The Latest: Justice Dept. sends Comey memos to Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on former FBI Director James Comey's memos (all times local):

7:45 p.m.

The Justice Department has sent Congress confidential memos written by former FBI Director James Comey.

In a letter sent to three Republican House committee chairmen Thursday evening, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd writes that the department is sending a classified version of the memos and an unclassified version. The department released Boyd's letter publicly, but not the memos.

Boyd writes that the department "consulted the relevant parties" and concluded that releasing the memos would not adversely affect any ongoing investigations.

Comey revealed last year that he had written the memos after conversations with President Donald Trump, who later fired him. Some lawmakers have been able to view the memos since last summer, but copies had not been provided to Congress.

__

5:30 p.m.

The Justice Department has agreed to provide three House committees with copies of several memos written by former FBI Director James Comey, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

The move comes as House Republicans have escalated criticism of the department, threatening to subpoena the documents and questioning Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and other officials. The person familiar with the agreement spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the documents had not yet been sent to Congress.

Justice officials had allowed some lawmakers to view the memos but had never provided copies to the House committees.

See Also: