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James Comey fired 'days after requesting Russia inquiry resources' – live James Comey fired 'days after requesting Russia inquiry resources' – live
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If Comey does testify before the senate next week, it will be in a closed session, according to a spokesman for intelligence committee chairman Richard Burr.
That means we wouldn’t get to watch and wouldn’t know what Comey said.
The Senate Intel committee has invited Comey to meet Tuesday in *closed* session, Burr spokesperson Becca Glover Watkins confirms
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Had Comey lost the confidence of the FBI rank-and-file? The White House asserts he had. Reporting suggests he had not.
White House says they've talked to "countless" FBI agents that had lost faith in Comey. I haven't talked to anyone in the FBI who says that.
Read also: FBI agents in tears as news of Comey’s firing spread
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Q: Who’s the next FBI director going to be?Q: Who’s the next FBI director going to be?
A: “There are several individuals being considered and the first step will be selecting the interim director... as of today, the department of justice is handling the first step.”A: “There are several individuals being considered and the first step will be selecting the interim director... as of today, the department of justice is handling the first step.”
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White House: Clinton 'would have fired Comey immediately'White House: Clinton 'would have fired Comey immediately'
Sanders is asked whether Comey’s firing won’t make bipartisan comity, and thus legislative scores, more difficult to achieve: Huckabee Sanders is asked whether Comey’s firing won’t make bipartisan comity, and thus legislative scores, more difficult to achieve:
Frankly I’m surprised that it did create a divide since you’ve had so many Republicans and Democrats call for Comey to be gone.Frankly I’m surprised that it did create a divide since you’ve had so many Republicans and Democrats call for Comey to be gone.
Sanders says “If Hillary Clinton won, and thank god she didn’t, she would have fired Comey immediately.” She adds: “If Hillary Clinton won, and thank God she didn’t, she would have fired Comey immediately.”
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Sanders, on frustration at the decision among the FBI rank-and-file: Huckabee Sanders, on frustration at the decision among the FBI rank-and-file:
We’ve heard from countless members of the FBI that say very different things. The president will be meeting with acting director McCabe to discuss [morale at the FBI]” and might visit the bureau.We’ve heard from countless members of the FBI that say very different things. The president will be meeting with acting director McCabe to discuss [morale at the FBI]” and might visit the bureau.
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White House: special prosecutor unnecessaryWhite House: special prosecutor unnecessary
Sanders on a possible special prosecutor: “We don’t think it’s necessary. You’ve got a house committee, a senate committee and the department of justice.” Huckabee Sanders on a possible special prosecutor: “We don’t think it’s necessary. You’ve got a House committee, a Senate committee and the Department of Justice.”
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Sanders, on how Comey was fired (via a letter carried to the FBI by Trump’s personal bodyguard): Huckabee Sanders, on how Comey was fired (via a letter carried to the FBI by Trump’s personal bodyguard):
He followed the proper protocol in that process which is handwritten notification. No matter how you fire someone, it’s never an easy process.He followed the proper protocol in that process which is handwritten notification. No matter how you fire someone, it’s never an easy process.
Sanders says she’s not aware of Trump and Comey having spoken. She says she’s not aware of Trump and Comey having spoken.
On whether Trump was aware of Comey’s request for further resources for the Russia inquiry:On whether Trump was aware of Comey’s request for further resources for the Russia inquiry:
Not that I’m aware of, ask the justice department.Not that I’m aware of, ask the justice department.
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Sanders says she can’t comment on the reported subpoenas seeking info from Michael Flynn associates. Huckabee Sanders says she can’t comment on the reported subpoenas seeking info from Michael Flynn associates.
On the question of deciding whether to appoint a special prosecutor, Sanders says “I believe that would fall to the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein.” On the question of deciding whether to appoint a special prosecutor, she says: “I believe that would fall to the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein.”
Sanders says it’s a good thing “to have Comey out of the way so there’s someone leading this process that everybody across the board has respect and confidence in.” Huckabee Sanders says it’s a good thing “to have Comey out of the way so there’s someone leading this process that everybody across the board has respect and confidence in”.
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Sanders, on Trump’s view of the Russian investigations in Congress and the FBI: Huckabee Sanders, on Trump’s view of the Russian investigations in Congress and the FBI:
He wants them to continue with whatever they see appropriate and fit... we encourage them to complete this investigation so we can put it behind us.. .there’s no evidence between the Trump campaign and Russia.”He wants them to continue with whatever they see appropriate and fit... we encourage them to complete this investigation so we can put it behind us.. .there’s no evidence between the Trump campaign and Russia.”
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Q: Can we expect more firings?Q: Can we expect more firings?
A: “Not that I’m aware of today.”A: “Not that I’m aware of today.”
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Sanders won’t describe when Comey told Trump that Trump was not under investigation. Trump’s letter to Comey said Comey told him three times that he, Trump, was not personally under investigation. Huckabee Sanders won’t describe when Comey told Trump that Trump was not under investigation. Trump’s letter to Comey said Comey told him three times that he, Trump, was not personally under investigation.
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Sanders is trashing Comey’s leadership of the FBI and conduct within the justice department. Huckabee Sanders is trashing Comey’s leadership of the FBI and conduct within the justice department.
Then she denies that the meetings with Lavrov and Kissinger had been long-planned:Then she denies that the meetings with Lavrov and Kissinger had been long-planned:
These were meetings that have been on the books for a while. They didn’t just happen... there’s not a strategy to go after the Democrats on this... the Democrats are trying to politicize and take away something he should be doing.These were meetings that have been on the books for a while. They didn’t just happen... there’s not a strategy to go after the Democrats on this... the Democrats are trying to politicize and take away something he should be doing.
When was the decision to fire made?When was the decision to fire made?
He made the decision with the final decision to move forward with it was yesterday” but “he had been considering” firing Comey ever since he took office and “there was no request by him to have a review at the department of justice.”He made the decision with the final decision to move forward with it was yesterday” but “he had been considering” firing Comey ever since he took office and “there was no request by him to have a review at the department of justice.”
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Sanders bypasses a question about Russia, saying she’s sure we’ll get back to that. Huckabee Sanders bypasses a question about Russia, saying she’s sure we’ll get back to that.
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Comey “took a stick of dynamite and threw it in the Department of Justice” by calling a press conference last July and saying there was no prosecutable case against Hillary Clinton, Sanders says.Comey “took a stick of dynamite and threw it in the Department of Justice” by calling a press conference last July and saying there was no prosecutable case against Hillary Clinton, Sanders says.
When did Trump lose confidence in Comey?When did Trump lose confidence in Comey?
Sanders: Huckabee Sanders:
I think it’s been an erosion of confidence. I think that director Comey has shown in the last several months and the last year a lot of missteps and mistakes ... frankly I think it’s startling that Democrats aren’t celebrating this.I think it’s been an erosion of confidence. I think that director Comey has shown in the last several months and the last year a lot of missteps and mistakes ... frankly I think it’s startling that Democrats aren’t celebrating this.
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White House: Trump asked Rosenstein to put concerns in writingWhite House: Trump asked Rosenstein to put concerns in writing
Question: Did the president direct Rosenstein to write this memo?Question: Did the president direct Rosenstein to write this memo?
Answer: “No ... but he did have a conversation with the deputy attorney general ... [and the attorney general] ... [Trump] asked them to put those concerns in writing ... he asked them to put that recommendation in writing, but he came to him on his [sic] own.”Answer: “No ... but he did have a conversation with the deputy attorney general ... [and the attorney general] ... [Trump] asked them to put those concerns in writing ... he asked them to put that recommendation in writing, but he came to him on his [sic] own.”
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White House briefing beginsWhite House briefing begins
Sarah Huckabee Sanders has begun the White House briefing, for which she is filling Sean Spicer’s role – unclear why. You can watch here on CSPAN.Sarah Huckabee Sanders has begun the White House briefing, for which she is filling Sean Spicer’s role – unclear why. You can watch here on CSPAN.
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Sessions, Rosenstein met with Trump on Monday – reportSessions, Rosenstein met with Trump on Monday – report
Attorney general Jeff Sessions and deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein met with Trump at the White House on Monday and told him he should fire Comey, McClatchy reports without citing sources.Attorney general Jeff Sessions and deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein met with Trump at the White House on Monday and told him he should fire Comey, McClatchy reports without citing sources.
The exclusive report makes Trump’s decision to fire Comey sound like a reaction to a concrete justice department recommendation.The exclusive report makes Trump’s decision to fire Comey sound like a reaction to a concrete justice department recommendation.
The report says Trump “called a handful of senators of both parties to inform them of the news”.The report says Trump “called a handful of senators of both parties to inform them of the news”.
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