On Thursday, Comey, whom Trump fired last month while he was heading the agency's Russian Federation investigation, is set to testify before the same Senate panel.
Former FBI director James Comey accused United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday of trying to get him to water down the bureau's investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
Coats said he had never felt "pressured" to shape intelligence "in a political way", but when pressed on his communications with Trump and the question of whether the president had asked him to step in to influence the investigation, he said he would not respond in a public hearing, saying it was not "an appropriate venue".
Director Mike Rogers and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats have both denied that US President Donald Trump put pressure on them to intervene in investigations into possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Republican's election campaign.
But King said their responses were unacceptable.
"I stand by the comments I've made, I'm not interested in repeating myself, sir", Rogers, known sometimes for being inappropriate, stated.
Coats again stayed mum Wednesday when he was asked by Sen. Trump had said at the time on NBC that he had "this Russian Federation thing" in mind when he fired Comey.
Trump slams Comey testimony
In the post, the president said: "Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication. and WOW, Comey is a leaker".
"What's the basis?" King asked.
COATS: I've never received anything like that.
ROGERS: - that I felt to be inappropriate, nor have I felt pressured to do so. "You swore that oath", King pounded. Over these two days, four current intelligence officials, along with one former one, will all be testifying under oath before the same Senate panel. "When my dad said, 'why are you out so late?' I didn't say, 'well I think it's inappropriate to answer that question'". Both men denied Trump's request, according to the Washington Post.
"I understand your answer but I am disappointed with your answer", Warner said, before turning his attention on Coats, who similarly demurred. So, Heinrich stated the obvious - that Coats' "unwillingness to answer a very basic question speaks volumes". The Maine senator asked, "What is the legal basis for your refusal to testify to this committee?" But then Marco Rubio - Republican from Florida and, of course, one-time presidential candidate - pointed out that this was a little subjective, and he said, we're not asking for classified information. The refusal by intelligence chiefs to discuss possible conversations with Trump will put even more of a spotlight on former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey when he appears before the same panel on Thursday to give his own much-awaited testimony.
Senator King began his questioning by telling McCabe he was "puzzled" by his refusal to answer previous questions from a Democrat on the Committee.
If this is new posture the Trump administration intends to take with congressional oversight - officials will simply refuse to answer questions, because they feel like it - the scope of the crisis facing our political system is taking a turn for the worse.
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