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| Russia hearing live: FBI director Comey says no information to confirm Trump's wiretap claims | Russia hearing live: FBI director Comey says no information to confirm Trump's wiretap claims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.31pm GMT | |
| 16:31 | |
| Republican's leak accusation focuses on Brennan, Clapper and Comey | |
| Comey tells King that yes, leaking activity lately has seemed healthy. | |
| “I do think in the last six weeks, couple of months, there’s been apparently a lot of conversation about classified matters that’s been ending up in the media. A lot of it is dead wrong. | |
| He calls the leaking scene “unusually active.” | |
| King says it must have been an FBI person who leaked to NY Times that Flynn was meeting with Kislyak. | |
| King turns to the purported dossier on Trump – the one drawn up by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele. How did that get out? | |
| Comey: It is an enormous problem whenever you find information that is actually classified in the media. | |
| This is not OK. This behavior can be deterred, and it’s deterred by locking some people up. | |
| King: Come on. [He’s pressing on a reported meeting with Trump about Steele’s dossier, the one with the golden showers.] It was you, Trump, Brennan and Clapper? Four people in the room, right? And it was leaked hours after that meeting about the dossier. It’s a small universe of people? | |
| Comey: No comment bro. I can tell you.. it often turns out there are more people that know about something than you expected. | |
| King: I’ll be advising Director and Director Brennan that I’ll be asking them the same questions next week. | |
| 4.24pm GMT | |
| 16:24 | |
| Nunes: You’ve said that the Russians favored Donald Trump. | |
| Comey: I want to clarify. We didn’t change our view from December to early January. I don’t know that anybody in the intelligence community did. | |
| Nunes: The change was from, hurt-Clinton to help-Trump. You changed your mind? | |
| Comey and Rogers: No – “That’s not my recollection.” | |
| Nunes: Do Russians historically prefer Republicans to win over Democrats? Did the Russians prefer Mitt Romney to win over Barack Obama in 2012? Did the Russians prefer John McCain in 2008 over Barack Obama? Isn’t it ridiculous to say that Russians prefer Republicans to win over Democrats? Wouldn’t that be preposterous to say? | |
| Comey and Rogers: Basically dumbfounded. | |
| Rogers: There is some classified analysis that discusses this. | |
| Rep King of New York takes over. He seems to say that the classified report notes that Russia has preferred Republicans. He seems to indicate that this analysis undermines the report. | |
| 4.20pm GMT | |
| 16:20 | |
| Meanwhile at the Gorsuch hearing, senators still talking: | |
| More than an hour into the Gorsuch hearing and seemingly not close to finished with sens' opening statements please stuff my ears with corn | |
| 4.19pm GMT | |
| 16:19 | |
| Why did the public hear from the FBI about Clinton’s emails and not about the Trump camp’s Russia ties? | |
| 2. Was the FBI's goal to complete and make public its findings about the Trump-Russia investigation before the election? | |
| 4.17pm GMT | |
| 16:17 | |
| Democrats call for criminal investigation of Flynn for taking money from RT | |
| Sewell: Is it right that RT is owned by Moscow. | |
| Rogers: We’re aware of direct connections and monetary flow. | |
| Sewell: how long have you known? | |
| Rogers: Years. | |
| Sewell: Wouldn’t Flynn know when he agreed to speak at anniversary gala for RT in 2015 of ties between RT and Moscow? | |
| Rogers: no comments. | |
| Sewell: Isn’t this unusual? | |
| Comey: No comment. | |
| Sewell: Reads from July 2016 Flynn communications with Yahoo correspondent. “Yeah, I didn’t take any money from Russia, if that’s what you’re asking me,” Flynn wrote. But last week the House oversight committee said that Flynn accepted almost $35,000 from RT. Right? | |
| Comey: I saw that report. No comment. | |
| Sewell: Does the emoluments clause apply to Flynn? | |
| Comey: No comment. | |
| Sewell: It does. I can’t believe that Flynn would take money from the Russian government in violation of the US constitution and I believe such violations worthy of a criminal investigation by the FBI. | |
| 4.12pm GMT | |
| 16:12 | |
| Sewell: Isn’t the American public right to be concerned about Mr Flynn’s conduct? | |
| Comey: I can’t comment. I understand people’s curiosity about our work and intense interest in it. | |
| 4.11pm GMT | |
| 16:11 | |
| Now Sewell, the Democrat from Alabama. How is it possible that Flynn did not remember talking to Kislyak? | |
| Comey won’t talk about Flynn. | |
| Sewell asks whether this skullduggery warrants an investigation. | |
| Comey can’t comment he says. | |
| Sewell wants the public record to reflect that Flynn texted Kislyak on Christmas and talked on the phone with Kislyak on 28 December, and again on 29 December, when the Obama administration expelled 35 operatives and announced new sanctions. Also Flynn and Jared Kushner met with Kislyak at Trump tower. | |
| “The White House and Mr Flynn didn’t disclose this face-to-face meeting until this month,” Sewell says. | |
| She notes that Pence went on TV in January and said Flynn never discussed sanctions with Kislyak. | |
| 4.08pm GMT | |
| 16:08 | |
| Comey: Russians had positive preference for Trump | |
| Schiff asks Comey whether Russians had a positive preference for Donald Trump? | |
| Comey: Correct. | |
| Schiff: Would it be logical for the Kremlin to want someone who had a dim view of Nato? | |
| Comey: Beyond my responsibilities. | |
| Schiff: Do Russians like Nato. | |
| Comey: Not my expertise but no. | |
| Schiff: How about Ukraine sanctions? Would Russia like to see sanctions go away? | |
| Comey: Yes. | |
| Schiff: What about Putin? | |
| Comey: Mr Putin would like Putin who liked him. | |
| Schiff: Would they like to see more Brexits? | |
| Comey: Yes. | |
| Schiff: Do they like business people because they can entangle them? | |
| Comey: In our joint report we say Putin preferred business leaders – Schroeder and Berlusconi. He believes they’re more open to negotiation and easier to deal with. | |
| 4.00pm GMT | 4.00pm GMT |
| 16:00 | 16:00 |
| Mike Conaway, Republican of Texas, and Comey have a “Who’s on first” moment. | Mike Conaway, Republican of Texas, and Comey have a “Who’s on first” moment. |
| Comey explains that “Putin hated secretary Clinton so much, that the flipside of that coin was that” he favored the opponent of his hated adversary. | Comey explains that “Putin hated secretary Clinton so much, that the flipside of that coin was that” he favored the opponent of his hated adversary. |
| Conaway asks whether and when the Russians switched from opposing Clinton’s loss to favoring Trump’s win. | Conaway asks whether and when the Russians switched from opposing Clinton’s loss to favoring Trump’s win. |
| “They were inseparable. It’s a two-person event,” Conaway said. | “They were inseparable. It’s a two-person event,” Conaway said. |
| They go back and forth, confusingly. | They go back and forth, confusingly. |
| Comey says that as summer went on, “the Russians sort of gave up” and focused on harming Clinton as much as possible. | Comey says that as summer went on, “the Russians sort of gave up” and focused on harming Clinton as much as possible. |
| Texas GOPer Conaway has now played himself on a sports metaphor & opts to pronounce @nakashimae's name as "Elaine something or other". | Texas GOPer Conaway has now played himself on a sports metaphor & opts to pronounce @nakashimae's name as "Elaine something or other". |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.04pm GMT | at 4.04pm GMT |
| 3.52pm GMT | 3.52pm GMT |
| 15:52 | 15:52 |
| Here’s the committee chairman tossing out the red herring Trump tossed out this morning on Twitter, about a Clinton-Russia nexus. | Here’s the committee chairman tossing out the red herring Trump tossed out this morning on Twitter, about a Clinton-Russia nexus. |
| Nunes: Comey, you mentioned that you are investigating ties between the Trump campaign and Russia! But, if we come to information about the Clinton campaign or associates or foundation, will you add that to your investigation? | Nunes: Comey, you mentioned that you are investigating ties between the Trump campaign and Russia! But, if we come to information about the Clinton campaign or associates or foundation, will you add that to your investigation? |
| Comey: We’ll evaluate it. Folks send us stuff all the time. | Comey: We’ll evaluate it. Folks send us stuff all the time. |
| Nunes: Is it possible that the Russians did not try to get at the Clintons? | Nunes: Is it possible that the Russians did not try to get at the Clintons? |
| Comey: No specific comment but sure Russia wants to get in wherever they can. | Comey: No specific comment but sure Russia wants to get in wherever they can. |
| Nunes: I hope that you will take info about other campaigns seriously. | Nunes: I hope that you will take info about other campaigns seriously. |
| Comey: Of course we would. | Comey: Of course we would. |
| Nunes: but what if Hillary Clinton was tied to Russia too? Eh? Huh? | Nunes: but what if Hillary Clinton was tied to Russia too? Eh? Huh? |
| It's almost like Nunes was part of Trump's transition team | It's almost like Nunes was part of Trump's transition team |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.54pm GMT | at 3.54pm GMT |
| 3.49pm GMT | 3.49pm GMT |
| 15:49 | 15:49 |
| Now Terri Sewell, Democrat of Alabama. Does the FBI assume that Russian ambassadors are intelligence agents? | Now Terri Sewell, Democrat of Alabama. Does the FBI assume that Russian ambassadors are intelligence agents? |
| Comey: No comment. | Comey: No comment. |
| Sewell: Would it be weird if one of your agents had a secret meeting with the Russian ambassador? | Sewell: Would it be weird if one of your agents had a secret meeting with the Russian ambassador? |
| Comey and Rogers: Yes. | Comey and Rogers: Yes. |
| Sewell: Flynn did it four times and failed to disclose. Why is this acceptable? | Sewell: Flynn did it four times and failed to disclose. Why is this acceptable? |
| Comey: I can’t speak to what the disclosures are for other people in the government. | Comey: I can’t speak to what the disclosures are for other people in the government. |
| Rogers: What he said. | Rogers: What he said. |
| 3.45pm GMT | 3.45pm GMT |
| 15:45 | 15:45 |
| Stone wants to... say it all under oath? | Stone wants to... say it all under oath? |
| It’s only fair that I have a chance to respond 2 any smears or half truths about alleged “Collusion with Russians” from 2day’s Intel Hearing | It’s only fair that I have a chance to respond 2 any smears or half truths about alleged “Collusion with Russians” from 2day’s Intel Hearing |
| To us older folk, Roger Stone under oath is like finding King Tut's tomb. | To us older folk, Roger Stone under oath is like finding King Tut's tomb. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.47pm GMT | at 3.47pm GMT |
| 3.43pm GMT | 3.43pm GMT |
| 15:43 | 15:43 |
| Amazing House intelligence committee Republicans only attuned to massive privacy implications of surveillance when it touched Trump's people | Amazing House intelligence committee Republicans only attuned to massive privacy implications of surveillance when it touched Trump's people |
| 3.41pm GMT | 3.41pm GMT |
| 15:41 | 15:41 |
| Democrats zero in on Manafort | Democrats zero in on Manafort |
| Himes, the Connecticut Democrat, said the president will attack anyone, “but there’s one person and one country that’s immune.” | Himes, the Connecticut Democrat, said the president will attack anyone, “but there’s one person and one country that’s immune.” |
| “No matter if Vladimir Putin kills political opponents.” | “No matter if Vladimir Putin kills political opponents.” |
| Himes says Trump, Flynn, Sessions, Manafort, Page have an “odd connection” and “weird links” to Russia that they’ve dissembled about. | Himes says Trump, Flynn, Sessions, Manafort, Page have an “odd connection” and “weird links” to Russia that they’ve dissembled about. |
| Now Himes asks about Manafort. He asks Comey to explain law requiring people acting as agents of non-US government entity to register as such. | Now Himes asks about Manafort. He asks Comey to explain law requiring people acting as agents of non-US government entity to register as such. |
| Comey explains it. | Comey explains it. |
| Himes: Would you agree that guarding against foreign espionage falls under this heading? Is willful failure to comply in some cases a crime leading to counterintelligence concerns? | Himes: Would you agree that guarding against foreign espionage falls under this heading? Is willful failure to comply in some cases a crime leading to counterintelligence concerns? |
| Comey: Yes. | Comey: Yes. |
| Himes: Manafort ran a campaign to lobby and push favorable media coverage for pro-Russian Ukrainian parties. But it was not publicly disclosed. It was disclosed through reporting. “Did Manafort ever register as a foreign agent under Fara?” | Himes: Manafort ran a campaign to lobby and push favorable media coverage for pro-Russian Ukrainian parties. But it was not publicly disclosed. It was disclosed through reporting. “Did Manafort ever register as a foreign agent under Fara?” |
| Comey: No comment. | Comey: No comment. |
| Himes: Wasn’t Manafort Trump’s campaign manager? | Himes: Wasn’t Manafort Trump’s campaign manager? |
| Comey: It’s obvious from the public record but I don’t want to talk specifically to individuals. | Comey: It’s obvious from the public record but I don’t want to talk specifically to individuals. |
| Himes: The Republican platform changed ... It appears, from our standpoint, that we had perhaps somebody who registered under Fara pulling the strings there. | Himes: The Republican platform changed ... It appears, from our standpoint, that we had perhaps somebody who registered under Fara pulling the strings there. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.45pm GMT | at 3.45pm GMT |
| 3.36pm GMT | 3.36pm GMT |
| 15:36 | 15:36 |
| Democrats zero in on Roger Stone, Michael Flynn | Democrats zero in on Roger Stone, Michael Flynn |
| Back to Schiff, for Comey: did you know Stone played role in Trump campaign? Did you see Stone’s bragging about political dirty tricks? Did you know that on 17 August Guccifer communicated to Stone saying let me know if I can help? | Back to Schiff, for Comey: did you know Stone played role in Trump campaign? Did you see Stone’s bragging about political dirty tricks? Did you know that on 17 August Guccifer communicated to Stone saying let me know if I can help? |
| That sounds like quite a communication. No comment from Comey. | That sounds like quite a communication. No comment from Comey. |
| Schiff: Do you know Stone bragged about talking to Assange? Do you know whether Russian intelligence dealt directly with Wikileaks? | Schiff: Do you know Stone bragged about talking to Assange? Do you know whether Russian intelligence dealt directly with Wikileaks? |
| Comey: We assess they used some kind of cutout. | Comey: We assess they used some kind of cutout. |
| Schiff: Do you know Stone tweeted confidence that Assange would educate Americans? And then Wikileaks started publishing Podesta’s emails? | Schiff: Do you know Stone tweeted confidence that Assange would educate Americans? And then Wikileaks started publishing Podesta’s emails? |
| Comey: No comment. | Comey: No comment. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.38pm GMT | at 3.38pm GMT |
| 3.33pm GMT | 3.33pm GMT |
| 15:33 | 15:33 |
| “What we are reauthorizing this fall has nothing to do with what we are discussing,” Gowdy admits. But he says the public does not draw the distinction. | “What we are reauthorizing this fall has nothing to do with what we are discussing,” Gowdy admits. But he says the public does not draw the distinction. |
| 3.31pm GMT | 3.31pm GMT |
| 15:31 | 15:31 |
| Neil Gorsuch hearing: Live video | Neil Gorsuch hearing: Live video |
| Here’s the Gorsuch hearing: | Here’s the Gorsuch hearing: |
| 3.30pm GMT | 3.30pm GMT |
| 15:30 | 15:30 |
| Republicans demand investigation of leaks | Republicans demand investigation of leaks |
| Gowdy says there were “nefarious” motives behind the leaks. Has the FBI begun its investigation? | Gowdy says there were “nefarious” motives behind the leaks. Has the FBI begun its investigation? |
| Comey: “I can’t say because I don’t want to confirm that that was classified information.” | Comey: “I can’t say because I don’t want to confirm that that was classified information.” |
| Gowdy: But you confirmed the investigation into the Trump camp Russia ties. And aren’t these leaks a matter of life and death? | Gowdy: But you confirmed the investigation into the Trump camp Russia ties. And aren’t these leaks a matter of life and death? |
| Comey: Leaks are terrible and taken very seriously. But “there’s a whole lot of wrong information” in newspapers. We don’t want to help and compound the offence that’s committed. | Comey: Leaks are terrible and taken very seriously. But “there’s a whole lot of wrong information” in newspapers. We don’t want to help and compound the offence that’s committed. |
| Gowdy: “wiretap has a very specific meaning.” Can you assure people that FBI will investigate leaks. | Gowdy: “wiretap has a very specific meaning.” Can you assure people that FBI will investigate leaks. |
| Comey: I can’t confirm that. | Comey: I can’t confirm that. |