With James Comey fired by Donald Trump on Tuesday, it was left to his deputy, now-acting director Andrew McCabe to sit on the congressional hot seat and testify today in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard. I have the highest respect for his considerable abilities and his integrity,” McCabe told members of the Senate intelligence committee.
He said Comey enjoyed “broad support within the FBI and still does to this day.” He added, “The majority, the vast majority of FBI employees enjoyed a deep, positive connection to Director Comey.”

… he also debunked the biggest theory that the Democrats were pushing about the firing: that Comey had asked for more funding for the Russian investigation.

Comey's #2 unequivocally states that, contrary to widespread reports, FBI did not ask for more funding for Trump Russia probe before firing

— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) May 11, 2017

Acting FBI Dir McCabe: "there has been no effort to impede our investigation to date."

— Ellen Nakashima (@nakashimae) May 11, 2017

McCabe: "I strongly believe the Russia investigation is adequately resourced."

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 11, 2017

Acting @fbi Director McCabe: says FBI has the resources it needs on #Russia investigation, all #Comey files/computers have been secured.

— Bill Hemmer (@BillHemmer) May 11, 2017

So, whatever investigation that is ongoing is still ongoing. Comey’s firing did not end it, McCabe says it won’t stop, and he vowed to inform the committee if the White House attempts to intervene.

Warner asks McCabe if he will commit to inform committee of any political interference re: Russia probe.
McCabe: "I absolutely do."

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 11, 2017

If President Trump was smart, he would now take the wind out of the sails of the Democrats by pledging his full cooperation with this FBI investigation. After all, if Comey assured him that he himself was not under investigation – as the president asserted in Comey’s pink-slip letter – then the smart play would be to cut the conspiracy legs out from underneath the story by offering cooperation. I really wish he was savvy enough to do that – because at this rate, the entire Russian connection investigation has the potential to be dragged out for a very long time, and maybe long enough to affect the midterm elections.