Spicer, denying report on Sally Yates: 'I hope she testifies'

White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Tuesday denied a report that the administration tried to block former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates from testifying before the House Intelligence Committee as it probes the Trump campaign’s relationship with Russia.

“I hope she testifies,” Spicer told reporters at Tuesday’s daily briefing. “I look forward to it. … If they choose to move forward, great. We have no problem with her testifying.”


The Washington Post reported earlier Tuesday that the White House did not want Yates, a former Obama administration official who briefly served as President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general before he fired her in late January, to testify before the House committee, which is investigating Russia’s suspected attempts to influence the presidential election. The probe includes whether the Trump campaign coordinated with the Russians.

Rep. Devin Nunes, the committee’s Republican chair, canceled Yates’ planned appearance before the committee, and the Post reported that he did so after she informed the White House of her intention to testify and after she indicated that her statements might contradict the administration.

Spicer called the Post report “100 percent false.” Spicer said the White House never responded to Yates’ letter asking if the administration had any objection to her testifying, and the administration’s lack of response meant that it had no problem with her doing so.

Nunes decided to cancel the hearing, Spicer also said, independently of the White House.