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House Republicans release Comey interview transcript

<p>Former FBI director James Comey testified before House committees Friday, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/former-fbi-director-comey-to-testify-in-house-gop-probe/2018/12/06/8c1049f6-f9b2-11e8-8d64-4e79db33382f_story.html?utm_term=.c41bcd6b083a" target="_blank">in a hearing</a> that left GOP lawmakers frustrated. </p><p>"One of the disappointments in this deposition so far has been the amount of times in which the FBI believes Congress doesn't have a right to know," Rep. Darrell Issa told reporters.</p><p>Republicans complained Comey's answers were limited by a Department of Justice lawyer who, according to them, repeatedly stopped Comey from responding to questions. Comey had <a href="https://www.newsy.com/stories/james-comey-asks-judge-to-throw-out-house-subpoena/" target="_blank">asked for the hearing to be public</a>, but agreed to a compromise where his testimony will be published within 24 hours.</p><p>For his part, Comey said he wasn't sure the hearing <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1071160729808584705" target="_blank">was needed at all</a>, but said he'd be back for another session December 17. </p><p>"When you read the transcript you will see that we are talking again about Hillary Clinton's emails, for heavens sake."</p><p>The two committees that organized the hearing are spearheaded by House Republicans investigating allegations of political motivations behind FBI investigations into Hillary Clinton's email server and Russian interference in the 2016 election. </p><p>Republicans will lose control of the committees involved in the probe when Democrats take over the House next month. Congressional Democrats have accused the investigation of <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-republicans-plan-question-james-comey-release-report/story?id=59662423" target="_blank">trying to undermine</a> Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation. </p><p>Additional reporting by <a href="https://www.cnn.com/" target="_blank">Newsy affiliate CNN</a>. </p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/lame-duck-power-moves-could-be-part-of-growing-trend/">Not Every State Has Time For Lame-Duck Legislative Sessions</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/mueller-s-russia-probe-could-be-focus-of-barr-s-confirmation/">Trump's AG Pick Will Likely Face Questions About The Mueller Probe</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/trump-signs-short-term-spending-bill/">Trump Signs Short-Term Spending Bill To Delay Government Shutdown</a></li></ul>
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The House Judiciary and Oversight committees have released a transcript of former FBI Director James Comey's closed-door interview with the committees on Friday.

Lawmakers and Comey said that the interview was tense and that Republicans were frustrated by instructions from a Justice Department attorney telling Comey not to answer certain questions about the Russia investigation. Comey and House Democrats said the interview was a waste of time consumed with questions about Hillary Clinton's emails.

The transcript was released as part of a compromise struck by Comey and House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia, who had initially subpoenaed Comey to appear behind closed doors.

Comey fought the subpoena in court, saying he would only testify if the proceedings were held in public. But he later backed down, agreeing to appear behind closed doors on the conditions that the transcript would be released as soon as possible and he would be free to speak about the interview afterward.

Comey was interviewed as part of the Republican-led investigation into FBI's investigations into Clinton and Donald Trump and Russia in 2016. Republicans are preparing a report detailing their findings before Democrats take control of the House in January.