#character focus.

KERN: This is a pretty damning report, Director. You disobeyed direct orders, against intervention policy and you got an American asset killed, with no real discernible results as to our own humint interests. Is it fair to say this was a failed mission? COULSON: Depends on your definition of failure. KERN: What's your definition, then? COULSON: Our orders would have left fifteen innocent children to burn to death. We went back to save them and we did. I'd say that was a success. KERN: At the loss of a highly cooperative, highly important American asset. COULSON: In my professional opinion at the time, it was a drop in the bucket in comparison to what we already had gathered during our time in [REDACTED]. KERN: In your professional opinion? Or someone else's? COULSON: What's that supposed to mean? KERN: Have you considered the possibility Agent Romanova was running a honeytrap? COULSON: That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say and I watch a lot of C-SPAN. DURANT: The Director is reminded he is under oath and that this is a Senate hearing, you are to behave with better conduct or you will be held. KERN: Director, has it occurred to you that having an infamous Russian spy working with top level security clearance at, arguably, one of the least regulated branches of American Intelligence might look bad when you are under investigation for being compromised from the inside? COULSON: At the advice of my attorney, I invoke the fifth amendment. KERN: How are we to trust the decisions you have made during your time as a handler and as the Director of SHIELD if you won't give us a straight answer regarding your involvement with foreign agents. COULSON: She's not a foreign agent, she's an Avenger. She's put herself on the line day in and day out to save not just my life, not just the lives of the American people, but your life too. If it weren't for her, there would be a lot more flags folded on mantlepieces. So, let's just keep that in mind before you go Yosemite fuckin' Sam. KERN: Director you will watch your tone in this court. [ EXCERPT CONTINUES AT 02HRS 08MINS. ] DURANT: At what point would recruitment become a counterintelligence threat to our country? COULSON: Senator, that's difficult to answer in the abstract. When a foreign power is using coercion or some sort of pressure to try and co-opt an American, especially a government official, to act on its behalf, that’s a serious concern regardless of who is on what side of the aisle. DURANT: So any document detailing specific claims against an individual or individuals regarding their involvement in this matter would have to be verified independently, is that correct? COULSON: Yes. If it's a credible allegation, we would be in contact with the C.I.A. or the the Department of Homeland Security. DURANT: How often have you had to do that? COULSON: Never. DURANT: You have never had a single concern raised regarding the involvement of an agent in counter intelligence recruitment? COULSON: Not independently checked by an outside organisation, no. DURANT: What about Sharon Carter? COULSON: Agent Carter was never co-opted or coerced by a foreign power. That's the basis of an investigation. DURANT: Have you ever had an intimate relationship with Agent Carter? COULSON: I invoke the fifth amendment. DURANT: Phil, I'm starting to see a pattern. You've got an Air Force Colonel who you left to rot in a gulag. You've got a Russian Black Widow on one shoulder and ex-communicated black ops specialist on the other who is now on the run after being accused of treason. You're at the helm of a ship overrun by Neo-Nazi's and the most you have to say is that you invoke the fifth. COULSON: I have served this country - DURANT: And we thank you for that service, but it does not make you immune to reproach or questioning. [OFF MIKE.] DURANT: Alright, we'll take a break there. This committee will reconvene with the Director at 09:30 hours. [ TESTIMONY CONTINUES AT ANNEX B. ]

RUSSELL: This Committee knows from closed sessions what I think the American people may know less well, which is the terrorism threat today is very, very different and has changed significantly in the two years you have been Director. My concern is how much of a blind eye you may have turned towards internal threats while focusing so extensively on the external. Did you ever have a conversation with any of the former Directors Fury or Hill regarding HYDRA? COULSON: No. HYDRA, to my knowledge, was a dead organisation from the forties with no modern foothold. RUSSELL: What about with Agent Carter? COULSON: In what capacity? RUSSELL: Her aunt, Margaret, was involved in operations to combat HYDRA during World War Two. You're a public Captain America aficionado. You never had a conversation regarding her work? COULSON: To my knowledge? No. RUSSELL: I'd like to present exhibit annex 14F. I think you have a copy of it, Director. [ ANNEX 14F IS A LOG OF DIRECTOR COULSON VISITING MARGARET CARTER WITH AGENT SHARON CARTER AT A COMMUNITY RETIREMENT HOME. ] RUSSELL: You have visited Peggy Carter once every two weeks for almost five years. COULSON: She's a very good poker player and kept taking all my money. RUSSELL: You never spoke about HYDRA in all that time, not once? COULSON: I don't like to mix business and pleasure. KERN: I'm not sure that's true, Director. DURANT: I call this hearing to order. Vice Chair consider this an official warning. KERN: Acknowledged, Chairman. RUSSELL: Director Coulson, did you ever have doubts as to the authenticity of your orders prior to the Winter Soldier attack? COULSON: I invoke the fifth amendment. RUSSELL: Did you ever have doubts as to the legitimacy of Nick Fury's directives coming directly from the U.S. government? COULSON: Since you're basically asking the same question, I invoke the fifth amendment. DURANT: [OFF MIKE.] DURANT: Alright, I think we're starting to square dance, gentleman. I'd like to circle back to our original line of questioning. Are you concerned you have, in your capacity as a high ranking person within SHIELD, potentially facilitated or furthered HYDRA ideals and goals? COULSON: I think that's a very stupid question, Cathy. DURANT: And what makes you think that? COULSON: We live in a golden age of communication, with people able to speak directly into the living rooms and bedrooms, hearts and minds of hundreds upon thousand of Americans with the click of a button. They can be found and tasked at a speed we have never before been capable of intercepting, and of course it poses an enormous challenge for us. We are not some occupying force imposed on American values run by foreign legions. We belong to the American people but we only have the tools we have through you, the government, and the reason I agreed to be here today without a subpoena is to tell you those tools are not enough and they have not been working the ways in which we expected them to work. My people are good people, not just at what they do but at the heart of who they are, and I truly believe they have been doing the right thing with the right perception of their role. We have been damaged by this, we have been hurt by it, just as much as everybody else. This country has never been about saying what cannot be done - Senator, we can build on this, we can build better, even if it means starting from scratch. DURANT: Director, thank you.

DURANT: Director, allegations have been swirling in the press for the last several weeks, and today is your opportunity to set the record straight. I have read your initial statement with keen interest, but I would like to ask - did you have any suspicions whatsoever about the possibility of a leak within SHIELD? COULSON: At the advice of my attorney, I invoke the fifth amendment. DURANT: You're saying you will not state one way or another whether you were aware of any secret operation to undermine SHIELD? COULSON: At the advice of my attorney, I invoke the fifth amendment. DURANT: Phil, how long have you worked for SHIELD? COULSON: Eighteen years. DURANT: And in that time, how many agents have you acted as a handler for? COULSON: Seven. DURANT: One of which being Air Force Colonel Carol Danvers? COULSON: Yes. DURANT: Did the two of you have an intimate relationship? COULSON: [NO REPLY] DURANT: Phil? COULSON: Forgive me, Senator, but I'm unsure of the relevance of that question. DURANT: Let me rephrase the question: during your time as Counter Intelligence General Counsel, also known colloquially as an Asset Handler, did you ever have an intimate relationship with Colonel Danvers? COULSON: [OFF MIKE.] COULSON: Yes. DURANT: For how long were the two of you involved? COULSON: That's not relevant. DURANT: It certainly speaks to your conduct. COULSON: My conduct is not the purpose of this Committee... DURANT: Correct, Phil, the purpose of this Committee is to investigate the infiltration of a largely unregulated and often overlooked branch of American Intelligence - of which you have been a part of, as you said, for almost two decades. Your conduct is exactly relevant to this investigation and to this committee. COULSON: Eight years. DURANT: During your time as Counter Intelligence General Counsel, did you ever have an intimate relationship with Natasha Romanova? COULSON: No. DURANT: You are under oath, Phillip. COULSON: During my time as Counter Intelligence General Counsel, I never had an intimate relationship with Natasha Romanova. DURANT: What about as Intelligence Command Chief of Operations? COULSON: At the advice of my attorney, I invoke the fifth amendment. DURANT: Are you familiar with Operation: Infinite Reach? COULSON: At the advice of my attorney, I invoke the fifth amendment. DURANT: That's alright, I can refresh the committee's memory. [ THIS SUBSECTION HAS BEEN REDACTED DUE TO ONGOING SECURITY OPERATIONS WITHIN NAMED COUNTRIES. TESTIMONY CONTINUES AT 01HRS 56MINS. VICE CHAIR KERN TAKES OVER. REPORT CONTINUES HERE. ]