Former FBI Director James Comey's demand that members of the House Judiciary Committee question him in public because of fears of leaks, and his connected motion to quash the committee's subpoena, are a "farce," committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte said Friday.
"The fact of the matter is, though, he is trying to run the clock on us and that's why we think he has filed this motion to quash," the Virginia Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom. "Fusion GPS also tried that. They were knocked down and instead he came in, Glenn Simpson came in, and took the fifth. What Jim Comey's intentions are, I don't know other than that it's pretty clear he doesn't want to come in and answer the detailed questions that we have."
Goodlatte also rejected Comey's claims that the questions must be presented to him in an open hearing, saying that that kind of procedure allows just five minutes per lawmaker, not enough time to follow the questions that need asked.
Comey has claimed he wants transparency, said Goodlatte, but committee members have already indicated they'd release the transcript of the private interview the day after it takes place.
"We're almost done with this investigation," he said. "He is one of the last witnesses. Sixteen other people have testified under oath in the same setting that we're asking him to do it."
The House only has one month before it switches majorities, but Goodlatte said there are already indications from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is expected to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Ron Johnson, Senate Oversight Committee chairman, that they intend to pursue questions on Comey.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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