James Comey Testifies, High-rise Jail for Sale, $1M for West Dallas: Your Thursday Evening News Roundup

Good evening. Here are some stories you may have missed today.Do you want to get this roundup via email? Sign up for our newsletters here.Fired FBI director Comey says Trump administration spread 'lies, plain and simple'Former FBI Director James Comey accused the Trump administration Thursday of spreading "lies, plain and simple" about him and the FBI in the aftermath of his abrupt firing, in dramatic testimony that threatened to undermine Donald Trump's presidency.Comey disputed the Trump administration's justification for his firing last month, declaring that the administration "defamed him and more importantly the FBI" by claiming the bureau was in disorder under his leadership. He described intense discomfort about their one-on-one conversations, saying he decided he immediately needed to document the discussions in memos.Comey made his comments as the packed hearing got underway. He elaborated on written testimony delivered Wednesday. In that testimony, he had already disclosed that Trump demanded his "loyalty" and directly pushed him to "lift the cloud" of investigation by declaring publicly the president was not the target of the FBI probe into his campaign's Russia ties.Comey also said in his written testimony that Trump pushed him to end his investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.Another angle: During Comey’s testimony, Sen. John Cornyn pressed him Comey on the Clinton email probe.Commentary: Former Watergate prosecutor Philip Allen Lacovara writes that Comey laid out sufficient evidence for an obstruction of justice case against President Donald Trump.Digital life: Today's testimony was an occasion for Twitter-watching buzz, with some North Texans across the political spectrum joining in on #ComeyDay.  Continue reading...