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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