GOP rep on Comey: ‘I never recall him not being able to answer a question’

Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) on Monday expressed skepticism over James Comey’s testimony before House lawmakers in which the former FBI director said he was unable to remember details or would not answer several questions from lawmakers.

King, who was not in attendance at last week’s closed-door hearing, said he “never” recalled Comey being unable to answer a question during past appearances before the House Intelligence Committee, of which the New York lawmaker is a member.

{mosads}”He has, I think, almost a photographic memory. He has a great capacity for detail,” King said on Fox News. “So it’s hard for me to believe that all those questions, he was unable to answer, didn’t recall, didn’t remember, so again, I don’t want to be judging his motives, but I’m very, very skeptical of that.

“I was not in the room, but I’m skeptical that a person of his ability and his legal ability was unable to remember the answers to all those questions,” he added.

THE HEADLINER: @BillHemmer @SandraSmithFox @RepPeteKing discussed @Comey claiming not to know, remember key details in the Russia case in congressional testimony last week #nine2noon pic.twitter.com/n1rOmpwQ4K

— America’s Newsroom (@AmericaNewsroom) December 10, 2018

Comey testified last week before the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees. The panels later released a transcript of the roughly six-hour appearance.

Republicans have seized on the fact that Comey responded to numerous questions by saying he did not remember, or did not know the information lawmakers were asking about. 

Comey Closed Door Interview Response Counter.

‘I don’t know’ – 156 times

‘I can’t remember’ – 72 times

‘I don’t recall’ – 8 times pic.twitter.com/ytrcBFDvzR

— House Judiciary ⚖ (@HouseJudiciary) December 9, 2018 

While Comey answered many questions and shed new light on certain aspects of the Russia investigation, he also declined to address certain inquiries because of ongoing investigations.

President Trump lashed out at the former FBI director via Twitter on Sunday, highlighting his nonanswers and accusing Comey of lying to the committees.

Comey, who has criticized Trump and called him “morally unfit” for office, called the president’s latest tweet directed toward him “disturbing.”

Trump fired Comey in May 2017.