Mark Warner

The fact that the only person in effect official Washington that continues to deny this threat is the President of the United States... is very concerning.

I was disappointed it took the administration so long to act.

Absolutely. We have a 100 percent agreement from the whole intelligence community.

Oh I'm very concerned. I've seen these press reports, but I think I owe it to CIA Director Pompeo and other officials of the CIA to ask them directly about the truth of those reports before I take a position.

The one individual in America that still seems to not accept this basic fact is the president of the United States.

I particularly appreciate your last comments with Senator McCain about the seriousness of this threat.

I'm hopeful that members will focus their questions today on the Russia investigation, and not squander the opportunity by taking political or partisan shots.

I would hope that you would agree that, since you've recused yourself from this investigation, that if the President or others would pardon someone during the midst of this investigation, our investigation or Director Mueller's…

There was no fresh start. Suddenly, we're in the midst of the investigation, and with timing that seems a little peculiar, what kind of at least to me was out of the blue, the President fires the FBI director.

The committee has made much progress as the political winds blow forcefully around us.

The threat is real, it is continuous.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions and we're going to get to the bottom of this.

I think again this speaks volumes.

I've never had any reason to question your integrity, your expertise, or your intelligence.

We must determine the necessary steps to take to protect our democracy and ensure they can't do it again.

Numerous Trump associates had undisclosed contacts with Russians before and after the election.

This whole investigation is not about relitigating the election. It's not about who won or lost.

It is the unanimous determination of the entire U.S. intelligence community.

We're here because a foreign adversary attacked us right here at home, plain and simple.

You're in a meeting and your direct superior the attorney general was in there as well, yet the president asked everyone to leave, including the attorney general to leave, before he brought up the matter of General Flynn.

I think, frankly--and I understand your commitment to the Administration--but that Senator King, Senator Heinrich and my questions deserve answers, and at some point the American public deserves full answers.

Because that is what the questions are being asked about, reports that nobody has laid to rest here, that the President of the United States has intervened directly in an ongoing FBI investigation.

If the President is asking you to intervene or downplay--you may not have felt pressure, but if he is even asking, to me that is a very relevant piece of information.

Well, I thought you also said at SASC, if brought before the investigative committee, you would, quote, 'certainly provide them with what I know and what I don't know.' We are before that investigative committee.

It's so jarring to hear recent reports of White House officials... attempting to interfere.