James Comey, the FBI director Donald Trump fired just one month ago, was asked to testify before the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about reports that Trump asked Comey to quash the investigation into fired National Security Advisor Mike Flynn. Comey’s written opening statement, which was released online ahead of the hearing, described a series of encounters in which President Donald Trump asked the then-FBI director for his “loyalty,” told Comey that the FBI’s investigation into connections between the Trump campaign and the Russian government was creating a “cloud” over his head, and suggested that the FBI drop its investigation into former national security advisor Michael Flynn because he was a “good guy.” The president also pressed Comey to publicly announce that Trump himself was not under FBI investigation, which would be atypical for the agency.
Comey also noted that during his service under the Obama administration, he only met with the president twice, one occasion being to say goodbye to the departing President. Trump, on the other hand, had already called six times and met in person three times over the course of four months. The nature of those conversations “compelled” the FBI director to start taking detailed notes after each interaction with the president, something he had not done with President Obama.
All of these interactions, one of which happened over an intimate dinner for two, left the impression that Trump wanted Comey to stop acting as an independent investigator and start acting like a pal. And when Comey didn’t, Trump fired him.
The Intelligence Committee hearing is critical in getting details that would determine whether Trump’s conduct constitutes obstruction of justice, and it will also shed light on what the president thinks of traditional checks on power and how he conducts business behind closed doors. Bars and restaurants across the country opened early to broadcast the hearing, and Trump himself will be watching live and may even tweet during the proceedings.
Here are the key moments from the testimony.
