Per www.marketwatch.com/… (and I apologize in advance for their stupid active content):
1. The “Steele dossier”: Comey’s answer:
“I don’t think that’s a question I can answer in an open setting because it goes into the details of the investigation.”
Clearly, there’s some there there.
2. The secret channel with Russia
This one intrigues me in particular. Martin Heinrich didn’t ask him to verify that the news stories were true, and yet
Comey began by stating for the record he couldn’t comment on “whether that happened” in the open setting of the hearing, before continuing on to describe what the risk of such a setup might be. “You spare the Russians the cost and effort to break into our communications channels by using theirs. You make it a whole lot easier for them to capture all of your conversations. Then to use those to the benefit of Russia against the United States.”
3. Flynn
Angus King asked specifically if King Flynn was a “central figure.” Comey took it to the private session.
4. VEB
That’s Vnesheconombank, which the Wall Street Journal has linked indirectly to Trump. Angus King asked what Comey knows about the bank; Comey answered:
“Nothing that I can talk about in an open setting... I know it exists.”
I think you can take it to the bank that these are lines of inquiry for Robert Mueller. Flynn isn’t particularly surprising. Steele’s dossier, too, would have to be looked at, even if it’s ultimately determined not to be of any value; though, just like Kenneth Starr’s inquisition (yes, I meant the word), you never know at the outset where an investigation will take you.
Investigating VEB, on the other hand, means that at least some of Trump’s business dealings pre-Presidency will be under scrutiny… which, given the welter of leads that will generate, will mean most of his business dealings will be scrutinized. Kushner’s backchannel — that’s surprising to me. Comey could have said that he wasn’t in a position to respond; after all, he had already been fired by the time the backchannel was reported. The fact that he demurred instead means that the information was known to the FBI prior to Comey’s firing. What more do they know about it? And, of course, what might Trump have done (or choose to do later) to impede an investigation into his portfolio-bulging son-in-law?