Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement on former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee:

“Today, under oath and penalty of perjury, former FBI Director Comey answered the questions being asked by the American people, and confirmed what the President himself already told us: he was fired because of the Russia investigation. As the facts continue to come forward, any remaining public trust in President Trump is quickly evaporating.

“Mr. Comey’s reputation for honesty is beyond reproach. His decision to write detailed accounts of his conversations with the President is underscored by his concern that these interactions would be misrepresented. It is telling that when confronted with facts about Russian involvement in our democratic process, President Trump never even took the time to ask whether it would continue or how to stop it. Rather, he asked for an investigation into his former national security advisor to be stopped. And when Mr. Comey did not change course, the President fired him. While Mr. Trump may not have been under investigation then, President Trump is likely under investigation for obstruction of justice now.

“Congress has a responsibility to provide oversight over this President. It is time Members of Congress finally choose country over party. House leaders providing alternative explanations for why Mr. Comey was fired and creating alternative narratives about the facts surrounding the previous election must stop.”