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Again, I'd never worked in a transition time before, but my understanding was that, in a more established administrative environment, you wouldn't get away with just calling the witness and saying, "Can we come and talk to you?"
Mr. Gowdy. And you followed the protocol with Presidents Bush and President Obama?
Mr. Comey. I don't remember having occasion like this with either of those Presidents.
Mr. Gowdy. Why not advise General Flynn of the consequences of making false statements to the FBI?
Mr. Comey. Two reasons, really.
First, the Deputy Director called him, told him what the subject matter was, told him he was welcome to have a representative from White House Counsel there. So he knew what he was going to be asked about. He was an extraordinarily experienced person and so reasonably should be assumed to understand you can't lie to the FBI.
Second, it's not protocol. The FBI does not do that in noncustodial interviews.
And, third, you want to find out what the witness will say to you before you heat up an interview by raising the prospect that the witness might be lying to you.
Mr. Gowdy. All right. So you knew what he said before you interviewed him.
Mr. Comey. I don't understand that question.
