Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey has pushed back against reports that House Republicans plan to subpoena him for a private hearing by virtue signalling to his 1.1 million followers on Twitter about the need for total and complete transparency.

“House Republicans can ask me anything they want but I want the American people to watch, so let’s have a public hearing. Truth is best served by transparency. Let me know when is convenient,” he tweeted Friday afternoon in an attempt to virtue signal his alleged honesty.

But if Comey thought his tweet would inspire Twitter users to clap in fervent applause, he thought wrong. Instead social media users blasted him for his “self-serving and hypocritical” stunt.

Look:

House Republicans can ask me anything they want but I want the American people to watch, so let’s have a public hearing. Truth is best served by transparency. Let me know when is convenient. — James Comey (@Comey) November 16, 2018

Great – but then you will not answer the majority of the questions because they are deemed confidential, secret or higher! So, your offer is self-serving and hypocritical! https://t.co/EJNoMy9Adv — Kensei702 (@kensei702) November 17, 2018

.@Comey knows he can’t be asked questions about classified information or the 2016 counterintelligence operation against @realDonaldTrump in a public hearing. He genuinely believes the American people are blind to his games. https://t.co/oiXwlX6v8s — TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) November 17, 2018

He’s saying this because he knows that they will be asking questions involving classified material, which he can’t answer in a public setting. Comey’s trying to act righteous and pure here when in reality he knows full well that he has to be questioned behind closed doors. https://t.co/TRIkmxickJ — Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) November 17, 2018

“Sorry, that’s classified” isn’t good viewing.

But exactly why you’re running this ridiculous play. — Steve Phillips (@rumpletig) November 17, 2018

It’s it’s on public they can’t ask him about matters he was involved in that are still classified, like FISA abuse. — Bo Dean (@BoDean09562751) November 17, 2018

Social media users may have had a point.

House Republicans plan to subpoena both Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch as part of a final attempt to uncover more information regarding the DOJ and FBI’s mishandling of the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va., has notified colleagues that he will subpoena Comey for a closed-door deposition Nov. 29 and Lynch for Dec. 5, according to a person familiar with the subpoenas,” the Associated Press confirmed Friday.

During previous public hearings held in 2017, Comey repeatedly refused to address answer fundamental questions about the investigation on the grounds that the info was classified.

When the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned the then-director in early May of 2017, only days before his termination, about a leaked email from a Democrat operative regarding Lynch’s willingness to do whatever was necessary to protect Clinton, he refused to answer.

“What steps did the FBI take to determine whether Attorney General Lynch had actually given assurances that the political fix was in no matter what? Did the FBI interview the person who wrote the email? If not, why not?” commitee chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley asked.

“I have to give you the same answer. I can’t talk about that in an unclassified setting,” Comey replied.

Ma’am, how old are you? “I can’t talk about that in an unclassified setting” #Comey https://t.co/YbcmdmMQjV — LiterallyABoymom??♠️??? (@KristinBoymom) May 3, 2017

It’s expected by many that were yet another public hearing held about the FBI’s bungled investigation, the disgraced former director would again resort to playing the same game. It’s a game that Comey has played over and over and over again for the past two or so years.

And the the fact that the disgraced former director has also spent the last two years prancing around the country like a showboating, grandstanding celebrity doesn’t help his case.

More reactions from social media can be seen below:

So that you can grandstand. Meet with them behind close doors and answer the questions. This isn’t about you, you’re not a celebrity. Get over yourself and do what you’re asked to do. — Tom Campbell (@TeeItHigh14) November 18, 2018

You want it to be public only so you can grandstand and make a fuss about not being able to say anything because “it’s classified”, I would much rather it be behind closed doors and have you brought up on perjury charges among others… Hope you like orange jump suits jimmy boy. pic.twitter.com/JRJbjyL7BJ — ɹolʎɐʇ ɯ (@got_think) November 18, 2018

U just want to grandstand go away — Dee gatorbaby (@deegatorbaby) November 18, 2018

Translation: “I want a hearing for myself & fellow leftists to grandstand, interrupt the Republicans & deflect on live TV like a good Marxist propaganda expert and, make my communist friends feel safe about not getting in trouble for all the federal crimes we committed together.” — James Alvin Lee (@JamesAlvinLee) November 18, 2018

You want a public hearing to grandstand not because you care about the public.

You don’t dictate to Congress the setting of a hearing. You are such a showboat! — Hackattack (@sicilyforme) November 18, 2018

Exactly. He wants to grandstand and say he can’t tell us anything of substance b/c it’s classified. ? — Ski Bunny (@sternergulch) November 17, 2018

Due to the mounting election losses suffered in the House during the recent midterm elections, House Republicans have until the end of the year to finish up their work before soon-to-be Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team take over.