. @NicolleDWallace: What would be happening to someone like Trump if he wasn't president.
@Comey: That person would be in serious jeopardy of being charged. The government wouldn’t make that sponsoring allegation if they weren’t seriously considering going forward.
@Comey: That person would be in serious jeopardy of being charged. The government wouldn’t make that sponsoring allegation if they weren’t seriously considering going forward.
Comey on the "sleeping giant" of Americans waking up, and must focus on 2020. "We must hold him accountable. It’s not a Republican thing or a Democratic thing it’s an American thing because this is unacceptable."
Comey: "I’m a witness. Potentially" in obstruction investigation. Says of Trump's efforts to discredit him publicly: "If I were a prosecutor … that’s something that I would look at very closely."
Comey says that in a typical White House, having FBI interview a senior official as they did with Flynn early would have occurred only after multiple discussions w/counsel. But "I thought it’s early enough let’s just send a couple of guys over."
Comey said he was to brief @realDonaldTrump on "some pretty hair-raising stuff" in a security briefing. But "he seemed pretty distracted." Asked him to stay behind to speak alone. "He asked me, and I took it as a direction, to let him go. … I didn’t let it go."
Comey: "Obviously it’s evidence of obstruction of justice." Decided to keep to a small group. Waited to tell senior DOJ leadership because at time Sessions was only Senate-confirmed leader. Waited for Rosenstein to be confirmed
Comey, on initial meeting w/Trump, transition team at TT on Russia: There were no Qs like what Obama asked, how do I protect country. It was all backward-looking. "They began at the table wordsmithing" about how they were going to play this to media. I'd never experienced that
Comey, on briefing Pres-elect Trump on dossier: "That was a difficult experience. I was nervous on a lot of levels."
Comey on reaction to briefings: "I started going to the whys. Something really weird is going on here. … He would not even criticize Putin in private."
Comey compares what he observed in Trump team to Casa Nostra. "It’s not about anything else except the boss. And when that’s the culture people don’t tell the boss the truth. It’s a fear based leadership."
Comey very careful in answering Q about whether Russia has leverage over Trump. "If there is significant information that would expose a lie by a major public figure that the adversary knows, yes it’s a major concern."
Comey: "All of us should use every breath we have to make sure that the lies stop on January 20, 2021"
@NicolleDWallace : Would you ever run?
@Comey : No ... You don't have to run for office to be useful.
@Comey : No ... You don't have to run for office to be useful.
Comey: By accident of history I have a role to play to speak about the rule of law and the truth
Comey says he would be worried about a "significant independent candidate" -- names Kasich among others. "Because that’s Trump’s reelection ticket." Also worries Dems will nominate someone with very narrow appeal, and the middle stays home
Q: What would you have done differnetly if you were Obama in fall '16:
Comey: O "was in a tight spot." If he announced Russia was "coming for the election, has he helped them accomplish their goal." He also thought DT did’t have a chance to be elected president.
Comey: O "was in a tight spot." If he announced Russia was "coming for the election, has he helped them accomplish their goal." He also thought DT did’t have a chance to be elected president.
Comey names Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan for refusing to join bipartisan warning about Russian election interference, "to their everlasting shame." Says they’re going to have a hard time defending that to history
Comey repeats what he said in book tour. "I hope Donald Trump is not removed by impeachment. Because it would let the country off the hook." Can't have situation where a third of the country believes there was a "coup"
Do you feel guilty about Clinton email probe?
Comey: "I don’t." Always had to consider bad options. “One sucked, one sucked worse.” We "always sought to choose the least bad option."
Comey: "I don’t." Always had to consider bad options. “One sucked, one sucked worse.” We "always sought to choose the least bad option."
Comey says he told DOJ inspector general "I think if I had chosen to conceal this [Weiner laptop] you would be writing a report that would savage me to American democracy."
Comey on investigation he ordered of leaks from NY field office: "Knowing the Bureau, I’m highly confident that it’s either ongoing or it reached conclusion. Because that’s not something our internal affairs people let go of."
Comey: Obama was the best listener, Trump the worst.
Trump, unlike other presidents, stays behind Resolute Desk in group discussions. And is always talking.
"Silence is threatening to an insecure person. Obama had the confidence to be quiet."
Trump, unlike other presidents, stays behind Resolute Desk in group discussions. And is always talking.
"Silence is threatening to an insecure person. Obama had the confidence to be quiet."
Comey: Trump's insecurity is a "root cause" of his failings. Presidents have always had external reference points to base decisions. Trump's is simply about need for affirmation. "Those are words I never thought would come out of my mouth about a president."
