FBI Officials Shocked to Hear of Comey's Firing From TV

FBI officials were blindsided by the firing of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday and were asking journalists if the news was true, as Mediaite reported.

CNN justice correspondent Evan Perez said on air he was receiving text messages from sources within the agency asking about the news. 

"They have not even been told exactly what is happening," Perez said. "That's the suddenness of this announcement."

NBC News' Pete Williams and CNN's Jim Sciutto said the same on Twitter.

More: Senior Justice & FBI officials tell CNN they were unaware, shocked by Comey's firing.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 9, 2017

FLASH / NBC News' Pete Williams: FBI senior staff in shock. Senior staff was unaware of this happening.

— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) May 9, 2017

Comey, according to The New York Times, was literally addressing agents in Los Angeles when they noticed the news on the TV.

Comey was fired by President Donald Trump on Tuesday for his handling of the agency’s investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails, according to The Washington Post, stunning news, considering Trump benefitted from the Clinton investigation during the campaign.

His dismissal comes amid the FBI's investigation into whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election.

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