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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/may/09/james-comey-fired-fbi-trump-white-house-live
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| James Comey fired: calls for special prosecutor after Trump sacks FBI director – live updates | James Comey fired: calls for special prosecutor after Trump sacks FBI director – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.43am BST | |
| 02:43 | |
| Our world affairs editor Julian Borger has written an analysis of Comey’s termination, saying the move has taken US democracy “into dark and dangerous new territory”. | |
| Here is his full take: | |
| 2.40am BST | |
| 02:40 | |
| To borrow a joke from Twitter, you know things are bad when you get trolled by Nixon’s ghost ... | |
| FUN FACT: President Nixon never fired the Director of the FBI #FBIDirector #notNixonian pic.twitter.com/PatArKOZlk | |
| 2.37am BST | |
| 02:37 | |
| Meanwhile, Comey has his first job offer! | |
| Mr. Comey knows where many bodies are buried. Working for WikiLeaks is fulfilling. James--don't become another lobbyist for Glock or Donkin. | |
| 2.35am BST | |
| 02:35 | |
| A bit of background on the relationship between the FBI and the White House in the weeks leading up to the firing of James Comey. | |
| WaPo: WH has been pushing FBI to investigate leaks; FBI resisted calls to prioritize leak investigations over Russia https://t.co/gpiioJLaBn pic.twitter.com/hWVlQpk5IA | |
| 2.25am BST | |
| 02:25 | |
| Here is more from CNN’s story on the subpoenas: | |
| The subpoenas issued in recent weeks by the US Attorney’s Office in Alexandria, Virginia, were received by associates who worked with Flynn on contracts after he was forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014, according to the people familiar with the investigation. | |
| 2.18am BST | |
| 02:18 | |
| FBI's Russia investigation moves up a gear | |
| Meanwhile, it seems the Russia investigation is not going away. This appears to be the first sign of a significant escalation of activity in the inquiry. | |
| BREAKING ON CNN: Grand jury subpoenas were recently issued relating to the FBI Russia probe seeking records from associates of Michael Flynn | |
| 2.08am BST | 2.08am BST |
| 02:08 | 02:08 |
| White House deputy press sec: 'Time to move' on from Russian investigation | White House deputy press sec: 'Time to move' on from Russian investigation |
| Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in the middle of all this, on the Russia investigation: "It's time to move on" pic.twitter.com/aJYO0UljCv | Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in the middle of all this, on the Russia investigation: "It's time to move on" pic.twitter.com/aJYO0UljCv |
| 2.01am BST | 2.01am BST |
| 02:01 | 02:01 |
| Another example of Trump’s former admiration for Comey. In January the president singled the FBI director out for praise at a White House reception for law enforcement, exclaiming: “he’s become more famous than me.” | Another example of Trump’s former admiration for Comey. In January the president singled the FBI director out for praise at a White House reception for law enforcement, exclaiming: “he’s become more famous than me.” |
| 1.54am BST | 1.54am BST |
| 01:54 | 01:54 |
| NYT reporting that initially Comey thought the whole thing was a practical joke. | NYT reporting that initially Comey thought the whole thing was a practical joke. |
| When James Comey first learned he had been fired, he thought it was a fairly funny prank https://t.co/cy1VYUKHJZ pic.twitter.com/QWqd8qNf5i | When James Comey first learned he had been fired, he thought it was a fairly funny prank https://t.co/cy1VYUKHJZ pic.twitter.com/QWqd8qNf5i |
| 1.53am BST | 1.53am BST |
| 01:53 | 01:53 |
| Speaking of Trump praising Comey, this is from October ... | Speaking of Trump praising Comey, this is from October ... |
| 1.51am BST | 1.51am BST |
| 01:51 | 01:51 |
| As the interview continues, Conway brings up criticism of Comey by the Democrats: | As the interview continues, Conway brings up criticism of Comey by the Democrats: |
| “What happened to all the Democrats who had no confidence in Comey when it was politically expedient for them?” she asks. | “What happened to all the Democrats who had no confidence in Comey when it was politically expedient for them?” she asks. |
| When Cooper asks about Trump’s previous praise for Comey, Conway ducks the questio and responds that “as president of the US [Trump] needs confidence in the director of the FBI and he doesn’t have it.” | When Cooper asks about Trump’s previous praise for Comey, Conway ducks the questio and responds that “as president of the US [Trump] needs confidence in the director of the FBI and he doesn’t have it.” |
| She goes on to quote from the Rosenstein letter and says: “this has nothing to do with the campaign six months ago ... it has everything to do with whether the current FBI director has the president’s confidence.” | She goes on to quote from the Rosenstein letter and says: “this has nothing to do with the campaign six months ago ... it has everything to do with whether the current FBI director has the president’s confidence.” |
| Anderson Cooper calls out Kellyanne Conway: your explanation for why Trump fired Comey doesn't make any sense. pic.twitter.com/NBflbxNPyP | Anderson Cooper calls out Kellyanne Conway: your explanation for why Trump fired Comey doesn't make any sense. pic.twitter.com/NBflbxNPyP |
| 1.46am BST | 1.46am BST |
| 01:46 | 01:46 |
| Kellyanne Conway speaks to Anderson Cooper on CNN | Kellyanne Conway speaks to Anderson Cooper on CNN |
| Conway says Trump’s removal of Comey is solely about “restoring public confidence in the FBI”. | Conway says Trump’s removal of Comey is solely about “restoring public confidence in the FBI”. |
| Cooper is talking about how this is actually destroying confidence in the Russia investigations. | Cooper is talking about how this is actually destroying confidence in the Russia investigations. |
| Conway replies: “Today’s actions had zero to do with that.” | Conway replies: “Today’s actions had zero to do with that.” |
| 1.40am BST | 1.40am BST |
| 01:40 | 01:40 |
| In scenes strangely reminiscent of the OJ Simpson chase, Fox News has sent a helicopter to film Comey’s car as it travels along an LA freeway. | In scenes strangely reminiscent of the OJ Simpson chase, Fox News has sent a helicopter to film Comey’s car as it travels along an LA freeway. |
| The US government is at present literally a reality TV show as Fox News chases FBI Comey's car in LA. pic.twitter.com/eE8n570LBb | The US government is at present literally a reality TV show as Fox News chases FBI Comey's car in LA. pic.twitter.com/eE8n570LBb |
| 1.33am BST | 1.33am BST |
| 01:33 | 01:33 |
| Comey won't talk to press tonight | Comey won't talk to press tonight |
| FBI LA Field Office Says Comey not speaking tonight - returning to DC | FBI LA Field Office Says Comey not speaking tonight - returning to DC |
| CNN has been musing on how exactly Comey will return to DC. | CNN has been musing on how exactly Comey will return to DC. |
| They say Comey flew out to meet FBI staff on a special, secure, plane which has a hotline to the president and other security features. Now he has been relieved of his position how will he get home? | They say Comey flew out to meet FBI staff on a special, secure, plane which has a hotline to the president and other security features. Now he has been relieved of his position how will he get home? |
| “Does he come back on that plane, does he have to fly commercial. We don’t know,” says Evan Perez, justice correspondent. | “Does he come back on that plane, does he have to fly commercial. We don’t know,” says Evan Perez, justice correspondent. |
| 1.31am BST | 1.31am BST |
| 01:31 | 01:31 |
| Trump’s controversial move has found *some* support from Republicans. | Trump’s controversial move has found *some* support from Republicans. |
| Senator Susan Collins released a statement says suggestions that the firing of Comey was related to the FBI’s investigation of Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election were “misplaced”. | Senator Susan Collins released a statement says suggestions that the firing of Comey was related to the FBI’s investigation of Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election were “misplaced”. |
| The President did not fire the entire FBI; he fired the director. I have every confidence that the FBI will continue to pursue its investigation. In addition, I am certain that the Senate Intelligence Committee, on which I serve, will continue its own bipartisan investigation and will follow the evidence wherever it leads. I hope that the next FBI Director will have the same kind of integrity, intelligence, and determination that Mr. Comey exhibited, but perhaps better judgment on when it is appropriate to comment publicly on the results of an investigation.” | The President did not fire the entire FBI; he fired the director. I have every confidence that the FBI will continue to pursue its investigation. In addition, I am certain that the Senate Intelligence Committee, on which I serve, will continue its own bipartisan investigation and will follow the evidence wherever it leads. I hope that the next FBI Director will have the same kind of integrity, intelligence, and determination that Mr. Comey exhibited, but perhaps better judgment on when it is appropriate to comment publicly on the results of an investigation.” |
| 1.28am BST | 1.28am BST |
| 01:28 | 01:28 |
| Fox News is drawing attention to the fact that Bill Clinton also fired an FBI director. | Fox News is drawing attention to the fact that Bill Clinton also fired an FBI director. |
| Since 1972, Comey is only the second FBI Director to be removed by the President. https://t.co/IO7R1bJKjl | Since 1972, Comey is only the second FBI Director to be removed by the President. https://t.co/IO7R1bJKjl |
| Clinton did indeed sack Sessions in 1993 on the basis of an ethics investigation into his conduct carried out under George HW Bush into alleged abuse of office. However, Julian Borger explained in January that any move by Trump to dismiss Comey while the president’s associates were under investigation would be highly controversial and akin to Richard Nixon’s dismissal of special prosecutor Archibald Cox in 1973. | Clinton did indeed sack Sessions in 1993 on the basis of an ethics investigation into his conduct carried out under George HW Bush into alleged abuse of office. However, Julian Borger explained in January that any move by Trump to dismiss Comey while the president’s associates were under investigation would be highly controversial and akin to Richard Nixon’s dismissal of special prosecutor Archibald Cox in 1973. |
| 1.27am BST | 1.27am BST |
| 01:27 | 01:27 |
| Seems this is not quite going according to the administration’s plan ... | Seems this is not quite going according to the administration’s plan ... |
| White House told allies that Democrats wouldn't be able to protest it because of their previous Comey criticisms https://t.co/2auSk02122 | White House told allies that Democrats wouldn't be able to protest it because of their previous Comey criticisms https://t.co/2auSk02122 |
| 1.26am BST | 1.26am BST |
| 01:26 | 01:26 |
| Trump plans to meet Lavrov on Wednesday | Trump plans to meet Lavrov on Wednesday |
| Timing! | Timing! |
| In possible sign of closer ties between US and Russia, Trump plans to meet Russia's foreign minister at White House. https://t.co/n9K6nEy2Gr | In possible sign of closer ties between US and Russia, Trump plans to meet Russia's foreign minister at White House. https://t.co/n9K6nEy2Gr |
| 1.19am BST | 1.19am BST |
| 01:19 | 01:19 |
| Andrew McCabe now in charge of FBI – reports | Andrew McCabe now in charge of FBI – reports |
| CNN says the deputy director is now acting director of the bureau while Jeff Sessions reviews potential candidates to take Comey’s place. | CNN says the deputy director is now acting director of the bureau while Jeff Sessions reviews potential candidates to take Comey’s place. |