US President Donald Trump says he feels "totally vindicated" by the statement from his former FBI director which confirms James Comey told Trump he was not under investigation.
However President Trump's comments come on the eve of what is expected to be explosive publicly testimony from Comey before Congress later on Thursday.
Ahead of that session Comey released his planned opening statement.
US correspondent Nick Harper reports.
IN: "In just..."
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TAKE VO
In just a few hours James Comey's every word will be broadcast live across America.
And it's already clear he has a lot to say.
Notes he took following nine meetings with Donald Trump paint the picture of a President piling on the pressure.
Comey claims Trump on different occasions asked for personal loyalty, to "lift the cloud" of suspicion hanging over the him, and to "let" "go" of an investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.
Senior Republican, House Speaker Paul Ryan told MSNBC's Greta Van Susteren that behavior wasn't quite right.
SOT - Ryan
We now know what James Comey plans to say in his opening statement. But there could be more bombshells to come.
In contrast four intelligence chiefs spend Wednesday saying they had never felt any pressure from the president.
They were testifying before the same Senate Intelligence Committee Comey will meet later on Thursday.
Here's National Security Agency chief Mike Rogers.
SOT - Rogers
Yet US director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, like his colleague Admiral Rogers refused to say if the President asked him to downplay the Russian investigation.
SOT - Coats
Rounding off a day of troubling headlines for the president, were comments from his former ally, the previous director of National Intelligence, James Clapper.
SOT - Clapper 1
He also talked about Trump's handling of Comey, adding to the growing critique of the president's alleged pressure tactics.
SOT - Clapper 2
In trying to get Comey to "lift the cloud" from the White House, President Trump may have created a thunderstorm.
The idea of a President obstructing justice - intentionally or accidentally - will cloud his time in office.
Haunting him… and potentially unseating him.
Adding fuel to the impeachment fire that the Democrats are trying to light.
And while Comey has his say on Capitol Hill, don't expect Trump to remain silent.
US media are reporting he's getting ready to hit back on Twitter, with presidential proclamations a plenty, possibly even live tweeting throughout Comey's testimony.
SOC
ENDS
However President Trump's comments come on the eve of what is expected to be explosive publicly testimony from Comey before Congress later on Thursday.
Ahead of that session Comey released his planned opening statement.
US correspondent Nick Harper reports.
IN: "In just..."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 3:13
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
938 LIVE: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/
TAKE VO
In just a few hours James Comey's every word will be broadcast live across America.
And it's already clear he has a lot to say.
Notes he took following nine meetings with Donald Trump paint the picture of a President piling on the pressure.
Comey claims Trump on different occasions asked for personal loyalty, to "lift the cloud" of suspicion hanging over the him, and to "let" "go" of an investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.
Senior Republican, House Speaker Paul Ryan told MSNBC's Greta Van Susteren that behavior wasn't quite right.
SOT - Ryan
We now know what James Comey plans to say in his opening statement. But there could be more bombshells to come.
In contrast four intelligence chiefs spend Wednesday saying they had never felt any pressure from the president.
They were testifying before the same Senate Intelligence Committee Comey will meet later on Thursday.
Here's National Security Agency chief Mike Rogers.
SOT - Rogers
Yet US director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, like his colleague Admiral Rogers refused to say if the President asked him to downplay the Russian investigation.
SOT - Coats
Rounding off a day of troubling headlines for the president, were comments from his former ally, the previous director of National Intelligence, James Clapper.
SOT - Clapper 1
He also talked about Trump's handling of Comey, adding to the growing critique of the president's alleged pressure tactics.
SOT - Clapper 2
In trying to get Comey to "lift the cloud" from the White House, President Trump may have created a thunderstorm.
The idea of a President obstructing justice - intentionally or accidentally - will cloud his time in office.
Haunting him… and potentially unseating him.
Adding fuel to the impeachment fire that the Democrats are trying to light.
And while Comey has his say on Capitol Hill, don't expect Trump to remain silent.
US media are reporting he's getting ready to hit back on Twitter, with presidential proclamations a plenty, possibly even live tweeting throughout Comey's testimony.
SOC
ENDS