House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz said Wednesday that former FBI Director James Comey did not turn over documents to the panel in its Russia probe because a special prosecutor has been named.
"We got a communication yesterday," the Utah Republican told Wolf Blitzer on CNN. "Email. Just two lines, basically telling us that they would not provide those documents given the fact there was a special counsel in place."
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller last week was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to oversee the agency's investigation into Moscow's meddling in last year's election.
Chaffetz said that he talked with Comey for about a half-hour on Monday.
The former director had been scheduled to testify before his committee on Wednesday, but it was cancelled in light of Mueller's appointment.
"He said he wanted to speak to Mr. Mueller before committing to any sort of public testimony," Chaffetz told Blitzer. "That seemed it make sense to me.
"We want to see the documents. We believe Congress has a role to play. We also don't want to impede investigation by special counsel.
"We are trying to find our way without impeding what special counsel is trying to do."
Chaffetz, 50, who is stepping down next month after six years in Congress, declined to say whether his committee would subpoena Comey's documents – adding that "we've got to see how this plays out."
"It isn't good enough to just offer two sentences and say, 'Hey, there's special counsel.'
"We're not letting Congress do its job.
"We have a Constitutional duty," he said. "If I have to send another letter tomorrow, getting them to get them to more fully explain that, we will.
"But I would hope the Department of Justice would do the right thing and provide a full explanation as to why they think Congress shouldn't be able to see these documents."
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