Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.) on Wednesday called on former FBI Director James Comey to publicly testify before the Senate.

“I think we need to hear from him as soon as possible in public to respond to the issues that have been raised in recent days,” he told The Wall Street Journal.

“I think we need to hear from him about whatever he has to say about the events of recent days, as soon as possible, before the Senate Intelligence Committee, in public,” McConnell added when asked if the latest news about Comey surprised him. “That’s all I really have to say about him.”

McConnell’s office added in a statement that Comey publicly testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee would be “appropriate and timely.”

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Committee Chairman Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrRep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy Overnight Defense: Trump rejects major cut to military health care | Senate report says Trump campaign's Russia contacts posed 'grave' threat Senate report describes closer ties between 2016 Trump campaign, Russia MORE (R-N.C.) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner Mark Robert WarnerIntelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats MORE (D-Va.) on Wednesday said that they sent Comey a letter asking for both his public and private testimony to members.

“I hope he’ll accept our invitation,” Warner told reporters, noting he had not yet received a response. “I believe he will.”

Comey declined the panel’s first invitation to meet members last week, reportedly preferring public testimony to a closed-doors session.

The New York Times on Tuesday reported that President Trump asked Comey to end the federal probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn in February.

Comey wrote in a memo shortly after the Feb. 14 meeting that Trump told him, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go,” the report said.

The Trump administration is scrambling to contain the fallout from Trump’s unexpected firing of Comey last week.

Comey’s ouster has stirred fierce controversy as it came during the FBI’s probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential race, including possible ties between Russia and Trump’s campaign.