Democrats and Republicans have both been asking for weeks: If Comey was so concerned about his conversations with President Trump, why didn’t he act or notify Congress?
Well… Comey finally answered: “I don’t know.”
SEN. MARCO RUBIO: At the time did you say anything to the President about, that is not an appropriate request? Or did you tell the White House counsel, that is not an appropriate request, someone needs to go tell the President that he can’t do these things?
JAMES COMEY: I didn’t, no.
RUBIO: Okay, why?
COMEY: I don’t know.
This bipartisan question has lingered for weeks, including from members of the Senate Intelligence Committee:
Republican Sen. Richard Burr:
BURR: The director of the FBI shared more information with Mr. Warner and myself than any director has ever shared. I think something as material as that, probably would have been something he would have shared, had it happened. (Sen. Richard Burr, 5/16/17)
Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin:
CBS’ NORAH O’DONNELL: What's the big question that you have for the FBI director?
MANCHIN: The question that’s being asked by West Virginians is: If you knew or if you thought there was obstruction of justice, why didn't you act on it? (Sen. Joe Manchin, 6/5/17)
Republican Sen. Ben Sasse:
HUGH HEWITT: Let me ask you about the testimony of which you were a part. He testified on May 3rd, and I reread that last night. There were at least two exchanges, one with Senator Leahy, one with Senator Coons, about special prosecutors where Mr. Comey could have brought up this meeting with the President. Would it have been appropriate for him to have brought up the existence of a memo detailing pressure from the President in the hearing at which you were a part?
SASSE: Yes, it would have been appropriate. Again, it sort of begs a bunch of questions about why we’re learning things now in the order that we’re learning them. (Sen. Ben Sasse, 5/17/17)
Republican Rep. Peter King:
KING: If Director Comey in any way thought that he was being intimidated or the president was trying to interfere with the investigation, I believe that Director Comey had an obligation to report that – report it to the Justice Department, to tell those around him – because that could be considered a crime. As director of the FBI, he had an obligation to make that known. As far as I know, he didn't. In fact, when Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was testifying last week, he said there has been no interference and no obstruction of the investigation whatsoever. Also, Director Comey comes before the House Intelligence Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee. He had an obligation, I believe, to tell those committees because he was briefing us on the status of the investigation. I'm not aware of Director Comey ever saying to anyone in Congress – and I think Senator Burr concurred on this – about any interference in the investigation. (Rep. Peter King, 5/17/17)
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