Senate

Feinstein: Democrats will support subpoenaing Comey

by Jordain Carney - 06/15/17 7:21 PM ET

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Democrats on the Judiciary Committee will support subpoenaing James Comey to testify if needed, arguing it is crucial for the former FBI director to come before the panel.

Feinstein sent a letter Thursday to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chairman of the committee, saying they are on the same page about the need for Comey to testify before their committee, which has oversight of the FBI.

“We unanimously believe that Director Comey should testify before our Committee regarding serious concerns that have been raised about political interference with FBI investigations and possible obstruction of justice. … Be assured my Democratic colleagues are supportive of issuing a subpoena should it become necessary,” Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, wrote.

Feinstein and Grassley previously invited Comey to testify before their panel about Russian election interference and former secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. He declined and met with the Intelligence Committee instead.

{mosads}She added on Thursday that she was “disappointed” with that decision and said if he wouldn’t reconsider, the “committee should take steps to compel his attendance.”

Feinstein told The Hill last week that she supported subpoenaing Comey, noting at the time that she and Grassley had discussed the issue.

Some other Democrats on the committee, however, have not specifically backed a subpoena, though they have stressed they want to hear from the former FBI director.

The Judiciary Committee can issue a subpoena either when Grassley and Feinstein have an agreement or by a vote of the full committee, according to the committee’s rules.

Feinstein added in her letter that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should also testify before the committee before lawmakers leave town at the end of July for a monthlong recess.

In addition to questions about Justice Department policy, Feinstein said there are “unanswered questions about the attorney general’s prior testimony before the Committee and his role in firing Director Comey.”

Feinstein also wants the committee, or in some cases committee staff, to meet with a slate of officials including acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Dana Boente, who was temporarily acting attorney general, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and “any others associated with the Department who have information relevant to this inquiry.”

“We should also have [Director of National Intelligence Dan] Coats and [National Security Agency] Director [Mike] Rogers before the Judiciary Committee to follow up on whether the President asked either to influence the FBI’s ongoing investigations into Russian interference with the U.S. presidential election,” Feinstein wrote.

Tags Chuck Grassley Dianne Feinstein Hillary Clinton Jeff Sessions