Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats and NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday.
During the hearing, Sen. Warner (D-VA) asked, “would be in any way typical for a President to ask questions or bring up an ongoing FBI investigation, particularly if that investigation concerns associates or indivduals that might be associated with the PResident’s campaign or his activities?”
A clearly unimpressed Rogers set the record straight and indicated he would not entertain hypotheticals.
First, Adm. Rogers responded:
“In the three-plus years that I have been the director of the National Security Agency, to the best of my recollection, I have never been directed to do anything I believe to be illegal, immoral, unethical or inappropriate. And to the best of my recollection, during that same period of service, I do not recall ever feeling pressured to do so.”
Sen. Warner cited news reports that allege Trump “directly intervened” with former FBI Director Comey. Director Coats responded, saying:
“…When I was asked yesterday to respond to a piece that I was told was going to be written and printed in the ‘The Washington Post’ this morning, my response to that was in my time of service, which is interacting with the President of the United States or anybody in his administration, I have never been pressured. I’ve never felt pressure to intervene or interfere in any way with shaping intelligence in a political way or in relationship with the ongoing investigation.”
Comey will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee Thursday (be sure to join us as we’ll be covering live).
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Comments
That was brutal, but justified. The Dems intended on spending the whole time putting forward hypotheticals and parsing the meaning of ‘is’ to a few dozen decimal points, but Rodgers and Coates hit Sen. Warner so hard with the simple truth that his great-grandchildren will feel it.
A considerable different to tomorrow’s testimony by Comey in which a brisk game of “Waffle Word Bingo” will break out. Look for If, Maybe, Possibly, There is a chance, Potential, Implied, Subtext, etc…
My guess is that Comey will refuse to answer any questions regarding current FBI investigations whether they originated during his tenure or not. That will leave him with pretty much nothing to say.
That always leaves mime, or shadow puppets.
And what is this one, Senator?
Russia! Russia!
No, it’s a rabbit. How about–
Russia! That one’s Russia too!
Apparently Sen Warner won’t accept a direct statement from the people involved that they weren’t under pressure from Trump.
But he’s perfectly willing to accept indirect statements from people who were not involved stating the opposite…