'WOW, Comey is a leaker!': Trump tweets response to Comey testimony

This is Trump's first response to Comey's testimony

Donald Trump has made his first comments, over Twitter, since yesterday's gripping testimony by ex-FBI director James Comey before the Sentate Intelligence Committee.

Mr Trump tweeted: "Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication."

This is understood as a reference to Comey's confirmation that he told the US President that he (Mr Trump) was not being investigated personally by the FBI in relation to his campaign's links with Russia

Mr Trump also took a shot at Comey for his admission that he (Comey) leaked a memo of a meeting with Trump to the New York Times, via a friend.

In this morning's tweet, My Trump said: "...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!"

Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication...and WOW, Comey is a leaker!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 9, 2017

At Thursday's testimony, Former FBI director James Comey accused Trump of spreading "lies, plain and simple" about him and the FBI in the aftermath of his abrupt firing.

In his testimony, Mr Comey jumped to the heart of the political controversy around his firing and discussed if the president interfered in the bureau's Russia investigation.

He said that Mr Trump demanded his loyalty and directly pushed him to "lift the cloud" of investigation by publicly declaring the president was not involved in the FBI probe into his campaign's ties with Russia.

In a prepared statement before his testimony Mr Comey said: "I took the opportunity to implore the Attorney General to prevent any future direct communication between the president and me."

He also disclosed that he told Attorney General Jeff Sessions that he thought private meetings between the FBI and the president were inappropriate.

He also advised Sessions that he should protect the FBI from the influence of the White House.

Mr Comey stated he felt an "intense discomfort" about their one-on-one converstaions hence why he immediately felt the need to document the discussions in memos.

"I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, so I thought it really important to document.

"I knew there might come a day when I might need a record of what happened not only to defend myself but to protect the FBI," he said.