James Comey Found Out About His Firing On The News Screens On Back Wall While He Was Giving A Speech To Recruits

Comey learned of firing as he addressed FBI employees in LA. TV screens in background flashed news of firing. Letter was then given to FBI.

— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) May 9, 2017

NYT:

• President Trump has fired James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director, the White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday.
• Mr. Comey was delivering a speech in Los Angeles when he learned he had been fired.
• His dismissal drew a quick rebuke from Democrats, with several calling for an independent prosecutor to take over the investigation into Russian meddling in the election.

Comey heard the news while giving a speech

Mr. Comey learned that he had been fired while he was addressing a group of F.B.I. employees in Los Angeles. While he spoke, television screens in the background began flashing the news. Shortly thereafter, a letter was delivered to the F.B.I.’s headquarters in Washington.

Mr. Comey’s day had begun in Florida, where he spoke to a group of police officers. He then flew to Los Angeles, where he was also scheduled to speak at a diversity meeting.