Senators left frustrated after officials refuse to testify on Trump conversations

Republican and Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee were left frustrated and fuming on Wednesday, after a hearing in which several key intelligence officials refused to shed any light on their communication with President Trump, Trump’s decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey, and Trump’s efforts to downplay the FBI’s investigation into Russia.

The hearing was supposed to explore arguments for reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but Democrats in particular questioned Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers on whether they were pressured by Trump to downplay the FBI probe.