FBI Director James Comey has dropped out of SXSW — the annual music, media and film event — in what was expected to be his first public appearance since President Trump accused former President Barack Obama of wire-tapping Trump Tower during the election.
According to a statement from SXSW on Tuesday, Comey’s speaking engagement scheduled for next Monday at the annual event in Austin, Texas, was canceled “due to scheduling conflicts keeping him in Washington D.C.” He is being replaced by FBI General Counsel James Baker, who will sit down for a conversation with Newseum CEO Jeffrey Herbst.
“While Director Comey is now unable to attend, we’re still really excited that this important conversation will take place,” said Herbst.
Several news outlets have reported over the last two days that Comey asked the Justice Department to publicly refute the president’s allegations about wiretapping.
Comey also made headlines last year when he made the decision to reopen an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s unauthorized private email server just weeks before the 2016 presidential election.
