Andrew McCabe, the acting FBI director, told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday that former FBI Director James Comey had not, as the White House said, lost the broad confidence of the bureau's employees:

"I can tell you that I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard... It has been the greatest privilege and honor of my professional life to work with him... I can confidently tell you that the vast majority of FBI employees enjoyed a deep and positive connection to [him]," said McCabe.

And a twist: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who penned the memo recommending Comey's termination, showed up in the hearing room for an apparently unscheduled meeting, causing the abrupt departure of Chairman Richard Burr and Vice Chairman Mark Warner.

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