Comey then told Boente about the conversation.
No, it's not the Bill Cosby trial or a new, sordid allegation against Roger Ailes.
Ousted FBI Director James Comey provided a lot of answers during his public testimony before a Senate committee Thursday, but he left one substantial question unanswered: How did the FBI know Attorney General Jeff Sessions was going to step aside from the investigation into the Trump campaign's Russian Federation ties? Comey said the president's behavior at a February White House meeting - during which Trump cleared the room so he and Comey could have a private tete-a-tete about Flynn - had "stunned" him. The president has not yet publicly denied the specifics of Comey's accounts but has broadly challenged his credibility, tweeting last month Comey "better hope there are no "tapes" of the conversations. "I think Comey said let me do this, so he could have documentation and proof so Trump can't go back and say oh I didn't say that", Barkley said.
Comey faced little real hostility from the senators, and the hearing's pace slowed under repetitive questioning.
"Comey's testimony shows, more than ever, that we need an independent commission to do the work to restore our faith in democracy, ensure that we maintain integrity in our election process and prevent this from ever happening again". "Why would you kick the attorney general, the vice president, the chief of staff out to talk to me?" There is a certain amount of intimidation.
"The hearing raised serious questions about Attorney General Sessions that he and the Justice Department must answer immediately", Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech shortly after the hearing with Comey ended. But he said the request on Flynn was nonetheless "very disturbing" and other officials in the bureau were "as shocked and troubled by it as I was".
So who should we believe?
Laura Donohue, a Georgetown University Law Center professor, said if Trump fired Comey to change the course of the Russian Federation investigation, that would constitute obstruction of justice.
UK Election Exit Poll Predicts a 'Hung Parliament.' What Is That?
The Prime Minister is expected to clarify her position in a statement due at 10am this morning, as calls for her resignation grow. Rachel Sheard, who cast her vote near the site of the London Bridge attack, said the election certainly wasn't about Brexit .
Comey said he shared the memo with a professor at Columbia Law School, a reference to Daniel Richman, who confirmed to Reuters he was the one Comey referred to in his testimony.
He sat stoned-faced, hands clasped on desktop, thumbs slightly moving, waiting for the onslaught of questions.
But in his highly anticipated testimony, James Comey didn't drop any bombshells, any new devastating information that builds a vastly stronger case for those who talk impeachment or accuse the president of obstructing justice.
Panels of talking heads on all the networks tried to glean as much as possible from the written testimony he released Wednesday: "After he had spoken for a few minutes about leaks, Reince Priebus leaned in through the door by the grandfather clock, and I could see a group of people waiting behind him". The President waved at him to close the door, saying he would be done shortly.
Gillibrand further noted Comey's deference to Special Counsel Robert Mueller III, who was brought on to take over the Russian Federation probe, on whether Trump obstructed justice. "The stage is his today". When Trump said he fired Comey because of the Russian Federation probe.
Former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna says special counsel Robert Mueller will have to determine whether the president's actions rose to the level of obstruction of justice. A sitting president has never been indicted. His plain-spoken answers to questions from alternating Democratic and Republican senators offered quotes for each side to latch on to. Why didn't you tell him what he was doing was wrong?
Several lines from the president garnered a standing ovation from the crowd: A mere mention of the decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement had people on their feet, a pledge to continue putting "America First" drew loud whooping across the grand ballroom and promises to fight terrorism elicited more than a few hoorahs. Subsequent reporting by The Times and other media outlets have verified the reporting, she said. "And I firmly believe Mr. Comey's testimony made it crystal clear just how important it is to have not only a special prosecutor on the case, but also for all members of Congress to be absolutely committed to serving the citizens they represent and following the facts wherever they may lead".
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