Comey wants to do testimony to congress on TV. Why? He can claim certain things are classified and can't be indulged because of cameras.
He can't do that with closed-door. He can take the 5th, or he can answer. But no deliberate diversion citing false sensitivity.
But the panel that subpoenaed him refused open testimony.
So Comey did what any other deep-stater would do to avoid becoming a target for prosecution: he took it to court to get a judge to rule his testimony had to be in front of the media and TV cameras. (He reportedly told the judge "this is an opportunity for you to make law." Meaning he was trying to entice the judge into making himself famous by telling congress they don't have the powers the Constitution says they do. I don't know if he actually told the judge that or it's rumor.)
Here's what the House panel (citing chapter and verse) had to say before the case gets to the judge (you'll probably have to click on the heading to be able to read it):
He can't do that with closed-door. He can take the 5th, or he can answer. But no deliberate diversion citing false sensitivity.
But the panel that subpoenaed him refused open testimony.
So Comey did what any other deep-stater would do to avoid becoming a target for prosecution: he took it to court to get a judge to rule his testimony had to be in front of the media and TV cameras. (He reportedly told the judge "this is an opportunity for you to make law." Meaning he was trying to entice the judge into making himself famous by telling congress they don't have the powers the Constitution says they do. I don't know if he actually told the judge that or it's rumor.)
Here's what the House panel (citing chapter and verse) had to say before the case gets to the judge (you'll probably have to click on the heading to be able to read it):