James Comey went before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday and accused the administration of spreading ”lies, plain and simple” about him and the FBI following his sudden firing a month ago.

(BBC)

Comey says there’s no doubt that Russia meddled in last year’s U.S. election.

But when asked by the Committee if the president colluded with Russia, Comey said that’s something he does not think he should answer in an open setting, adding he believes that will be settled by another investigation currently underway.

The former FBI boss fielded questions on a variety of subjects and individuals, including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and even the president himself.

Asked why he took notes after his first meeting with the then president-elect, Comey said ”I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, so I thought it really important to document.”

On the subject of Flynn, Comey says he took as ”a direction” the president’s remark that he hoped the bureau’s investigation would be dropped.

Later, Trump’s personal lawyer refuted Comey’s statements, saying the president never directed Comey to stop investigating anyone and never told him he needed Comey’s loyalty.

Marc Kasowitz also accuses Comey of ”unauthorized disclosures” of ”privileged communications” he had with Trump.

The former FBI director admitted to the committee that he leaked his memos of Trump to a friend after the president suggested on social media that he may have taped those conversations.