Update Thanks to drational again for the transcript.

Update Over the Edge kindly gave a link to Mary2002's previous diary on Comey .here

The logical assumption was that the focus of the testimony would be about the fired U.S. Attorneys General. Senator Charles Shumer opened with questions about the recertification by the DOJ of a program near and dear to the White House's black heart. While Comey refused to name the program because of attorney/client privilege and security reasons, it was clear that it was the "illegal" wire-tapping fandango.

Shumer asked Comey to replay the scenario which occurred on March 11, 2004. The program had to be recertified by DOJ every 45 days and the deadline was March 11. Comey and Ashcroft had previously requested a legal opinion from the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel regarding the legality of the program. The conclusion appears that OLC deemed the program not to pass legal muster. Ashcroft had fallen seriously ill just before this event and was rushed to the hospital.

The White House, via Andrew Card and Alberto Gonzales (then WH Counsel) started putting the pressure on Comey to certify the program, which he refused. On his way home after work, he received an urgent call from Mrs. Ashcroft indicating that Card and Gonzales were heading to the hospital to get the barely conscious Ashcroft to certify. Comey immediately notified a couple of members of his staff to high-tail it over to the hospital as he did a U-turn and sped there himself. They barely beat out the two goons.

Card and Gonzales ignored everyone in the room and went to Ashcroft's bedside with the papers for him to sign -- it was an Executive Order. Comey thought Ashcroft was barely compis, but to his surprise, Ashcroft repeated significant portions of his conversation with Comey weeks before and refused to sign. Card and Gonzales barreled out of the room furious.

Shortly thereafter, Card called Comey to come to the WH for an 11 p.m. meeting. Comey indicated that he would come only with someone as a witness and said he was bringing Ted Olsen. Once at the WH, Card refused to let Olsen in for the first part of the meeting. After about 15 minutes of discussion, Olsen and Gonzales came in for the remainder of the discussion.

Much to Comey shock, the WH certified the program without the DOJ. Comey drafted his resignation and a number of senior DOJ officials including Ashcroft threatened to resign. At a March 12 briefing, the President requested a meeting with Comey most likely because of the rumor of revolt in the DOJ. Comey told the President that he should speak to FBI Director Meuller. Afterwards, the WH, through Meuller indicated that they would allow Comey to fix the problem (aka, make it legal). Two weeks later, DOJ offered a revised program which they certified. The illegal program was in existence for those two weeks.

Comey indicated that he still had resistence from Cheney and his gang. He also indicated that one of his staff members who was at the hospital with him was deliberately overlooked for promotion, and he believed that it was in retaliation for being present with Comey and Ashcroft.

This testimony is a blockbuster. It was short and to the point. The only Republican who showed up was Arlen Specter who seemed to try to elicit testimony that certification was not required, rather custom. I don't think he was successful in softening the blow. Here we have the first real clear cut evidence of the illegal activity by the WH. Yes, I know, we can repeat a long list of other things, but this one has all the makings of high drama that the average person can understand.

It is time to drag Gonzales back before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer to these allegations