These intel officals are justifying stonewalling on the WH potentially invoking Executive privilege

[bigtree]

......Senators pressing now on why none of the witnesses will talk about their conversations with Trump or Comey. Angus King (I) pressing hard on what legal justification they were using to avoid answering questions.

All of them just now fell back on the WH counsel supposedly needing to sign off on them testifying completely, even in closed session.

The focus should now shift back to the WH to demand an answer on whether or not they intend to claim Executive privilege to prevent these officials from testifying about those conversations.

[YCHDT]

1. " potentially invoking Executive privilege" wouldn't the WH have to invoke it already?

[bigtree]

2. I thought the question was already resolved with their appearance

...but it appears they want to retreat and huddle with the WH on what protections from testifying on specifics Trump is willing to offer them.

[PoorMonger]

3. They Are Signaling

For Trump to do just that - as soon as this hearing concludes. It's as If they assume he hasn't thought of it yet - but will later after he watches this.

[YCHDT]

4. Right !!! They're not assuming other crap about Trump that's probable but this ?!

[bigtree]

6. I don't think it's an easy question for him

...or he'd already have invoked it.

It's a political minefield. I don't think it makes much difference in that though, because the story from this hearing will be the extraordinary stonewalling in the face of so many Americans waiting for and demanding answers.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Trump has NOT invoked Exec. Privilege. Agency heads do not get to do so by proxy and unofficially.

This is contempt of Congress and a constitutional crisis as of right now.

[bigtree]

8. good point

...though they might have hedged just enough to avoid bringing it all to a head.

At some point, there needs to be a clear understanding of where the WH stands on their testimony if his people are going to fall back on waiting for what WH counsel says before answering questions.

I noticed they blended Mueller into the mix of excuses, never clear about what was actually preventing them from responding.

[B2G]

7. Could it be they don't want to disclose these conversations

before Comey testifies tomorrow? Just wondering because they did say they would address in closed sessions.

[bigtree]

9. they actually hedged on whether they would reveal all in closed session

...notably, Rogers saying he 'hoped so' when asked whether he'd answer fully, and saying he'd need to consult with the WH counsel first.

[Thrill]

10. Just shows the guilt