Here’s a timeline leading up to James Comey’s firing and the fallout it unleashed

FBI Director James Comey was fired abruptly Tuesday by President Donald Trump, and the White House has scrambled since then to explain how Trump reached his decision.

Here’s a look at what led to Comey’s firing and what’s happened in the aftermath:

May 2

01:01 - Source: CNN Business

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CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour moderates a discussion with former Secretary of State and 2016 US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the Women for Women International annual fundraising luncheon in New York on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. The not-for-profit organization enables and empowers women around the world to be involved in and play critical roles in conflict resolution, peace negotiations, humanitarian response, and in post-conflict rebuilding. It is based on the proven fact that the inclusion of women leads to a more peaceful and stable world. Photograph: Timothy Fadek

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Hillary Clinton says she was on her way to winning the presidency until the FBI director wrote a letter to Congress saying he was reopening the investigation into her use of a private email server 11 days before the November 8 election.

Trump tweets a response that night: “FBI Director Comey was the best thing that ever happened to Hillary Clinton in that he gave her a free pass for many bad deeds!”

Trump adds the investigation into his campaign’s possible collusion with Russia, which Comey confirmed during a March 20 hearing in the House, was “an excuse used by the Democrats as justification for losing the election.”

May 3

01:01 - Source: CNN Business

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