Comey Indicted for Lying to Congress
On Thursday, former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty discussed the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey on “Source” with host Catelan Collins. The charges stem from allegations of lying to Congress during a Senate Judiciary Committee session back in September 2020. This situation has drawn some attention, particularly from former President Donald Trump, who has urged people to examine the details surrounding these false statements.
Collins, who previously worked as a White House correspondent, remarked, “You have a significant judge who was charged. They really considered the case thoroughly. What’s important is that no one seems to be addressing the specifics of his false statements. This is a former FBI director who had an employee meant specifically for leaking information to the New York Times.”
During the congressional inquiry, when asked about any leaked information, Comey referred to a memo he had inadvertently kept at home, but responded, “No, that’s not my memory.” He faced questions regarding Andrew McCabe, another individual associated with the investigation, who allegedly misled the inspector. Again, Comey maintained, “That’s not my memory.” Trusty noted that despite the political turmoil surrounding these issues, the underlying charges appeared relatively straightforward.
McCabe, previously the deputy director of the FBI, was fired in 2018 but had his dismissal reversed in 2021 after a settlement with the Department of Justice following President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Trusty admitted the event had unusual circumstances but didn’t seem to lead to real crimes. He mentioned, “I’m not quite sure how long the Deputy Attorney General and Attorney General have been working on this matter. They need to determine if it’s a viable case. There’s more to this regarding selective and hostile prosecution.” He emphasized the need to look at the inspector’s general report, stating, “Comey has set a risky precedent for the 35,000 employees of the FBI.”
Trusty continued, saying, “If there’s a witness involved, and if there’s communication with a special employee or the New York Times, there might be a compelling case against Comey. It’s important to remember, before we lionize him, that he was dismissed by Trump in 2017 based on recommendations from former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.”
