WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former FBI James Comey testified at the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday with split interests between parties.
Democrats largely focused on Trump’s pressure on Comey to close the FBI investigation into Michael Flynn, while Republicans questioned the intent of President Donald Trump’s phrase, “I hope you can let this go.”
Some Republicans insisted that Trump never gave Comey direct orders to drop the investigation, he was only requesting.
Both sides however, wanted more information about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election.
While neither Colorado senator is on the committee, the two responded in press releases and emails to the FBI investigation.
Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., said the dispute can’t be about politics, and we have to focus on Russia’s attempt to meddle in our election.
“Russia is an enemy to the values and beliefs that make the United States the great country it is, and today was a stern warning on why we must maintain significant sanctions against them and how important it is that Robert Mueller is able to oversee a thorough investigation into their attempted involvement in our election process” Gardner said.
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said in a tweet it was clear Trump is more concerned about himself than the country, but agreed that we must remain focused on Russia’s interference.
“Former Director Comey’s testimony makes clear that the president is more concerned about his own self-interest than holding the Russians accountable and safeguarding our democracy,” Bennet said.
Liz Payne, spokeswoman for Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, said he hadn’t had a chance to mull over Comey’s testimony.
When Trump tweeted “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press,” Comey said he woke up in the middle of the night after the tweet and contacted his friend to give his memo to a New York Times reporter.
Comey said he did so with the intention to get a special counsel to investigate.
“I asked him to, because I thought that might prompt the appointment of a special counsel,” Comey said.
The next day after the story came out, Robert Mueller was named the special counsel to investigate.
People are questioning why Comey did not release the memo himself instead of leaking it to a reporter. The day after the committee hearing, Trump held a press conference. He called Comey “a leaker” and accused him of lying under oath. Trump said he would be willing to testify to his side of the meeting.
“No collusion, no obstruction, he’s a leaker,” Trump said during a press conference.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, asked Comey why Congress should believe his version of what happened that night. Comey responded by questioning why else would Trump have asked for everyone else to leave the room. He added an antidote from his days as a prosecutor.
“I think people should look at the whole body of my testimony, because, as I used to say to juried, and when I talked about a witness, you can’t cherry-pick it,” Comey said. “You can’t say, ‘I like these things he said, but on this, he’s a – he’s a dirty, rotten liar.”
Mueller, the special prosecutor will be investigating Trump’s ties to Russia alongside the FBI, the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the House Intelligence and the House Oversight Committee.
Josephine Peterson is a reporting intern for the Herald in Washington, D.C., and a recent graduate of American University. Reach her at jpeterson@durangoherald.com and follow her on Twitter @jopeterson93
