The 'sheriff of Wall Street' that Trump fired is an unexpected guest at the Comey hearing
Preet Bharara, the former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York who has become an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump since his abrupt firing in March, had a prime seat for former FBI Director James Comey's Senate hearing on Thursday.
Bharara had requested a seat at the hearing and attended as a guest of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Schumer's spokesman told Business Insider. His reserved seat was one row behind the table at which Comey was sitting.
Reporters in the room snapped pictures and video of Bharara entering the room. When asked whether Comey requested that he attend, Bharara told Mother Jones's David Corn, "I have great connections at StubHub."
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/872815871982546944
Preet got a good seat pic.twitter.com/9fb5xZIQI1
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/872809806154924032
I asked @PreetBharara if Comey requested he attend. He said, "I have great connections at StubHub." He's in 2nd row. pic.twitter.com/nTosSI0SEW
Bharara tweeted during the hearing, following Comey's remark, "Lordy, I hope there are tapes," regarding his Oval Office discussions with Trump:
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/872830054698536960
We can all agree with Jim Comey that, Lordy, we hope there are tapes.
Bharara had also tweeted on Wednesday, after Comey's prepared testimony was released on the Senate Intelligence Committee's website.
The remarks included descriptions of several one-on-one conversations Comey said he had with Trump, in which Trump allegedly asked Comey to pledge his loyalty, and to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser.
"Obstruction aside, it's NEVER ok for a POTUS privately to ask an FBI Director to drop a criminal investigation. Extraordinary, wrong & dumb," Bharara tweeted, after the remarks were released.
Bharara and Comey have worked together in the past, when Comey held the US Attorney position for the Southern District of New York in the early 2000s.