Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14) released the following statement in response to former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee:
"Yesterday's explosive testimony greatly strengthens the case that President Trump obstructed justice. Mr. Comey told it like it is, under oath: the President lied. He lied about why Comey was fired, he lied about the state of the FBI, he lied about who initiated their one-on-one dinner and why, and he lied about not asking Mr. Comey to lay off Michael Flynn. Mr. Comey's testimony makes clear that the President sought to shield General Flynn, but was willing to throw everyone else under the bus. Why the loyalty to Flynn -- is the President scared by the story Flynn said he has to tell when he sought immunity?
"But what I find most alarming is that at no time did President Trump convey to Mr. Comey any degree of concern about the national security implications of Russian intervention into our democratic processes. Instead, the President remained solely focused on the welfare of General Flynn and himself, not the security of the American people. Throughout the campaign, and now as President, Mr. Trump has consistently chosen to take a pass on holding Russia accountable for its actions, instead choosing to ignore Russian provocation -- going as far as to praise Vladimir Putin. The President has been silent as Russian jets buzz our ships in international waters and as Russian nuclear bombers loop off our west coast. He's been silent as Putin lied about Assad's use of chemical weapons in Syria. He struck a line acknowledging our NATO treaty commitments, which weakens the alliance to Russia's benefit. As if that isn't enough, he's planning to give back the seized properties within the U.S. that the Russians used to spy on us. All this goes entirely against the advice of his respected national security team. We must turn over every rock until all the potential misdeeds are exposed and the President is held to account."