The Senate Intelligence Committee invited James Comey to testify in a closed session next week. | Getty Comey declines to testify before Senate committee

Ousted FBI Director James Comey will not appear in a closed session before the Senate Intelligence Committee next Tuesday.

Comey had been invited by Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and top Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia. Their panel is investigating Russia’s election meddling and allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.


Warner announced that Comey would not be appearing before his panel in an interview on MSNBC Friday.

The session would have provided Comey a first chance to discuss with lawmakers the circumstances of his firing.

Warner’s announcement came after President Donald Trump issued a warning to Comey on Twitter Friday, writing that the fired FBI director “better hope that there are no ‘tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

The tweet — which has outraged Democrats — appeared to be a response to a New York Times story in which sources close to Comey said he had declined a request from Trump to pledge loyalty to the president.