Mr. Comey. What does the word "plenary" mean?
Mr. Gowdy. "Plenary." To say the pardon powers are plenary, what does it mean?
Mr. Comey. Yeah, I'm not expert enough to give you an expert answer on that. And as to your -- go ahead.
Mr. Gowdy. Do you disagree with the following?
"The Presidential pardon power extends to every offense known to the law and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken or during their pendency or after conviction and judgment."
Do you take exception to what I just read?
Mr. Comey. I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on what you just read.
Mr. Gowdy. Director Comey, have you ever discussed the President's conduct in terms of either obstruction of justice or potential obstruction of justice? In any interview, have you ever discussed his comments through that lens, through that prism?
Mr. Comey. Yeah, I need you to focus the question, obviously. Do you mean when I was FBI Director did I speak to the FBI leadership team?
Mr. Gowdy. I mean any interviews in the last couple of weeks.
Mr. Comey. Oh, I've been asked many times do I think the President was guilty of obstruction of justice.
Mr. Gowdy. And my question to you is, can a President end an
