d-day in washington. the eyes of the nation and much of the world watching fired fbi director james comey's much anticipated testimony before congress, making his first public remarks since president trump terminated him. this morning, reaction to comey's prepared opening remarks. >> his statement reads more like a tom clancey novel than your usual garden variety congressional testimony. >> we'll tell you what's next and how the white house will counter the comey testimony. and today, the alleged national security agency leaker is expected to plead not guilty to providing a top secret document to a news outlet. >> new details on the isis-claimed attack in iran.

more rain is headed for the waterlogged sunshine state of florida. and the cavs on the verge of being swept. "early today" starts right now. so good to be with you. i'm frances rivera. james comey's prepared testimony for today's blockbuster hearing is being heard far and wide with allegations he pressured comey to lift the cloud of the russia probe. president trump viewed the release of confirmation of his claims that comey assured him multiple times he was not under investigation. his personal attorney even said the president feels completely and totally vindicated. nbc news justice correspondent pete williams has more on his testimony. >> james comey gives a dramatic account in detail of five one-on-one conversations with donald trump. the first with president-elect trump in new york january 6th. a briefing on the investigation of russia's election meddling and claims about to become public that mr. trump was

involved with prostitutes in moscow, something trump denied. comey says he thought about whether to give an assurance about whether trump was under investigation. that was true, comey says, we did not have an open intelligence case on him. i offered that assurance. comey says he decided right then to document his conversations with mr. trump and began typing the notes on a laptop as he rode away from trump tower. next meeting dinner at the white house january 27. comey says the president told him i need loyalty, i expect loyalty. comey says i didn't move, speak or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed, but later answered, you will always get honesty from me. he told the president that the fbi was not investigating mr. trump personally. in his interview with lester holt the president said comey requested the dinner. >> the dinner was arranged.

i think he requested the dinner. >> reporter: comey says mr. trump called him and he says he got the feeling it was an evident to have me ask for my job and create some kind of patronage relationship. next february 14 after an intelligence briefing, the day after michael flynn was forced to resign. he quotes the president saying i hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting flynn go. he's a good guy. comey says i did not say i would let this go. adding i had understood the president to be requesting that we drop any investigation of flynn into whether flynn made false statements about his conversations with russia's ambassador to the u.s. comey says i did not understand the president to be talking about the broader investigation into russia or possible links to his campaign. comey says he remembers leaving the oval office through the door by the grandfather clock and he told only a few people about it because he didn't want to let the fbi investigators know about a request that the fbi had no intention of granting. after that he says he asked attorney general jeff sessions

to prevent any further direct communications with the president but he says sessions did not reply. march 30 comey says the president called him at the fbi and asked what we could do to lift the cloud of the russia allegations adding, quote, that he had nothing to do with russia, had not been involved with hookers in russia, and had always assumed he was being recorded when in russia. comey replied he told congressional leaders the fbi was not investigating mr. trump who responded, we need to get that fact out. and added if there was some satellite associates of his who did something wrong, it would be good to find that out. two weeks later comey says the president called again and asked what i had done about his request that i get out that he is not personally under investigation. comey says the president added, i have been very loyal to you, very loyal, we had that thing you know. comey says he didn't ask what the president meant by that thing. comey never says in the prepared statement that he thought the president's remarks amounted to obstruction of justice and a

former federal prosecutor says there is no sign of that. >> they create an inference of attempt to influence a pending investigation. that alone is not enough to make an obstruction case. but that's a big piece of it. >> thanks to pete williams for that. joining us this morning is axios editor nick johnson. what do you make of comey's seven-page opening statement and how his answers in testimony later today will add another dimension? >> first it's remarkable comey took such detailed notes. we never have seen such a window into these type of private meetings between a president and fbi director. these exact interactions are fascinating to read, almost like a movie script. what's important to know is comey felt compelled to take these notes. when he was fbi director under obama, he met with him twice. he met with trump nine times and was so uncomfortable that he took detailed notes, as he said,

in the car on the ride home. >> we'll talk about how he might answer, given he's no longer in government. can he feel more confident in being more complete in those answers? >> i think that's why everyone is tuning in today. james comey is a very experienced congressional witness. he will tell members of the senate exactly what he wants to hear. remember it was ten years ago he dropped a bombshell in the senate meeting about the meeting in the hospital with attorney general ashcroft. i think it's likely we won't see a whole lot new from the opening statement. but he's skilled in delivering certain things. >> we didn't see a lot yesterday when it came to the top intel officials who were asked questions, couldn't get anything out of them. let's take a listen to that. we'll have that for you in just a minute. talk a little bit about that, when they were trying to go back and forth and try to get some of those responses.

they really gave up nothing. >> remember, these are intelligence officials who are still in the government and they are bound by many sorts of rules about what they tcan disclose, certainly in public. they went into closed sessions where i'm sure they were more forthcoming. james comey can say what he wants to say. whether he'll be reticent about the on going investigation. >> here is a little bit of the exchange at yesterday's hearing. >> i'll ask both of you the same question, why are you not answering these questions? is there an invocation by the president of the united states of executive privilege? is there or not? >> not that i'm aware of. >> why are you not answering the question -- >> i feel it's inappropriate, senator. >> what you feel isn't relevant. what you feel isn't the answer. >> we were talking about how candid we're going to see james comey, but also what other people are watching, too, is mr.

trump, the president, to see his response we know we have the rnc with their responses. are we going to expect some live-fire treats coming from the president? >> we might. officials are saying he might. he controls his twitter account. president trump will be giving a speech later today. we'll have two computer monitors on my desk watching comey on one and the president's twitter. >> certainly know there are bars in d.c. opening early with certain hearing-themed items on the menu. nick johnson, thank you very much. >> absolutely. >> nbc news will bring you live coverage of james comey's testimony here on nbc. i want to switch gears to mother nature where the waterlogged sunshine state might be getting relief from three days of intense thunderstorms. nbc meteorologist bill karins has more. >> they're lucky they have sandy

soil. some spots picked up 12 to 18 inches of rain. anywhere else in the country, that would be an epic flood. but a lot of it soaks in. the storm system grazing the carolina, finally going to florida. hit-and-miss showers and storms, typical for their wet season. it's come to an end in the west. we've seen this cold front moving onshore, a lot of clouds, light rain and shower activity. nothing too heavy, but it's trying to make its way towards san francisco and oakland at the current time and definitely towards napa. the forecast for today, we're keeping showers in the forecast with san francisco northward. the temperatures will be coolish, too. only in the 60s. looks like it's here to stay for maybe 58 for your high today. >> if you play powerball

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♪ ♪ need a fast absorbing try nivea in-shower body lotion. wash. apply. it absorbs fast. for 24 hour moisture. quickly rinse for smoother skin. ready to go! nivea in-shower body lotion. also available with cocoa butter. in today's quick hits the nsa contractor accused of leaking a classified report about russian interference in the u.s. election is due in federal court today.

an attorney for reality winner tells nbc news she will enter a plea of not guilty. south korean officials say north korea fired several projectiles believed to be surface-to-ship missiles off the east coast today. the south is reportedly suspending deployment of the thaad missile defense system pending environmental assessment. former president obama and canadian prime minister trudeau met for dinner at a trendy montreal restaurant. mr. obama was in town for a speech. leading the news, the islamic state is claiming responsibility for twin attacks iran's capital that killed at least 12 people. gunmen stormed parliament in tehran, a suicide bomber attacked a shrine. 42 people were hurt. nbc has not verified isis' claim that iran's guard blames saudi arabia for their alleged support of militants. reports say several bodies have been recovered from a military plane that went missing with at least 120 people on board in myanmar.

the port was headed from myeik to yangon. the aircraft lost contact 29 minutes after takeoff. it was carrying mostly military members and their families. it's unclear how many victims have been recovered. officials are investigating the incident. for a second day the woman accusing bill cosby of sexual assault was on the stand in his trial in pennsylvania. cosby's defense continued cross-examining her, focusing on what it believes are inconsistencies in her story. cosby has repeatedly denied all allegations. nbc's stephanie gosk has more on the dramatic testimony. >> reporter: at times bill cosby seemed relaxed, joking with security while his accuser andrea constand faced tough questions from his defense attorney who tried to pick apart her story. constand alleges the comedian

drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004, pointing out that constand's statements to police changed, specifically the date of the assault. she focused on two private dinners at cosby's home before the alleged assault. at one point saying you hadn't told the officers that you had wine and brandy and sat by a fire and put your legs near one another. constand said police never asked. she questioned her, you knew he was interested in you romantically. constand replied, no, ma'am. the district attorney hit back hard after she highlighted phone records, line by line to show constand called cosby 53 times after the alleged assault. asked was he on the board of trustees at the place where you were employed? yes. so when he called you, you called back. yes. the prosecution also called constand's mother to the stand. she tearfully told the jury that cosby apologized to her and andrea on the phone saying i'm a sick man. stephanie gosk, nbc news, norris

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now to the brits heading to the polls for the uk's third major nation wide election. the nap election was called by prime minister theresa may in april, hoping to boost the hold in parliament. the labor party led by jeremy corbyn has closed the gap in the polls. the election on the heels of terror attacks in london and manchester as well as last year's shocking brexit vote. nbc's lucy kafanov has more. >> we saw theresa may as well as jeremy corbyn, both making their pitch in the last days of the campaign. theresa may saying her conservatives will help build a stronger, fair and more prosperous britain. jeremy corbyn framing this election as a choice between hope and fear. the conservatives want a hard brexit, a clean divorce from the eu. labor is likely to keep more ties to the eu, especially the

single marked and the free flow of trade and people, also difficult to see how those terrorism fears will affect the outcome of the vote. terrorism is the second biggest issue on voters' minds after health care. these are all of the issues that voters are focusing on as they cast their ballots. we are expecting the early results at 10:00 p.m. local time for britain's biggest election yet. >> lucy kafanov, thank you. still to come, how ariana grande continues to raise money for the victims of the manchester attack. plus a room with a view, but no roof, no walls? details next. this is "early today." ♪ the sun'll come out tomorrow... ♪ for people with heart failure, tomorrow is not a given. but entresto is a medicine that helps make more tomorrows possible. ♪ tomorrow, tomorrow... ♪ i love ya, tomorrow in the largest heart failure study ever, entresto helped more people stay alive and out of the hospital

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star cristiano ronaldo in the top stop of for's highest paid athlete list, earning $93 million. lebron james in second with $86.2 million. and soccer player lionel messi at three earning $80 million. where are the women? serena williams is the only to make it in the top 100, number 51 with $27 million. ariana grande continues to give back to victims and family in manchester. the pop star releasing an album "one love manchester" 39 songs performed by artists live at her benefit concert. it is now available on spotify title and apple music. how would you like a room with a view of the rolling hills of switzerland? here is the catch. no walls, no bathroom, no close set. it's part of a project to reimagine the country's

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all the warm air that was in the west is moving across the nation. all the cold, miserable weather in the east is heading out. we're moving everything across the country. unfortunately that means a heat wave will build as we go through the weekend. still warm in the rockies for one or two more days. south dakota heading up to 100 degrees. areas in the east in the 90s, too. all the cool stuff remains in the west into the weekend. >> bill, thank you very much. a national poll has president trump's approval rating sinking to a new low. the quinnipiac poll shows 34% of registered voters approve of the way the president is doing his job, that's a 3% slide from last month. the poll also finds 68% believe the president is not level-headed. today president trump is scheduled to address the faith and freedom coalition in washington, and former director james comey testifies before congress. but "the washington post" reports the president may live tweet during the hearing if he feels the need to respond. the newly elected montana congressman accused of body slamming a reporter is issuing

him a formal apology. greg gianforte says despite claims from others, "guardian" reporter ben jacobs did not initiate physical contact. he writes i am sorry for what i did and i take full responsibility. he will also donate $50,000 to the committee to protect journalists. he was charged with misdemeanor assault in the incident. jacobs says he accepts the apology and hopes the incident reinforces respect for freedom of the press. this probably will be the most bizarre story you'll hear today or one that will leave you scratching. one unhappy resident went to city hall there in augusta, maine to complain about his apartment's bed bug problem. so when the clerks couldn't help the man decided to take matters in his own hands, returning to retaliate, he released a cup of the bed bugs on the counter. there's even a photo. >> stop. >> city officials say there were over 100 live and dead bugs, requiring them to close down the city center and call an exterminator.

police have not said if the man will be charged. >> if he charged, it needs to be a judge that does the creative -- they should make him work with an exterminator for a month. >> or go in the homes of people infested with bedbugs. he's pretty good, went back right away. >> good at catching the bug, isn't he? gross. celebrating berth days today, rapper kanye west turns 40, seinfeld actor jeremy stiller is 90. former first lady barbara bush is 92 years young. today is national best friend's day. call or hug your best stay. a reminder, our coverage of the james comey testimony on

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wet weather later today. the rain returning to the bay area. taking a live look outside over san jose, just one place expecting wet weather for many folks. it will come down during that morning commute but we have you covered. you're up early with us, today in the bay starts right now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. >> i'm sam brock. you got us covered. does that mean you have your umbrella? you're ready to walk outside with us. >> if i have to. >> i'll take it. i think my arm extends the highest. we are going to have to be ready for wet weather. >> we are going to need to grab the umbrella. before you head out the door, we are seeing showers moving into the north bay and then it will be making its way to the south. i want to show you the radar, the way it looks right now,