Comey drops challenge to US House panel subpoena

WASHINGTON: Former FBI director James Comey withdrew his bid to quash a congressional subpoena compelling him to testify in secret about the bureau’s decisions on investigations ahead of the 2016 presidential election, his lawyer said.

Comey agreed to sit down for a closed- door deposition on Friday. Republicans on the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee pledged to provide Comey with a full transcript within 24 hours of his testimony, and he will be permitted to ‘make any or all of that transcript public,’ Comey’s lawyer David Kelley told Reuters in a statement.

In addition, a representative from the FBI will attend to help advise Comey on what matters related to the bureau he may divulge.

Comey and the Republican lawmakers reached the new agreement the day before lawyers were to appear at a court hearing. Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte said he expected Comey to drop the legal challenge. — Reuters