WASHINGTON: Washington buzzed with new questions Friday after ousted FBI director James Comey accused President Donald Trump of lies and defamation, in gripping testimony that undermined an already troubled White House, reports AFP.During almost three hours of extraordinarily frank statements before a Senate committee Thursday, Comey described himself as “stunned” by Trump’s “very disturbing” and “very concerning” behavior in several meetings.Detailing one-on-one talks with a sitting president—which under normal circumstances are private—Comey said he took painstaking notes for fear Trump might “lie” about the unusual encounters.
The former lawman also admitted he asked a friend to leak those notes to a reporter, betting—correctly—that the details would prompt the appointment of a special prosecutor.
Comey’s testimony painted a devastating picture of an untrustworthy president, who at best unknowingly shred the norms of office by pressing Comey on a probe into Russian election meddling, and at worst may have criminally obstructed justice.
Pundits and legal experts were divided on whether Trump’s actions rose to the level of obstruction of justice, a potentially impeachable offense, while Comey said that decision was now in the hands of the special prosecutor.
But Trump early Friday claimed “total and complete vindication” after Comey confirmed that the president was not personally under investigation, easing months of speculation.
“Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication... and WOW, Comey is a leaker!” Trump said in a tweet, his first reaction to the bombshell testimony.
Trump was scheduled to face the press later Friday at a joint press conference with the visiting president of Romania.
During one White House dinner, Comey recalled that the president asked him for “loyalty” and to lay off his former national security advisor Michael Flynn—who is under criminal investigation over his Russia ties—imploring Comey to “let this go.”
Comey said he believed he was sacked over his handling of the Russia investigation, which includes probing allegations that Trump’s campaign colluded with Moscow to tip the election to the real estate tycoon.
“I was fired in some way to change, or the endeavor was to change the way the Russia investigation was being conducted. That is a very big deal,” Comey told senators.
The White House and Trump’s lawyers lashed out at Comey’s unflattering portrayals.
“I can definitely say the president is not a liar and frankly am insulted by that question,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
Trump’s lawyer Marc Kasowitz said the president “never told Mr Comey ‘I need loyalty, I expect loyalty’ in form or substance,” rejecting the key allegation.
Deploying Trump’s trademark bareknuckle style, Kasowitz also suggested the ousted lawman should be prosecuted for leaking “privileged information.”
A visibly aggrieved Comey kicked off his testimony with a bid to set the record straight about the state of the bureau he led until he was sacked last month.
“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,” he charged.
“Those were lies plain and simple,” Comey said, firing a shot of tension through hearing room 216 of the Senate’s Hart building, which stood silent except for the shutter clicks of photographers capturing the political theater.