As the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has some burning questions she'd like to ask of both former FBI director James Comey and Attorney General Jeff Sessions related to the obstruction of justice investigation into the Trump administration.
Feinstein sent a letter to GOP chair Chuck Grassley requesting that both Comey and Sessions be invited to testify before the committee. Grassley announced Wednesday, to the consternation of some GOP colleagues, that the committee would investigate whether there was any "improper interference" with FBI investigations during the election or otherwise.
Feinstein, in particular, is concerned with the circumstances of Comey's firing, writes Austin Wright of Politico:
In her letter Thursday, Feinstein says the Judiciary panel needs to schedule a hearing before the August recess with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who appeared earlier this week before the Senate Intelligence Committee to discuss his role in Comey’s firing and other issues.
“The committee needs to have an opportunity to question the attorney general about the department’s policies and priorities,” Feinstein wrote. “There also remain unanswered questions about the attorney general’s prior testimony before the committee and his role in firing Director Comey.”
Secondly, she writes, Comey must testify before the Judiciary panel “regarding serious concerns that have been raised about political interference with FBI investigations and possible obstruction of justice.”
Comey has already rejected one invitation from the Judiciary Committee, but Feinstein indicated that she's ready to "compel his attendance" in this case using subpoena power if necessary.
Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have also been eager to speak with Sessions again ever since he incorrectly denied having any contacts with Russians during his confirmation hearing for attorney general. When his lie came to light, Sessions was forced to recuse himself from the Russia investigation but still played a pivotal role in Trump's decision to fire the man leading that investigation: James Comey.