>> the chair and ranking member stepped out to attend as the washington post reports a meeting with the deputy attorney general who played a central role in the firing of fbi director james comey. >> we will hold for a second gui. nobody is coming out? [indiscernible conversations]

>> i give you about five more seconds and that is going to be at d it. >> the vice-chairman and i wanted to come out. we just had a meeting with the deputy ag. it is a request we made prior to director comey's departure. it so happens that the timing of it meant that today was the earliest possible time we could do together. we did not want to miss the opportunity. since the committee has an investigation going on that is very similar to what the department of justice has going on, we felt there was a great need to set up a process for de-confliction, so when we had witnesses we needed to talk to, we made sure we were not stepping on top of anything that might be an active

investigation. today, we were able to share that with the deputy attorney general and we feel like our investigation could go forward with a fairly good understanding with the rules of the road. >> i simply want to add i think it was a productive session, that i still have concerns about rosenstein in terms of his role in the comey departure and the memo. the chairman and i just disagree in terms of the need for this is narrowly tailored independent counsel. i expressed that concern to mr. rosenstein and he took that under advisement, i think as well to give it back to the worldwide threat hearing, it's important to get the leadership

in the intelligence community on record saying they were 100 sent certain it was russians interfering in our elections and agents of the russian spy service. it is remarkable to me that it seems like this administration denies that happened and i tought it was appropriate get mr. mccabe on the record. >> i think it is important to point out the place the vice-chairman and i still have 100% agreement, and that is regardless of what happens that the investigation done by the senate intelligence committee will continue on its current course as aggressively as we are able to based on what we have gleaned. we continue to hold interviews

as was noticed last night. we issued our first subpoena. i hope it is our last because everything else might be voluntary for top in the absence of voluntary participation, we are willing to go to whatever basket of tools we feel is necessary. >> does the deputy attorney general described his role in the firing and the way the white house for traded accurate? >> that was not the point of his visit with us and i would ask you to put that much into him or the white house. >> are there concerns about the circumstances of the comey firing? >> we did not get into the details of his involvement. you've got a copy of what he wrote. this is an individual that comes with an unbelievable background, but our purpose meeting with him

was to make sure we had a way for that both the vice chair and i understood and were comfortable with. >> let me just add to that that i voted for this individual. he comes with a solid record. i was very disappointed. i still find the timing of mr. comey's dismissal with sally yates' testimony troubling. >> what did he mean he would take it under advisement? >> i think he listened. this is an individual who listened carefully and i think he would weigh those divisions. >> mr. coates described it as a rising threat from russia. their cyber threat seems to be able to mess up elections worldwide. what is your answer to that mark

-- what is your reaction to that? >> we have looked at russia's their involvement not only in our elections but what looks to be aggressively in french elections, montenegrin elections, potentially german elections. hearing in the not-too-distant future that gets into those elections outside the united states so the american russia aserstand what an heiress -- as an adversary today is attempting to do. >> one of the things i find so troubling, and this goes across all cyber threats, but i have heard one expert indicate that you add up all the costs of what theia spent to disrupt elections, the german elections, that the germans had to hang

count their balance, that is less than 5% of the cost. as we look at asymmetrical threats, cyber could be a gratis older ability. >> that is why today's hearing is greater than anything else mark and i will do today. it to share how that threat has changed. >> have you invited director appear?-- comney to >> we have sent former director committeequest to the next tuesday. i have not gotten a response back. >> did mr. rosenstein confirmed that he threatened to quit over the handling of the comey finding and did you ask about that? >> we did not ask and he did not share it with us. we were focused on d

confliction. extent in the future will the investigation require cooperation? >> i think it is continuing that we have unprecedented accent to information, unprecedented access to interviews that to date we have not been denied. sometimes some very crucial negotiations to get to folks we felt we needed to talk to but we felt we are confident that everything we have done up to has been items that were needed in the investigation and the level of cooperation existed. that is why meeting with the deputy da happened today. >> we have been concerned about

the pace of the investigation. uncharted territory with a lot of the intelligence community. at times it has not then because we had a disagreement. for how no playbook they share this information with just congressional committee, but the staff that we have done. does your pathway open between your priorities and fbi priority? is there any concern from both of you -- i know you disagree with this but could a special counsel interfere with your work? >> i make no judgment on what the special counsel would interfere. this investigation will go forward and will be completed. commitment we share. we share one similarity. we are committed to finish this investigation by the senate

intelligence community because it is our job and we will do it right because that is what is expected of us. anything short of that is to say that 85 members of the senate and the american people were the wrong ones to put us to do oversight on a daily basis. >> were there subpoenas that interfered with -- >> we are comfortable. i think we will have an appropriate process in place. could you eliminate that is a possibility? >> we can't comment on that. that is a conversation that took place between director comey and the president. wherelow the intelligence it leads and we will be able to make a determination. >> i would add that i would refer you to mr. mccabe's

comments about what traditional procedure would be. that would not be something in a traditional case that would be discussed. was howid this meeting you set up the rules of the road. how would you describe what those are? >> director comey did not come up. he was not the subject to though there are details to work out, there was a college men and understanding of the need to the probe andpick up the share with them what we were likely to do and could get and's in anymediate it here way shape or form -- immediate adherence. raisedced the point -- the point that one of the reasons i felt the need for independent counsel because i ss and firingoce

james comey. >> i would direct that to the white house. that is not an assessment we are going to make. thatte the amount of time we are spending and the staff is spending. >> are you confident that director mccabe is ready? >> are you confident that mr. rosenstein can lead the russian investigation? >> i don't think that is up to senator warner and myself to make. the president made a determination that if any point he does not feel he is, a change would be made. reason the dag determined he could not carry out the job he would make a decision. we don't have the luxury of taking who we work with.

we work on the pathways that s we accommodate the need work with. one last question. >> have you gotten a response to your subpoena? >> one last question. >> the president told leicester lester holt that he was going to fire director comey whether he had the recommendation or not and called him a show voter and grandstand her. >> i will not speak for senator warner. i will let her do that. i put out a statement on the director's firing. i found him to be one of the most ethical, upright, straightforward individuals i have had the opportunity to work with. he provided our andittee with more access

information of the fbi. there were employees who disagreed with how he handled the clinton email announcement. the lines share of fbi employees respect to former director -- the lion's share of fbi employees respect the former director. i'm sure he will at some point have an opportunity to share, if he wants to come up his story. i'm confident the vice chair and i look forward to working with acting director mccabe in the interim or whoever the president chooses because at the end of the day mark and i realize whoever is president has the authority to pick the director of the fbi. >> i trusted james comey. echo what he said.

i thought he made mistakes but i never called for his resignation. i thought he was a straight shooter. i am offended at the president's comments. continuing pattern of disrespecting the men and women who serve in our intelligence community. i think they would be better served regardless of what are -- regardless of whether is being andorted of the i.c. calling into question leaders' integrity. >> thank you. >> from today's white house briefing, more questions about the firing of the fbi director. --n newsmakers face

newsmakers, featuring senator charles grassley and a look at what might happen with the fbi-russia investigation and the search for a new director. >> c-span's washington journal live every day with news and policy issues that impact deal. friday morning, syracuse university law professor william banks will discuss the appointment and law pertaining to special counsel and senior global security scientist evan lyman will talk about safety and security of nuclear waste. we will look at the problem of teen suicide with caroline stangl. she will discuss parents why"rns about "13 reason and fears it could lead to copycat suicides. join the discussion.

on friday, former first lady michelle obama talks about combating childhood obesity live at an event hosted by a partnership for a healthy america on c-span. you can also use a c-span radio app. c-span, where history unfolds daily. in 1979 c-span was created as a public service by america's serviceslevision and brought to you by day -- to you today by your cable or satellite advisor. >> tombaugh's are announced details on a new executive order amy to improves -- order aimed at improving cyber security. sarah huckabee