Full James Comey Testimony on President Donald Trump, Russia Investigation at Senate Hearing
James Comey , the former FBI Director, is expected to discuss conversations he had with the President Trump prior to being relieved of his duties.
Full article: abcnews.go.com/Politics/james-...
FBI Director James Comey accused President Donald Trump’s administration of defaming him and the FBI, and lying to the American people.
“Although the law requires no reason at all to fire an FBI director the administration then chose to defame me and more importantly the FBI by saying that the organization was in disarray, that it was poorly led, that the work force had lost confidence in its leader,” Comey said.
"Those were lies plain and simple. And I am so sorry that the FBI work force had to hear them and I am so sorry that the American people were told them.”
In a prepared statement he entered into the record today that was released Wednesday, Comey describes a series of uncomfortable interactions with Trump, in which he says the president requested his loyalty and pressed him to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Some of the allegations in Comey’s statement have been directly contradicted by the White House in the past. On May 12, press secretary Sean Spicer rejected the notion that Trump ever asked Comey to pledge loyalty, and on May 18 Trump himself said he never urged Comey to back off the investigation into Flynn.
“The president disputes that he ever asked for Jim Comey’s loyalty and he disputes that he ever asked Comey to let the Flynn investigation go in any way,” a source familiar with the president’s thinking told ABC News today.
Comey gave Trump assurances about investigation, but questions remain
ANALYSIS: Comey offers central challenge to Trump presidency
Read the full text of James Comey's Senate testimony opening remarks
ABC News has learned that Trump will be watching Comey’s hearing and testimony today with his legal team and senior advisers from the president’s personal dining room near the Oval Office in the White House.
On May 9, Trump fired Comey from his position as FBI director after receiving letters recommending he do so from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Sources told ABC News that the firing came as a surprise to Comey, which is part of the story he plans to tell today before the committee. As one source said, he was “angry” and wants the public to know why.
ABC News reported earlier this week that Comey’s congressional testimony would make the White House uncomfortable, but that Comey won't say the president directly interfered in the FBI’s probe into Flynn.
Prior to Comey's testimony today, a person close to the former FBI director told ABC News he was prepared and calm.
"That's what happens when you are armed with the truth; it washes all over you," the individual told ABC News.
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Who came after watching The Comey Rule?
Me just to do scene by scene comparisons and boy do movies screw it up attention to detail he never walked in alone for starters.
I’ve been watching all Jim comey interviews since watching the Comey rule.
yup!
I DID
Yep 100% the reason I'm here.
Just here to say if you're here after watching the comey rule. You are not alone.
Io
Lol…I’m glad I’m not alone….but I watched all these alive too!
@@marjanteh glad you weren't dead when you watched them lol jk I knew what you meant 🤣
I'm here after reading the book!
I'm here after the Durham report. Comey is toast. How could you be such a poor judge of character.
House of Cards is getting interesting
Mr comey please don't ting about thet words am innocent plenty of mistakes i dan is not my man i convince please
I have just watched the Comey Rule
FANTASTIC movie
A
Q
Movie sucked
Well done James. Your country should be proud of you. Utter dignity.
Yes congrats Comey, you admitted you are a coward in front of the entire world. So proud
how is testifying against a corrupt government cowardice?
You make 0 sense
Why didn't he investigate the controlled demolition of the WTC on 9/11/2001?
One, because there was no controlled demolition of the WTC. You're just another crazy conspiracy theorist. and two, because Comey wasn't even FBI director until 2011, so by then, the matter wasn't even relevant anymore.
Without getting into the politics itself, I sensed that I was watching the testimony of a humble, truthful and trustworthy man.
Bob, you obviously don't agree with my observation. If it is possible to put aside the partisan biases, what is it that you observed in this testimony that makes you think (I presume) that there is a hidden snake somewhere here?
lol obviously you are a dumbass. comey is a pos that lies through his teeth
You could be right, i could be a "dumbass"; but by how you judged me as such by having just a couple of comments here, i can now assume you use the same way to judge others, including Mr. Comey. Thanks for your opinion.
I got the same feeling. body language and replies seem honest
+etcpostmaster I mean if James Comey is right here than he also has to be right about Hillary's emails you can't really have it both ways.
Finding someone innocent of a crime before an investigation is over and first calling it extremely careless then being told to call it a matter! Give me a break!
thank you abc for no commentaries or interruptions.
He seems pretty honest and goes against either parties that are in the wrong.
Exactly my thoughts.
Joselyn Grey nah he's a flip flopping political hack.
Joselyn Grey great salesperson
Hakageryuu, true. The FBI director is appointed by the President and reports to the Department of Justice, which is Executive Branch. It's a unique position in that he serves at the pleasure of the president, but is expected to be politically neutral. It's a situation that requires the highest standards of integrity, and the avoidance of any actual or apparent political motives.
Joselyn Grey Well, he did say that he obeyed when the AG told him to call the Clinton investigation a "matter" instead of Ann investigation.. This was directly submitting to campaign politics.
does anyone know where Mcain was going? I kind of get what he was talking about but his questioning was hard to follow. Comey looked confused too.
McCain made no sense. Poor guy.
Bryan Case he was tortured in Vietnam so his mental state has never recovered since
He's headed to Senilityville, time to put him out to pasture.
Did McCain go on a rant, that FBI should investigate if Hillary Clinton had anything with the Russians to hurt her own campaign..?You know, like you do when all you want is to become President...
+Bryan Case. Everybody was confused. McCain didn't know the difference between one investigation and another. He didn't seem to get it that the Clinton Investigation and the Russian Election Investigation with ties to the Trump Campaign are two different things. He made the idiot statement: "You have one investigation that was closed and another that was still open, it seems like a double standard to me". WTF!!! How can you be a Senator and not understand that an investigation is the result of a crime and each investigation can be open as the result of two different crimes resulting in two different investigations that can start, open, and close all at different times!!!
So I’m starting to loss hope that we have any intelligence in our government officials.
They are avoiding all the important issues. No one has asked about re-opening the X-files or the whereabouts of Special Agent Fox Mulder.
Another travesty
The X-Files: Season 10, Episode 6, Aired Feb 22, 2016. "My Struggle, Part 2" is full of what feel like references to the 🅿️🅰️ndemℹ️c. “As a mysterious and fatal pandemic sweeps across the USA and other parts of the globe, Scully desperately tries to find a cure using her own altered DNA.” Great show and episode. Well worth a watch.
and here we have the entire committee agreeing this is not fake news. Tweet that.
Maurizio B bye bye commie
He’s a liar and fired for good reason.
McCain got me confused
McCain got McCain confused
why is there a video glitch at 1:15:49-56?
It's a pity someone as honest as James comet won't run for president. What a quality guy
How many times does Comey have tell McCain the Clinton investigation was completed.McCain thinks that if your a candidate you must be part of the Russian investigation and he's senator
O.M.G. 2:31:45 McCain realizes he is losing his mind. You can see the "The fuck did I just say?" in his face.
Yep
Agent Evans What he said exactly was, Sweet Mother of Jesus, hahaah
MK ultra kicked in. He was back in the jungles of Nam
You need to answer that question !
A very brave and courageous public servant who loves his country.
Brenda R .Spot on. I can see his pain but he is a honest man. May God bless him.
Let us not forget that he came here voluntarily to answer questions under oath. Why would he do that if he intends to lie.
Sylvia Haik It's obviously a cover,
McCain needs to retire and let someone younger take his spot, someone who will not fall asleep while talking! Or someone who won't keep repeating himself, especially when not making any sense!! He is the reason Congress should impose age limits.
Angel Soto agree!!!
Trouble is, dementia can set in when you're as young as 40.
No one over 40 or younger than 38.
+Angel Soto It's too late for McCain to retire as technically, he's dead! His brain died about 15yr ago and we're just waiting for his body to get the message.
Angel Soto hes making a lot of sense, comey says the russians were heavily involved in the election yet hillary was never investigated, only trump. its one sided.
McCain is confused.
+Martin Breton. I just posted the same thing. McCain seemed to be the only one who didn't get it, that each investigation is for a different crime and has a life of its own.
McCain is confused, and still managed to make a point he couldn't make. Where is the investigation into the possibility that the Russians colluded with the Clinton Campaign? Democrats aren't running around screeching that? There is actually evidence on that one; but, no investigation. Odd, isn't it. recall these pricks. I'm not from either party. But these dems and Globalists need to go. Recall, Recall, Recall. Fire the bastards and put an end to it.
Martin Breton no he is not, Diane Feinstein went on CNN on May 4/17 and said they had no evidence?... what a joke, ♥️
+rndomflashbacks That's simple. McCain has grudge and wants Trump gone; but, he has to weigh his position against that of the standing of the Globalists. He can't bring himself to defend Trump; so, he mutes his questioning so that he looks good (if not senile) back home. This is all theatre. They're trying to get rid of Trump on 'trumped up' charges and he has to serve that and home at the same time which isn't possible. Problem is, if you go after the King, you'd better not miss. They just missed.
Comey answered that: there wasn't evidence to go forward with a prosecution of Clinton. and besides, what's the argument? that Clinton colluded with Russia to *tank her own campaign*? what drugs are you on?
An article came out in August 2016 saying Russia made payments to Paul Manafort. Yesterday an article came out saying there was NO evidence of such payments.
Damn you got enough cameras in there? I'm not hearing enough clicks
McCain wasn't making any damn sense. He needs to retire and go home and sit down in one of those 7 or 8 houses he and his wife own
Pat Brodie brain tumor. I thought he might be having a stroke. Poor guy.
The only macan I know Is John McCain and he was a great man
Kudos to ABC for allowing comments. The other major station including PBS have disabled them.
Gia Marie
I'm still waiting on funds an vehicles as well,who do I talk with about that,if don't mind .,?
What happened at 1:15:49? Ms Collins' question was cut short. Seems that a small space of time made a significant difference.
We need to see the specifics of the investigation.
I loled when confused McCain said President Comey at 2:31:26 and the way Comey just says "no, Sir."
I love that they still address him as "Mr. Director" even though he's not anymore
Bethany M. Dont worry I hope that justice prevails. He is a man of great honour. Be proud of the man!
I think they do the same with ex-presidents.
Official titles carry on even after your tenure. Ex-presidents are still Presidents, ex-judges are still Judges, ex-secretaries are still Secretaries, ex-governors are still Governors, etc.
ShredderZX wow, someone who knows what they’re talking about and not just here for the sport and support their ‘team’. Amazing people comment on this complex political process that don’t know this simple tradition. I mean, how are they understanding what’s going on. Better to start your education at a lower level and learn how things work, why they work and what needs fixing. But, well, that’s democracy, I guess.
About an hour and fifteen minutes into the video the screen cuts to black for a few seconds and then resumes in the middle of Comey talking. Does know what question was asked during that time?
We will look back in history and call this moment, The "Covfefe" Moment.
It will be called The China virus! This is all connected!
so what will happen now for Trump ???
his posture is so relaxed I am surprised he didn't put his feet on the table.
THAT IS BECOMING HE IS RULED BY THE POWER OF THE TRUTH.
Heavy hitters posture.....
There’s not one person in that hearing who can buff Donald Trumps shoes
Fucking hell with the intros, 14 minutes in and Comey hasn't gotten to say a word. We get it, we know why he's here. Can we get on with it?
ikr
YoureAPillock its the Senate, man. Those fucks love to hear themselves talk
Watching James Comey speak makes my heart ache. *This* is what it looks like when someone really believes in their country, *this* is what it looks like when someone cares about the people they serve and cared about doing a good job. And I just can't help but see the contrast between his words and what we hear from our politicians (Donald Trump especially, but also Hillary Clinton and many of our congresspeople). Comey *cares*. And it breaks my heart that so many of the people who run our country don't seem to share what he has.
Thomas Kilmer well said! very well said! i agree with you!
Shemsuh0r You're right
Yes, because caring for your country means leaking to press to try and and hurt an innocent president while not prosecuting the known criminals YOU stated broke the law. What a patriot comey is
I feel the same exact way. James Comey is a man of undisputed integrity and talent. He did his job without bias and with justice and our rule of law as a focus. I feel he has been a target of political manipulation since the Lynch/DOJ reign and I feel Trump attempted to as well. I feel he acted in a professional and consistent way. He served this country well. It is an absolute shame that people like Mark Levine and other media personalities (Hannity) seem so eager to throw him under the bus by questioning his integrity among other things such as calling him names. This is pathetic. The FBI is NOT a tool for sitting administrations to use and steer at will. It is set up independently and designed to operate as an autonomous investigatory agency. This is bullshit. I am a conservative and this is bullshit. These people whom "We the People" have for choices to elect are all doing foul stuff. STOP IT! If these politicians would hold themselves accountable to an ethical code (at this point of ANY code of conduct) we would not have to deal with this waste of time and resources. It has become a "Our side has to WIN and that means destroying the other side" system of government. This is not governing this is childish crap. I am sick of it.
Lmao "hurt and innocent trump" lmaoo seriosly??? why dont you say "Hurt and Innocent Adolph Hitler" as well.
This feels like a movie. I love it.
Just came here from The Comey rule, nice prediction!
Very much a movie.
1:16:07 Burr is telling Warner something, they have a great laugh! I remember this for another angle, Warner (I think) suddenly sees the camera and points at it with his pen, they both look up. then just look serious,. that was great
1:17:35 oh it is there! hah i guess it was story telling time
if you read comments before watching pls skip Mccain
+max sand - why do they hang on so? What is the reward? Can they not see that their party cares NOTHING for them? The Dems are globalists; ultra-elites ruling over slave-drones. They want open borders for the VOTES (Thats why Islam is forming up behind them) how illegals manage after they get in will be paid for by TAXPAYERS. This should all be obvious - it shouldn't need saying......
Comey is a man to respect, he did the smartest thing possible(write memos of conversations) and never sold himself out while keeping his composure afterwards. He deserves his job back in my opinion. Trump is the one who should lose his job after this scandal.
yes he did. didn't you miss the part where he says he had to downplay the Clinton email scandle because of Loretta Lynch. he's a flip flopping hack
OleAnderson guess you missed the part where Trump tweeted that information first, you must be a Trump cheerleading cretin.
OleAnderson - No, Comey (from what I recall hearing) says that he wrote the information in an "unclassifed" manner. So he asked his friend to release information that was unclassified. Comey did write part of the notes on a device that was secure for classified material though. I'd love to listen in on the closed hearing. I think Trump is in the clear on this with the "I hope". Comey didn't say anything, IMO, that would lead to impeachment of Trump. I'm not a lawyer though, so who knows. We can't hear the tone of such conversations without audio. Gets down to interpretation. -- I doubt Comey would have kept his job with Hillary either. - Was Trump bluffing with his "tapes"?
i vote empty. It has to be empty to watch this and come away with the strong sense that Jim Comey is a respectful guy!
norcal native triggered
thank you very much to let me take a deeper look into us senate abc news. i am a "contemporary witness" in decades for this:D
My god all those cameras?
The photographer at the beginning was everybody's reaction after hearing what trump did.
ALLEGATIONS should be PROVEN....Nothing has been proven WRONG that Pres. Trump did. I THANK GOD EVERYDAY that we had him as long as we did....as our PRES. Pray he will reign AGAIN & soon.
Senator McCain??????
Dementia
Doesn't McCain hate trump anyway? Why did he puss out and go back to Hillary again? Jesus Christ
why are people saying trump is cleared? he's clearly splattered in a political/legal mess. you cant be biased like that and expect people to take you seriously.
He's been told many times that he's not the target of a criminal investigation....I wouldnt say cleared but then again no one is ever totally cleared from being charged with a crime unless your dead! The 'mess" is a good thing for trump...he was already in the mud and he's happy to have his enemies join him there...he's bulletproof, our enemies will crumble the moment they experience 1/10th the pressure Trump has endured! I love trump but its because I love this country and he's running it like a fucking G...doing a great great job! A fantastic Job! The moment that stopped so would my support so im sorry but thats not bias, its agreement!
you need yo diversify your news intake
@@logicalconceptofficial He is under multiple investigations now and people in his administration are going to jail. Cohen and Manafort for sure. Manafort gave polling data to Russians and lied about several Russian meetings. Trump also had meetings with Putin where he made the vp leave and it was only Putin, trump, and a Russian interpreter in the oval office. Don't know what was said but why would you do something like that when your already being accused of collusion?m Come keep it real that's weird. Multiple Russians have been indicted and extradited. I'll admit nothing showing trump colluded (conspiracy) flat out but that's what the investigation is for to find the truth. He is also under multiple investigations not having to do with Russia and the wh is a disaster and people are quitting left and right. I'm not even going to get into the shut down but everything I said you can factcheck and tell me where I lied. If you still "love" trump now, then imo it's because your bias. We all are in some way but just admit it.
This isnt aging well
Comey said former AG Lynch told him to call the illegal Hillary email investigation a "matter" not an "investigation." lol
& he did AS HE WAS TOLD TO DO.
@@alburtiastevens6453 so that makes it all ok and makes it magically go away?
solid and thorough. 1:04:00 - 1:06:00. Good honest straight forward question Mr. Rubio.
The 1st guy, great speech. The 2nd guy already conclusions. ..at 8:00!
Thank you ABC for bringing this format to the internet...
With all respect to Sen. McCain, he is a little bit old and he should let someone younger take him over.
+Moshe Friedman - 'RESPECT'?
what is McCain smoking????
Gabriela Lopetegui
Your more than a few clicks. You and McCain should team up, your both dumb enough.
Gabriela Lopetegui It is sad McCain who was a great American hero for standing up to the torturous Vietnamese in our ill-fated war against them and now you have the audacity to make him the butt of your joke.
Was he dying
Anyone else reminded of Geraldo's Al Capone vault special way back when?
I’m a liberal but I did like the nature Mr. Cottons questions, matter of fact and no nonsense, LEGIT!
All these old people... Good grief!
Thanks for your child like response
This sounds like a recording from the cold war
That means I'm hitting the nail on the head
Finally Ms Collins ask good questions
good man, this mr. comey.
georg wachberg really? the fbi did not get permission from a fisa judge to wiretap volunteers from the trump campaign but they did it anyway. nunes is an american hero and comey is a traitor.
+georg wachberg - silly man, this mr. Wachberg.
Yeah good for exactly nothing
Not a good man. A biased and dishonest man.
are you serious? you must have been for hillary?
omg so.many cameras
It’s all good and we’ll that he worked within the rules and processes. But changing ‘investigation’ to ‘matter’ was a fireable offence. He treated the two investigations differently. He accepted the Democrats request. He was alarmed at the Republicans request. This is not disinterested, non partisan leadership of a federal law enforcement agency. If he took ‘I hope you do x, and you take that as a threat to do it, you’re not strong enough. He was fired because he was weak and biased. Even I can see that.
Mr. Comey, you are an honorable man. I wish you all the best.
mccain seems like his brain is barely hanging on lol
Severe dementia, or so it seemed. Was he always this dense?
Nah... that isn't severe dementia. Addled and seemingly confused yes, but "severe" dementia.. no.
he's looking for another 3rd world country to attack
soxredsox because it is
everything in mcain is hanging on LOL
McCain took that way into left field... I think he lost track of what he was saying
Interesting for the entire Investigation
Starting around 1:54 it's amazing! Comey talking about Muellers stellar reputation.
What a farce!
James Comey is extraordinary. Awesome in the exact definition. Very rare to encounter such integrity, strength, and honor. And I'm a slightly several clicks left of center.
And he has a hell of a poker face!
that was because he was stunned by the request! watch the video again. sometimes you're caught off guard by something. and he was clear headed enough to record the encounter in detail afterwards.
Kyberik Hes a lying douchebag. He took memos with private convos w/Trump yet in a REAL investigation like Hillary, he did not? Ok sure. You must be biased.... JUST LIKE HIM.
Lets not forget that his sister in law is a BIG Clinton surrogate.
Comey is a lying corrupt POS,, used like a puppet by Lynch...career ruined reputation SHOT
wow!
Wow McCain, you really are not understanding what Comey is saying. These are two COMPLETELY separate investigations. How is it that I can see that so clearly and you can't!?! That is troubling.
31:05 the AG had directed me not to call it an investigation, to call it a " matter".
Prefabricated ..premeditated. .leading the panel. Same as watching the set of a play before rehearsal.
All the reporters when he sat down reminded me of pilot fish
Where is the unbiased questionnaire!
McCain starts at @2:27:32
John McCain needed redbull to stay awake. He seems really restless while questioning James Comey in such an awkward manner.
McCain would run laps around his colleagues 20-30 years younger. You've never seen someone with so much energy. He probably didn't want to be there just like the rest of them.
Now a hypothetical question misleading and suggestive!
Leaking is a felony .
What's up with McCain? With all due respect, i think he should retire.
@Vito Antinarella like we knew he was going to Q
2:31:29 President Comey 😂 He doesn't want the job. I understand.
Right question lady!
What's the point of the committee they never get anybody arrested
What a juicy nothing burger
19:15 not gonna lie i got a little choked up. that's a guy who has real human compassion
I'm watching this before I got canvas. It's motivation bc I am so sleepy I'd love to have a lazy Sunday. 3 days to go before midterm report cards.
@William Sheppard Wow. This bought back memories. My o.p. was at least a year old. I've graduated and all. 😆
Is the investigation moving forward or is it over
You know, I have been a backer of James Comey from the time I came to know who he is. I watched him and listened carefully to his testimony throughout the Benghazi hearings and the email hearings and understood that because of the nature of his job he is very limited as to what he can and can not say in a public forum. I was even in his corner in the matter of his being fired by Pres Trump. But what I'm hearing here is troubling me a bit. I find it shocking how little he could say in all other matters, and the extreme effort he put into be cautious as to what he stated in all other matters yet in this situation he seems very relaxed and has an open and lengthy answer to almost ,,and I say again ALMOST, every question. There are a few times he says he can't answer that in here but for the most part, he is just more open than I've ever seen him be. In most other situations he has given brief direct answers but here he seems to volunteer even more. He is also giving tons more opinions here whereas in all other matters he has declined to do that. I still say it was absolutely wrong for him to be fired. The man did his job and it's a damn hard job to do I'm sure. You know whether it's wrong or not these guys still most definitely feel some administravie pressure and yet have to maintain the highest level of integrity. This reaks of wrongful termination.
I hope McCain doesn't drive
April 11th 2017 you told the president personally not under investigation! So was that true? And when did you start the investigation! Before or after your firing?
Hearsay he said he said!
It should be quite clear to everyone now that instead of John McCain/Palin in 2008 and Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan in 2012 the GOP should've picked Ron Paul.
He was amazing here, a stand up man, with morals , confidence, and honesty. Impressive, if only our President had these qualities.
It is now known that Comey was fucking lying about ALMOST EVERYTHING, LITERALLY, and WILL be prosecuted, because this shit has gone-too-far. Seriously.
Why is this dated for the 8th went today is the 7th?
the chairman seems to be a very cool guy.
Mr. James Comey, it is in my opinion that you, over the course of this testimony, have proven yourself to be a honest and humble man that many should aspire to be. You are a real American and many of the citizens of this country should take a note from this ordeal about the immeasurable amount stress you have put yourself under to protect the core, fundamental values of what it means to love your country and the people whom you protect more than you love yourself. No matter how this looks, the take-away is that you have provided a service that few could understand as noble and true. I sincerely wish you the best, I thank you for your service and I hope these wrongs that have befallen you and this country can be righted.
McCain is having a senior dementia day -- WOW ! He needs a pudding cup and a nap !
Yeah, Comey is no Jeff Daniels 😂.
there are more than sixty May 9th recordings of me at the courthouse stating "it is essential"