Top questions Republicans want James Comey to answer
Former FBI director to sit down for private deposition with House Judiciary Committee; Ted Harvey, Committee to Defend the President chairman, weighs in.
From his handling of a probe into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to his investigation into Russian meddling in the election, former FBI Director James Comey has long been a punching bag for President Trump.
After Comey left the FBI, Trump accused him of leaving the agency in "tatters." And as Comey released his explosive tell-all book, Trump called for the former FBI boss to be "prosecuted" for allegedly leaking information and lying under oath to Congress.
"He is a weak and untruthful slime ball who was, as time has proven, a terrible Director of the FBI," Trump said in April. "It was my great honor to fire James Comey!"
But while Trump has publicly hit the nation’s former chief investigator hard, his public opinion throughout his presidency and campaign hasn't been all bad.
Criticism
On Comey's Capitol Hill testimony
On Dec. 7, Comey testified behind closed doors, despite previously seeking an open hearing. He was expected to answer a variety of questions — from his decision not to recommend any criminal charges against Hillary Clinton for her private server scandal in 2016 to the FBI's investigation into potential Russian collusion during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Comey tweeted days before his testimony that it was "hard to protect [his] rights without being in contempt," so he agreed to "sit in the dark." House Republicans apparently weren't satisfied at the conclusion of Comey's questioning and indicated they may want to bring Comey back, according to reports.
Trump, too, was clearly frustrated.
"It is being reported that Leakin' James Comey was told by Department of Justice attorneys not to answer the most important questions," Trump tweeted afterward. "Total bias and corruption at the highest levels of previous Administration. Force him to answer the questions under oath!"
On Clinton’s emails
Trump has often tweeted about Comey’s involvement in the FBI’s investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state, saying his handling of the probe has left the FBI in “tatters.”
“Hillary and the Dems loved and praised FBI Director Comey just a few days ago. Original evidence was overwhelming, should not have delayed!” Trump tweeted in October 2016.
Before Comey was officially sacked, Trump said Comey “was the best thing that ever happened to” Clinton because he “gave her a free pass for many bad deeds.”
After the FBI confirmed Comey had drafted a statement about Clinton before the investigation was completed, Trump took to Twitter to lambast the former FBI chief even more.
“Wow, FBI confirms report that James Comey drafted letter exonerating Crooked Hillary Clinton long before investigation was complete. Many people not interviewed, including Clinton herself,” Trump tweeted. “Comey stated under oath that he didn’t do this – obviously a fix? Where is Justice Dept?” Trump tweeted.
“As it turned out, James Comey lied and leaked and totally protected Hillary Clinton. He was the best thing that ever happened to her!” he said.
He's also said Comey, along with others, have "committed many crimes."
On Comey’s firing
Trump fired Comey on May 9, 2017 and sent his FBI chief a short, impersonal letter to make him aware of his termination.
Trump predictably took to Twitter to defend the firing.
“James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI," Trump said the morning after the firing.
“Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!” Trump added.
On the Russia investigation
Comey told Trump that he was not under investigation by the FBI, Trump said in a May 2017 interview with NBC News.
“I said, if it’s possible would you let me know, am I under investigation? He said, ‘You are not under investigation,’” Trump said.
When asked if he was angry with Comey over his investigation into Russia’s meddling in the presidential election, Trump just said he “want[s] somebody that’s competent” to lead the FBI. He added that he is “a big fan of the FBI.”
Trump reportedly called Comey “crazy” and a “nut job” during a conversation with Russian officials in the Oval Office the day after Comey’s firing, according to The New York Times.
“I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job,” Trump said according to a document of the meeting obtained by the Times. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”
And when it comes to his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Trump has denied asking Comey to stop his investigation into potential wrongdoing.
“I never asked Comey to stop investigating Flynn. Just more Fake News covering another Comey lie!” Trump tweeted on Dec. 3.
On Comey's memo
As Comey has promoted his new memoir, titled "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership," Trump called the former FBI head a "slimeball" and dubbed him "Slippery James Comey."
"Slippery James Comey, a man who always ends up badly and out of whack (he is not smart!), will go down as the WORST FBI Director in history, by far!" Trump said on social media.
He also criticized the book for not answering certain questions, such as: "how come he gave up Classified Information (jail), why did he lie to Congress (jail), why did the DNC refuse to give [Clinton's email server] to the FBI (why didn't they TAKE it), why the phony memos," among other things.
Trump has also denied asking Comey for his loyalty, something Comey detailed in his memoir.
On stopping government leaks
Trump has several times expressed his disappointment with Comey and the FBI not being able to stop “national security ‘leakers’” – and even accused the former FBI boss of leaking as well.
“The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security ‘leakers’ that have permeated our government for a long time. They can't even find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on U.S.” Trump tweeted in February 2017.
Trump also threatened Comey against leaking, himself, information to the media.
“James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press,” Trump tweeted.
His tweet came after The New York Times reported Trump asked for Comey’s loyalty during a private dinner, which Comey declined to give. The New York Times cited sources who said they knew about the details of the dinner through Comey.
Later, after Comey told Fox News the memos he shared with his legal team did not constitute a leak of classified information, Trump took to social media to call him "either very sick or very dumb."
“Is everybody believing what is going on. James Comey can’t define what a leak is. He illegally leaked CLASSIFIED INFORMATION but doesn’t understand what he did or how serious it is. He lied all over the place to cover it up. He’s either very sick or very dumb,” he wrote.
Praise
Former F.B.I. Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election. (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
On Clinton’s emails
While the president eventually castigated Comey’s handling of the probe into Clinton’s private email server, Trump initially praised him for investigating Clinton at all.
“It took a lot of guts,” Trump said in October 2017 of Comey’s decision to reopen the Clinton investigation.
“I have to give the FBI credit. That was so bad what happened originally,” Trump said after the FBI did not recommend charges be brought against Clinton by the Justice Department.
“It took guts for Director Comey to make the move that he made in light of the kind of opposition he had where they’re trying to protect her from criminal prosecution,” Trump said.
“I was not his fan, but I’ll tell you what — what he did, he brought back his reputation,” Trump continued.
He also encouraged Comey then to “hang tough.”
On the Russia investigation
In prepared remarks released ahead of Comey’s testimony in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2017, Comey confirmed reports that Trump asked the FBI to lay off his former national security adviser as the department investigated Russia’s influence on the 2016 presidential election. But Comey also confirmed that he did reassure the president that Trump was not under investigation.
Trump was “pleased” by Comey’s admission.
“The president is pleased that Mr. Comey has finally publicly confirmed his private reports that the President was not under investigation in any Russian probe,” Trump’s lawyer said in a statement. “The President feels completely and totally vindicated. He is eager to continue to move forward with his agenda.”
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