Graham ‘surprised’ Comey will testify publicly

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/334353-graham-surprised-comey-will-testify-publicly

>Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Friday that he was "surprised" that former FBI Director James Comey had agreed to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee after a special counsel was appointed to oversee the FBI's Russia investigation.

>"I very much appreciate former FBI Director Comey's willingness to publicly testify about his conversations with President Trump and other relevant matters," Graham said in a statement. "I am surprised he will do so given the fact we now have a Special Counsel who will likely be investigating matters related to their conversations."

>But Graham also called for Comey to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which the South Carolina Republican sits on, noting that his panel has oversight of the FBI.

>"The Judiciary Committee has primary responsibility for FBI oversight," Graham said. "I certainly want former Director Comey to be able to tell his side of the story in regards to President Trump."

>"I also want to ask him about the massive and repeated leaks coming from the FBI," he added.

>Comey agreed on Friday to testify before the intelligence panel, which is conducting an investigation into Russian efforts to meddle in the 2016 election, as well as possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

>The Judiciary Committee had also invited Comey to testify, but the leaders of that panel said Friday that Comey had declined their invitation. Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called Comey's refusal "extremely disappointing."

>Comey was abruptly fired by Trump last week, setting off a whirlwind of controversial revelations for the White House, including reports that Trump had asked Comey in February to end the FBI's investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.