Here is a roundup of Just Security’s live tweeting from Thursday’s Senate Intelligence Committee hearing with former FBI Director James Comey. We’ve also included a few retweets that captured critical moments.
Warner to Comey: I've disagreed w/ you, but I've never had any reason to question your integrity, your expertise or your intelligence.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: I understood that I could be fired for any reason or no reason at all. But then the shifting explanations confused & concerned me
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
When Trump administration started saying the FBI was in disarray, it was lying, Comey says. #ComeyHearing
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says he was never asked to stop the investigation into Russia involvement in the election.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says not his job to say whether or not Trump was trying to "obstruct justice" but he found his comments on Flynn very disturbing.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey declines commenting on the veracity of the Steele dossier in open setting.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says one reason he started writing everything down: Trump. "I was concerned he might lie about nature of our mtg."
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says while literally true Trump was not under investigation, there was concern that the investigation could potentially touch him.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says Trump "whispered in his ear": I really look forward to working with you.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: My common sense told me that Trump was looking to get something in exchange for him agreeing to keep me in job.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: on February 14: I think AG Sessions knew he shouldn't be leaving the meeting, leaving Trump and Comey alone.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says he thought Kushner knew Trump was up to something before he asked to be alone with Comey in the Oval Office.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: “common sense” told me the president wanted something in exchange
In obstruction and bribery law, that's called quid pro quo
— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) June 8, 2017
Comey: FBI has tens of thousands of investigations. President never asked about any other one.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
President request to Comey to drop Flynn investigation: Comey says he took it as a direction from the President. That's obstruction.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey takes President at his word that he fired Comey because of Russia investigation.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey was so "stunned" by February 14 conversation, he didn't have presence of mind to tell President to stop.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: "Lordy, I hope there are tapes." in reference to White House convos with Trump.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says it didn't occur to him in the moment to say: Mr. President, that's wrong. Instead, Comey thought: "Be careful what you say."
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Rubio summarizes 3 things Trump asked: loyalty, drop Flynn inv., and tell public I am not personally under investigation. Comey agrees.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says two weeks before Sessions recusal, he had already heard career Justice people saying Sessions would likely recuse.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey expressed serious concern to AG and DAG about way Trump interacting with the FBI.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: did not alert WH about Trump request to drop Flynn investigation because it was now an investigative matter.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
The way Comey dealt with Trump request to drop Flynn request shows that he saw it as an attempt to obstruct.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: Should be no doubt in anyone's mind that Russia directed an active measures campaign to interfere in election. "As unfake as you get"
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey: A really serious fact for me is: Why did you kick everyone out of the Oval Office? As investigator, that's "a very serious fact."
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Comey says in theory president has legal authority to direct FBI to investigate or not investigate anyone. Norms supposed to protect against
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Cotton: Do you think Donald Trump colluded with Russia?
Comey: I don't think I should answer in open setting.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
COTTON: Did Flynn deceive the FBI?
COMEY: That was the subject of the criminal inquiry.
— Jason Seher (@jhseher) June 8, 2017
Comey says it's a reasonable question whether AG Sessions should have been involved in his firing given his recusal in Russia investigation.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
Harris: After you told Sessions not to leave you alone with Trump what exactly did he do?
Comey: His body language was "What am I gonna do?"— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) June 8, 2017
Comey: In theory, Russia investigation could potentially include the president. He was the candidate of the campaign.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
"I know I was fired because of the way I was conducting the Russia investigation," says Comey. "Something about it irritated him."
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
McCain asks Comey why he didn't ask Trump what he meant by "that thing" they had? Comey says he thinks Trump meant loyalty moment at dinner.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
And that's a wrap … senators will conduct a closed hearing with Comey after lunch.
— Just Security (@just_security) June 8, 2017
