Mr. Comey. I don't know for sure. It could be for violating them, but -- I don't know for sure whether it could be something else too.
Mr. Ratcliffe. As you've sat here today -- as you sit here today, have you heard anything about the fact that Christopher Steele was terminated for leaking information to the press?
Mr. Comey. As I sit here today, since I left the FBI, I've read stuff in the media about that. I don't believe I had ever heard anything about that while I was still at the FBI.
Mr. Ratcliffe. Okay. So, if Christopher Steele -- again, I know you don't know whether he had been terminated, but if he was and he continued to provide information as a source to the FBI, who would have authorized that?
Mr. Comey. I don't know. And it's too much of a hypothetical for me to even begin to answer. I don't know. Because I don't know -- I don't know whether any of the -- the preamble to your question is true.
Mr. Ratcliffe. Are you aware that Christopher Steele had a relationship -- and by "relationship," I mean a working relationship -- with Bruce Ohr?
Mr. Comey. Am I aware that he had a working relationship with Bruce Ohr? No.
Mr. Ratcliffe. Are you aware of any communications or contact between Christopher Steele and Bruce Ohr?
Mr. Comey. I am not aware.
