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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/jun/08/james-comey-testimony-senate-hearing-trump-russia-fbi
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| Comey testimony: Trump could have had 'chilling effect' on Russia investigation – as it happened | Comey testimony: Trump could have had 'chilling effect' on Russia investigation – as it happened |
| (5 months later) | |
| We’re going to wrap up our live blog coverage for the day. Here is a summary of what Comey said. | We’re going to wrap up our live blog coverage for the day. Here is a summary of what Comey said. |
| Following Comey’s testimony, a lawyer for Donald Trump read a statement denying that Trump had told Comey to lay off Michael Flynn and accusing Comey of “leaking” his own memos. | Following Comey’s testimony, a lawyer for Donald Trump read a statement denying that Trump had told Comey to lay off Michael Flynn and accusing Comey of “leaking” his own memos. |
| Here is our latest news coverage: | Here is our latest news coverage: |
| And for the latest on the Comey hearings, we’d like to point you toward our daily politics roundup, called The Minute: | And for the latest on the Comey hearings, we’d like to point you toward our daily politics roundup, called The Minute: |
| Sign up for the Minute: the day in US politics, condensed. Catch up on the day’s most important politics stories via email or through our app. It only takes a minute. | Sign up for the Minute: the day in US politics, condensed. Catch up on the day’s most important politics stories via email or through our app. It only takes a minute. |
| Finally, are you following the British election results? The live blog right now is pretty lively. Check it out: | Finally, are you following the British election results? The live blog right now is pretty lively. Check it out: |
| Here’s Guardian columnist Richard Wolffe on the day’s events: | Here’s Guardian columnist Richard Wolffe on the day’s events: |
| James Comey wants you to know a few things. First and foremost, that Donald Trump is a liar. Second, that Russia attacked the United States during the 2016 election, and will do so again. Third, that you really shouldn’t trash the reputation of James Comey and the FBI without expecting some payback. | James Comey wants you to know a few things. First and foremost, that Donald Trump is a liar. Second, that Russia attacked the United States during the 2016 election, and will do so again. Third, that you really shouldn’t trash the reputation of James Comey and the FBI without expecting some payback. |
| Trump’s Russian web may be a complicated contraption, but the firing of Comey is a much simpler matter. | Trump’s Russian web may be a complicated contraption, but the firing of Comey is a much simpler matter. |
| In a devastating opening statement, delivered without notes, Comey explained how confused he was. After all, Trump had told him he was doing a great job and wanted him to stay. Then Trump fired him, either for the Russia investigation (as Trump said), or for the Clinton emails (as the Justice department said), or simply for bad management. | In a devastating opening statement, delivered without notes, Comey explained how confused he was. After all, Trump had told him he was doing a great job and wanted him to stay. Then Trump fired him, either for the Russia investigation (as Trump said), or for the Clinton emails (as the Justice department said), or simply for bad management. |
| It was that last smack to the face that gave Comey all the motive he needed to go public. “Those were lies, plain and simple,” he told the senators and the world. “And I am so sorry that the FBI workforce had to hear them, and I’m so sorry that the American people were told them.” | It was that last smack to the face that gave Comey all the motive he needed to go public. “Those were lies, plain and simple,” he told the senators and the world. “And I am so sorry that the FBI workforce had to hear them, and I’m so sorry that the American people were told them.” |
| More in sorrow and confusion, Comey proceeded to eviscerate his former boss. | More in sorrow and confusion, Comey proceeded to eviscerate his former boss. |
| Read further: | Read further: |
| As reporters wait w Comey Qs, POTUS asks 3 dozen mayors/govs to introduce themselves. "They're desperate to hear you are. Right, @jonkarl?" | As reporters wait w Comey Qs, POTUS asks 3 dozen mayors/govs to introduce themselves. "They're desperate to hear you are. Right, @jonkarl?" |
| Trump didn't respond to reporters just now about his reaction to Comey. "Thank you," he said, his code for unwillingness to take questions. https://t.co/CK32qutNBm | Trump didn't respond to reporters just now about his reaction to Comey. "Thank you," he said, his code for unwillingness to take questions. https://t.co/CK32qutNBm |
| And not a very elaborate code at that. | And not a very elaborate code at that. |
| Here’s some of our news coverage of the day’s events: | Here’s some of our news coverage of the day’s events: |
| Because trashing Comey worked so well last time... | Because trashing Comey worked so well last time... |
| Trump surrogates saying after hearing that Comey puts burnishing his own reputation above telling the truth. | Trump surrogates saying after hearing that Comey puts burnishing his own reputation above telling the truth. |
| Senator Warner tells CNN that “I don’t accept the president’s lawyer’s explanation” of Comey’s memos constituting leaks of “privileged” or classified material. | Senator Warner tells CNN that “I don’t accept the president’s lawyer’s explanation” of Comey’s memos constituting leaks of “privileged” or classified material. |
| He says he’s “amazed” the White House won’t comment on whether there’s a secret taping system. | He says he’s “amazed” the White House won’t comment on whether there’s a secret taping system. |
| On meeting with special counsel Bob Mueller: “We’ve got it scheduled next week.” | On meeting with special counsel Bob Mueller: “We’ve got it scheduled next week.” |
| WARNER tells me they're meeting with Mueller next week, pushes back on Kasowitz allegations and demands WH tapes https://t.co/0qYT2VNle3 | WARNER tells me they're meeting with Mueller next week, pushes back on Kasowitz allegations and demands WH tapes https://t.co/0qYT2VNle3 |
| ‘Kasowitz is mistaken’ | ‘Kasowitz is mistaken’ |
| Kasowitz is mistaken re NYT stories on Comey memos. We never quoted memos prior to Trump's 5/12 tweet re tapes; 1st story doing so was 5/16 | Kasowitz is mistaken re NYT stories on Comey memos. We never quoted memos prior to Trump's 5/12 tweet re tapes; 1st story doing so was 5/16 |
| Kasowitz is wrong about NYT story. It was based on people who talked to Comey. The word "memo" is not even in it. https://t.co/ZWgOHBsnPR | Kasowitz is wrong about NYT story. It was based on people who talked to Comey. The word "memo" is not even in it. https://t.co/ZWgOHBsnPR |
| McCain has released a statement on his strange questioning of Comey during the hearing. “Maybe going forward I shouldn’t stay up late watching the Diamondbacks night games,” he says. | McCain has released a statement on his strange questioning of Comey during the hearing. “Maybe going forward I shouldn’t stay up late watching the Diamondbacks night games,” he says. |
| Update: | Update: |
| ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/oJSCTxsmE8 | ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/oJSCTxsmE8 |
| McCain issues a statement on his hearing questions, suggests he shouldn't "stay up late watching Diamondbacks night games" pic.twitter.com/09sSpT0Vcn | McCain issues a statement on his hearing questions, suggests he shouldn't "stay up late watching Diamondbacks night games" pic.twitter.com/09sSpT0Vcn |
| James Comey: I will testify under oath and answer questions.Donald Trump attorney: I will read a statement and won’t answer questions. | James Comey: I will testify under oath and answer questions.Donald Trump attorney: I will read a statement and won’t answer questions. |
| Kasowitz read the statement more or less verbatim, tacking on at the end: | Kasowitz read the statement more or less verbatim, tacking on at the end: |
| As he said yesterday, the president feels completely vindicated and is eager to continue moving forward with his agenda... and with this public cloud removed. | As he said yesterday, the president feels completely vindicated and is eager to continue moving forward with his agenda... and with this public cloud removed. |
| I'm deeply confused as to what would be privileged about communications between Trump and Comey. | I'm deeply confused as to what would be privileged about communications between Trump and Comey. |
| Kasowitz is reading the statement as released. Here it is again: | Kasowitz is reading the statement as released. Here it is again: |
| JUST IN: Pres. Trump’s attorney Marc Kasowitz writes Comey’s testimony “makes clear that the President never sought to impede” Russia probe. pic.twitter.com/CaYZ4vvkPE | JUST IN: Pres. Trump’s attorney Marc Kasowitz writes Comey’s testimony “makes clear that the President never sought to impede” Russia probe. pic.twitter.com/CaYZ4vvkPE |
| Here comes Kasowitz: | Here comes Kasowitz: |
| A statement attributed to Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz has emerged. | A statement attributed to Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz has emerged. |
| “The president never, in form or substance, directed or suggested that Mr Comey stop investigating anyone,” the statement says. | “The president never, in form or substance, directed or suggested that Mr Comey stop investigating anyone,” the statement says. |
| Comey, under oath, said Trump did exactly that, so Trump's lawyer is saying the former FBI director perjured himself. https://t.co/GNus9WbDyt | Comey, under oath, said Trump did exactly that, so Trump's lawyer is saying the former FBI director perjured himself. https://t.co/GNus9WbDyt |
| It also says: | It also says: |
| “The president also never told Mr Comey, ‘I need loyalty. I expect loyalty’ in form or substance. ... | “The president also never told Mr Comey, ‘I need loyalty. I expect loyalty’ in form or substance. ... |
| “Today, Mr Comey admitted that he unilaterally and surreptitiously made unauthorized disclosures to the press of privileged communications with the president.” | “Today, Mr Comey admitted that he unilaterally and surreptitiously made unauthorized disclosures to the press of privileged communications with the president.” |
| The statement says Comey leaked classified information, which according to Comey is wrong. | The statement says Comey leaked classified information, which according to Comey is wrong. |
| “In sum,” the statement concludes, “it is now established that there [sic] the president is not being investigated for colluding with the [sic] or attempting to obstruct that investigation.” | “In sum,” the statement concludes, “it is now established that there [sic] the president is not being investigated for colluding with the [sic] or attempting to obstruct that investigation.” |
| Full statement emailed by press person for Marc Kasowitz: pic.twitter.com/YXXkGztKUW | Full statement emailed by press person for Marc Kasowitz: pic.twitter.com/YXXkGztKUW |
| Further reaction: | Further reaction: |
| "If being a bull in a China shop--rude and crude--was a crime he'd be guilty. But it's not," Lindsey Graham says of Trump. https://t.co/7bQCq2Ynxw | "If being a bull in a China shop--rude and crude--was a crime he'd be guilty. But it's not," Lindsey Graham says of Trump. https://t.co/7bQCq2Ynxw |
| Reporter asks Cruz if he wants Comey memos. Cruz laments criminal leaking. I ask if he's saying Comey committed a crime. Cruz doesn't answer | Reporter asks Cruz if he wants Comey memos. Cruz laments criminal leaking. I ask if he's saying Comey committed a crime. Cruz doesn't answer |
| Comey described the care he took to make the memos non-classified. | Comey described the care he took to make the memos non-classified. |
| "We're carrying on." White House says, it's "a regular Thursday."NARRATOR VOICE: It was not a regular Thursdayhttps://t.co/xgHNgcsSYm | "We're carrying on." White House says, it's "a regular Thursday."NARRATOR VOICE: It was not a regular Thursdayhttps://t.co/xgHNgcsSYm |
| Donald Trump says congressional Democrats are “obstructionists” who are stalling his agenda. The AP reports: | Donald Trump says congressional Democrats are “obstructionists” who are stalling his agenda. The AP reports: |
| In a speech to evangelical supporters Thursday, Trump said the “level of hatred” between the political parties is “beyond anything that I’ve ever seen.” | In a speech to evangelical supporters Thursday, Trump said the “level of hatred” between the political parties is “beyond anything that I’ve ever seen.” |
| Trump urged the audience to help send more Republicans to Congress in next year’s elections. He noted that Republicans have just a two-vote edge in the Senate, where the rules give minority Democrats power to block or stall action on legislation. | Trump urged the audience to help send more Republicans to Congress in next year’s elections. He noted that Republicans have just a two-vote edge in the Senate, where the rules give minority Democrats power to block or stall action on legislation. |
| Trump also reiterated his commitment to repeal and replace the Obama health care law. The Republican-controlled House recently passed a bill with only GOP votes. The Senate is working on its own version. | Trump also reiterated his commitment to repeal and replace the Obama health care law. The Republican-controlled House recently passed a bill with only GOP votes. The Senate is working on its own version. |
| Trump spoke as fired FBI Director James Comey testified before the Senate intelligence committee. | Trump spoke as fired FBI Director James Comey testified before the Senate intelligence committee. |