On Tuesday, President Trump said he fired FBI Director James Comey "based on the clear recommendations of both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions".
The former Justice Department attorneys and FBI agents that TPM spoke with all expressed concern that the mere suggestion Trump asked Comey about the investigation could wreak havoc going forward. And then Comey was sacked and the White House was ablaze in rumors; press secretary Sean Spicer was literally hiding in a bushes or near them, depending on which story you've heard; and everyone assumed the Holt interview was going to be canceled.
"I have long believed that a president can fire an Federal Bureau of Investigation director for any reason, or for no reason at all", Mr Comey wrote in the letter, which was first obtained by CNN.
McCabe also disputed Sanders' characterization of the Russian Federation investigation as "one of the smallest things" going on at the Bureau.
Mr. Trump added that he doesn't know "it got out there" that he had asked Comey if he was loyal to him "because I didn't ask that question".
Reports in The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, relying on anonymous sources, have described the President's claim that Comey told him he was not under investigation as being false. The White House refused Wednesday to provide any evidence or greater detail. Trump has reportedly fumed privately about negative media attention and criticism from Democrats who he thought would welcome Comey's dismissal after he took the extraordinarily unusual step to speak out about the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton's email days before the election.
Heavy questioning about Russian meddling in last year's presidential election is expected, along with talk about surveillance of foreign targets that incidentally sweeps up the communications of Americans who are not targets of the surveillance.
McCabe's testimony contradicted the White House on two key points.
"Russia's direct interference in democratic processes around the globe is a direct assault that we must work together to repel", Warner said.
The Russian government embarrassed the White House
But hopes and good wishes aside, the academic also warned the Russian side against any sort of unconditional trust in Trump. On January 26, deputy AG Sally Yates informed the White House that Mike Flynn had been compromised by the Russians.
"I don't think you need it", Mr. Trump said.
He also assured the committee the FBI had sufficient resources to conduct the investigation. The president said that Comey "wanted to stay on", and Trump said he'd "consider it and see what happens".
McCabe was a last-minute substitute for Comey at the Senate hearing, which was supposed to bring together the heads of the major intelligence agencies to outline security threats from around the globe, an annual report mandated by Congress.
Trump is the first president since Richard Nixon to fire a law enforcement official overseeing an investigation with ties to the White House. They suggested Trump was persuaded to take the step by Justice Department officials and a scathing memo, written by Rosenstein, criticizing the director's role in the Clinton investigation.
Democrats have ramped up calls for an independent probe into the Russian Federation issue, and some of the president's fellow Republicans have also said they were concerned about the timing of the move. It's called leadership 101.
Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin pointed out that Rosenstein's memo relies nearly exclusively on Comey's actions in the investigation into Hillary Clinton's handling of classified information on a private email system.
"I actually asked him, yes".
"It is my opinion and belief that the FBI will continue to pursue this investigation completely and vigorously", he said.
The president fired Comey the following day.
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