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Senate subpoenas Michael Flynn in Russia investigation after James Comey fired – live Senate subpoenas Michael Flynn in Russia investigation after James Comey fired – live
(35 minutes later)
1.37am BST
01:37
Some people not such a fan of Trump’s homemade video, particularly the dramatic musical ending.
Here’s the soundtrack Trump purchased for this video. Price: $219.95. Money well spent https://t.co/dJzBoxiMLS
1.36am BST
01:36
Jason Chaffetz, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter to the Justice Department’s inspector general today asking him to expand the review of the FBI’s actions during the 2016 election to include the “facts and circumstances surrounding” the firing of Comey.
“You stated previously that your work includes an examination of whether Comey’s public communications and notifications to Congress about the Clinton investigation comported with Justice Department and FBI policies and procedures,” Chaffetz wrote. “You separately stated ‘if circumstances warrant, the OIG will consider including other issues that may arise during the course of the review.’ The recommendation to remove Comey indeed warrants such consideration. “
The inspector general review began in January. Chaffetz announced in April that he will not seek reelection in 2018.
Jason Chaffetz asks DOJ Inspector General to expand probe to include the decision to remove James Comey. pic.twitter.com/3q4blmMSn0
1.34am BST
01:34
Donald Trump has continued to prosecute his point that the Democrats didn’t have much love for Comey, and appears to have linked the sacking of the director to his efforts to #DrainTheSwamp
The Democrats should be ashamed. This is a disgrace!#DrainTheSwamp pic.twitter.com/UfbKEECm2V
1.24am BST
01:24
This is Graham Russell, by the way, taking the baton from Julia as blogger #3. Comey’s letter comes across as really quite upbeat, though there may be just the hint of a pointed remark. He tells his staff that the people should see the FBI as a “rock of competence, honesty and independence”. He adds: “My hope is that you will continue to live our values and the mission of protecting the American people and upholding the constitution.”
1.16am BST
01:16
Comey writes that he is “not going to spend time on the decision or the way it was executed”, adding “it is done and I will be fine”.
1.15am BST
01:15
CNN has published what it says is James Comey’s farewell letter to staff, in which he says he has “long believed that a president can fire an FBI director for any reason, or for no reason at all”.
Just obtained First on CNN --- Comey writes farewell letter to his former staff and friends pic.twitter.com/Y0zy8NAo6J
1.02am BST1.02am BST
01:0201:02
Donald Trump’s decision to meet with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office amid the firestorm over his firing of James Comey has raised more than a few eyebrows.Donald Trump’s decision to meet with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in the Oval Office amid the firestorm over his firing of James Comey has raised more than a few eyebrows.
According to Politico, Trump issued the invitation at the “specific request” of Vladimir Putin.According to Politico, Trump issued the invitation at the “specific request” of Vladimir Putin.
Lavrov, who has served as foreign minister since 2004, had been persona non grata at the White House since 2013, Politico reports. Trump reversed that protocol following a phone call with Putin:Lavrov, who has served as foreign minister since 2004, had been persona non grata at the White House since 2013, Politico reports. Trump reversed that protocol following a phone call with Putin:
“He chose to receive him because Putin asked him to,” a White House spokesman said of Trump’s Lavrov meeting. “Putin did specifically ask on the call when they last talked.”“He chose to receive him because Putin asked him to,” a White House spokesman said of Trump’s Lavrov meeting. “Putin did specifically ask on the call when they last talked.”
Read the rest of Politico’s report on the significance of the Lavrov meeting here.Read the rest of Politico’s report on the significance of the Lavrov meeting here.
12.46am BST12.46am BST
00:4600:46
Former FBI agents voice anger and humiliation over Comey firingFormer FBI agents voice anger and humiliation over Comey firing
Lois BeckettLois Beckett
Donald Trump’s firing of the FBI director, James Comey, has left FBI agents shocked, angry and humiliated, with some former agents worried that the president has fundamentally compromised the bureau’s prized political neutrality.Donald Trump’s firing of the FBI director, James Comey, has left FBI agents shocked, angry and humiliated, with some former agents worried that the president has fundamentally compromised the bureau’s prized political neutrality.
Bobby Chacon, a former FBI agent who served in Los Angeles and New York and retired in 2014, compared the abrupt firing to “a punch in the stomach to agents”.Bobby Chacon, a former FBI agent who served in Los Angeles and New York and retired in 2014, compared the abrupt firing to “a punch in the stomach to agents”.
“I myself, and I would speak for a lot of agents, feel very disrespected by the administration and how this was handled,” he told the Guardian. Other former agents said the way Comey was fired was an “outrage” and said that the Trump administration’s approach “besmirches the reputation of the FBI”.“I myself, and I would speak for a lot of agents, feel very disrespected by the administration and how this was handled,” he told the Guardian. Other former agents said the way Comey was fired was an “outrage” and said that the Trump administration’s approach “besmirches the reputation of the FBI”.
Read the entire piece here.Read the entire piece here.
12.28am BST12.28am BST
00:2800:28
Calls are mounting for some kind of independent investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election, but the path to get one is narrow, the Guardian’s Oliver Laughland and Jon Swaine report.Calls are mounting for some kind of independent investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election, but the path to get one is narrow, the Guardian’s Oliver Laughland and Jon Swaine report.
Congress could pass legislation to appoint an independent prosecutor, but Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s opposition to such a move makes it unlikely.Congress could pass legislation to appoint an independent prosecutor, but Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s opposition to such a move makes it unlikely.
What seems like the only remaining option – the appointment of a special counsel – now lies solely in the hands of the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the same man, deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who authored the letter that led to Comey’s sacking in the first place.What seems like the only remaining option – the appointment of a special counsel – now lies solely in the hands of the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the same man, deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who authored the letter that led to Comey’s sacking in the first place.
For more on how we got here, and what could happen next, read the entire piece here.For more on how we got here, and what could happen next, read the entire piece here.
12.12am BST12.12am BST
00:1200:12
Sam LevinSam Levin
House minority leader Nancy Pelosi has threatened to force a vote on a bill that would create an independent panel to investigate ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, the AP reports.House minority leader Nancy Pelosi has threatened to force a vote on a bill that would create an independent panel to investigate ties between Russia and the Trump campaign, the AP reports.
Pelosi wrote a letter to House Democrats saying they would use a parliamentary maneuver to force a vote on the legislation if Paul Ryan doesn’t schedule one “immediately upon our return next week” from recess.Pelosi wrote a letter to House Democrats saying they would use a parliamentary maneuver to force a vote on the legislation if Paul Ryan doesn’t schedule one “immediately upon our return next week” from recess.
The letter said the Democrats could use a discharge petition, which would allow the legislation to go straight to the floor and skip committees, according to the AP.The letter said the Democrats could use a discharge petition, which would allow the legislation to go straight to the floor and skip committees, according to the AP.
Pelosi said the “fireworks at the Department of Justice demand that we remove the investigation from the Trump-appointed Justice Department leadership.”Pelosi said the “fireworks at the Department of Justice demand that we remove the investigation from the Trump-appointed Justice Department leadership.”
11.59pm BST
23:59
Reuters has added another possible motive for Comey’s firing to the mix: the refusal of the former FBI director to give the White House a “preview” of his 3 May senate testimony on the Clinton email investigation.
Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had wanted a heads-up from Comey about what he would say at a May 3 hearing about his handling of an investigation into former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
When Comey refused, Trump and his aides considered that an act of insubordination and it was one of the catalysts to Trump’s decision this week to fire the FBI director, the officials said.
The Reuters report comes amid a flurry of speculation and leaks over Trump’s true motivation. The New York Times reported this evening that Trump was “enraged” by Comey’s testimony that the thought of swaying the election made him feel “slightly nauseous”.
11.43pm BST
23:43
Senate subpoenas Michael Flynn in Russia probe
The Senate Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena for former national security advisor Michael Flynn today, a striking escalation of the inquiry into Russian interference in the US election.
Senator Richard Burr, the chairman of the intelligence committee, released a statement Wednesday evening revealing the subpoena, which seeks documents relevant to the Russia investigation. The committee requested the documents in a letter to Flynn on 28 April, Burr said, but Flynn’s attorney refused to comply.
Flynn resigned from his post as national security adviser on 13 February, following reports that he had misled the vice president about his contacts with Russians.
Per a Senate historian, this is the 1st subpoena Senate Intel has issued since their 9/11 joint inquiry --> https://t.co/Zw4lVI4bfg
11.22pm BST
23:22
Paul Ryan supports firing decision, rejects call for new investigation
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan tonight expressed support for Trump’s decision to fire Comey and rejected calls for an independent investigation or special prosecutor.
“The truth is James Comey had just basically lost the confidence of a lot of Democrats and Republicans based on his actions and comments,” Ryan said. “It is entirely within the president’s role and authority to relieve him, and that’s what he did.”
Ryan described Comey as “compromised”, adding, “The president made a presidential decision.”
Asked about demands for an independent investigation or special prosecutor, Ryan said: “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
The Republican leader said that the three current investigations – by the Senate Intelligence Committee, House Intelligence Committee, and FBI – were “the way to go”.
Ryan’s comments – his first on the unfolding controversy – were made on Fox News this evening, after the politician assiduously dodged questions during a visit to an Ohio factory.
10.55pm BST
22:55
With the FBI’s Russia investigation now under a cloud of uncertainty, one senator is preparing to play hardball.
Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced today that he will block confirmation of a Trump nominee until the Treasury Department provides the Senate Intelligence Committee with documents related to Trump’s financial dealings with Russia.
The nominee in question is Sigal Mandelker, who was tapped to serve as Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, which investigates financial crimes and threats such as money laundering.
“I have stated repeatedly that we have to follow the money if we are going to get to the bottom of how Russia has attacked our democracy,” Wyden said in a statement. “That means thoroughly review any information that relates to financial connections between Russia and President Trump and his associates, whether direct or laundered through hidden or illicit transactions.”
NEW: Sen. @RonWyden places hold on nominee until Treasury Dept. provides requested documents related to any Trump-Russia financial dealings pic.twitter.com/cqS4R1pkMf
10.29pm BST
22:29
Dick Durbin, the senate minority whip from Illinois, just took to the Senate floor with some flashy visual aids: blown up photographs of Trump’s meetings this morning with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and ambassador Sergey Kislyak. (For more on that meeting, read the Guardian’s world affairs editor Julian Borger’s report here.)
An interesting side note about Durbin’s pictures: photographs of Lavrov shaking hands with Trump were made available to the US media by the Russian foreign ministry because the White House barred reporters and photographers from the meeting.
Russia ranks 148th on the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, compared to the United States, which sits at 43rd.
.@SenatorDurbin remarks on #ComeyFiring - LIVE on C-SPAN2 https://t.co/yCNjVeHlYj pic.twitter.com/ucusw6unur
10.05pm BST
22:05
Sessions and Rosenstein interview candidates to replace Comey
Lois Beckett
A Department of Justice official confirmed that attorney general Jeff Sessions and deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein interviewed four candidates for FBI director today:
Adam Lee, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Richmond, Virginia division Previously, Lee worked as the section chief of the FBI’s Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section at the bureau’s Washington, DC headquarters
Michael Anderson, the special agent in charge of the Chicago division. Anderson has previously overseen high-profile investigations of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Paul Abbate, the executive assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch
William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center
The attorney general and deputy attorney general also met Tuesday with acting FBI director Andrew McCabe, who is also being considered for the job.
9.55pm BST
21:55
James Comey’s sacking is not going over well among the rank-and-file of the FBI, according to numerous reports.
Politico spoke to one longtime agent who was “literally in tears” over the unexpected news, and others who expressed shock, anger, and suspicion.
A “recently retired top FBI official” described the mood to Politico: “If this had happened immediately after the election, that would be one thing. Everyone was thinking it may happen then. But now? People keep asking if it’s because of Russia.”
A “senior FBI official” told the New York Times that the firing had “severely damaged” Trump’s reputation within the bureau, with some agents particularly upset by the fact that Comey learned of his dismissal on television.
According to Bloomberg, some agents expressed their disapproval the old fashioned way – by changing their Facebook profile pictures to a photo of Comey.
9.25pm BST
21:25
CNN’s Jake Tapper is reporting that Comey was fired for two reasons – neither of them covered by the official narrative about Rosenstein’s memo. Citing an anonymous “source close to Comey”, Tapper reports the reasons were:
“1. Comey never provided the President with any assurance of personal loyalty.
2. The fact that the FBI’s investigation into possible Trump team collusion with Russia in the 2016 election was not only not going anywhere – the investigation was accelerating.”
Source to @jaketapper: 2 reasons Comey was fired1. Comey never provided Trump w assurance of loyalty2. FBI's Russia probe was accelerating pic.twitter.com/vG5bmTCPeg
8.59pm BST
20:59
Hi readers, this is Julia Carrie Wong in San Francisco, taking over the live blog.
Reactions to Comey’s firing continue to pour in from lawmakers and politicians. The New York Times has compiled a very handy list here, with responses divided into four categories: calls for a special prosecutor, calls for an independent investigation, “questions or concerns” and “neutral or support.”
Unsurprisingly, the breakdown is partisan, with just three Republicans calling for an independent investigation, and zero supporting a special prosecutor.
Notably absent from the list is Paul Ryan. The speaker of the House is at a factory in Ohio today, but declined to answer questions from reporters. Ryan is scheduled to appear on Fox News at 6pm tonight.
.@SpeakerRyan during factory tour in Ohio declines to answer multiple questions about FBI Director Comey's firing
8.32pm BST
20:32
Trump: Democrats are 'phony hypocrites'
Trump says Democrats are feigning discomfort with the firing of Comey to score political points. That view omits the possibility, among others, that people have honestly come-by concerns that a reckless executive has committed an egregious abuse of power and damaged the rule of law possibly to protect himself or his friends from the rule of law.
Dems have been complaining for months & months about Dir. Comey. Now that he has been fired they PRETEND to be aggrieved. Phony hypocrites!