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that political figures say to one another. So why did you send two Bureau agents to interview Michael Flynn?
Mr. Comey. Because one of the FBI's jobs is to understand the efforts of foreign adversaries to influence, coerce, corrupt the Government of the United States. So they were sent there as part of that counterintelligence mission to try and understand why it appeared to be the case that the National Security Advisor was making false statements about his conversations with the Russians to the Vice President of the United States.
Mr. Gowdy. Had Michael Flynn previously been under investigation by the Bureau?
Mr. Comey. I can't answer that.
Mr. Gowdy. Why not?
Mr. Comey. Because I don't believe that the Bureau has ever publicly confirmed what Americans were under investigation, counterintelligence investigation, connected to the Trump campaign.
Mr. Gowdy. Well, he's pled guilty, right? Hasn't been sentenced yet, but he's pled guilty.
Mr. Comey. Yes.
Mr. Gowdy. Pled to making a false statement.
Mr. Comey. I've seen that, yes.
Mr. Gowdy. All right. Didn't plead to conspiracy, coordination, collusion with Russia.
Mr. Comey. Not to my understanding.
