Comey declines to testify before Senate committee

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Ousted FBI Director James Comey has declined an invitation from the Senate Intelligence Committee to testify in a closed session on Tuesday, according to committee aides.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/12/comey-declines-to-testify-before-senate-committee-238337

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Might be wangling for an open session. . . . nt

[Amaryllis]

3. Now that is an ingriguing thought...I like it.

[Mad-in-Mo]

25. I hope this is his reasoning

[orangecrush]

2. WTF?

Why would he not do this?

I'm hoping for a good reason...

[still_one]

10. There isn't.

[SunSeeker]

14. I'm guessing he wants them to issue a subpoena, something both sides of the aisle sign off on.

That way his testimony will be compelled by a bipartisan order and not seen as a partisan attack on Trump. Also, it eliminates any claims from Trump that Comey voluntarily divulged confidential/privileged information.

Same with Susan Rice, who refused to appear without a subpoena.

[orangecrush]

15. Thank you.

That sounds right.

[DK504]

20. If he is smart, he'll wait for the subpoena

so he can have his ass covered. He'll be forced to testify.

[orangecrush]

23. Thanks

I understand now!

[forgotmylogin]

35. Why give out milk for free

...when you can impeach the cow?

[TomCADem]

37. Plus, Given Trump's Threats...

...it drives home that Trump is trying to obstruct investigation.

[orangecrush]

41. True

This is intriguing!

[orleans]

4. subpoena subpoena subpoena n/t

[DonViejo]

8. Exactly!! He turned down an invitation to speak; if govt officials (ex-officials...

included) want cover, they want a subpoena to cover them.

[Ohioblue22]

13. he turned down an invite to speak in closed meeting

[DonViejo]

17. So? Subpoena doesn't guarantee truthfulness but, it shields the subpoenaed so they can

tell the truth as they see it. I've been through all of this with govt employees, "subpoena me so I can tell the truth" or, "I won't testify unless I'm subpoenaed."

[Ohioblue22]

24. my point was that he dudnt refuse to speak but refused to speak in a closed session

maybe he would prefer to speak openly . that was my point

[Ohioblue22]

39. Clint Watts on Chris Hayes just said Comey turned down senate hearing b/c he would want open hearing

Clint Watts on Chris Hayes just said Comey turned down senate hearing b/c he would want open hearing

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029056919

[Solly Mack]

5. Not testifying won't make it all go away.

[jberryhill]

6. Folks - this is the correct response

He should wait until he is subpoenaed.

If he just says, "Sure, I'll be there with bells on", it is a much different optical situation than "I will come if I am required to."

The dynamics are much better if he is not there voluntarily.

And, by the way, why SHOULD he go voluntarily? It's not like anyone is paying for his time. He just lost a job.

[underpants]

9. Yes and he wants to show that he can be trusted

He's surely going to get a sweet private sector job but he wants to show that he can be trusted.

[still_one]

11. I assume tax payers pay for his pension

[elleng]

16. Yes we do, and for mine.

Thanks.

[still_one]

29. I don't mind paying for yours, I need to think about Comey's though

[elleng]

32. He's entitled,

but probably doesn't have my 20+ years-worth.

[still_one]

33. He is entitled to be charged with violating the Hatch Act

[grantcart]

36. well both paid some of their own money into it and it isn't a gift but part of your compensation

So no other people aren't paying for their pension, they earned it as part of their compensation.

[bresue]

42. TRUMP THREATENING HIM

By Comey delaying his testimony, he is also giving the suggestion that Trump is/could be threatening him. (Even if Dump has nothing to blackmail or discriminate against him). In Comey's strategy, he may be counting on public opinion speculating that he was obstructed from doing his job.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I'm guessing he wants to be subpoenaed so Trump can't claim

he voluntarily testified in a deliberate attempt to discredit him (Trump). Trump will make that claim anyhow, but testifying under subpoena would make Comey look less biased. Whatever you might think about Comey, he's not stupid and he knows way more about this sort of thing than Trump or most of those senators. He also knows how to manage the media.

[jberryhill]

12. THIS

If I were Comey's attorney, it is what I would advise.

[Mad_Mongol]

18. Bingo!

Doing it by the book as compared to he other guy who spews all over is a better strategy.
Why would Comey give the schmuck who fired him, an out?

Also, a subpoena indicates it'll be testimony under oath, whereas an invitation lacks such gravitas.

Have to remember that Comey was a pretty good prosecutor before his stint at the FBI.

[4139]

19. If I were him....

...I'd be sick of all this sh1t and want to sit on the beach with a bucket of Corona

[Aristus]

21. Feeling a little leery about raising your hand and taking that oath, Jimmy-boy?

That's the trouble with Trumpanzees: no backbone...

[Calista241]

22. Dude just got fired. Publicly. And the entire nation is talking about it.

And people need to realize he's not on anyone's side. Not Trump's side and not ours. He might not have a lot to say beyond what he's already said.

[Adrahil]

26. I sure wanna know what Trump asked him.

And I wanna know if violated policy by telling Trump the answers.

[Calista241]

31. Well your chances of getting him to admit to a crime are slim and none. n/t

[Adrahil]

34. I honestly suspect...

That he didn't. I think Trump is lying through his teeth and I want to hear him say it.

[JTFrog]

38. Yeah, for proof just look at his pre-election statement about Hillary.

[LS_Editor]

27. Subpoena time.

[lark]

28. Maybe he's lawyering up first?

I hope he will go to the Senate soon and sing like a canary.

[Iskander]

30. Smart Move

The (R)ussia party would likely frame this as a personal matter. Odds are Comey wants to avoid:

1. Having this framed as him having an ax to grind.
2. Getting in the way of something he planned/knows is going on.
3. Give a bunch of I can't say answers because of above
4. Waste his time responding to more BUT HER EMAILS bullshit.

Let it hang out there and let Trump continue to rant like a lunatic.

[bresue]

43. LET DUMP RANT LIKE A LUNATIC...AND MAKING DUMP SPECULATE AND WORRY ABOUT WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO

[Eugene]

40. The Latest: Intel chair still expects Comey to address panel

Source: Associated Press

The Latest: Intel chair still expects Comey to address panel

1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and the FBI (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr says he expects James Comey will soon speak privately with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee after the former FBI Director declined an invitation to testify before the panel next week.

Burr is the Republican chairman of the committee investigating Russia’s meddling in last year’s U.S. presidential election and whether there was any collusion with members of President Donald Trump’s campaign.

One of Burr’s aides said Friday that Comey declined an invitation to appear before the committee Tuesday. The committee had hoped to hear from Comey in closed session following his abrupt firing this week by Trump.

Burr said in Raleigh, North Carolina, that the committee’s staff would likely “work something out in the not-too-distant future” for a meeting with Comey.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/be034d91876e42af97f7fa4e0b39e4f1/The-Latest:-Intel-chair-still-expects-Comey-to-address-panel