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Senate Intelligence Panel Asks Comey to Testify Publicly

By Jordain Carney, The Hill

17 May 17

he Senate Intelligence Committee has sent a request to former FBI Director James Comey to testify publicly in the wake of his firing by President Trump.

Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Wednesday said they sent a letter to Comey asking him to testify during a public hearing as well as meet with members in a closed-door briefing.

Warner said they hadn't received a response to the letter, but signaled he was optimistic Comey would testify.

"I hope he'll accept our invitation. I believe he will," he told reporters.

It was the committee’s second invitation after Comey last week declined to meet the committee behind closed doors, saying he wanted any testimony to be public.

The Senate panel also sent a letter to Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe requesting "any notes or memorandum" prepared by Comey tied to talks he had with White House or Justice Department officials about the FBI's investigation.

Trump last week fired Comey, citing the FBI’s investigation into Russian election interference and links between Trump’s team and the Kremlin.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Trump urged Comey to kill a probe into former national security advisor Michael Flynn, citing a memo written by Comey about the meeting. The White House has denied the report.