Chairman Goodlatte Responds to Comey’s “Baseless Motion to Quash” Subpoena: ‘Comey Must Appear Before the Committees’
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) responded to Comey’s lawsuit filed Thursday to block a subpoena to appear before Congress in a closed-door interview.
Fired FBI Director James Comey filed a lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to quash a subpoena by the House Judiciary Committee to testify in a closed session on December 3 as part of a joint investigation with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee into the handling of the Clinton email investigation.
Chairman Goodlatte said Thursday that Comey must appear before the Committees.
“The truth IS best served with transparency. What is Director Comey trying to hide from the American people with his baseless motion to quash?” Goodlatte said on Thursday evening.
“It appears Mr. Comey believes he deserves special treatment, as he is the only witness refusing to either appear voluntarily or comply with a subpoena. He needs to appear before the Committees, as all other witnesses have done. Let the facts come to light,” Goodlatte added.
It appears Mr. Comey believes he deserves special treatment, as he is the only witness refusing to either appear voluntarily or comply with a subpoena. He needs to appear before the Committees, as all other witnesses have done. Let the facts come to light.
— Bob Goodlatte (@RepGoodlatte) November 29, 2018
James Comey was issued a subpoena by House Republicans on Thanksgiving but insisted he would only provide a public testimony and not a closed-door interview.
Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. I’m still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a “closed door” thing because I’ve seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Let’s have a hearing and invite everyone to see.
— James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018
Comey wants to avoid a closed-door deposition because he knows with a public testimony he will be able to avoid answering many questions citing classified privilege.
On Wednesday, Goodlatte offered to Comey that the Committees will publicly release the transcript of his testimony following the interview, echoing Trey Gowdy’s previous call to videotape Comey’s deposition.
Mr. Comey should agree to these terms and see that we have the same purpose, which is to find the truth and seek transparency. In order to do so, he must appear before the Committees and answer our questions.
— Bob Goodlatte (@RepGoodlatte) November 28, 2018
It is unclear what Chairman Goodlatte’s next move will be to compel testimony from James Comey; we will update as soon as more information is available.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/11/chairman-goodlatte-responds-to-comeys-baseless-motion-to-quash-subpoena-comey-must-appear-before-the-committees/