U.S. intelligence chiefs sat down with members of Congress behind closed doors on Friday for a briefing on Russian cyberattacks. What ensued was a confrontation Democrats have sought with FBI director James Comey, the New York Times reports. House Democrats demanded to know why Comey believed it was acceptable to make repeated disclosures during the campaign about the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails but to this day refuse to say if the FBI is investigating links between the Trump campaign and Russia? His answers did not prove satisfying. Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) chastised Comey for being “condescending to members.”
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), who was chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee when it was hacked, asked why Comey had never called her about the intrusions. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said, “a great many members are concerned with whether the director has employed a double standard.” Democrats quoted Comey as saying he would disclose an ongoing investigation only if the public had an overwhelming need to know about it or if it was obvious there was one underway. He said he did not believe any possible investigation into Donald Trump or his associates met either standard. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA), said the committee would hold hearings on the Russian activity and its effect on the election.