Comey Slams Trump and the Republicans Who Shield Him

The former FBI director urged Republicans protecting Trump to “overcome their shame.”

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

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Former FBI Director James Comey on Monday condemned President Donald Trump for his ongoing attacks on the FBI, as well as Republican lawmakers who continue to shield the president amid his inflammatory rhetoric against law enforcement.

“So, another day of Hillary Clinton’s emails and the Steele dossier,” Comey told reporters as he emerged from a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill. “This while the president of the United States is lying about the FBI, attacking the FBI, and attacking the rule of law in this country. How does that make any sense at all?”

He continued, “Republicans used to understand that the actions of a president matter, the words of a president matter, the rule of law matters, and the truth matters. Where are those Republicans today? At some point, someone has to stand up in the face of fear of Fox News, fear of their base, fear of mean tweets, stand up for the values of this country, and not slink away into retirement.”

Comey, who had just finished testimony as part of a Republican-led investigation into the FBI’s actions during the 2016 election, also slammed Trump for his recent tweets branding Michael Cohen, the president’s former personal attorney, a “rat” for cooperating with federal investigators.

“This is the president of the United States calling a witness, who has cooperated with his own Justice Department, a ‘rat,'” Comey said. “Say that again to yourself at home and remind yourself where we have ended up.”

“Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, you have to stand on your feet, overcome your shame, and say something,” he continued.

Comey appeared before lawmakers earlier this month for a nearly seven-hour hearing that left Republicans frustrated by the former FBI director’s refusal to answer certain questions regarding the Russia investigation. Trump later seized on the transcript of the hearing to baselessly accuse Comey of lying to lawmakers.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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