Former FBI director James B. Comey is expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee next Thursday at 10 a.m., the committee announced Thursday.

Comey’s appearance before the committee has been in the works for some time, but an exact date and time had not previously been set. The committee said Comey would testify in a public setting starting at 10 a.m., and a closed session would follow beginning at 1 p.m.

Former FBI director James Comey, shown in 2015, is expected to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on June 8 at 10 a.m. Associated Press/Susan Walsh

The hearing is sure to be explosive. This month, President Trump abruptly fired Comey amid an FBI investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with the Kremlin to influence the 2016 election. While the Trump administration said the firing was over Comey’s handling of the Clinton email investigation, the president has said the Russia probe was on his mind when he removed his FBI director — who is appointed to a 10-year term to avoid political influence.

Comey will almost certainly not be able to discuss details of the ongoing investigation, which is now being led by a special counsel. He might, though, be able to talk about the details of his firing and other conversations he had with the president.

Comey wrote in private notes that Trump asked him to shut down the FBI’s probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and he also kept notes on a conversation in which he alleged Trump asked him for an affirmation of loyalty, people familiar with the documents have said.

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