James Comey testifies that Donald Trump is a liar who defamed him and the FBI
Former FBI Director James Comey got straight to the punch during his public testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, opting to bypass his own lengthy written opening statement in favor of diving right into the heart of the matter. Comey remained as polite and courteous as ever, as if you’d never know he was testifying about his own unjust firing. But he nonetheless came out swinging early.
– Comey made clear that during his dinner with Donald Trump, he believed Trump was looking to “get something in exchange for granting my request to stay in the job.”
– Comey asserted that after Trump fired him, he “chose to defame me” with his later remarks about the firing.
– Comey said it’s not his place to say whether Trump’s actions represent obstruction of justice, but he’s “sure” that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating Trump for it.
– Comey stressed that he never once felt compelled to write a memo about any conversation he had with President George W. Bush or President Barack Obama, but that his conversations with Donald Trump were so inappropriate and concerning that he wrote memos about every one of them. Comey took it further, saying that he took the notes because he was “honestly concerned [Trump] might lie” about their meetings.
