James Comey testifies: Main points

Sacked FBI director accuses Trump administration of defaming him

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday accused the Trump administration of defaming him and telling lies about the agency, but declined to offer his opinion on whether President Donald Trump sought to obstruct justice by asking him to drop an investigation into the former national security advisor.

Here are the main points:

  • Comey said Trump had repeatedly told him he was doing a great job;
  • Comey said administration chose to defame him and FBI by saying organization was in disarray. Comey said "those were lies, plain and simple";
  • Comey said he has no doubt Russia interfered with US election. Comey says he is confident no votes cast in 2016 election were altered;
  • Comey says it is not for him to say whether Trump tried to obstruct justice in their conversations;
  • Comey says found conversations with Trump very disturbing;
  • Comey says Trump did not ask him to stop Russia investigation;
  • Comey says FBI became aware of Russia cyber intrusion in late summer of 2015.

LIVE: Former FBI Director James Comey testifies in front of the US Senate Intel Committee on Trump and Russia http://on.irishtimes.com/wRaV4J5

Posted by The Irish Times on Thursday, June 8, 2017

Reuters