The ex-FBI Director Lied to Trump’s Face

During their January 2017 dinner, according to Trey Gowdy, then-FBI director James Comey told president-elect Trump, “I don’t do sneaky things, I don’t leak, I don’t do weasel things.” Trump trusted him, but Comey betrayed that trust. He did all those things and far worse.

The long-awaited report from the U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz has been released. James Comey’s treachery is astonishing. Contrary to his claims, Comey repeatedly sneaked, leaked, and lied. He violated numerous Federal Bureau of Investigation policies and, worst of all, his actions put the country at risk.

Comey’s motivation? Politics. He hated Trump and wanted to sink his presidency. Judged by his actions, James Comey is a traitor.

Comey’s final punishment for his misdeeds is yet to come. The American people’s punishment for his misdeeds started immediately. A phony, two-year, $30 million, investigation into nonexistent collusion between the Trump campaign and a severe breach between the public’s trust and our government institutions top the list.

Comey violated numerous FBI policies, and his actions put the country at risk.

Comey repeatedly told us that his “intentions were noble.” Sure they were…good of the country and all that. Poppycock. James Comey is a political hack who used his extensive powers to further divide the country.

Entrapping Our President

Comey claims he felt compelled to memorialize (write down) his private conversations with the president. In his mind and based on his political agenda, he had to leak memo contents to force the appointment of a special counsel. “Had to!” The Horowitz report blasts those claims and rips Comey’s excuses to shreds. The report is clear: The once head of the FBI was reckless, dishonest and, time and again, showed spectacularly poor judgment. Who does this?

The inspector general systematically exposed Comey’s claims for what they are: partisan hooey and lies. Trump was the focus of an illegal FBI counterintelligence probe from the very beginning. Such probes are approved at the highest levels. According to ex-federal prosecutor and author Andrew McCarthy, President Obama likely knew about the conspiracy to get Trump. That would explain the FBI’s comfort in lying to the president, as well as its use of spy-craft tactics.

The inspector generals report indicates that Comey’s first briefing to Trump, on January 6, 2017, was partly done in hopes that “Trump might make statements about, or provide information of value to…” their probe/scheme. To put it bluntly, FBI leadership plotted to entrap the president.

FBI officials agreed “ahead of time that Comey should memorialize” their exchange immediately is revealing. In other words, the intent apparently was to get Trump talking, write down everything he said, and we (the FBI) can edit it later to make it say what we want.

James Comey is a Thief

Comey stole government documents and memos. He defended his theft by saying those “memos were personal.” IG Horowitz disagrees, and his logic is rock solid. Each and every time Comey met with Trump, he was acting in his official capacity as FBI director. He shared his memos with other FBI officials, which establishes they were work product and, as such, federal documents. Some contained classified information which, Horowitz explains, “is never considered personal property.”

Comey says the memos were personal and his to do with as he wished. Nonsense. IG Horowitz said Comey’s claim is “wholly incompatible with the plain language of the statutes, regulations, and policies defining federal records.” Asked to reconcile the matter, Comey justified his “personal property” twaddle by saying he was also interacting with Trump as a “human being.” Didn’t Sen. Rand Paul’s assailant neighbor try to use the “human being” defense?

Horowitz criticized Comey’s rogue behavior. He noted the former director exceeded his authority when he “made public [leaked] sensitive investigative information.” Comey’s judgment was exceedingly poor.

Comey, the IG wrote, made bad decisions “unilaterally and without authorization.” Further chastising Comey, the report suggests that “the civil liberties of every individual…depend on the FBI’s ability to protect sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure.” The president is one of those individuals whose civil liberties must be safeguarded.

Poison at the Top

The inspector general believes Comey was motivated to reach a “personally desired outcome,” the appointment of a special counsel. This, according to Horowitz, is a complete abandonment of Comey’s leadership and professional responsibilities.

“By not safeguarding sensitive information,” and “by using it to create public pressure for official action, Comey set a dangerous example for the over 35,000 current FBI employees,” wrote Horowitz. Non-political field agents must be embarrassed and livid.

The inspector general’s contempt for Comey’s lack of judgment and actions is the tie that binds his report together. He wrote, “Comey’s own, personal conception of what was necessary was not an appropriate basis for ignoring the policies and agreements governing the use of FBI records.” In a stunning understatement, the report notes that if every FBI agent acted on “personal convictions,” the bureau “would be unable to dispatch its law enforcement duties properly.” Ya think?

President Trump and his supporters believe that Comey committed crimes and, along with others, conspired to take down his presidency. Comey’s reputation is toast. He was duplicitous when he lied to the president’s face while, at the same time, conspiring to either cripple or end his presidency. His rebuke, while welcome, does not deliver justice.

Rudy Giuliani believes, however, that justice is coming. He said flatly, “The [Comey] signature on the FISA affidavit is a crime.” We’ll see.