discouraged him from having White House Counsel or other lawyers present?
Mr. Comey. Let me just read the whole paragraph, if I could.
Okay. Could you say your question again, sir?
Mr. Gowdy. Well, you and I were quibbling a little bit over whether or not you took exception to something in a serial question I asked you about whether the Bureau discouraged General Flynn from having either White House Counsel or other counsel present. And you took exception to that, and that's why I went and got the document. And I'm wondering whether or not you still take exception to that in light of what you read.
Mr. Comey. I take exception to your characterization of it as discouraging. But I'm reading Andy -- and I'm sure Andy this wrote this accurately, that he had said the quickest way to get this done was to have a conversation between him and the agents only.
Mr. Gowdy. All right.
Mr. Comey. So I would read it as encouraging him to meet with the agents without White House Counsel present.
Mr. Gowdy. Well, what's the next sentence?
Mr. Comey. "I further stated that if Lieutenant General Flynn wished to include anyone else in the meeting, like the White House Counsel, for instance, that I would need to involve the Department of Justice. He stated this would not be necessary."
