Rep. Trey Gowdy (R., S.C.) suggested that former F.B.I. Director Jim Comey's decision to hold a news conference last July surrounding the investigation into Hillary Clinton was in response to the meeting between former President Bill Clinton and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Gowdy made his comments during a discussion with Fox News host Martha MacCallum on Tuesday night.

"I think when history knows the full fact pattern that led Director Comey to have that July news conference – I mean, I think what your viewers know is a meeting on the tarmac between the spouse of the target of an investigation and the attorney general," he said.

"What your viewers don't know, Martha, and what Jim Comey frankly can't tell them because it's classified and I can't tell them because it's classified: There were a lot of other reasons that Jim Comey decided to take that decision upon himself," Gowdy said. "I think history is going to be much kinder to Jim Comey in that July press conference than the Democrats were when he had it."

After MacCallum questioned if Gowdy was insinuating that Comey had pressure on him not to prosecute Hillary Clinton, Gowdy quickly discredited the theory.

"I don't think the guy feels pressure. I think he wanted the public to have confidence in the investigation and the outcome," he said. "He made the only decision he could have made with respect to appropriating that decision away from the Department of Justice and making the decision himself."

"I only take away from that that you're suggesting that there were more entanglements between the Clintons and perhaps the Justice Department than everyone understands," MacCalllum said.

"You're very perceptive," Gowdy concluded.