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Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, accompanied by FBI Director James B. Comey, speaks at a press conference in 2016. Bob Goodlatte, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee (R -Va.), Summoned private witnesses to appear. (Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images)
Matt Zapotosky
National Security Journalist Covering the Department of Justice
Trey Gowdy, Chair of the House's Oversight Committee, said on Sunday that legislators needed to tap James B. Comey's closed-door testimony to dispel the former FBI director's concerns that his remarks would disclosed if they were not held in open court.
The suggestion came as Gowdy (R-S.C.) Answered questions about CBS's "Face the Nation" regarding the recent appearance of Comey and Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch for her private testimony.
The committee is studying how federal law enforcement agencies are handling two highly charged surveys on Hillary Clinton's private messaging server and a possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.
[House Judiciary Committee subpoenas Comey, Lynch]
Comey stated that he was considering resisting the subpoena – although he was willing to appear at a public hearing – in part to avoid deceptive leaks.
"I'm always happy to sit in the light and answer all the questions. But I will resist the "closed door", because I have seen enough of their selective leaks and their distortions, "he said. wrote in a tweet, adding, "Let's have an audience and invite everyone to see."
Gowdy agreed with Comey's concern about the leaked Congressional investigations.
"I do not often have the opportunity to say it, but I think Jim Comey is right," he said. He quickly added, however, that he did not think that the former director of the FBI should testify publicly. Instead, a video recording of the in camera testimony should be released later after the deletion of references to classified documents.
"The cure for leaks is not to hold a public hearing at which you are supposed to ask for about 17 months of work in five minutes," said Gowdy. "I think the cure is to videotape the video."
Gowdy said that congressional hearings had "a professional-type carnival atmosphere," saying that people often act differently when they know they're appearing on television. He added that the logistics would ultimately be supported by the House Judiciary Committee Chair, Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), But added that while he was responsible, he would make a "formal offer" to Comey.
A lawyer from Comey refused to comment. A spokesman for Goodlatte did not immediately return a message asking for comments.
The subpoenas prompted Comey to appear on December 3 to speak to members of the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform Committees. Lynch is scheduled for December 4th.
The question could probably become irrelevant in the event of delay, as Democrats, who have a decidedly different vision of Russian and Clinton probes, will take control of the House – and its power of summoning – at the beginning of the day. 39 next year.
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