A combination photo shows former U.S. FBI Director James Comey testifies over investigation into Hillary Clinton's email system, on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on July 7, 2016, and U.S. President Donald Trump nominates Judge Neil Gorsuch as the new justice for the Supreme Court in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 31, 2017. (Xinhua)
Former FBI Director James Comey will testify in open hearing on Capitol Hill on June 8, the first time since he was suddenly fired by U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee announced Thursday.
It's highly expected that Comey will testify whether Trump asked him to shut down the FBI probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
However, Comey will almost certainly not be able to discuss details of the ongoing FBI probe which is now overseen by a special counsel, according to local media reports.
The Trump administration fired Comey in May, citing his handling of the Clinton email investigation during the 2016 U.S. elections. But Trump himself has repeatedly said that the Russia probe was on his mind when he removed Comey.
Comey reportedly wrote in a memo that Trump asked him to shut down the FBI's probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who is also one of Trump's top aides during the campaign.
Under huge pressure, U.S. Justice Department then appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the probe into the Trump campaign's relations with Russia.
In response, Trump has repeatedly denied any collusions between his campaign and Russia.