washington throughout drama u.s. senate testimony thursday jam comey sit ramrod-straight mouth set business posture longtime law-enforcement official former fbi director someone use keep matter close vest even steady crisp rhythm answer could hide lay beneath surface comey dismissal president donald trump last month wound anger beyond testify conversations say trump concern federal probe tie trump campaign russian officials comey time tell senate committee viewers across country harsh opinion president purport conduct also character minutes testimony comey say president aid choose defame spread lie job performance attempt shred reputation carefully build 20 years government service lie plain simple sorry fbi workforce hear american people tell say late comey testify begin document conversations president call nature person honestly concern might lie nature meet comey say trump uncharacteristically stay silent comey testimony despite early suggestions white house aid might take twitter respond never cede stage moment nemesis leave rebuttals son donald trump jr. defend trump twitter outside lawyer marc kasowitz deny president ever pressure comey drop fbi probe trump former national security adviser michael flynn response question senators comey repeatedly cast trump boss patron try secure loyalty something comey say make uneasy one point comey ask version events believe president try open fair transparent accurate say encourage senators examine two men consistency track record demeanor record time sort thing refer trump comment social media possible existence tap could provide proof conversations comey say rankle decide hand memos interactions president close friend leak media see tweet tap comey say lordy hope tap white house keep trump silence aid play day events regular thursday white house sarah sanders deputy press secretary tell reporters televisions west wing blast comey testimony trump watch least part hear outside legal team din room white house sanders say know see much sanders take umbrage ask comey suggest president lie definitively say president liar think frankly insult question would ask say comey testimony trump deliver brief speech friendly audience conference religious leaders washington mention controversy throughout hotel ballroom event stag attendees express support republican trump distaste democrats news media feel wonderful job country say donna hubers baltimore check phone comey update light literary moments comey testimony recall one point give dinner date wife trump ask meet white house one meet trump allegedly use pressure comey drop investigation flynn retrospect love spend time wife wish would night say thursday draw laugh senators comey also reach english history boost portrayal trump ask senator angus king independent whether take president reference flynn probe oval office directive drop matter comey reply quotation attribute king henry ii england odds thomas becket archbishop canterbury yes ring ear well one rid meddlesome priest go quote senator king say next day becket kill former fbi chief 's ire trump lay bare testimony