21:51

Here’s Guardian columnist Richard Wolffe on the day’s events:

James Comey wants you to know a few things. First and foremost, that Donald Trump is a liar. Second, that Russia attacked the United States during the 2016 election, and will do so again. Third, that you really shouldn’t trash the reputation of James Comey and the FBI without expecting some payback.

Trump’s Russian web may be a complicated contraption, but the firing of Comey is a much simpler matter.

In a devastating opening statement, delivered without notes, Comey explained how confused he was. After all, Trump had told him he was doing a great job and wanted him to stay. Then Trump fired him, either for the Russia investigation (as Trump said), or for the Clinton emails (as the Justice department said), or simply for bad management.

It was that last smack to the face that gave Comey all the motive he needed to go public. “Those were lies, plain and simple,” he told the senators and the world. “And I am so sorry that the FBI workforce had to hear them, and I’m so sorry that the American people were told them.”

More in sorrow and confusion, Comey proceeded to eviscerate his former boss.

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