FBI Director James Comey chose not to attend a Monday afternoon hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, with Rep. Elijah Cummings saying that Comey has already bent over backwards to explain the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified material.
Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) called the hearing to give representatives of the FBI and other government agencies, including the CIA, the State Department, and the Justice Department, the opportunity to explain redactions, omissions, and classifications in the agency’s investigative file on Hillary Clinton as delivered to the committee in August.
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) September 12, 2016
The Washington Examiner quotes Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings as saying that Comey had already “bent over backwards” to explain the FBI’s methods to the committee and thus declined to attend the hearing. Cummings, the Examiner reports, suggested that Chaffetz had invited witnesses to a classified hearing and then moved to make it public at the last minute.
Cummings: FBI Dir Comey refused to testify before House committee. 'He spoke with Chmn Chaffetz personally & he told him enough is enough.'
— Byron York (@ByronYork) September 12, 2016
Enough is enough. Comey needs to resign.
— (((Voight75))) (@Voight75) September 12, 2016
@jasoninthehouse Jason, the ppl will expect an expedited subpoena of Comey to testify after refusing the invitation.
— Gonzo the Great (@GonzDaGreat) September 12, 2016
Comey feels sorry for #Hillary. Comey had already punted this to voters. The play is over. We have to make the return play
— T J Turner (@tjkturner) September 12, 2016
For his part, though, Chaffetz said that he’d already spoken with Comey by phone about specific points of concern but had not subpoenaed Comey to appear. “I don’t expect to have to issue a subpoena to see unclassified information,” Chaffetz said.
Chaffetz: 'I never had a conversation with Dir. Comey where I asked him to come again and he refused. That just never happened.'
— Byron York (@ByronYork) September 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/ellenatkin/status/775448103511924736
Don’t hold your breath for an FBI investigation.
Chaffetz posted his opening remarks at Monday’s hearing to YouTube.
Chairman Chaffetz Opening Statement – Classifications and Redactions in … https://t.co/AZOVYrVP9l
— Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) September 12, 2016
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