James Comey hearing pits FBI ex-chief against Donald Trump on Russia probes

WASHINGTON: The question on everyone’s minds as James Comey testifies to the Senate is the one he doesn’t plan to answer: Did President Donald Trump try to obstruct a federal probe into his campaign’s ties to Russia? The fired FBI director won’t say Thursday whether he thinks the president sought to derail the investigation, according to a person familiar with Comey’s thinking.

But though he will stop short of declaring his own views, Comey is expected to put the president’s conduct on public display. He will spell out several key conversations the two had in the weeks before Trump dismissed him — while Comey was heading a probe into Russia’s role in the 2016 election, an inquiry that was reaching into Trump’s inner circle. The stakes couldn’t be higher: Comey’s actions during a separate inquiry helped undermine Hillary Clinton’s bid for the White House.

Now he could mortally wound or salvage Trump’s presidency. Just as important as Comey’s opening statement to the Senate Intelligence Committee is how cautiously, or not, he chooses his words in the hours of questioning that will follow. Democratic senators will minutely parse his answers to make the case that Trump obstructed justice. And Republicans, White House aides — and maybe an agitated president — will do the same.

“This is really about power, its use and its potential misuse,” said Jack Sharman, who served as special counsel to a congressional probe of President Bill Clinton. Senate Committee’s Republican chairman Richard Burr said Comey has indicated it will be the only public hearing he plans to attend.