Breaking News: Comey Hearing

Senators have had hours to pick apart the first taste of former FBI Director James Comey’s upcoming testimony – and both sides of the aisle will have plenty to chew on.

The seven-page written opening statement released ahead of the 10 a.m. ET Thursday hearing shows the fired FBI boss affirming prior reports that President Trump once sought his “loyalty” and help lifting what he called the “cloud” of the Russia investigation. Democrats are poised to use those details to accuse Trump of trying to strong-arm the top law enforcement official in the weeks and months before he fired him.

At the same time, Comey is expected to stop short of accusing Trump of “obstruction of justice.” His written testimony also confirms that he assured Trump he was not personally under investigation. The Republican National Committee and Trump’s attorney already have cited this detail as a victory for the president, confirming what he’s been saying for months.