The GOP Responded To Comey's Prepared Statement With A Joke

Before former FBI Director James Comey took the stand Thursday to testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, the transcript of his planned prepared opening statement was released. In it, he details his encounters with President Donald Trump during his investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Overall, it's a pretty enlightening document and a good hint of what may come in the hearing.

However, there was one group not impressed with Comey's account: the GOP tweeted a GIF response to Comey's remarks that underplayed the value of what was being revealed.

The Republican National Committee tweeted, "Trying to find something of substance in Comey's opening statement like," accompanied with a GIF of Ethan Hawke looking through a telescope in In A Valley of Violence. It looks like Hawke is looking out into a desert of some sort, which seems to be what the RNC was going for in dismissing Comey's testimony. Unfortunately, Comey's opening statement contains a lot of vital information about Trump's actions leading up to Comey's firing.

According to Comey, Trump asked for Comey's loyalty, attempted to create a "patronage relationship," denied the contents of the unverified dossier from British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, and even allegedly asked Comey to drop the investigation of Michael Flynn. While Trump has denied any wrongdoing, these few statements alone are worth taking seriously, if not as obstruction of justice, then at least as a huge red flag that Trump's actions are worrisome.

Since his firing, Comey has been mostly mum about the situation and the events leading up to it. However, the release of his prepared remarks gives us a greater insight into the events leading up to his firing.

During the testimony on Thursday, Comey took a turn and decided to veer from his prepared remarks. Instead of reading the statement that most had already looked over, Comey took some time to talk about his confusion surrounding his firing. According to Comey, Trump told him he was doing a great job, and that others, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, had also praised Comey's work at the FBI. Comey also claims that the Trump administration had lied and defamed the FBI in the media following his firing when they claimed that the FBI was in disarray and poorly led.

The rest of Comey's testimony will surely be something worth paying attention to and taking note of, especially for the GOP.