Don't Expect Comey to Reveal a Great Deal in His Congressional Testimony

[MineralMan]

He's not going to answer any questions that concern classified information or ongoing investigations. He may, however, feel that he can discuss things Trump said verbally to him, but won't be able to produce his notes on that conversation until he does that for the actual DOJ investigation. They are property of the FBI, but his memories are not. He can recount some things, but not others.

It's probably going to be a frustrating hearing to watch, I think.

[yallerdawg]

1. But I bet when asked...and he will be...

he'll have plenty to say about Hillary.

[LenaBaby61]

3. "He'll have plenty to say about Hillary."

No doubt that's the "merry chase" the thuglicans on the committee will lead on, discussing those blasted, overrated emails for the billionth time.

[bigtree]

2. Comey has this ONE chance to redeem his reputation against Trump's charges

...everything about him indicates that he's more concerned with his integrity and reputation (and by extension, that of the FBI), more than he is with making political gestures.

That said, he has absolutely no guarantee that Mueller will redeem him completely in some future report. Comey doesn't have the luxury in his relatively young life (career-wise) to sit in the shadows while his name is used as fodder by the Trump team. He needs to put his version of events on the public table now, and try and maintain control of the narrative. Otherwise, he could be framed without a chance to fully rebuke charges.

Further, Trump has already taken any claim of Executive privilege out of the mix by putting forward his version of events and characterization of the fired AG. Comey, as a private citizen, doesn't have a conflict discussing his own actions, which are in dispute.

All it's going to take is a legislator asking one important question he's willing to respond to, and the entire focus can shift dramatically. This isn't a static appearance, it's a dynamic event which hold a lot of promise for further ensnaring Trump. After all, why would Comey INSIST on a PUBLIC hearing just to provide nothing more than what he's already shared with the public?

[LenaBaby61]

8. bigtree ....

"Comey has this ONE chance to redeem his reputation against Trump's charges
...everything about him indicates that he's more concerned with his integrity and reputation (and by extension, that of the FBI) more than he is with making political gestures."

I'm surely hoping that the above is the path Comey will mostly be able to take next week, because we surely KNOW that thuglicans WILL want to try to turn his testimony into something dealing with Hillary's emails or bring up anything but treasonous tRumputin and what he's more than likely to have done--tried to obstruct justice on the behalf of one of his acolytes, Lock Him Up Flynn.

[Cattledog]

4. There are 2 sessions, public and closed.

We will get the juicy stuff from the closed session leaks.

[DeminPennswoods]

5. Matthew Miller said last night on MSNBC

that he expects Comey has something in his back pocket on the order of his 2007 testimony about the intervention in Ashcroft's hospital room. He said that's the way Comey rolls when he gives testimony before Congressional committees. Miller confirmed that Comey does like the spotlight in his own way.

[MineralMan]

6. That's possible. I'll be watching, for sure.

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Miller knows Comey as well as anyone

from his DoJ spokesman job.

[kentuck]

9. I don't think it would be productive to get expectations too high...

at this time.

I would agree.

[LeftInTX]

10. Thanks for the voice of reason here. You're right