FBI Director James Comey has decided to skip this year’s South By Southwest conference in Texas, citing “scheduling conflicts” that will keep him in Washington, DC.

The agency’s general counsel, James Baker, a long-serving Department of Justice official, will take Comey’s spot Monday in Austin, The Hill reported.

“While Director Comey is now unable to attend, we’re still really excited that this important conversation will take place,” said Newseum CEO Jeffrey Herbst, who will join Baker in the SXSW discussion.

The top G-man was reported to be “incredulous” after President Trump claimed in a Saturday tweet that former President Barack Obama wiretapped him during the presidential race.

Trump did not accept Comey’s conclusion that Obama did not order a wiretap at Trump Tower, a White House spokeswoman said Monday.

Comey reportedly was concerned the president’s shocking charges could cast the FBI in a poor light, a CNN source said Monday.

“[Comey feels] institutionally he has to push back on this,” the source said, citing the gravity of Trump’s accusations.

Last year, Comey was mired in a controversial FBI probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. The Clinton team blamed Comey, in part, for her unexpected loss in the presidential election.

SXSW attendees had eagerly anticipated hearing Comey speak at the event, which last year featured Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as keynote speakers.

At this year’s event, they will hear a discussion between Baker and Herbst on the “intersection of national security, technology and First Amendment rights,” SXSW spokesman Brett Cannon said, USA Today reported.

SXSW organizers have announced former Vice President Joe Biden also will speak Sunday.