Comey Is Willing To Testify Before Lawmakers But Only in Public

[retrowire]

Source: Slate

There was a bit of head-scratching in Washington Friday afternoon when senators revealed that ousted FBI Director James Comey had declined an invitation to speak before a closed session of the Senate Intelligence Committee next Tuesday. But the New York Times hears word that it wasnt testifying that Comey objected to, but rather that he wants his testimony to be open to the public. That could be a way for Comey to protect himself and make sure what he says is accurately reflected considering it seems pretty obvious any testimony from a closed hearing would be quickly leaked to the press.

Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/05/13/comey_is_willing_to_testify_before_lawmakers_but_only_in_public.html

---

Good.

Here's another source: http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/fbi/333241-comey-willing-to-testify-but-only-in-public-report

[tenorly]

1. The problem is our out-of-control classification system.

Everything's classified by default.

The Yates-Clapper hearings the other day are a good case in point: the two were just dying to share that they knew of millions in payoffs, orgies with (mostly underage) Russian prostitutes, etc. - but couldn't because...everything's classified by default.

Until that changes, Trump's in like Flint.

[sharedvalues]

20. No. Investigations should be secret until charges.

It is a Russian deza line to attack our NSA and investigators. You are repeating what RT and Sputnik say. Is this the side you want to be on?

[tenorly]

23. Secrecy is precisely what Trump wants more than anything.

Besides money.

[sharedvalues]

24. It is a principle of our democracy

It is a principle of our democracy that investigations are secret until charges are filed.

For example, what started this whole Trump crap is that Comey talked about the HRC investigation when no charges were filed. (I am pro-comey right now, and I think the anti-working class GOP enabled Trump. Don't worry.)

[tenorly]

25. Yes, well - this is treason. Preventing it is one of our core principles too.

No matter how you try to spin it, Trump is hiding behind our draconian classification laws while his GOP surrogates keep "investigations" going forever.

Like his "IRS audits."

[patricia92243]

2. But they will not ask intelligent questions when it is open to cameras. They

ONLY play to the camera. If it is closed, there might be some real questions asked.

[christx30]

5. So he starts with an opening statement in which he

rips Trump apart like a piece of crusty moldy bread, then finishes up with "come at me".

[pnwmom]

18. There are Democrats on the committee, too, and they will ask real questions. n/t

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. This was my immediate thought I posted when the news broke yesterday:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1773456

[Honeycombe8]

9. You r Smart, de La Paz! nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. Nice of you to say so, but not often and not as much as I would like :)

[H2O Man]

4. Recommended.

Comey's choice is based partly upon "protecting" himself .....but it is also intended to "encourage" the republican members to address the issues involved.

[Thinkingabout]

6. After the lies Trump and gang has turned out in the past week, I really do not blame him.

[cstanleytech]

21. Comey did plenty of that to himself with the Clinton thing just before the election

but the real reason I think he was suddenly removed is that Trump is mentally unstable because you dont turn against the person that came to you in your hour of need and helped you win an election atleast not if you have all your marbles in place and then afterwards make vague threats about tapes.

[MattP]

7. Public/Private is better than private only

[Honeycombe8]

8. Good. He's protecting himself. Hope he has a lawyer protecting him, too. I'm sure he does. nt

[still_one]

10. In this situation it makes perfect sense since there is every reason to believe that certain

parties would not be honest regarding what went on in a meeting behind closed doors

[MR. ELECTABLE]

11. I think he suspects a mole, or a POI on Intel Cmte

A public appearance ensures that Comey WON'T be forced to answer questions concerning classified info he wants held close to the investigation, while doing maximum damage to Trump. Since Trump already made up several lies about correspondence between them these are all fair game to refute.

Remember when he had the closed session meeting on 3/15 only Grassley and Feinstein were present. I took this to mean at the time that either Burr or Cornyn was under investigation.

[judesedit]

12. Comey knows the Thugs & MSM will twist his words

to benefit them and their agenda. He's already disliked by half the country for the Clinton email bs. If he wants to live with himself he'd better come clean on Drumpf and Russian criminal activities.

[CatWoman]

13. Comey is one smart cookie

[ananda]

15. He's getting good legal counsel.

Besides, open is always better.

[FakeNoose]

26. Yes & he also used closed sessions to his advantage too

... while he was the FBI director, that is.

Now that he's out, Comey is suddenly eager to have open sessions. We should take this with a grain of salt, because he knows how to work the system to his advantage.

And Comey is a lawyer, plus I'm sure he's getting good advice from other lawyers. He's not doing this to help us.

Just sayin'

[kentuck]

16. The problem is Republicans...

misquoting and misinterpreting his comments to protect their Leader and themselves.

[NNadir]

17. May he prove to be John Dean AND Mark Felt. n/t

[Hekate]

19. Good for him and good for us

[niyad]

22. given the large knife in his back, and now, the very large target on his chest, I completely

understand.

[MotorCityMan]

27. My thoughts exactly....

[red dog 1]

28. K&R

Comey's testimony should "be open to the public"..imo.

I will be emailing my 2 CA senators, Dianne Feinstein & Kamala Harris, both of whom sit on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and ask that they "do whatever it takes" to get Comey to testify, even if it means that he testifies in an "open session" like he apparently is willing to do.
I'm sick to death of McTurtle & the other GOP traitors in the Senate being so afraid of "open hearings"....It's OUR government, not theirs!

Other Dems on the Senate Intelligence Committee:
- Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman
- Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)
- Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico)
- Joe Manchin (D-W.V.)
and Angus King (I-Maine) who usually votes with the Democrats

We should all call or email our US senators who sit on that committee, even if they're Republican
- Intelligence Committee Chairman is Richard Burr (R-NC)
- James Risch (R-Idaho)
- Marco Rubio (R-FLA)
- Susan Collins (R-Maine)
- James Lankford (R-OK)
- Roy Blunt (R-Missouri)
- Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas)
- John Cornyn (R-Texas)