump's Asking for Loyalty is Inappropriate: Kamala Harris
Indian American politician Kamala Harris tweeted and said that she had many questions for Comey and wanted answers.
Preet Bharara has a Seat Reserved
Preet Bharara, the former federal prosecutor in New York who was fired in a controversial move by President Trump earlier this year, will be present in the testimony.
Comey Account Could Fuel Obstruction Accusations Against Trump: Legal Experts
Former FBI Director James Comey's testimony that U.S. President Donald Trump expected loyalty and hoped Comey would drop an investigation of a former top aide could bolster obstruction of justice allegations against Trump, several legal experts said.
Such allegations might be used as the basis for impeachment proceedings, some of the analysts said. Any such step would face a steep hurdle, however, as it would require approval by the US House of Representatives, which is controlled by Trump's fellow Republicans.
In a hugely anticipated hearing, fired FBI director James Comey will recount a series of conversations with President Donald Trump that he says made him deeply uneasy and concerned about the blurring of boundaries between the White House and a law enforcement agency that prides itself on independence.
The testimony, Comey's first public statements since his 9 May dismissal, is likely to bring hours of uncomfortable attention to an administration shadowed for months by an investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Here’s the prepared transcript for his testimony, taken from the Senate Intelligence Committee’s website:
Comey's account of demands for loyalty from the president, and of requests to end an investigation into an embattled Trump adviser, are likely to sharpen allegations that Trump improperly sought to influence the FBI-led probe.
The outcome of Comey's testimony could have significant repercussions for Trump's 139-day-old presidency as special counsel Robert Mueller and multiple congressional committees investigate whether Trump's campaign team colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.
The White House and Russia deny any collusion has occurred.
Trump Feels ‘Vindicated’ After Comey’s Testimony on Russia Probe
Trump's attorney, Marc Kasowitz, released a statement on Wednesday saying the president felt vindicated by Comey's acknowledgement that Trump was not personally under investigation.
Despite landing himself in other political controversies, including his handling of the FBI investigation of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's private email server, Comey is widely seen as cautious and fact-oriented.
"One thing you don't ever hear about him is (that) people don't think he tells the truth. He brings a lot of credibility," said Benjamin Wittes, a Comey confidant and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Less than five months into office, Trump has proven himself to be impulsive and visceral, turning to Twitter to lambaste perceived adversaries.
Transcript of Comey's Testimony
Comey's detailed and vivid recollections of his one-on-one conversations with Trump were revealed in seven pages of prepared testimony released Wednesday, the day before his appearance before the Senate intelligence committee.
The testimony said that Trump had asked Comey to drop an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of the FBI probe into whether Moscow meddled in the election.
Comey said Trump met at a dinner on 27 January, a week after the president took office, and told him “I need loyalty. I expect loyalty”. During the dinner, the president asked him if he wanted to stay on as FBI director, Comey said. The former FBI head said he became concerned that Trump was trying to create “some sort of patronage relationship.”
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