Trump's major response of the day came shortly after Comey finished.
Sen. Marco Rubio similarly pressed him, and Democratic Sen.
King also told ME reporters that he meant to leave the decision as to whether the president's actions amounted to obstruction of justice to the FBI's special counsel, Robert Mueller, who is now heading the investigation Comey had overseen.
Five months later, Trump's onetime GOP campaign rival displayed a far different demeanor.
Former FBI Director James Comey's Senate hearing is being framed by both political parties as vindication for their partisan stances on the investigation into Trump's ties with Russian Federation.
Mr Trump - uncharacteristically silent on social media over the past 24 hours - has denied the allegations through a statement issued by his lawyer, and in earlier comments to media.
Comey gave a careful confirmation that the president himself was not the target of an investigation while he was in charge, something Republicans have pounced upon.
For those wondering whether Republicans are ready to make a sharp break from Trump, think again.
"The ask was to get it out that I, the president, am not personally under investigation", Mr Comey said.
"In my view, this testimony constitutes evidence of an intention to interfere or potentially obstruct at least a portion of the Russian Federation investigation, if not more".
During the hearing, Comey stated Trump had asked him to drop an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
"To the extent it doesn't seem to be a "gotcha" moment here, the market's plodding along", said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities in NY.
Grand jury indicts Texas sheriff's deputy, husband in death of man
On Wednesday, Hernandez's death was ruled a homicide by the Harris County medical examiner's office, reported CNN affiliate KTRK . But until a decision is reached by the grand jury, all eyes are on the Harris County Courthouse in downtown Houston .
"Given the fact pattern, it's a little surprising", said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).
Others suggested that the GOP's reluctance to move against Trump was understandable because the investigation is still in its infancy. "Circumstances, first - I was alone with the President of the United States, or the president-elect, soon to be president", he said.
Trump abruptly fired Comey on May 9, roiling Washington and multiple congressional investigations and prompting the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. "We're not there yet", she said. Some Republicans are expected to press Comey on why he did not raise his concerns publicly or resign.
US stocks were higher in afternoon trading as Comey's testimony was seen by investors as having no smoking gun that could affect Trump's presidency.
"I was honestly concerned that [Trump] might lie about the nature of our meeting, so I thought it really important to document", Comey said, frankly.
Instead, the Republican National Committee tasked more than 60 of its employees to respond to Comey's statements through a constant stream of emails to reporters. "America needs more like you", said Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho).
The former director held back again when asked if he had reason to doubt previous statements from Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein that she also had no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian Federation.
"I would not use that term", the future secretary said.
Later that month, however, Rubio relented, and Tillerson was confirmed on a narrow vote. But Comey came out blazing-with a sure-to-be legendary poker face-delivering bold testimony that was thoroughly damning to President Trump, who issued a denial through his attorney after the hearing, saying he never asked Comey for loyalty nor asked him to drop the Flynn investigation.
After each encounter with the president, Comey went about his business, thereby confirming the president had not crossed a legal line. She is no Frank Luntz, but Lynch instructed Comey to call the investigation into Clinton a "matter", not an investigation. He later advised Trump that those requests should be made through the White House counsel.
Comey claims Trump's administration "defamed" him. He said he did not keep records of the two private, in-person interactions he had with President Barack Obama between the time he took the helm at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in September 2013 and the end of the 44th president's tenure.
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