James Comey is testifying today at a Senate hearing on the Trump-Russia probe.
The former FBI director will address conversations he had with President Donald Trump on topics such as his tenure as heading the agency, Trump's connections to Russia and the investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Comey released on Wednesday a preview of his testimony in a seven-page opening statement.
The statement outlines the nine one-on-one conversations that Comey had with the president, and the aftermath of those discussions, even as some have raised concerns about whether the president attempted to shut down the investigation of Flynn.
Addressing Comey's statement, the president's legal counsel released his own. "The president is pleased that Mr. Comey has finally publicly confirmed his private reports that the president was not under investigation in any Russian probe," Marc Kasowitz, Trump's private legal counsel on the Russia investigations, said. "The president feels completely and totally vindicated. He is eager to continue and move forward with his agenda."
Indeed Comey's statement seemed to confirm Trump's claims that Comey had assured the president he was not under investigation. The president, however, still may not be safe.
Because of the information in Comey's testimony concerning the investigation of Michael Flynn, legal experts say Trump may be guilty of obstruction of justice.
“There is a criminal investigation going on of one of the President’s top associations . . . He gets fired, he is under investigation and the President brings in the FBI Director and says ‘please stop your investigation,'" said CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin. "If that isn't obstruction of justice, I don't know what is."
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