The transcript of former FBI Director James Comey's closed-door interview with the House Judiciary and Oversight committees was released on Saturday afternoon, about 24 hours after the interview ended.
The transcript, released as part of a compromise between Comey and Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia, shows a tense exchange at times between Comey and some committee members in the Friday interview session.
Tensions arose when Comey, upon the advice of Cecelia Bessee, an attorney representing the FBI, refused to answer questions about Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.
Clinton's email server and the FBI investigation into its use came up in several questions from Republican lawmakers.
At one point, Comey was asked if former FBI agent Peter Strzok and Justice Department lawyer Lisa Page had input into his decision not to prosecute Clinton for the improper use of personal email.
"Peter Strzok helped draft my letter to Congress on October 28th that Hillary Clinton blames for her defeat. So it's hard for me to see how he was on Team Clinton secretly at that point in time," Comey said.
Comey did not respond to some questions about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Robert Mueller and Leakin’ Lyin’ James Comey are Best Friends, just one of many Mueller Conflicts of Interest. And bye the way, wasn’t the woman in charge of prosecuting Jerome Corsi (who I do not know) in charge of “legal” at the corrupt Clinton Foundation? A total Witch Hunt...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2018
On 245 occasions, former FBI Director James Comey told House investigators he didn’t know, didn’t recall, or couldn’t remember things when asked. Opened investigations on 4 Americans (not 2) - didn’t know who signed off and didn’t know Christopher Steele. All lies!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2018
Leakin’ James Comey must have set a record for who lied the most to Congress in one day. His Friday testimony was so untruthful! This whole deal is a Rigged Fraud headed up by dishonest people who would do anything so that I could not become President. They are now exposed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2018
He did deny that he and Mueller were friends, something President Donald Trump had suggested in a tweet.
"I admire the heck out of the man, but I don't know his phone number, I've never been to his house, I don't know his children's names," Comey said.
Click here to read the full transcript.
Cox Media Group