In this Sept. 28, 2016, file photo, FBI Director James Comey testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Trump, White House: Comey Is ‘a Proven Liar and Leaker;’ He ‘Should Be Ashamed of Himself’

The White House and President Donald Trump criticized former FBI Director James Comey after a Department of Justice Inspector General probe found he violated multiple government policies.

Following the release of the report on Aug. 29, Trump took to Twitter to call out Comey.

“Perhaps never in the history of our Country has someone been more thoroughly disgraced and excoriated than James Comey in the just-released Inspector General’s Report. He should be ashamed of himself!” Trump wrote.

Perhaps never in the history of our Country has someone been more thoroughly disgraced and excoriated than James Comey in the just released Inspector General’s Report. He should be ashamed of himself! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2019

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham called Comey “a proven liar and leaker.”

“The Inspector General’s report shows Comey violated the most basic obligations of confidentiality that he owed to the United States Government and to the American people, ‘in order to achieve a personally desired outcome,'” she added in a statement.

“Because Comey shamefully leaked information to the press—in blatant violation of FBI policies—the Nation was forced to endure the baseless politically motivated, two-year witch hunt. Comey disgraced himself and his office to further a personal political agenda, and this report further confirms that fact.”

The report found Comey improperly leaked a memo through an associate to the New York Times shortly after Trump fired him.

Comey did not provide classified information to the media but he did provide classified information to his attorneys, the inspector general found.

“By not safeguarding sensitive information obtained during the course of his FBI employment, and by using it to create public pressure for official action, Comey set a dangerous example for the over 35,000 current FBI employees—and the many thousands more former FBI employees—who similarly have access to or knowledge of non-public information,” the report stated.

Some of Comey’s associates in the bureau said they were surprised when they learned what Comey had done.

“In a country built on the rule of law, it is of utmost importance that all FBI employees adhere to Department and FBI policies,” the report later stated.

Comey took to Twitter himself to claim he had been vindicated.

“I don’t need a public apology from those who defamed me, but a quick message with a ‘sorry we lied about you’ would be nice,” he said.

DOJ IG “found no evidence that Comey or his attorneys released any of the classified information contained in any of the memos to members of the media.” I don’t need a public apology from those who defamed me, but a quick message with a “sorry we lied about you” would be nice. — James Comey (@Comey) August 29, 2019

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) was among the lawmakers reacting to the report, writing on Twitter: “What’s most striking about this IG report on James Comey: his actions weren’t the result of carelessness or an oversight of rules.”

“This was deliberate and intentional. He broke FBI protocol, knowing what he was doing. And it seems he did so for the purpose of targeting Trump,” Meadows added.

What’s most striking about this IG report on James Comey: his actions weren’t the result of carelessness or an oversight of rules. This was deliberate and intentional. He broke FBI protocol, knowing what he was doing. And it seems he did so for the purpose of targeting Trump. — Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) August 29, 2019

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) also reacted, responding to Comey and quoting directly from the report.

“We conclude that Comey’s retention, handling, and dissemination of certain Memos violated Department and FBI policies,” was one portion he quoted.

Hey @Comey, the facts are in: “Comey failed to live up to this responsibility” “Comey set a dangerous example for…current FBI employees” “We conclude that Comey’s retention, handling, and dissemination of certain Memos violated Department and FBI policies” -IG Report https://t.co/XXcGcyESfq — Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) August 29, 2019

Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.