Some Democrats worry about possible obstruction of justice by Trump; Republicans prefer to await findings of probes
Comey said Trump asked him to back off the investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, leading Democrats to suggest it amounted to obstruction of justice. Republicans preferred to wait and see what comes out of the ongoing investigations by congressional committees and Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III.
“After publicly calling for former FBI Director Comey to testify, I appreciate his honest remarks today, ” Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, said in a statement. “As I’ ve said all along, we must continue to follow the facts wherever they lead.”
Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, said Comey’s testimony contradicted Trump’s past denials that he ever requested that the then-FBI director drop the investigation into Flynn.
“If the president asked the FBI director to drop a federal investigation into his former national security adviser, that is a very serious abuse of power by the president, ” Kildee said.
“No American, including the president of the United States, should be allowed to obstruct our justice system.”
In his appearance before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, Comey declined to comment on whether he believed the president committed obstruction of justice when he told Comey of the Flynn investigation, “I hope you can let this go.”
During questioning, Comey repeatedly stated how he interpreted Trump’s intent: “I took it as a direction.”
Some Republicans have defended Trump, saying the president was simply making a suggestion.
“Donald Trump is the president of the United States. If he calls you into his office, tells everyone else to leave the room and then tells you he wants this to go away, how else can that be interpreted?” said Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, at the U. S. Capitol.
“Comey has an up-and-down relationship, as far as I’ m concerned with him. I’ ve questioned his behavior. I’ ve questioned his decisions sometimes. But for him to sit there and say, this is what happened — this is a powerful day on the Hill. This is not going to go away.”
But Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, said Comey’s testimony demonstrates why he lost the trust of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle “a long time ago.”
“I, like the rest of America, am just trying to figure out where the truth lies in all this stuff, ” Huizenga said at the Capitol.
He questioned why Comey didn’ t come to Congress with his concerns over what he perceived as political pressure from Trump regarding the FBI inquiry, but arranged for a friend at Columbia University to leak a summary of his conversations with the president. Comey testified that he hoped the leak would prompt the appointment of a special prosecutor to lead the Russia investigation.
“I don’ t think the guy admitting that he’s leaking his own memos builds up confidence in lawmakers, ” Huizenga said.
“There are proper channels that even the FBI director needs to follow. I’ m assuming there was nothing in those memos that was classified, but it was certainly sensitive. Why would he take that route? That is ham-handed at best in my mind.”
Under questioning from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, Comey said “I was a bit stunned and didn’ t have the presence of mind” to immediately raise concerns with senior White House officials or the White House Counsel’s office about Trump’s comments.
Rep. Paul Mitchell, R-Dryden, seized on Comey’s acknowledgment that he had told Trump he was not personally under investigation into whether his associates colluded with Russian agents regarding the 2016 presidential election.
“Former FBI Director Comey confirmed that President Trump was not under investigation at the time of his firing. The ongoing investigations by the Special Counsel, the House, and Senate will continue, ” Mitchell said in a statement.
Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, stressed that Comey had led a professional investigation at the FBI that still continues.
“I hope his testimony will allow the FBI, House and Senate to finish their investigations in a timely manner that thoroughly answers the questions of the American people, ” Moolenaar said.
Rep. Sandy Levin, D-Royal Oak, said that based on Comey’s testimony, there’s “clearly” a need for further investigation by the congressional Intelligence committees, by Mueller and by an independent commission.
“Director Comey’s testimony today described the unusual lengths to which Donald Trump used his position as president to affect official investigations into Russian interference in our election, ” Levin said.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, described Thursday’s revelations as “deeply concerning.”
“It is our job to ensure there is an independent and non-partisan investigation, unobstructed by anyone, and that we are united as Americans in getting the truth, ” she said.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said the hearing reinforced the importance of getting “to the bottom of the facts behind Russian interference in our elections.
“The American people deserve to know the full truth about Russia’s efforts to undermine the sanctity of our democracy, and this investigation is simply too important to be stymied.”
Republican Rep. Justin Amash of the Grand Rapids area — an outspoken Trump critic when he differs with the president — declined to comment.
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