The US capital will grind to a halt Thursday, glued to computer and television screens as sacked FBI chief James Comey testifies about whether President Donald Trump pressured him to halt a probe into an advisor's links to Russia.
Trump, a ratings-obsessed former reality television star, may not appreciate the worldwide attention paid to Comey's public testimony, which is being touted as the Super Bowl of high political drama.
Comey is the star witness in the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation of alleged Russian election meddling last year, with the possible collusion of the Trump campaign. The allegations have drawn comparison to the 1970s Watergate scandal that brought down president Richard Nixon.
Comey was given the go-ahead to deliver potentially explosive testimony after the White House announced it would not use its executive privilege to block his appearance, less than a month after he was controversially sacked by the president.
Trump himself weighed in Tuesday, even as the revelations could spell more bad news for his troubled administration.
"I wish him luck," Trump said, when asked in a meeting with Republican leaders whether he had a message for the former FBI chief.
With Capitol Hill abuzz, at least two Washington bars were opening their doors before the hearing's 10:00 am (1400 GMT) start to Washingtonians wanting to tune in live.
"Don't you like the suspense?" Senate Republican Marco Rubio, who is on the intelligence panel, asked a scrum of reporters.
"Rather than relying on articles and third-hand information, we're going to ask the director, and the American people are going to get to watch it."
The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, offered a more somber assessment of Comey's testimony, which marks a moment of peril for this already embattled president.
"I just hope he tells everything he can," Schumer said. "The American people, on a subject as serious as this, are entitled to the whole truth and nothing but."
A warm-up act of sorts comes Wednesday, when the same committee hears from Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, National Security Agency (NSA) head Mike Rogers, interim FBI director Andrew McCabe, and Deputy US Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Adding to the drama, a top-secret NSA report leaked to online news outlet The Intercept shows that hackers from Russian military intelligence repeatedly tried to break into US voting systems before last year's presidential election.
Keen to crack down on leaks, the Trump administration quickly announced the arrest of a 25-year-old intelligence contractor on charges of violating the espionage act.
'Big Problem'
What Comey will reveal, if anything, is the topic of intense speculation.
Republican committee member Senator Roy Blunt said he welcomed Comey's testimony, but warned there could be "a big problem" if the ousted FBI boss is too restrictive in his responses.
"I expect us to ask him questions to be sure that we get all of the answers we need, not just the answers he wants to give," Blunt said.
The White House had suggested Trump could invoke executive privilege to protect the confidentiality of presidential discussions, but some aides were wary that may appear like a cover-up.
Trump's decision to fire Comey led the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel, ex-FBI director Robert Mueller, to investigate allegations of collusion.
He reportedly has met with Comey to discuss the probe, and Comey reportedly sought his approval to testify.
