Comey back before Congress

Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey, sacked by President Donald Trump in 2017, began testifying yesterday before US lawmakers for the first time in over a year, but this time out of the camera glare.

The closed-door Capitol Hill appearance comes amid turbulence at the White House, and mounting intrigue over Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible contacts between Trump’s presidential campaign and Moscow.

Comey smiled as he walked past reporters, telling them “maybe later” he would answer questions.

Trump’s bete noire had pleaded for a public hearing after he was subpoenaed by members of the outgoing Congress in November, but House Republicans including some of Trump’s allies insisted on a private session before the judiciary and oversight committees.

In May 2017 Trump abruptly sacked Comey, who was the senior official leading a criminal investigation into possible collusion with Moscow to influence the US presidential election.