CNN's town hall featuring former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE struggled from a ratings perspective on Thursday night, finishing third among the cable news networks, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The Comey town hall, which ran from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., won 1.57 million viewers, compared with 2.88 million for Fox News and 1.8 million for MSNBC.

In the key 25- to 54-year-old demographic, CNN's Comey town hall won 326,000 viewers, compared with 464,000 for Fox and 301,000 for MSNBC.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Comey numbers were also down from CNN's first town hall with the Trump critic in April 2018.

That broadcast won 1.68 million viewers and 565,000 in the key demographic.

Comey blasted President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE repeatedly throughout the live event that aired from Washington, D.C., and was hosted by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.

"The president is not above the law, and I don't accept the notion that because the president is the head of the executive branch he can't ever obstruct justice in connection with executive branch activities," Comey said. "That's just crazy and a recipe for lawlessness."

Trump hit back at Comey on Twitter shortly after the event in a tweet to his 60 million followers.

"James Comey is a disgrace to the FBI & will go down as the worst Director in its long and once proud history," Trump wrote. "He brought the FBI down, almost all Republicans & Democrats thought he should be FIRED, but the FBI will regain greatness because of the great men & women who work there!"