COMEY OFFERS TO TESTIFY IN PUBLIC

Former FBI director James B. Comey is willing to testify before two congressional committees investigating the Justice Department’s actions during the 2016 election — but only if he can do so publicly, his lawyer said in a letter Monday.

David Kelley, Comey’s lawyer, told Republican leaders of the House Oversight and Judiciary committees that although Comey “respectfully declines your request for a private interview,” he would “welcome the opportunity to testify at a public hearing.”

Because Comey lacked a security clearance, Kelley wrote, there should be no concern about his having to discuss classified material. He wrote that he expected the committees would obtain approvals from the FBI for Comey to discuss events while he was in charge there.

Comey has already addressed at length the bureau’s actions during the 2016 election — especially its handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server — before Congress, to the Justice inspector general, in his book and in media interviews.