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James Comey testifies he thought Trump 'might lie' about meetings Comey details Trump's 'lies' and reaffirms belief of Russian meddling in election
(about 2 hours later)
Fired FBI director James Comey documented every meeting he had with Donald Trump because he thought the US president might lie about what had taken place, he told senators on Thursday during explosive testimony. The scandal of Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia deepened on Thursday when James Comey, the man he fired as director of the FBI, branded the US president a liar.
Comey also accused Trump of defaming him and the FBI, said he believed he was fired because of the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with Russia, and told how he believed the president had directed him to shut down scrutiny of a senior adviser. At a hearing that riveted Washington and millions across the United States, James Comey said he believed he had been sacked because of the FBI’s investigation into Moscow’s meddling in last year’s presidential election.
Recalling his first meeting with the president-elect at Trump Tower in New York in January, Comey made clear there was distrust between the two men from the outset. “First, I was alone with the president of the United States, or the president-elect, soon to be president,” he explained. “The subject matter: I was talking about matters that touch on the FBI’s core responsibility and that relate to the president-elect personally. Comey’s explosive testimony over nearly three hours asserted:
“And then the nature of the person. I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, and so I thought it really important to document. That combination of things I had never experienced before, but it led me to believe I got to write it down, and I got to write it down in a very detailed way.” The Trump administration lied to smear the reputation of Comey and the FBI following his dismissal;
Comey had never felt a need to document his conversations with former presidents George W Bush or Barack Obama, he added. Comey documented every meeting he had with Trump because he thought the president might lie about what had taken place;
He passed details of the meetings – via a friend – to the press in the hope of spurring the appointment of a special counsel;
He believes that Trump directed him to shut down the FBI’s investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Comey also offered a stark view of the underlying issue – “massive” Russian interference in the US election. “There should be no fuzz on this whatsoever. The Russians interfered in our election during the 2016 cycle. They did it with purpose. They did it with sophistication. They did it with overwhelming technical efforts.”
In one of the most gripping chapters yet of the long-running Trump/Russia saga, Comey testified under oath to the Senate intelligence committee on Capitol Hill. Bars in New York and Washington DC opened as America’s three major TV networks broadcast live coverage of the hearing, which earned comparisons with Watergate.
His evidence did not deliver a knock-out blow to the Trump presidency, but it nevertheless cast the billionaire Republican’s integrity in a withering light.
Comey said of his own dismissal: “The administration chose to defame me and, more importantly, the FBI by saying that the organisation was in disarray, that it was poorly led, that the workforce had lost confidence in its leader.”
“Those were lies, plain and simple, and I’m so sorry that the FBI workforce had to hear them, and I’m so sorry the American people were told them.”
He told the panel: “It’s my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation. I was fired in some way to change, or the endeavor was to change, the way the Russia investigation was being conducted. That is a very big deal.”
In a statement for the record released on Wednesday, Comey detailed several meetings with Trump this year, claiming that Trump demanded his “loyalty” and directly pushed him to “lift the cloud” of suspicion by declaring publicly the president was not the target of the Russia investigation.
In his testimony, Comey explained that he documented each meeting because he thought Trump might be dishonest about what had taken place - a practice he never felt obliged to undertake with former presidents George W Bush or Barack Obama.
“I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, and so I thought it really important to document,” he said of their first conversation at Trump Tower in New York in January.
He also described a meeting in the Oval Office in February, when Trump allegedly cleared the room of officials, including the attorney general, and discussed the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s links to Russia. “I hope you can let this go,” the president allegedly said.
In a memorable exchange, Senator Angus King of Maine asked: “When a president of the United States in the Oval Office says something like ‘I hope’ or ‘I suggest’ or ‘would you,’ do you take that as a directive?”
Comey replied: “Yes, it rings in my ear as kind of, ‘Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?’” – a reference to King Henry’s II’s kiss of death to Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket.
Comey also revealed that he asked a friend to leak to the New York Times details of his memo about the Oval Office encounter“because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel”.
The former FBI chief was testifying under oath to the Senate intelligence committee on Russia’s interference in the presidential election in a packed room of the Senate’s Hart building on Capitol Hill, with millions believed to be watching on TV and online.The former FBI chief was testifying under oath to the Senate intelligence committee on Russia’s interference in the presidential election in a packed room of the Senate’s Hart building on Capitol Hill, with millions believed to be watching on TV and online.
Comey entered the room at 10.02am to a chorus of clicking cameras, shook hands with chairman Richard Burr and sat behind a table, staring ahead inscrutably, his hands pressed together.Comey entered the room at 10.02am to a chorus of clicking cameras, shook hands with chairman Richard Burr and sat behind a table, staring ahead inscrutably, his hands pressed together.
Those were lies, plain and simpleThose were lies, plain and simple
Reflecting on how he was fired by Trump last month, an emotional Comey said the president’s administration “chose to defame me and, more importantly, the FBI” by claiming that the agency was in a state of “disarray”.
Comey said: “Those were lies, plain and simple, and I’m so sorry that the FBI workforce had to hear them, and I’m so sorry the American people were told them.”
After taking the oath, Comey noted that he had been appointed to a 10-year term but recognised he could be dismissed before that. “I understood that I could be fired by a president for any reason or for no reason at all,” he said.
But when Trump did dismiss him, the president’s “shifting explanations confused me and increasingly concerned me”, he said. “He had repeatedly told me I was doing a great job and he hoped I would stay ...
“So it confused me when I saw on television that the president fired me because of the Russia investigation.”“So it confused me when I saw on television that the president fired me because of the Russia investigation.”
Comey was also puzzled, he said, when the dismissal was attributed to his handling of a separate investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.Comey was also puzzled, he said, when the dismissal was attributed to his handling of a separate investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
“It’s my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation,” Comey told the senators. “I was fired in some way to change, or the endeavor was to change, the way the Russia investigation was being conducted.” Later, taking questions from senators, Comey said: “It’s my judgment that I was fired because of the Russia investigation,” Comey told the senators. “I was fired in some way to change, or the endeavor was to change, the way the Russia investigation was being conducted.”
‘A very big deal’
It was “a very big deal” if any Americans were involved in coordinating with the Russians, Comey added.
In all their conversations, Trump never expressed curiosity about Russian meddling in the election, Comey said.
Comey set out the high stakes of the Russia investigation in passionate remarks about an attack on America’s way of life.Comey set out the high stakes of the Russia investigation in passionate remarks about an attack on America’s way of life.
“The reason this is such a big deal is we have this big, messy, wonderful country where we fight with each other all the time, but nobody tells us what to think, what to fight about, what to vote for except other Americans,” he said. “And that’s wonderful and often painful. But we’re talking about a foreign government using technical intrusion and lots of other methods tried to shape the way we think, we vote, we act. That is a big deal.“The reason this is such a big deal is we have this big, messy, wonderful country where we fight with each other all the time, but nobody tells us what to think, what to fight about, what to vote for except other Americans,” he said. “And that’s wonderful and often painful. But we’re talking about a foreign government using technical intrusion and lots of other methods tried to shape the way we think, we vote, we act. That is a big deal.
“And people need to recognize it. It’s not about Republicans or Democrats. They’re coming after America, which I hope we all love equally. They want to undermine our credibility in the face of the world. They think that this great experiment of ours is a threat to them, and so they’re going to try to run it down and dirty it up as much as possible.“And people need to recognize it. It’s not about Republicans or Democrats. They’re coming after America, which I hope we all love equally. They want to undermine our credibility in the face of the world. They think that this great experiment of ours is a threat to them, and so they’re going to try to run it down and dirty it up as much as possible.
“That’s what this is about. They will be back, because we remain – as difficult as we can be with each other – we remain that shining city on the hill, and they don’t like it.”“That’s what this is about. They will be back, because we remain – as difficult as we can be with each other – we remain that shining city on the hill, and they don’t like it.”
The former FBI chief faced detailed questioning about a series of meetings with Trump he set out in his statement for the record, which was published by the committee on Wednesday.The former FBI chief faced detailed questioning about a series of meetings with Trump he set out in his statement for the record, which was published by the committee on Wednesday.
One was a private dinner with Trump at the White House in January. Comey said he walked away feeling like the president was “looking to get something in exchange for granting my request to stay in the job”.One was a private dinner with Trump at the White House in January. Comey said he walked away feeling like the president was “looking to get something in exchange for granting my request to stay in the job”.
He also discussed a meeting in the Oval Office in February, when Trump allegedly cleared the room of officials, including the attorney general, and discussed the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s links to Russia. “I hope you can let this go,” Trump allegedly said.He also discussed a meeting in the Oval Office in February, when Trump allegedly cleared the room of officials, including the attorney general, and discussed the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s links to Russia. “I hope you can let this go,” Trump allegedly said.
Senator James Risch of Idaho zeroed in on the word “hope”, asking: “He did not direct you to let it go?”Senator James Risch of Idaho zeroed in on the word “hope”, asking: “He did not direct you to let it go?”
Comey acknowledged: “Not in his words, no.”Comey acknowledged: “Not in his words, no.”
Risch asked: “Again, those words are not an order? He said: ‘I hope.’”Risch asked: “Again, those words are not an order? He said: ‘I hope.’”
Comey replied: “The reason I keep saying his words is, I took it as a direction. This is the president of the United States. I took it as a direction.”Comey replied: “The reason I keep saying his words is, I took it as a direction. This is the president of the United States. I took it as a direction.”
Risch demanded: “You don’t know anyone who has been charged for hoping something?”Risch demanded: “You don’t know anyone who has been charged for hoping something?”
Comey: “As I sit here I don’t.”Comey: “As I sit here I don’t.”
Trump’s son, Donald Jr, played up the distinction, tweeting: “Hoping and telling are two very different things, you would think that a guy like Comey would know that. #givemeabreak.”Trump’s son, Donald Jr, played up the distinction, tweeting: “Hoping and telling are two very different things, you would think that a guy like Comey would know that. #givemeabreak.”
In a memorable exchange later, Senator Angus King of Maine asked: “When a president of the United States in the Oval Office says something like ‘I hope’ or ‘I suggest’ or ‘would you,’ do you take that as a directive?”
Comey replied: “Yes, it rings in my ear as kind of, ‘Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?’”
King said: “I was just going to quote that. In 1170, December 29, Henry II said, ‘Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?’ and then the next day he was killed. Thomas à Becket. That’s exactly the same situation. We’re thinking along the same lines.”
Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, asked Comey why he did not stop and tell Trump: “This is wrong.”
The former director admitted: “Maybe if I was stronger I would have … I was so stunned by the conversation that I just took it in. Maybe other people would be stronger in that circumstance.”
Comey also revealed that he was behind the leak to the New York Times of the details of his memo describing Trump asking him to let the Flynn inquiry go. He said his motivation was to prompt the appointment of a special counsel to take over the Russia investigation.Comey also revealed that he was behind the leak to the New York Times of the details of his memo describing Trump asking him to let the Flynn inquiry go. He said his motivation was to prompt the appointment of a special counsel to take over the Russia investigation.
Comey said that he “asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter... I asked a close friend of mine to do it.”Comey said that he “asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter... I asked a close friend of mine to do it.”
The Washington Post reported that former federal prosecutor Daniel Richman of Columbia Law school had confirmed this was him.
Comey did this hoping to help prompt the appointment of a special counsel, he added. (Special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed the next day.)Comey did this hoping to help prompt the appointment of a special counsel, he added. (Special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed the next day.)
He was motivated by Trump’s tweet implying that there were recordings of their meetings. Comey said he “woke up in the middle of the night” in a panic about the president’s tweet.He was motivated by Trump’s tweet implying that there were recordings of their meetings. Comey said he “woke up in the middle of the night” in a panic about the president’s tweet.
In a later line of questioning, Comey was again asked why he chose to leak his notes to the media. “As a private citizen, I felt free to share that. I thought it was very important to get it out,” he said.In a later line of questioning, Comey was again asked why he chose to leak his notes to the media. “As a private citizen, I felt free to share that. I thought it was very important to get it out,” he said.
Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican, asked why he would not simply release the notes to the media himself, rather than through a friend. Comey replied: “I was worried. The media was camping at the end of my driveway at that point and I was actually going out of town with my wife to hide; I was worried it would be like feeding seagulls at the beach.” In an opening statement before Comey spoke, Burr, of North Carolina, noted that allegations had been “swirling” in the press for weeks and said this was an opportunity for Comey to set the record straight.
In an opening statement before Comey spoke, Burr, of North Carolina, noted that allegations had been “swirling” in the press for weeks and said this was an opportunity for Comey to set the record straight. “The American people need to hear your side of the story just as they need to hear the president’s description of events,” he told Comey.
Burr asked: “In your estimation was General Flynn at that time in serious legal jeopardy, and in addition to that, do you sense that the president was trying to obstruct justice or just seek for a way for Mike Flynn to save face given that he had already been fired?”Burr asked: “In your estimation was General Flynn at that time in serious legal jeopardy, and in addition to that, do you sense that the president was trying to obstruct justice or just seek for a way for Mike Flynn to save face given that he had already been fired?”
Comey replied: “I don’t think it’s for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing and very concerning, but that’s a conclusion that I’m sure the special counsel will work towards to try and understand what the intention was there and whether that’s an offence.”Comey replied: “I don’t think it’s for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing and very concerning, but that’s a conclusion that I’m sure the special counsel will work towards to try and understand what the intention was there and whether that’s an offence.”
Comey’s written testimony disclosed that Trump demanded his “loyalty” and directly pushed him to “lift the cloud” of investigation by declaring publicly the president was not the target of the investigation into his campaign’s Russia ties.Comey’s written testimony disclosed that Trump demanded his “loyalty” and directly pushed him to “lift the cloud” of investigation by declaring publicly the president was not the target of the investigation into his campaign’s Russia ties.
Democrats are keen to establish whether Trump’s actions amounted to obstruction of justice, while Republicans have seized on Comey’s confirmation that he assured the president more than once that he was not a target of the FBI’s investigation.Democrats are keen to establish whether Trump’s actions amounted to obstruction of justice, while Republicans have seized on Comey’s confirmation that he assured the president more than once that he was not a target of the FBI’s investigation.
Trump’s lawyer has claimed that the Comey statement “vindicated” the president.Trump’s lawyer has claimed that the Comey statement “vindicated” the president.
National spectacleNational spectacle
The hearing was a national spectacle covered by the three major TV networks and earned comparisons with the Watergate, Iran-Contra and Clarence Thomas hearings. At sideBar in New York City, a silent crowd was hooked on the words of senators. The bar broadcast the hearing on 16 screens as more than two dozen people, excluding a handful of journalists, watched. The hearing was a national spectacle covered by major TV networks, prompting bars in Washington DC to open early for live screenings. At sideBar in New York City, a silent crowd was hooked on the words of senators. The bar broadcast the hearing on 16 screens as more than two dozen people watched.
Catherine Talese, a 49-year-old native New Yorker, said the sports bar setting did not reflect the gravity of the event. “We’d prefer to have our president and government be just,” Talese said. “I don’t think we’re just enjoying politics as sports.”Catherine Talese, a 49-year-old native New Yorker, said the sports bar setting did not reflect the gravity of the event. “We’d prefer to have our president and government be just,” Talese said. “I don’t think we’re just enjoying politics as sports.”
On the opposite side of the country in Los Angeles, guests at a Comey watch party practiced yoga just before the hearing got under way. Republicans on the intelligence committee sought to shore up Trump’s defences. Marco Rubio commented: “The only thing that’s never been leaked is the fact that the president has never been under investigation.”
Republicans on the intelligence committee sought to shore up Trump’s defences. Marco Rubio
commented: “The only thing that’s never been leaked is the fact that the president has never been under investigation.”
Trump fired Comey as director of the FBI on 9 May, admitting later that the Russia investigation was on his mind at the time. The president later tweeted: “James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”Trump fired Comey as director of the FBI on 9 May, admitting later that the Russia investigation was on his mind at the time. The president later tweeted: “James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”
Comey said on Thursday: “I’ve seen the tweet about tapes. Lordy, I hope there are tapes.”Comey said on Thursday: “I’ve seen the tweet about tapes. Lordy, I hope there are tapes.”
He added later: “The president surely knows whether he taped and, if he did, my feelings aren’t hurt. Release all the tapes: I’m good with it.”He added later: “The president surely knows whether he taped and, if he did, my feelings aren’t hurt. Release all the tapes: I’m good with it.”
The hearing adjourned at 12.42pm ahead of a closed session. Democrat Mark Warner, vice-chairman of the committee, said: “There’s still a lot of unanswered questions. We’re going to get to the bottom of this.” Trump managed to refrain from tweeting during the hearing, but his personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz in a statement tried to turn the tables on Comey, saying he had “admitted that he unilaterally and surreptitiously made unauthorised disclosures to the press of privileged communications with the president”.
Trump himself managed to refrain from tweeting during the near three-hour hearing.
Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters: “I can definitively say the president is not a liar. I think it is frankly insulting that question would be asked.”Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters: “I can definitively say the president is not a liar. I think it is frankly insulting that question would be asked.”
Additional reporting by Amanda Holpuch in New YorkAdditional reporting by Amanda Holpuch in New York