Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed for hours last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, the Justice Department confirmed Tuesday. He's the highest-ranking Trump administration official and first Cabinet member known to have submitted to questioning.

The interview came as Mueller investigates whether President Donald Trump's actions in office, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey, constitute efforts to obstruct the FBI probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump's own lawyers are discussing the prospect of an interview with the president himself, and White House officials state publicly that they anticipate a resolution soon to the investigation.

The questioning of the country's chief law enforcement officer is a reflection of investigators' continued interest in whether the president took steps to improperly obstruct justice. That question has been at the heart of the investigation for months as agents and prosecutors have questioned multiple current and former White House officials.

Sessions himself is seen as a potentially important witness given his direct involvement in the May 9 firing of Comey.

The White House initially said the termination was done on the recommendation of the Justice Department and cited a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that faulted Comey for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server investigation as justification.

But Trump said later that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he fired Comey, and he had decided to make the move even before the Justice Department's recommendations.

Sessions was one of Trump's earliest and most loyal allies, the first senator to endorse him during the presidential campaign.

But his decision to step aside from the Russia investigation has strained their bond, and the two men now rarely speak directly. Trump saw the recusal as weak and disloyal, believing his attorney general should be doing more to protect him

Over the past several months Mueller investigators have spoken with other key people close to the president, including White House Counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Sessions' attorney, Chuck Cooper, declined to comment, as did the White House.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 5 September 2017

1. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"Jeff Sessions is the country's chief law enforcement officer. He is the first cabinet member who has been known to be interviewed by Special Counsel Mueller. He's the highest ranking Trump administration official who we know, and what it indicates is a continued interest by Mueller and his team in questions about whether the president committed obstruction of justice while in office."

ASSOCIATED PRES

Washington - 5 September 2017

3. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"What he actually most critically is involved in was the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey back in May, and that is one of the critical episodes of the Trump presidency that's been under investigation by Bob Mueller."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

5. FILE Various Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"And it's part of a series of questions as to whether the president took actions while in office to stymie the FBI investigation into contacts between his campaign and Russia. And you'll remember that Jeff Sessions was very important to that because he is somebody who endorsed the firing of Director Comey."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

7. FILE Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"We know that the special counsel's office has interviewed multiple current and former White House officials including the president's own son in law Jared Kushner, White House counsel Don McGahn and the former chief of staff Reince Priebus. We also know that special counsel Mueller has expressed interest in a potential interview down the road with the president."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

9. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"White House lawyer Ty Cobb has been on record as saying he anticipates the investigation will resolve soon. He's put a time frame of four to six weeks. We're not sure if that's actually going to happen. It's sort of hard to predict for anyone when these investigations will end."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

11. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed for hours last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, the Justice Department confirmed Tuesday. He's the highest-ranking Trump administration official and first Cabinet member known to have submitted to questioning.

The interview came as Mueller investigates whether President Donald Trump's actions in office, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey, constitute efforts to obstruct the FBI probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump's own lawyers are discussing the prospect of an interview with the president himself, and White House officials state publicly that they anticipate a resolution soon to the investigation.

The questioning of the country's chief law enforcement officer is a reflection of investigators' continued interest in whether the president took steps to improperly obstruct justice. That question has been at the heart of the investigation for months as agents and prosecutors have questioned multiple current and former White House officials.

Sessions himself is seen as a potentially important witness given his direct involvement in the May 9 firing of Comey. The White House initially said the termination was done on the recommendation of the Justice Department and cited a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that faulted Comey for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server investigation as justification.

But Trump said later that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he fired Comey, and he had decided to make the move even before the Justice Department's recommendations.

Sessions was one of Trump's earliest and most loyal allies, the first senator to endorse him during the presidential campaign. They shared an ambitious law-and-order agenda that focuses on hawkish immigration policies and tough-on-crime strategies that engendered affection from many conservatives.

He has continued to push Trump's agenda on everything from gangs and the opioid crisis to religious freedom, giving the president credit every step of the way.

But his decision to step aside from the Russia investigation has strained their bond, and the two men now rarely speak directly. Trump saw the recusal as weak and disloyal, believing his attorney general should be doing more to protect him

Over the past several months Mueller investigators have spoken with other key people close to the president, including White House Counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Mueller has conveyed interest in speaking with the president, and White House attorney Ty Cobb said that is "under active discussion" with Trump's individual lawyers. He said last week on a CBS News' political podcast, "The Takeout," that he expected the investigation to be wrapped up within weeks.

Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation in early March after acknowledging that he had had two previously undisclosed encounters with the Russian ambassador during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. He said at the time that it would be improper for him to oversee a probe into a campaign for which he was a vocal and prominent supporter.

Since then, Trump has lashed out repeatedly on Twitter at Sessions and the Justice Department.

People familiar with the matter have told The Associated Press that McGahn had contacted Sessions to urge him to retain control of the investigation. McGahn was acting at the behest of the president, according to one of those people, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly by name.

Rosenstein appointed Mueller, a former FBI director, to take over the Russia investigation one week after Comey was fired. He oversees the work of Mueller's investigators, but he told the AP in an interview last June that he, too, would recuse himself if his actions ever became relevant to the probe.

Sessions' attorney, Chuck Cooper, declined to comment, as did the White House.

Four people have so far been charged in the Mueller investigation, including former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Flynn and George Papadopoulos, a former campaign foreign policy adviser, have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Sessions' interview with the Mueller team was first reported by The New York Times.

++SOUNDBITES PARTIALLY COVERED BY VIDEO++

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 5 September 2017

1. FILE Various Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 23 January 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"Jeff Sessions is the country's chief law enforcement officer. He is the first cabinet member who has been known to be interviewed by Special Counsel Mueller. He's the highest ranking Trump administration official who we know, and what it indicates is a continued interest by Mueller and his team in questions about whether the president committed obstruction of justice while in office."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

3. FILE Various Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"What he actually most critically is involved in was the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey back in May, and that is one of the critical episodes of the Trump presidency that's been under investigation by Bob Mueller. And it's part of a series of questions as to whether the president took actions while in office to stymie the FBI investigation into contacts between his campaign and Russia. And you'll remember that Jeff Sessions was very important to that because he is somebody who endorsed the firing of Director Comey."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

5. FILE Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"We know that the special counsel's office has interviewed multiple current and former White House officials including the president's own son in law Jared Kushner, White House counsel Don McGahn and the former chief of staff Reince Priebus. We also know that special counsel Mueller has expressed interest in a potential interview down the road with the president."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

7. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"White House lawyer Ty Cobb has been on record as saying he anticipates the investigation will resolve soon. He's put a time frame of four to six weeks. We're not sure if that's actually going to happen. It's sort of hard to predict for anyone when these investigations will end."

Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed for hours last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, the Justice Department confirmed Tuesday. He's the highest-ranking Trump administration official and first Cabinet member known to have submitted to questioning.

The interview came as Mueller investigates whether President Donald Trump's actions in office, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey, constitute efforts to obstruct the FBI probe into contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump's own lawyers are discussing the prospect of an interview with the president himself, and White House officials state publicly that they anticipate a resolution soon to the investigation.

The questioning of the country's chief law enforcement officer is a reflection of investigators' continued interest in whether the president took steps to improperly obstruct justice. That question has been at the heart of the investigation for months as agents and prosecutors have questioned multiple current and former White House officials.

Sessions himself is seen as a potentially important witness given his direct involvement in the May 9 firing of Comey.

The White House initially said the termination was done on the recommendation of the Justice Department and cited a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that faulted Comey for his handling of the Hillary Clinton email server investigation as justification.

But Trump said later that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he fired Comey, and he had decided to make the move even before the Justice Department's recommendations.

Sessions was one of Trump's earliest and most loyal allies, the first senator to endorse him during the presidential campaign.

But his decision to step aside from the Russia investigation has strained their bond, and the two men now rarely speak directly. Trump saw the recusal as weak and disloyal, believing his attorney general should be doing more to protect him

Over the past several months Mueller investigators have spoken with other key people close to the president, including White House Counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Sessions' attorney, Chuck Cooper, declined to comment, as did the White House.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 5 September 2017

1. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"Jeff Sessions is the country's chief law enforcement officer. He is the first cabinet member who has been known to be interviewed by Special Counsel Mueller. He's the highest ranking Trump administration official who we know, and what it indicates is a continued interest by Mueller and his team in questions about whether the president committed obstruction of justice while in office."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 5 September 2017

3. FILE Sessions speaking at Department of Justice about DACA

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"What he actually most critically is involved in was the firing of FBI Director Jim Comey back in May, and that is one of the critical episodes of the Trump presidency that's been under investigation by Bob Mueller."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

5. FILE Various Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"And it's part of a series of questions as to whether the president took actions while in office to stymie the FBI investigation into contacts between his campaign and Russia. And you'll remember that Jeff Sessions was very important to that because he is somebody who endorsed the firing of Director Comey."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 9 February 2017

7. FILE Jeff Sessions being sworn in as attorney general by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"We know that the special counsel's office has interviewed multiple current and former White House officials including the president's own son in law Jared Kushner, White House counsel Don McGahn and the former chief of staff Reince Priebus. We also know that special counsel Mueller has expressed interest in a potential interview down the road with the president."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

9. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 January 2018

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter:

"White House lawyer Ty Cobb has been on record as saying he anticipates the investigation will resolve soon. He's put a time frame of four to six weeks. We're not sure if that's actually going to happen. It's sort of hard to predict for anyone when these investigations will end."

US POOL

Washington - 9 February 2017

11. FILE Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions arriving at the Department of Justice and shaking hands with staff

The White House is casting the expected departure of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in coming weeks as Rosenstein's choice alone.

However, AP reporter Eric Tucker says although Rosenstein's departure is not unexpected, it could affect the Mueller probe.

"Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said Rosenstein had always planned to stay around two years. She told a network interviewer there was no "willingness" by Trump or the White House to force Rosenstein out.

She says he wants to help with the transition to a new attorney general.

Tucker says Rosenstein's exit raises questions about how Trump nominee William Barr will deal with Mueller once Barr is confirmed.

"There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department," Tucker says.

"Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that.

Barr is scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee next week for his confirmation hearings. He could be installed at the Justice Department as early as February.

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller," Tucker said.

"We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

1. FILE: Rod Rosenstein walks to podium for speech on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"I would note that Rod Rosenstein's departure is not unusual or unexpected. It is common for attorneys general and cabinet secretaries to want their own deputy or number two official. So, it makes sense and is logical that if Bill Barr comes in as the new attorney general that Rod Rosenstein would then depart as an ordinary course of business. And to that end we don't have any indication that he is being forced out, or is being asked to leave by the White House, although we are hearing that Bill Barr did tell some friends that he did definitely want his own number two."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

3. FILE: Rod Rosenstein speaking on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"There is no doubt that Rod Rosenstein's departure has the impact of potentially affecting the final stages of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. After all, Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 28 November 2018

5. FILE: Mid of Rod Rosenstein speaking a press conference on international hacking scheme

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"But, there are still other people within the department who would be involved in the work of Mueller. And there is a likelihood that Mueller might be in his final stages so that there aren't that many more weeks and months left for a new attorney general to be supervising the investigation. But for now, once Barr is confirmed, he would assume ultimate oversight of the investigation the same way that acting attorney general Matt Whitaker currently has ultimate oversight."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

7. FILE: Rosenstein enters Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing room

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"It's not clear what the end of the Mueller investigation will look like, or when that might occur. He's been at work for more than a year and a half. There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department. Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

9. FILE: Various of Rosenstein at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller. We know that Mueller wants an in-person interview that the president and his lawyers have resisted. So then the question becomes can the special counsel and the Justice Department move to subpoena him, to basically compel his testimony. We don't know whether that will happen, and we don't know what Rosenstein's perspective on that is. We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

POOL

Washington, DC - 23 March 2018

11. FILE: Rosenstein speaking at Department of Justice announcing the charges of 9 Iranians in a hacking scheme

The White House is casting the expected departure of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in coming weeks as Rosenstein's choice alone.

However, AP reporter Eric Tucker says although Rosenstein's departure is not unexpected, it could affect the Mueller probe.

"Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said Rosenstein had always planned to stay around two years. She told a network interviewer there was no "willingness" by Trump or the White House to force Rosenstein out.

She says he wants to help with the transition to a new attorney general.

Tucker says Rosenstein's exit raises questions about how Trump nominee William Barr will deal with Mueller once Barr is confirmed.

"There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department," Tucker says.

"Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that.

Barr is scheduled to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee next week for his confirmation hearings. He could be installed at the Justice Department as early as February.

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller," Tucker said.

"We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

1. FILE: Rod Rosenstein walks to podium for speech on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"I would note that Rod Rosenstein's departure is not unusual or unexpected. It is common for attorneys general and cabinet secretaries to want their own deputy or number two official. So, it makes sense and is logical that if Bill Barr comes in as the new attorney general that Rod Rosenstein would then depart as an ordinary course of business. And to that end we don't have any indication that he is being forced out, or is being asked to leave by the White House, although we are hearing that Bill Barr did tell some friends that he did definitely want his own number two."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 29 November 2018

3. FILE: Rod Rosenstein speaking on cybercrime

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"There is no doubt that Rod Rosenstein's departure has the impact of potentially affecting the final stages of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. After all, Rod Rosenstein is the person who appointed Mueller back in May 2017 to be special counsel. He oversees his day to day work, and is the principal and primary protector within the Justice Department of Bob Mueller's status and responsibility."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 28 November 2018

5. FILE: Mid of Rod Rosenstein speaking a press conference on international hacking scheme

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"But, there are still other people within the department who would be involved in the work of Mueller. And there is a likelihood that Mueller might be in his final stages so that there aren't that many more weeks and months left for a new attorney general to be supervising the investigation. But for now, once Barr is confirmed, he would assume ultimate oversight of the investigation the same way that acting attorney general Matt Whitaker currently has ultimate oversight."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

7. FILE: Rosenstein enters Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing room

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"It's not clear what the end of the Mueller investigation will look like, or when that might occur. He's been at work for more than a year and a half. There are some critical decisions that are yet to be made in terms of what to do with the report of Mueller whenever it is produced for the Justice Department. Congress has said that if the department doesn't provide it to them, they'll subpoena for it. And so one question will become whether that document, whatever form it takes, will be made public or disclosed to Congress, and the new attorney general, namely Bill Barr, would be responsible for that."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2017

9. FILE: Various of Rosenstein at Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 9 January 2019

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Reporter

"One other question that remains that is sort of looming that's out there is whether the president can be subpoenaed if he refuses to answer any additional questions from Mueller. We know that Mueller wants an in-person interview that the president and his lawyers have resisted. So then the question becomes can the special counsel and the Justice Department move to subpoena him, to basically compel his testimony. We don't know whether that will happen, and we don't know what Rosenstein's perspective on that is. We do know that Barr is a big believer in robust presidential powers throughout his career. He has believed in giving the executive branch a degree of deference."

POOL

Washington, DC - 23 March 2018

11. FILE: Rosenstein speaking at Department of Justice announcing the charges of 9 Iranians in a hacking scheme

House Republicans interviewed James Comey behind closed doors Friday, hauling the former FBI director to Capitol Hill one final time before they cede power to Democrats in January.

In remarks to reporters, Comey said he expected to come back and testify again adding that he thought the hearing should have been open.

"When you read the transcript you will see that we are talking again about Hillary Clinton's emails, for heaven's sake," he said.

House Republicans are questioning Comey on decisions made by the Justice Department during the 2016 presidential election. Democrats will also attend the interview.

Republicans argue that department officials were biased against Donald Trump as they started an investigation into his campaign's ties with Russia and cleared Democrat Hillary Clinton in a separate probe into her email use.

Earlier, Republican lawmakers who stepped outside while the questioning was underway indicated they weren't satisfied and might try to bring him back another day.

POOL

Washington - 7 December 2018

1. Pan, James Comey walks to microphone

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Former FBI Director:

"I was going to try and sneak by you, but I thought you might notice me.  Yeah, I'm coming back.  We have scheduled a date to come back on the 17th.  After a full day of questioning, two things are clear to me.  One we could have done this in open setting and two, when you read the transcript you will see that we are talking again about Hillary Clinton's emails, for heaven's sake. So, I'm not sure we need to do this at all. But I'm trying to respect the institution and to answer questions in a respectful way. You'll see I did that in the transcript.  You'll see that if you get a transcript of my return visit, which I think will be week after next and then this will be over totally.

Reporter: Mr. Comey you served in the Southern District of New York when the new attorney general nominee served as attorney general the last time.  Do you have confidence that he can act with impartiality if he's confirmed to this post?

I like and respect Bill Barr. I know he's an institutionalist who cares deeply about the integrity of the Justice Department. So I'm sure he'll use the standard career resources he has to judge what he should be involved in what he shouldn't be involved in.  But Bill Barr is a is a talented person who was a good attorney general the first time.  I liked him very much then, I think he'll serve the Justice Department well.  And I'm sure he'll talk to the career officials about how to handle that."

Reporter: How extensively have you cooperated with the Mueller investigation at this point?

I can't talk about that. I can't talk about, I mean I could but I won't. I'm sorry.

Reporter: The Republicans came out and said that the government lawyers ran interference and essentially shut down specific lines of questioning.  Did that happen, and if so what topics were not discussed?

One, you read the transcript and I think you will not see that happening.

Reporter: There specific topics that we still feel like you can't discuss from your time as FBI director?  You have been out the door for a year and a half now.  What can't you answer?

Well the FBI, for understandable reasons, doesn't want me talking about the details of the investigation that is still ongoing. It began when I was FBI director, so it makes sense that they don't want me going into those details but that's a very teeny part of what we talked about today.  A whole lot of Hillary Clinton's emails, which will bore you.

Reporter: The next time the hearing will be public? Is there any talk of that?

There wasn't a talk about. I think they want to do it the same way. I wish it were going to be public. But I think we're going to do it the same way again.

Reporter: You said you were OK with the Barr nominations.  Did you have any concerns about the firing of Jeff Sessions and the president continually going after Jeff Sessions for not recusing himself from the Mueller investigation?

The president's attacks on the Justice Department broadly and the FBI are something that no matter what political party you're in you should find deeply troubling and continue to speak out about not become numb to attacks on the rule of law.

Reporter: But with the firing of sessions specifically?

That's not something I can comment on.

Reporter: Director Comey can I ask you a question on FISA abuse, this the major issue for the Republicans. Did you have total confidence in the dossier when you used it to secure a surveillance warrant and also in the subsequent renewals?

I have total confidence that the FISA process was followed and that the entire case was handled in a thoughtful responsible way by DOJ and the FBI. I think the notion that FISA was abused here is nonsense.

Reporter: As a private citizen how do you think Bob Mueller's investigation is going?

As a private citizen, as someone who knows the justice system, I see it proceeding incredibly quickly and very, very professionally. But the most important indication of that is you don't know anything about it except when you file something in court and that's the way it should be.

Reporter: Are you prepared to return next year when Democrats regain control of Congress to testify, perhaps on the questions of obstruction of justice an impeachment case?

I always want to respect the institution of Congress. I'd love it if they didn't want me to testify but if they want me to testify and we can do it in a responsible way I will abide it. So we'll see what happens.

Reporter: "You know anything about Rod Rosenstein wearing a wire? Did that ever come up in any of the discussions when you were there?

I can't comment on that. All right, all. Enjoy your weekend."

3. Pan, Comey walks away

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 7 December 2018

1. Pan, James Comey walks to microphone

2. SOUNDBITE (English) James Comey, Former FBI Director:

"I was going to try and sneak by you, but I thought you might notice me.  Yeah, I'm coming back.  We have scheduled a date to come back on the 17th.  After a full day of questioning, two things are clear to me.  One we could have done this in open setting and two, when you read the transcript you will see that we are talking again about Hillary Clinton's emails, for heaven's sake. So, I'm not sure we need to do this at all. But I'm trying to respect the institution and to answer questions in a respectful way. You'll see I did that in the transcript.  You'll see that if you get a transcript of my return visit, which I think will be week after next and then this will be over totally.

Reporter: Mr. Comey you served in the Southern District of New York when the new attorney general nominee served as attorney general the last time.  Do you have confidence that he can act with impartiality if he's confirmed to this post?

I like and respect Bill Barr. I know he's an institutionalist who cares deeply about the integrity of the Justice Department. So I'm sure he'll use the standard career resources he has to judge what he should be involved in what he shouldn't be involved in.  But Bill Barr is a is a talented person who was a good attorney general the first time.  I liked him very much then, I think he'll serve the Justice Department well.  And I'm sure he'll talk to the career officials about how to handle that."

Reporter: How extensively have you cooperated with the Mueller investigation at this point?

I can't talk about that. I can't talk about, I mean I could but I won't. I'm sorry.

Reporter: The Republicans came out and said that the government lawyers ran interference and essentially shut down specific lines of questioning.  Did that happen, and if so what topics were not discussed?

One, you read the transcript and I think you will not see that happening.

Reporter: There specific topics that we still feel like you can't discuss from your time as FBI director?  You have been out the door for a year and a half now.  What can't you answer?

Well the FBI, for understandable reasons, doesn't want me talking about the details of the investigation that is still ongoing. It began when I was FBI director, so it makes sense that they don't want me going into those details but that's a very teeny part of what we talked about today.  A whole lot of Hillary Clinton's emails, which will bore you.

Reporter: The next time the hearing will be public? Is there any talk of that?

There wasn't a talk about. I think they want to do it the same way. I wish it were going to be public. But I think we're going to do it the same way again.

Reporter: You said you were OK with the Barr nominations.  Did you have any concerns about the firing of Jeff Sessions and the president continually going after Jeff Sessions for not recusing himself from the Mueller investigation?

The president's attacks on the Justice Department broadly and the FBI are something that no matter what political party you're in you should find deeply troubling and continue to speak out about not become numb to attacks on the rule of law.

Reporter: But with the firing of sessions specifically?

That's not something I can comment on.

Reporter: Director Comey can I ask you a question on FISA abuse, this the major issue for the Republicans. Did you have total confidence in the dossier when you used it to secure a surveillance warrant and also in the subsequent renewals?

I have total confidence that the FISA process was followed and that the entire case was handled in a thoughtful responsible way by DOJ and the FBI. I think the notion that FISA was abused here is nonsense.

Reporter: As a private citizen how do you think Bob Mueller's investigation is going?

As a private citizen, as someone who knows the justice system, I see it proceeding incredibly quickly and very, very professionally. But the most important indication of that is you don't know anything about it except when you file something in court and that's the way it should be.

Reporter: Are you prepared to return next year when Democrats regain control of Congress to testify, perhaps on the questions of obstruction of justice an impeachment case?

I always want to respect the institution of Congress. I'd love it if they didn't want me to testify but if they want me to testify and we can do it in a responsible way I will abide it. So we'll see what happens.

Reporter: "You know anything about Rod Rosenstein wearing a wire? Did that ever come up in any of the discussions when you were there?

I can't comment on that. All right, all. Enjoy your weekend."

3. Pan, Comey walks away

STORYLINE:

House Republicans interviewed James Comey behind closed doors Friday, hauling the former FBI director to Capitol Hill one final time before they cede power to Democrats in January.

In remarks to reporters, Comey said he expected to come back and testify again adding that he thought the hearing should have been open.

"When you read the transcript you will see that we are talking again about Hillary Clinton's emails, for heaven's sake," he said.

House Republicans are questioning Comey on decisions made by the Justice Department during the 2016 presidential election. Democrats will also attend the interview.

Republicans argue that department officials were biased against Donald Trump as they started an investigation into his campaign's ties with Russia and cleared Democrat Hillary Clinton in a separate probe into her email use.

Earlier, Republican lawmakers who stepped outside while the questioning was underway indicated they weren't satisfied and might try to bring him back another day.

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