On Monday, FBI Director James Comey testified before the House Select Committee on Intelligence and confirmed there is an FBI investigation into possible collusion between Moscow and the Trump campaign, as well as allegations that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. While Comey confirmed that there is an investigation, he refused to offer any specifics as the investigation is still ongoing.
“I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia’s efforts,” Comey said. “As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed.”
Comey refused to offer any specifics.
“Because it is an open ongoing investigation and is classified, I cannot say more about what we are doing and whose conduct we are examining,” he told the committee, and went on to acknowledge that he knows his lack of detail will be “extremely frustrating.”
“At the request of congressional leaders, we have taken the extraordinary step in coordination with the Department of Justice of briefing this Congress’ leaders, including the leaders of this committee, in a classified setting in detail about the investigation but I can’t go into those details here,” Comey continued. “I know that is extremely frustrating to some folks. I hope you and the American people can understand. The FBI is very careful in how we handle information about our cases and about the people we are investigating.
Comey made clear that he did not want his lack of detail to lead false assumptions about the findings thus far in the investigation.
“We are also very careful about the way we handle information that may be of interest to our foreign adversaries. Both of those interests are at issue in a counterintelligence investigation. Please don’t draw any conclusions from the fact that I may not be able to comment on certain topics,” Comey stated. “I know speculating is part of human nature, but it really isn’t fair to draw conclusions simply because I say that I can’t comment.”
[revad2]
