Former FBI Director James Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday about whether and to what extent President Donald Trump asked Comey to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn's connection to the Russian government. Also, during the hearings, the subject of leaks during the investigation provoked a tense exchange between one Republican senator and the former FBI director.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) took his turn to question Comey, and asked him one glaring question about the nature of the leaked information.
Rubio reminded Comey that he recounted previously that Trump had asked of him three things: Comey's loyalty, to drop the FBI investigation into Flynn, and to let the American people know that Trump was not, in fact, under FBI investigation.
"You know, this investigation is full of leaks left and right. We've learned more from the newspaper sometimes than we hear in these open hearings for sure," Rubio began. "Do you ever wonder why of all the things in this investigation the only thing that's never been leaked is the fact that the president was not personally under investigation, despite the fact that both Democrats and Republican leadership of Congress knew that, and had known that for weeks?"
"I don't know," Comey responded. "I find that matters that are briefed to the Gang of Eight are pretty tightly held in my experience."
The subjects of leaks from inside the Trump administration has been an ongoing source of frustration for Trump and Republicans in particular, who have frequently criticized both the leakers and the media who have carried the leaks in the media.
During the course of the hearing, Comey also indicated that many of the stories that have been based on allegedly leaked classified information have been substantially false and incorrect.
