Posted on 12/02/2018 8:12:21 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Former FBI director James Comey will testify before Congress in private this week after reaching a deal with Republicans and dropping his challenge to a House subpoena.
His lawyer, David Kelly, confirmed to The Hill that Comey had reached an agreement to testify next Friday.
Comey tweeted earlier Sunday that he had reached a deal with Republican lawmakers regarding his testimony, which he wanted to give in a public hearing.
"Grateful for a fair hearing from judge. Hard to protect my rights without being in contempt, which I don’t believe in," Comey wrote on Twitter, following a hearing on his challenge.
"So will sit in the dark, but Republicans agree I’m free to talk when done and transcript released in 24 hours," he added. "This is the closest I can get to public testimony."
Comey in a court filing also withdrew a motion to quash the subpoena.
The House Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), last week offered to publicly release a transcript of Comey's closed-door testimony if he agreed to appear.
Comey had earlier demanded that his testimony before the committee regarding the FBI's conduct surrounding the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election be public.
A committee aide confirmed to The Hill that an agreement had been reached, adding that the panel believed it would have prevailed had Comey continued to wage his legal battle.
Goodlatte told Fox News earlier on Sunday that he expected Comey to agree to speak with congressional Republicans.
"I expect that later today Mr. Comey will withdraw his motion to quash our subpoena and agree to voluntarily appear for a transcribed interview," Goodlatte said.
"That of course remains to be seen, it hasn't happened yet, but the counsel for the House and the counsel for Mr. Comey have been working cooperatively and I expect that'll happen."
A judge intended to rule on Comey's challenge to the subpoena on Monday morning, barring a deal.
Comey's legal team had argued that the GOP would try to "peddle a distorted, partisan political narrative about the Clinton and Russia investigations through selective leaks" if he was not interviewed publicly.
Thomas Hungar, the general counsel for the House of Representatives, had challenged the legitimacy of Comey's legal push, saying it was unprecedented for courts to block congressional efforts to subpoena a witness.
House Republicans have sought Comey's testimony for months.
In October, the former FBI director declined requests from the GOP members of the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees for his testimony, leading Goodlatte to issue a subpoena two weeks ago.
The subpoena originally requested that Comey appear to testify Monday, but the committees later said they wanted to speak with him Tuesday.
But I believe in lying under oath, treasonous acts, and leaking information to my civilian friends, and the press.
Wonder how many black guy nobodies are sitting in jail doing the facepalm thinking “why didn’t I just negotiate the subpoenas and warrants?
Seriously, just imagine sitting in prison hearing about people who are allowed to decide if they will comply with a subpoena. Or hearing about Hillary answering a subpoena by saying SHE will go through her phones and emails and forward them the ones SHE decides are relevant.
Equality under the law was a pretty big deal in the old American republic.
The little corrupt coward should have not been given any deal. He should have faced Contempt of Congress and had his case sent to a court. It would have put a large crap stain on his so-called illustrious career.
He is going to get what is coming to him if he tells the truth. If he lies, he’s also going to get what is coming to a corrupt bastard such as he.
It’s a Win, Win situation and Comey can even pretend to be the whiny little shit that he has always been but no one will believe him anymore.
Ha! Comey, I harbor the utmost CONTEMPT for YOU that is humanly possible. Only my contempt for Odungo exceeds my contempt for YOU. You are a skunk among real men and women.
I’d call him a weasel too, but then that would be disrespectful to all weasels.
Judge was going to rule against him.
Gitmo has been renovated with new guard barracks and just had a new group of MP’s transferred there...
just sayin’
I’m not sure this is helpful. If they’re releasing a complete transcript then he’ll refuse to answer most questions on national security grounds, which is exactly what they were trying to avoid. If the transcript is redacted, he’ll fight over the redactions. It looks like this gets us exactly nowhere.
“I’d call him a weasel too, but then that would be disrespectful to all weasels.”
You got that right.
One more horse and pony show. Just marking time until the Democrats take over. Expect nothing and you won’t be disappointed.
They probably agreed to redact national security type answers. If they did not agree, then they are trying to set the record. Congress can set perjury traps, too.
Right On! Comey has the CONgress by the balls. I'm wondering why we have elections that spend all the money when we could do as Ole Buckley said - go to the phone booth & pick the people to represent us & they will be better than the ones we have now. FReepers, nothing is going to happen to these group of bastards - NOTHING! So y'all want to run around believing the fact that we are a nation of & by the people with all equal? All the dirty facts are there. This is a criminal government & sadly it will continue. We will be Europe in just a few yrs. Kiss the Constitution goodby because it only has a decade before it is in the history analogs.
Naaa... Comey will never see the inside of a jail cell.
That's been their MO...for too long.
I'd like to be wrong..........but.
cuz there is no, nadda, zero precedence that would favor Comey's case.
So the little man went to his room for the weekend and came back a penitent.
And there was no, nadda, zero "deal" with the Committee either. Not his call.
another republican carnival show for the masses. Pussyfooting around no real intention to indict prosecute or jail
He’ll plead the 5th.
The only way at all, the sedicious and treasonous actions of this cabal could ever have had a chance of being uncovered for all to see, was through the appointment of a true, loyal, American living special counsel and team.
Anything less, could only ever result in the end of our lives iberty and nation.
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