Summary

  • Fired FBI director James Comey tells Senate Intelligence Committee Trump 'lied' about his sacking

  • Comey says he has 'no doubt' Trump fired him to 'change' probe into alleged Russian meddling

  • He says Trump asked him to pledge loyalty and drop a probe into his ex-national security adviser

  • Trump's lawyer denies the testimony and says Comey leaked 'privileged communications'

  1. Live coverage endspublished at 21:56 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    That wraps up our live coverage of one of the most gripping set-pieces of political theatre on Capitol Hill in many years.

    In today's highlights:

    • Referring to the president's claim that he was fired because he was incapable of leading the FBI, Comey accused Trump of telling "lies, plain and simple"
    • Comey said he took meticulous notes of his meetings with Trump because he was concerned the president would lie about them. "I was honestly concerned that he might lie," he said
    • Comey said he had "no doubt" that he was fired by Trump to "change" the Russia investigation, and called his sacking a "very big deal"
    • Comey said he had no doubt that Russia meddled in the US election, but said there was no evidence that it had successfully altered any votes
    • Regarding Trump's tweeted threat that he had taped Comey in the Oval Office, Comey was unconcerned. "Release all the tapes, I’m good with it," he said
    • Comey said he told Trump he was not the subject of an open foreign counter-intelligence investigation

    Read more in our main story here;

    And don't miss our analysis on what questions remain after Mr Comey's testimony.

  2. Trump 'smiles through pursed lips'published at 21:08 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    US President Donald Trump at the White HouseImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    US President Donald Trump at the White House

    So far Donald Trump has refrained from commenting on Comey's explosive allegations.

    At a photo-op on Thursday afternoon, he "smiled through pursed lips" when asked if Comey was telling the truth, according to a pool reporter travelling with him.

    Nor has the president shared his thoughts on Twitter. Yet. It can't be long, though, can it?

    He is currently at an "infrastructure week" function in the State Dining Room of the White House.

    comeyImage source, Getty Images
  3. Duelling narrativespublished at 20:52 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    textImage source, GOP

    Meanwhile, the Democrats are challenging Trump to show the truth by playing the tapes he hinted he had made of his conversation with Comey.

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  4. White House plans fight-backpublished at 20:52 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    US political news website Axios reports, external the mood in the West Wing is upbeat because Comey said publicly Trump is not under investigation.

    It says the White House strategy is to have Comey depicted as a "leaker" after the former FBI director testified that he orchestrated the leak of accounts of his conversations with Trump because he thought it might lead to the appointment of a special prosecutor to the Russia inquiry.

  5. Trump lawyer on attackpublished at 20:44 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    The president's private attorney Marc Kasowitz denies Trump ever told Comey he needed and expected his loyalty, as Comey testified, and lambasts the former FBI chief for saying he leaked details of a conversation with the president.

    Media caption,

    President Trumps' attorney responds to Comey testimony

  6. Republicans tout '#BigLeagueTruth'published at 20:35 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Republicans are pointing to Comey's testimony as proof that Donald Trump has done nothing wrong during his time in office.

    Using the hashtag #BigLeagueTruth the official Republican @GOP Twitter account has been posting their favourite snippets.

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  7. 'Our Super Bowl'published at 20:33 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Here's the verdict from pub-goers in the nation's capital, where bars hosted #ComeyDay viewing parties.

    Media caption,

    Comey hearing 'is our Super Bowl'

  8. Senator focuses on Comey warningpublished at 20:26 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Senator Ben Cardin is citing one specific passage in Comey's remarks.

    The Maryland Democrat said in a statement: "I hope that my colleagues who have yet to co-sponsor my legislation to create an independent, 9/11-style commission, external were paying attention when Mr Comey said of Russia: 'We’re talking about a foreign government trying to shape the way we think, we vote, we act. This is a big deal. It’s not about Republicans or Democrats, they’re coming after America. They think this great experiment of ours is a threat to them and they want to tear it down. They will be back to meddle again.'"

  9. 'Maybe I shouldn’t stay up late'published at 20:11 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Senator John McCain has responded to online head-scratching over his questioning today, in which he referred to "President Comey".

    The former FBI director was not alone in struggling to grasp the Arizona senator’s gist.

    But 80-year-old McCain has explained that he stayed up late watching his favourite baseball team.

    "I get the sense from Twitter that my line of questioning today went over people’s heads," he said in a statement.

    "Maybe going forward I shouldn’t stay up late watching the Diamondbacks night games."

    Senator John McCainImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Senator John McCain

  10. 'Not a single vote changed'published at 19:40 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Trump's lawyer points to Comey belief that Moscow did not affect the actual US voting process.

    Marc Kasowitz said: "Mr Comey also admitted that there is no evidence that a single vote changed as a result of any Russian interference."

    Whether hackers' alleged leaking of Democratic officials' embarrassing emails could have influenced the decisions of American voters is another matter.

    The president has insisted the whole Russia inquiry is a hoax perpetuated by Democrats as an excuse for losing an election their candidate was widely expected to win.

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  11. 'Predisent Trump'published at 19:38 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Trump's lawyer is taking some flak online for a spelling error in the very first line of his statement.

    "I am Marc Kasowitz, Predisent Trump’s personal lawyer."

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  12. 'Privileged conversations leaked'published at 19:33 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    More on Marc Kasowitz's call for Mr Comey to be investigated. He says in his statement: "Today, Mr Comey admitted that he leaked to friends his purported memos of these privileged conversations, one of which he testified was classified. We will leave it the appropriate authorities to determine whether this leaks should be investigated along with all those others being investigated."

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  13. Trump's lawyer addresses the mediapublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Marc KasowitzImage source, Reuters

    Marc Kasowitz is disputing key elements of James Comey's testimony as he addresses reporters.

  14. Trump 'never tried to stop FBI probe'published at 19:22 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Lawyer Marc Kasowitz is saying that President Trump "never suggested the FBI stop investigating anyone" including national security adviser Michael Flynn.

  15. Comey attacked over leakspublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Mr Kasowitz suggests that Mr Comey could be investigated for leaking "privileged communications with the media".

  16. Trump 'never asked Comey for loyalty'published at 19:10 British Summer Time 8 June 2017
    Breaking

    President Trump's personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz says in a statement that the president never told James Comey "I need loyalty, I expect loyalty". More to come.

  17. 'The Comey Show'published at 19:03 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Russian state-run news channel Rossiya 24 introduced Thursday's hearings as "The Comey Show". It said US senators were "dreaming about the Kremlin".

  18. 'Not a terrible day for Trump'published at 18:54 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

  19. Trump lawyer up nextpublished at 18:39 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    Marc Kasowitz, the lawyer Donald Trump has appointed to represent him in the Russia inquiry, is about to make a statement.

    Don’t go away.

    Marc KasowitzImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Marc Kasowitz

  20. Comey testimony: Juicy highlightspublished at 18:27 British Summer Time 8 June 2017

    GettyImage source, Getty Images

    If you're just joining us, here's what you missed...

    • Referring to the president's claim that he was fired because he was incapable of leading the FBI, Comey accused Trump of telling "lies, plain and simple"
    • Comey said he took meticulous notes of his meetings with Trump because he was concerned the president would lie about them. "I was honestly concerned that he might lie," he said
    • Comey said he had "no doubt" that he was fired by Trump to "change" the Russia investigation, and called his sacking a "very big deal"
    • Comey said he had no doubt that Russia meddled in the US election, but said there was no evidence that it had successfully altered any votes
    • Regarding Trump's tweeted threat that he had taped Comey in the Oval Office, Comey was unconcerned. "Release all the tapes, I’m good with it," he said
    • Comey said he told Trump he was not the subject of an open foreign counter-intelligence investigation