Ex-FBI Director James Comey claimed he “always” respects subpoenas days after he said he would “resist” a subpoena for a closed-door deposition before Congress.
“I always respect subpoenas,” Comey said in an interview with Boston public radio station WGBH on Monday. “I would never just ignore a subpoena. If I were going to respond in some way, I would respond legally. I wouldn’t just blow it off.”
Last week House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., issued subpoenas last week to Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch to come before a task force for private depositions in December as part of their joint investigation into decisions made by the Justice Department in 2016 and 2017.
In a Thanksgiving tweet, Comey said he would only agree to public testimony.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Comey tweeted Thursday. “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.”
Comey has his defenders, even among Republicans. House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy said over the weekend that Comey is “right” about leaks, but suggested a solution would be to tape the entire interview behind closed doors instead of having a “carnival” public hearing.
