CNN’s Chris Cuomo and Kellyanne Conway got heated during an interview on Wednesday about the firing of James Comey, with the White House counselor telling the “New Day” co-host, “You always want to talk about Russia, Russia, Russia.”
Russia is a major part of the story, as Comey’s FBI had been investigating Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election and any potential collusion of Russians with members of the Trump campaign. However, Conway doesn’t seem to think Russia should be such a big deal.
“Especially on your network, you always want to talk about Russia, Russia, Russia. The idea that the FBI has one thing going on, and it’s the Russian investigation, and the idea that this is somehow Jim Comey attorney at law, one person in charge of it… really irresponsible to not report to your viewers that many people are involved in all of these investigations,” Conway said.
Cuomo, who looked baffled, questioned the timing of the decision to fire Comey, which unexpectedly came on Tuesday evening. He accused Conway of using White House talking points, calling her “naive” and “deceptive.”
“You’ve been misrepresenting the White House,” Cuomo said.
Conway fired back, telling the CNN anchor he was simply trying to go “viral.”
Conway then asked, “Why is the timing up to you at CNN?”
She continued: “If the he had done it in January, you guys would have run the same chyron for three months that he did it in January because he’s got something to hide.”
Cuomo seemed more and more frustrated as the interview went on — and whether or not it was his intention, Conway was correct about at least one thing: The interview is bound to go viral.
James Comey Timeline: Events That Led to FBI Director's Firing (Photos)
For the first time since 1993, a U.S. president has fired a director of the FBI. Comey's final year as head of the Bureau before his dismissal Tuesday was wrought with controversy, as Democrats and Republicans alike criticized him for his handling of the FBI's investigations into Hillary Clinton's emails and possible connections between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia. Here's how we got to this point:
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July 2013: Disgraced former NY Congressman Anthony Weiner sees his campaign for New York mayor derailed when screenshots of explicit conversations between him and several women are leaked. His wife, Huma Abedin, who was deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton while she was Secretary of State, stands by him.
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September 2013: President Barack Obama appoints James Comey as FBI Director. Comey served as U.S. Deputy Attorney General from 2003-2005 and had worked in the intervening years at Lockheed Martin and HSBC, among other private sector jobs.
April 2015: Hillary Clinton announces her campaign for the president just weeks after The New York Times reported that she used a personal email server as Secretary of State. Abedin is named vice-chairwoman of her campaign.
July 2016: After investigating Clinton's emails, Comey announces that the FBI does not recommend charging Clinton in connection to the personal server. Two days later, Comey is questioned by a Republican-led House Committee about his recommendation.
August 2016: Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin announce their separation after reports surface that Weiner had sent explicit text messages to another woman.
September 2016: Reports surface that Weiner had sent illicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl in North Carolina, prompting a federal investigation. During the investigation, authorities seize a laptop belonging to Weiner and Abedin.
Oct. 28, 2016: Comey sends a letter to Congress informing members that Abedin's laptop may contain emails linked to the Clinton investigation. Clinton calls on the FBI to release all the information they have.
Nov. 6, 2016: Comey writes another letter saying that nothing new was found on Abedin's laptop, with Newsweek reporting that most of the emails found were ones forwarded by Abedin so she could print them. Two days after Comey sends the second letter, Hillary Clinton loses the presidential election to Donald Trump.
March 2017: Comey reveals during a House Intelligence Committee hearing that the FBI is performing an investigation into possible connections between the Kremlin and members of Trump's campaign.
May 3, 2017: Comey testifies in Congress again, this time before a Senate Committee about the details of the FBI's investigation into Clinton's email server. He says that Abedin had forwarded "forwarded hundreds and thousands of emails, some of which contain classified information" to Weiner to print out of convenience.
May 9, 2017: ProPublica and the Associated Press report that Comey had exaggerated the number of emails found in the laptop and that none of the emails were classified when sent. Later that day, Comey is fired from his position by Donald Trump.
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Comey’s four-year tenure as FBI director ends 10 months after recommending Hillary Clinton not be charged for his email investigation
For the first time since 1993, a U.S. president has fired a director of the FBI. Comey's final year as head of the Bureau before his dismissal Tuesday was wrought with controversy, as Democrats and Republicans alike criticized him for his handling of the FBI's investigations into Hillary Clinton's emails and possible connections between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia. Here's how we got to this point:
Getty Images
Getty Images
