Transcript for James Comey's opening remarks

I've submitted my statement for the record I'm not gonna repeated here this morning I thought I Regis offers some very brief introductory. Remarks and then I would welcome your questions. When I was appointed FBI director in 2013. I understood that I served at the pleasure of the president. Even though I was appointed to a ten year term. Which congress created in order to underscore. The importance of the FBI being outside of politics and independent. I understood that I could be fired by a president for any reason or for no reason at all. And on mart made that night when I learned that I've been fired for that reason I immediately came home as a private citizen. But then the explanations the shifting explanations. Confused me an increasingly concerned me. They confused me because the president that I had had multiple conversations about my job. Both before and after he took office. And he had repeatedly told me I was doing a great job any hoped I would stay. And I have repeatedly assured him that I did intend to stay and serve out the remaining six years of my term. He told me repeatedly that he had talked to lots of people about me including our current attorney general. And had learned that I was doing a great job and that I was extremely well liked by the FBI workforce. So confused me when I saw on television. The president saying that he actually fired me because of the rush investigation. And learned again from the media. That he was telling private lead other parties. That might firing at relieved great pressure on the rush investigation. I was also confused by the initial explanation was offered publicly. That I was fired because of the decisions I have made during the election year. That didn't make sense to me for a whole bunch a reasons including their time. And all the water that had gone under the bridge since those hard decisions that had to be made. That didn't make any sense to me. And although the law required no reason at all to fire an FBI director. The administration Ben chose. To defame me and more importantly be FBI. By saying that the organization was in disarray. That it was poorly led that B workforce had lost confidence in its leader. Those relies. Plain and simple. And I am so sorry that the FBI workforce had to hear them and I am so sorry that the American people we're told them. I worked every day at the FBI to help make that great organization better. And I say help because I did nothing alone at the FBI there are no indispensable people at the FBI. The organization's great strength is that its values and abilities run deep and wide. The FBI will be fine without me. The FBI's mission will be relentlessly pursued by its people and that mission is to protect the American people. And uphold the constitution of the United States I will deeply miss being part of that mission. But this organization and its mission will go on long beyond me. And long beyond any particular administration. Have a message for foreclosed for the my former colleagues who the FBI but a first I want the American people to know this truth. The FBI is honest. The FBI is strong. In the FBI is and always will be independent. And now to my former colleagues if I may I am so sorry that I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to you properly. It was the honor of my life to serve beside you. To be part of the FBI family and I will miss it for the rest of my life. Thank you for standing watch thank you for doing so much good for this country. Do that good as long as ever you can't. The senators I look forward to your questions.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.