James Comey testimony: Former FBI director says Donald Trump fired him to undermine Russia probe
Washington: Former FBI director James Comey on Thursday stated in his testimony before a congressional panel that President Donald Trump fired him in an attempt to undermine the investigations into possible collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign team and Russia. Comey went on to say that Trump administration had told lies and defamed him and the FBI after the president dismissed him on May 9.
The Trump administration had cited differing reasons for James Comey’s firing which were later contradicted President Trump himself, after he acknowledged on May 11, that he fired Comey because of the Russia probe.
When asked at the US congressional hearing why he was fired, Comey said he did not know for sure. But he added: “Again, I take the president’s words. I know I was fired because of something about the way I was conducting the Russia investigation was in some way putting pressure on him, in some way irritating him, and he decided to fire me because of that.”
Comey earlier told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he believed President Trump had asked him to drop the FBI investigations involving former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of the Russia investigation. However, Comey would not say whether he thought the president sought to obstruct justice.
However, Comey said he wasn’t in a position to assess whether president’s comments amounted obstruction of justice. “I don’t think it’s for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning,” Comey told the committee.
Meanwhile, President Trump, in a speech, told supporters their movement was “under siege” and vowed to fight on.
“We’re under siege … but we will come out bigger and better and stronger than ever,” he said. “We will not back down from doing what is right.” “We know how to fight and we will never give up,” the president added.
James Comey’s testimony could further mire Trump’s administration in legal difficulties. Allegations revolving around Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow to influence the 2016 presidential elections are now being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller and several congressional committees. Both Russia and the White House have repeatedly denied any collusion.
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