McCabe pointed out that the committee would hear from Comey directly on Thursday.
With their testimony coming a day before a highly anticipated hearing with Comey regarding the events that led to his firing in May, intelligence chiefs refused to answer questions regarding Trump and the ongoing Russian Federation investigation. "I have never been pressured, never felt pressured to intervene or interfere in any way with shaping intelligence", Coats said.
"For intelligence-related matters or any other matter that has been discussed, it is my belief that it is inappropriate for me to share that with the public", Coats said.
We were fortunate, then, that Coats and Rogers were scheduled to appear yesterday in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, where they could answer oversight questions about this very issue. The Post reported that Coats would later tell associates that Trump asked him to intervene with the investigation and get it to back off former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Because the report apparently contains some classified information, Coats was unable to discuss specifics.
If this is new posture the Trump administration intends to take with congressional oversight - officials will simply refuse to answer questions, because they feel like it - the scope of the crisis facing our political system is taking a turn for the worse. Mike Warner of Virginia, said the latest news on Coats "raises to me a huge amount of questions".
During the hearing, Comey explained that Trump's question about his loyalty came "in context of asking me to stay" on as Federal Bureau of Investigation director.
Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe raised even more serious questions.
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Admiral Mike Rogers told a Senate intelligence committee on Wednesday he has never "been directed to do anything illegal, immoral, unethical or inappropriate" as NSA director. And does that not deny newspaper reports suggesting quite the opposite, that Dan Coats was pressured?
The White House has given shifting explanations on why Trump fired Comey. Angus King (I-Maine) and two of the nation's top intelligence officials. What you feel is not the answer.
"At no time should you be in a position where you come to Congress without an answer", Burr said.
"What is classified about a conversation involving whether or not you should intervene in the FBI investigation?" asked a clearly exasperated King. Interactions with the president were said to have made Mr Comey uneasy and he apparently kept detailed notes of each encounter.
"Well, Senator, I just hate to keep repeating this, but I'm going to do it", Coats replied.
McCabe said they may fall "within the purview" of the special counsel's investigation, but King asked, "Is there some prohibition in the law that I'm not familiar with that you can't discuss an item that you've been asked directly?"
"Our committee is looking at the facts of what happened and trying to figure out how to prevent this from happening again", King said.
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