Fired FBI Director James Comey confirmed Thursday he has been subpoenaed by House Republicans, but said he would “resist” it because he fears Republicans will selectively leak his testimony to the public.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Comey tweeted. “Got a subpoena from House Republicans. I’m still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a ‘closed door’ thing because I’ve seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Let’s have a hearing and invite everyone to see.”
Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. I’m still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a “closed door” thing because I’ve seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Let’s have a hearing and invite everyone to see.
— James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018
Comey and Obama-era Attorney General Loretta Lynch had been expected to be subpoenaed to appear before Congress by House Republicans while they still have the House majority, and their power to compel witnesses to appear.
GOP lawmakers are investigating potential bias within the FBI and the Justice Department as they investigated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Retiring House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., on Wednesday issued the demand that Comey attend a private session on Dec. 3, while Lynch is scheduled to testify on Dec. 4, according to CNN.
But Comey has so far rejected all Republican efforts to convene a “closed-door” interview. David Kelley, his attorney, told Politico the subpoena represented “an abuse of process, a divergence from House rules and its presumption of transparency.”
“Accordingly, Mr. Comey will resist in Court this abuse of process,” Kelley said.
