Intel Chiefs grilled in Senate hearing over their interactions with Trump, Comey

In photo from left to right: Acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats. Right out of frame: NSA Director Michael Rogers

Photo credit to J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press

US Intelligence chiefs answered questions during a Senate panel meeting Wednesday.

Many questions focused on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which provides the US with anti-terrorist communication tools against foreigners outside the country.

However, much attention has gone to the intelligence chiefs' answers, or lack thereof, in relation to their individual interactions with President Donald Trump and former FBI Director James Comey.

Wednesday's Senate panel meeting comes just one day before Former FBI Director James Comey gives his testimony.

Although questions concerning FISA Section 702 went smoothly, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee grew frustrated over the lack of answers the intelligence chiefs were willing to give in an open session.

After being asked several times, the intel chiefs would neither confirm nor deny whether they were asked or influenced to downplay the Trump-Russia investigation.

However, they did state that they never felt "pressured" to downplay the investigation.

Rather than answer the questions in an open setting, the chiefs, notably Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats and NSA Director Michael Rogers, stated they would openly answer in a closed, "classified setting".

Members of the committee grew frustrated, including Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC), Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) and senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Senator Angus King (I-ME) asked if President Trump had used executive privilege to make the chiefs avoid answering questions concerning their interactions.

When Rogers answered "not that I'm aware of", King responded, "then why aren't you answering the questions?"

Rogers then responded, "Because I feel it is inappropriate", which led King to state, "What you feel isn't relevant...what you feel isn't the answer."

The answers given throughout the meeting mirrored those of Rogers, as the chiefs stated their interactions with both Trump and Comey were "confidential" and "classified".

Anthony Zurcher of BBC News called the meeting a "big letdown", as it was supposed to be the "undercard" to James Comey's long-anticipated testimony on Thursday.

Comey's testimony Thursday will begin 10 a.m. EST on Thursday and will be broadcasted by several outlets.