Comey says House Republicans are 'shameful' after interview

Former FBI director James Comey had harsh words for U.S. House Republicans on Monday, saying their silence in response to President Donald Trump's attacks on the Justice Department is "shameful."

Comey said Republicans "have to have the courage to stand up and speak the truth, not be cowed by mean tweets or fear of their base."

He was on Capitol Hill for a second closed-door interview with two Republican-led committees investigating what they say was bias at the Justice Department before the 2016 presidential election. Republicans argue department officials conspired against Trump as they started an investigation into his ties to Russia and cleared Democrat Hillary Clinton in a separate probe of her email use.

Democrats have called the Republican investigation "nonsense."

Comey, who led both investigations, mocked the congressional probe, saying the questions were about "Hillary Clinton's emails and the Steele dossier" — two favourite subjects of Republicans who insist there was bias in the department. The dossier was Democratic-funded opposition research on Trump's ties to Russia compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele.

'Republicans should stand up to Comey'

"This while the president of the United States is lying about the FBI, attacking the FBI and attacking the rule of law in this country. How does that make any sense at all?" Comey asked.

Trump has repeatedly gone after the FBI for bias as his campaign has been under investigation. He has called special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation a "hoax." On Sunday, he called his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, a "rat" because he has co-operated with prosecutors.

Comey said Trump "is calling a witness who is co-operating with his own Justice Department a rat — say that again to yourself at home, and remind yourself where we have ended up."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders responded Monday night on Twitter, writing: "Republicans should stand up to Comey and his tremendous corruption.... The President did the country a service by firing him and exposing him for the shameless fraud he is."

The House judiciary and oversight and government reform committees are wrapping up a yearlong investigation into the department's decisions before Democrats take the majority in January. Comey first testified Dec. 7.

A transcript released after Comey's first interview showed a heavy focus on the Clinton email probe. A transcript of the second interview will also be released.