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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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| James Comey hearing: Trump had 'chilling effect' on Russia investigation – live | James Comey hearing: Trump had 'chilling effect' on Russia investigation – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.31pm BST | |
| 19:31 | |
| 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 | |
| 7.30pm BST | |
| 19:30 | |
| Here comes Kasowitz: | |
| 7.11pm BST | |
| 19:11 | |
| Trump lawyer: president never directed Comey to stop investigating Flynn | |
| 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. | |
| 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: | |
| “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.” | |
| 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.” | |
| Full statement emailed by press person for Marc Kasowitz: pic.twitter.com/YXXkGztKUW | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.19pm BST | |
| 7.06pm BST | |
| 19:06 | |
| 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 | |
| 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. | |
| "We're carrying on." White House says, it's "a regular Thursday."NARRATOR VOICE: It was not a regular Thursdayhttps://t.co/xgHNgcsSYm | |
| 6.57pm BST | |
| 18:57 | |
| Trump bashes Democrats in speech as Comey speaks | |
| 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.” | |
| 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 spoke as fired FBI Director James Comey testified before the Senate intelligence committee. | |
| 6.56pm BST | 6.56pm BST |
| 18:56 | 18:56 |
| Times 'looking into' Comey dispute with story | Times 'looking into' Comey dispute with story |
| While much of Comey’s testimony corroborated reporting by the New York Times and others about the Russia investigation, Comey said one Times story was “almost entirely wrong.” | While much of Comey’s testimony corroborated reporting by the New York Times and others about the Russia investigation, Comey said one Times story was “almost entirely wrong.” |
| We are looking into James Comey's statements, and we will report back with more information as soon as we can. https://t.co/v9OzWbbjUP | We are looking into James Comey's statements, and we will report back with more information as soon as we can. https://t.co/v9OzWbbjUP |
| The story in question is a 14 February dispatch, “Trump campaign aides had repeated contacts with Russian intelligence.” | The story in question is a 14 February dispatch, “Trump campaign aides had repeated contacts with Russian intelligence.” |
| 6.52pm BST | 6.52pm BST |
| 18:52 | 18:52 |
| Reaction | Reaction |
| Democratic senators: | Democratic senators: |
| Sen. Tom Udall: "I believe that is appropriate for President Trump’s actions to be investigated for obstruction of justice." | Sen. Tom Udall: "I believe that is appropriate for President Trump’s actions to be investigated for obstruction of justice." |
| Sen. Murphy: “It’s hard to overstate the impact of Jim Comey’s testimony today … it seems like the walls are closing in on this president” pic.twitter.com/I0EyZvBi2z | Sen. Murphy: “It’s hard to overstate the impact of Jim Comey’s testimony today … it seems like the walls are closing in on this president” pic.twitter.com/I0EyZvBi2z |
| Former US attorney Preet Bharara: | Former US attorney Preet Bharara: |
| I'm not so sure I agree 100% with your police work there, Lindsey. And stop speculating about a hypothesis. https://t.co/4LbCoHmTpX | I'm not so sure I agree 100% with your police work there, Lindsey. And stop speculating about a hypothesis. https://t.co/4LbCoHmTpX |
| House speaker Paul Ryan, on Trump: | House speaker Paul Ryan, on Trump: |
| He’s just new to this” and “probably wasn’t steeped in long-running protocols.” | He’s just new to this” and “probably wasn’t steeped in long-running protocols.” |
| 6.40pm BST | 6.40pm BST |
| 18:40 | 18:40 |
| Here’s a live video stream of the upcoming Marc Kasowitz press conference: | Here’s a live video stream of the upcoming Marc Kasowitz press conference: |
| 6.39pm BST | 6.39pm BST |
| 18:39 | 18:39 |
| ‘I took it as a direction’ | ‘I took it as a direction’ |
| VIDEO: James Comey said he took Trump's "hope" that Flynn investigation would end as a directive. https://t.co/Y9bMFD5VsV pic.twitter.com/NKjGVQ2n2b | VIDEO: James Comey said he took Trump's "hope" that Flynn investigation would end as a directive. https://t.co/Y9bMFD5VsV pic.twitter.com/NKjGVQ2n2b |
| 6.29pm BST | 6.29pm BST |
| 18:29 | 18:29 |
| Trump lawyer to respond | Trump lawyer to respond |
| Trump’s private lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, is due to give a press conference apparently before long replying to Comey. We’ll cover that here. | Trump’s private lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, is due to give a press conference apparently before long replying to Comey. We’ll cover that here. |
| Trump on Comey: no comment. | Trump on Comey: no comment. |
| Trump finishes his speech at the Faith and Freedom conference without a single reference to Comey or today's hearing. | Trump finishes his speech at the Faith and Freedom conference without a single reference to Comey or today's hearing. |
| Pence on Comey: no comment. | Pence on Comey: no comment. |
| From a pool report: | From a pool report: |
| Vice President Mike Pence did not address former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony, including his assertion that President Trump lied after firing him about the bureau being in disarray. He praised Trump’s leadership at several points during his remarks. | Vice President Mike Pence did not address former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony, including his assertion that President Trump lied after firing him about the bureau being in disarray. He praised Trump’s leadership at several points during his remarks. |
| 6.22pm BST | 6.22pm BST |
| 18:22 | 18:22 |
| Former FBI director James Comey is done testifying in the open session. He now goes into a closed session with the senators. | Former FBI director James Comey is done testifying in the open session. He now goes into a closed session with the senators. |
| Here’s what happened: | Here’s what happened: |
| Comey said he understood an expression by Donald Trump of “hope” that he could shelve an investigation of Michael Flynn as a direction to do so. | Comey said he understood an expression by Donald Trump of “hope” that he could shelve an investigation of Michael Flynn as a direction to do so. |
| Comey said Trump’s direction reminded him of Henry II ordering the murder of Becket: “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” | Comey said Trump’s direction reminded him of Henry II ordering the murder of Becket: “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” |
| Comey said he believes when Trump fired him, “the endeavor was to change the way the Russia investigation was being conducted. That is a very big deal, not just because it’s me...” | Comey said he believes when Trump fired him, “the endeavor was to change the way the Russia investigation was being conducted. That is a very big deal, not just because it’s me...” |
| Comey said it was “a really significant fact to me” that Trump had asked senior White House officials to leave the room before bringing up Flynn. | Comey said it was “a really significant fact to me” that Trump had asked senior White House officials to leave the room before bringing up Flynn. |
| Comey did not report the scene widely within the FBI for fear of “a real chilling effect” on the Russia investigation, he said. | Comey did not report the scene widely within the FBI for fear of “a real chilling effect” on the Russia investigation, he said. |
| Comey said Trump had not asked him to shelve the Russia investigation, apart from the Flynn piece. | Comey said Trump had not asked him to shelve the Russia investigation, apart from the Flynn piece. |
| Comey said Trump demanded three things: personal loyalty; that Comey let Flynn go; and that Comey state publicly that Trump was not personally under investigation. | Comey said Trump demanded three things: personal loyalty; that Comey let Flynn go; and that Comey state publicly that Trump was not personally under investigation. |
| While Comey declined to speculate on whether Trump had committed an obstruction of justice, saying that was special counsel Robert Mueller’s job, Trump opponents argued that Comey’s description of the Flynn affair and of his own firing had established just that. | While Comey declined to speculate on whether Trump had committed an obstruction of justice, saying that was special counsel Robert Mueller’s job, Trump opponents argued that Comey’s description of the Flynn affair and of his own firing had established just that. |
| Trump supporters pointed to Comey’s point-blank denial that Trump had ever asked him to shelve the Russia investigation as exculpatory for Trump. | Trump supporters pointed to Comey’s point-blank denial that Trump had ever asked him to shelve the Russia investigation as exculpatory for Trump. |
| Comey said Trump’s tweeted threat about tapes of their conversations led him to ask a friend to share memos he took of his meetings with Trump with the media. | Comey said Trump’s tweeted threat about tapes of their conversations led him to ask a friend to share memos he took of his meetings with Trump with the media. |
| Comey began taking the memos, he said, because “I was honestly concerned that he [Trump] might lie about the nature of our meeting.” | Comey began taking the memos, he said, because “I was honestly concerned that he [Trump] might lie about the nature of our meeting.” |
| “The president surely knows whether he taped me, and if he did my feelings aren’t hurt,” Comey said. “Release all the tapes, I’m good with it.” “Lordy I hope there are tapes,” he said. | “The president surely knows whether he taped me, and if he did my feelings aren’t hurt,” Comey said. “Release all the tapes, I’m good with it.” “Lordy I hope there are tapes,” he said. |
| Comey raised an alarm about Russian tampering in the election, saying the effort was major, continuous and that “they’ll be back.” | Comey raised an alarm about Russian tampering in the election, saying the effort was major, continuous and that “they’ll be back.” |
| Comey declined to comment on whether he thought Trump colluded with Russia. He acknowledged advising Trump that he was not personally under investigation. | Comey declined to comment on whether he thought Trump colluded with Russia. He acknowledged advising Trump that he was not personally under investigation. |
| Comey said there was information about attorney general Jeff Sessions “that would make his presence in a continued Russia investigation problematic” but he wouldn’t say what it was. | Comey said there was information about attorney general Jeff Sessions “that would make his presence in a continued Russia investigation problematic” but he wouldn’t say what it was. |
| Comey began his testimony by saying that Trump had defamed him and smeared the FBI. | Comey began his testimony by saying that Trump had defamed him and smeared the FBI. |
| Comey said though not in so many words that Trump lied on national TV when he told NBC News that Comey had requested to meet him for dinner. | Comey said though not in so many words that Trump lied on national TV when he told NBC News that Comey had requested to meet him for dinner. |
| 5.55pm BST | 5.55pm BST |
| 17:55 | 17:55 |
| The committee leaders are speaking to the press. | The committee leaders are speaking to the press. |
| "This is nowhere near the end of the investigation," @senatorburr tells reporters after #ComeyHearing pic.twitter.com/YFToKS8Nj4 | "This is nowhere near the end of the investigation," @senatorburr tells reporters after #ComeyHearing pic.twitter.com/YFToKS8Nj4 |
| 5.54pm BST | 5.54pm BST |
| 17:54 | 17:54 |
| Here’s the view from Drudge: | Here’s the view from Drudge: |
| DRUDGE just updated his headlines -- this is a good rundown of what narrative in pro-Trump universe will be like pic.twitter.com/BOc9264S6h | DRUDGE just updated his headlines -- this is a good rundown of what narrative in pro-Trump universe will be like pic.twitter.com/BOc9264S6h |
| 5.51pm BST | 5.51pm BST |
| 17:51 | 17:51 |
| It's weird to see severs and bartenders hustling to get people their checks because a senate hearing has just ended. 🇺🇸 | It's weird to see severs and bartenders hustling to get people their checks because a senate hearing has just ended. 🇺🇸 |
| Me looking at Twiiter as both sides call #ComeyDay a victory — pic.twitter.com/fNsJG7rNRK | Me looking at Twiiter as both sides call #ComeyDay a victory — pic.twitter.com/fNsJG7rNRK |
| 5.49pm BST | 5.49pm BST |
| 17:49 | 17:49 |
| Here’s Comey interpreting the moment of awkward silence at dinner with Trump: | Here’s Comey interpreting the moment of awkward silence at dinner with Trump: |
| Best part of hearing was Comey doing the trump eyebrow impression tbh pic.twitter.com/J721wNkTa1 | Best part of hearing was Comey doing the trump eyebrow impression tbh pic.twitter.com/J721wNkTa1 |