Spicer: Actually White House Wants Sally Yates to Testify

The White House says reports it tried to keep Sally Yates from testifying on ties between Russia and the Trump campaign are "100% false." The Washington Post reported Tuesday that, according to documents it received, the White House was planning on claiming presidential communication privilege to prevent Yates from testifying on certain matters. The former acting attorney general was fired by Trump in January but had been deeply involved in the investigation of Michael Flynn before that. She was scheduled to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, but chairman Devin Nunes canceled that hearing, angering Democrats on the committee, CNN reports. According to NBC News, Nunes denies discussing Yates' testimony with the White House.

Sean Spicer has also denied the White House tried to stop Yates from testifying. He says he wants Yates to testify, adding, "I look forward to it." Nunes says he still plans on questioning Yates at some point. A source tells the Post that Yates had told officials her testimony would likely contradict statements made by White House officials. Nunes replaced the planned testimony of Yates and two others with a private questioning of James Comey, which he also then canceled. In fact, Nunes canceled all the committee's meetings for this week. But CNN reports Nunes has now issued a formal invitation to the FBI director to testify before Congress. It's unclear when that testimony will occur. (More Devin Nunes stories.)