James Comey Russia Hearing: "No information" to support Trump's wiretapping claims
FBI Director James Comey dropped two bombshells at a hearing before the House Intelligence Committee Monday morning.
First, he confirmed there's an active FBI investigation into links between President Donald Trump and his campaign aides and Russia's election meddling. Then, Comey gave a thorough debunking of Trump's claim that President Barack Obama ordered a wiretap on Trump Tower during the election.
Comey's revelations are likely to cause yet more political problems for Trump and his administration, who are expected to face tough questions about his campaign's possible ties to Russia.
The Trump administration must now also defend its decision to double down on Trump's wiretapping claim.
Trump went as far as to joke about the now-debunked wiretapping during a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.
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3:25 p.m.: Marathon hearing concludes
After hours of testimony, the hearing has now concluded.
The hearing may be over, but the Trump administration's problems are only just beginning after the major revelation that Trump campaign is under FBI investigation for possible ties to the Russian election meddling.
Comey did not provide a timetable for when the investigation will conclude, nor any details about whether they expect any charges to come from the investigation.
But the Trump administration is sure to field questions about the investigation as the days go on.
2:38 p.m.: Comey knocks down a tweet from Trump's official twitter account
As Comey testified, the Trump administration tweeted from Trump's official @POTUS account that Comey said, "Russia did not influence electoral process."
Comey knocked down that assertion.
"We've offered no opinion, have no view, have no information on potential impact cause it's never something that we looked at," Comey said.
1 p.m.: Comey suggests Russia's election meddling is not over yet
Comey said it's possible that Russia "will be coming back" to meddle in upcoming U.S. elections in 2018 and 2020.
"I think we have to assume they're coming back," Comey said.
12:45 pm.: Russia is "our adversary"
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) asked both Comey and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers whether Russia is an "adversary" of the United States.
Both said "yes."
12:10 p.m.: Comey confirms Russia had a "positive opinion of Trump" and wanted him to win
During a line of questioning from House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Comey confirmed that Russia not only wanted Hillary Clinton to lose, but wanted Trump to win.
"Mr. Putin would like people who like him," Comey said, referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin, in one of the most devastating lines of the day for Trump and his administration.
"Putin has expressed preference for business people leading other governments because he believes they are more open for negotiation," Comey added.
11:35 a.m.: Republican asks whether reporters should be prosecuted for reporting leaks
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) went after reporters who published leaked information, asking Comey whether those reporters should or could be prosecuted for that behavior.
Comey, for his part, said he's never seen a reporter prosecuted for publishing leaks.
11:21 a.m.: FBI investigation into Trump-Russia connections began in July
Comey said the FBI's investigation began in July 2016.
During that time, the FBI disclosed information about its investigation into then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, but not about Trump.
11:05 a.m.: Comey says there's "no information" to support Trump's wiretapping claims against Obama
Comey, in yet another bombshell, says the Department of Justice has "no information" to support Trump's wiretapping allegations.
11 a.m.: Republicans focus on leaks — not bombshell revelation of FBI investigation
Despite the fact that Comey dropped a bombshell to confirm that the FBI is investigating whether Trump campaign aides had any ties to Russian election meddling, Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee are squarely focused on something else: leaks.
Two Republicans on the committee — Reps. Tom Rooney of Florida, Devin Nunes of California and Gowdy — pressed Comey and Rogers on leaks of classified information to the press.
10:55 a.m.: Rogers said there is no evidence that Russian hackers meddled with physical votes in the 2016 election.
10:36 a.m.: Comey confirms the FBI is investigating possible Trump-Russia election meddling ties
In a major moment of Trump's presidency, Comey confirmed that there is an active investigation into whether there are "any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign" and Russians who meddled in the U.S. election.
Comey added there is no timetable for how long the investigation will take.
"I can promise you we will follow the facts wherever they lead," Comey said.
10:31 a.m.: NSA director "greatly concerned" about leaks
Rogers said in his opening statements that the leaks of classified information are concerning.
10:18 a.m.: Democrat slams Trump for his wiretapping claim
Rep. Adam Schiff, the California Democrat and ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, said in his lengthy opening statement that Trump's wiretapping allegation against Obama is "slanderous."
10:10 a.m.: Republican lays out objective of the hearing
House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) said in his opening statement that this hearing is intended to "clear the air regarding unsubstantiated media reports" by focusing on three things: the actions Russia took during the campaign, whether any political campaigns conspired with the Russians and who has leaked classified information to the press.
Nunes added out of the gate that there was no physical wiretap of Trump Tower during the campaign — something he's said before — but that he hopes the campaign will find whether there was any other improper surveillance of Trump or his campaign.
10:05 a.m.: Comey has taken his seat
Comey has taken his seat in what's expected to be an extremely consequential hearing for Trump's presidency.
