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---
title: Mitch McConnell Speaks After Trump Fires Comey: Watch Online
description: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to speak after President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. Watch live here
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article:published_time: 2017-05-10T13:30:02.000Z
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og:title: Watch Live: Mitch McConnell Speaks After President Trump Fires James Comey
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twitter:description: The Senate Majority Leader was expected to address his colleagues Wednesday morning
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4bd36d61403eb7e8/6988ccb6cd1bba2f71705216/mitch-mcconnell.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Watch Live: Mitch McConnell Speaks After President Trump Fires James Comey

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/xeqNdyOT.m3u8" -->
## Video: Mitch McConnell Rejects Call for Special Prosecutor After James Comey Fired

[Watch (HLS stream): Mitch McConnell Rejects Call for Special Prosecutor After James Comey Fired](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/xeqNdyOT.m3u8) (1:03)

![Mitch McConnell Rejects Call for Special Prosecutor After James Comey Fired](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/xeqNdyOT/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2017-05-10. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell staunchly defended President Trump's decision to fire James Comey Wednesday, while Democratic leader Chuck Schumer again called for a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the election_


by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


May 10, 2017 1:30 PM UTC

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell staunchly defended President Trump's decision to fire James Comey Wednesday, while Democratic leader Chuck Schumer again called for a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the election 

by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


May 10, 2017 1:30 PM UTC

Senate Majority Leader [Mitch McConnell](http://time.com/4763816/mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump-filibuster/) is set speak in Congress on Wednesday, the morning after President [Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey](http://time.com/4773423/james-comey-fired-donald-trump-fbi-backfire/).

Politicians [across the spectrum](http://time.com/4773409/james-comey-donald-trump-congress-chuck-schumer/) received the news with apprehension on Tuesday night, given that Comey was leading an investigation into possible connections between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. In a statement on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/SenatorBurr/status/862091699534921729), Republican chairman of the Intelligence Committee Sen. Richard M. Burr said he was “troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination.”

In a [statement](http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/332654-mcconnell-stresses-importance-of-confirming-new-fbi-director) on Tuesday night, McConnell called the job of FBI director a “critical role that is especially important as America faces serious threats at home and abroad.” He pledged that “Once the Senate receives a nomination, we look forward to a full, fair, and timely confirmation process.”

McConnell is expected to begin speaking at 9:30 a.m. ET. Watch live above.


## Transcript

Our Democratic colleagues complaining about the removal of an FBI Director whom they themselves repeatedly and sharply criticized. That removal being done by a man Rosenstein whom they repeatedly and effusively praised. When Mr. Rosenstein recommended Mr. Comey's removal for many of the very reasons That they consistently complained about. Two investigations are currently ongoing. Today we will no doubt hear calls for a new investigation, which could only serve to impede the current work being done to not only discover what the Russians may have done [ COUGH ] Also to let this body and the national security community to develop counter measures and war fighting doctrine to say that it don't occur again.

Partisan calls should not delay the considerable work of chairman Bar and vice chairman Warner too much is at stake.

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