President Trump attacked former FBI Director James Comey early Sunday, accusing him of lying during his testimony to House lawmakers about the investigation into Russia‘s election interference.
“Leakin’ James Comey must have set a record for who lied the most to Congress in one day. His Friday testimony was so untruthful!” the president tweeted.
“This whole deal is a Rigged Fraud headed up by dishonest people who would do anything so that I could not become President. They are now exposed!” he added.
Leakin’ James Comey must have set a record for who lied the most to Congress in one day. His Friday testimony was so untruthful! This whole deal is a Rigged Fraud headed up by dishonest people who would do anything so that I could not become President. They are now exposed!
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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2018
Trump also claimed that Comey’s statements that he opened investigations on four Americans and that he didn’t know former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele were untruthful and “all lies.â€
In addition, the president attacked Comey’s repeated statements that he “could not recall†or “did not know†certain facts that he was asked about by the congressional committee.
During his testimony the man who Trump fired as FBI director said on multiple occasions that he was unable to remember certain facts. Also, he told the members of Congress that he was unable to answer some of their questions because they related to ongoing FBI investigations.
This really set Trump off on a Twitter tirade. He wrote:
On 245 occasions, former FBI Director James Comey told House investigators he didn’t know, didn’t recall, or couldn’t remember things when asked. Opened investigations on 4 Americans (not 2) – didn’t know who signed off and didn’t know Christopher Steele. All lies!
On 245 occasions, former FBI Director James Comey told House investigators he didn’t know, didn’t recall, or couldn’t remember things when asked. Opened investigations on 4 Americans (not 2) – didn’t know who signed off and didn’t know Christopher Steele. All lies!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2018
Comey testified last week before the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees. The hearings were not public, and took place behind closed doors. The committees, however,later released a transcript of the roughly six-hour meeting.
The transcript revealed some very interesting new information about the counterintelligence investigation into possible conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign. Comey said it had begun with an FBI investigation into four Americans who he did not identify. These would be people other than the president. Comey said he could not disclose who they were because they are part of an ongoing investigation.
According to the transcripts, Comey also defended the former FBI agent Peter Strzok, who has been attacked by Trump numerous times. The president criticized Strzok for the text messages he sent that were critical of Trump. They were sent by him before he started working on special counsel Robert Mueller‘s investigation. Trump ultimately fired him, causing even more controversy.
Trump has criticized Comey for years over his handling of FBI investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He also was upset that the former director would not do what he asked him to do. This led Trump to fire Comey in May 2017, which in turn led to the appointment of a special prosecutor, Robert Mueller.
Comey has been very critical of Trump since leaving his position in the FBI. He has called the president “morally unfit” for office, and been very critical of Trump’s repeated, unjustified attacks on the FBI.
Recently Trump has increased his criticism of the Mueller investigation, which he is still calling a “witch hunt” despite its successes in numerous indictments, guilty pleas, and criminal convictions. Mueller’s investigation has so far implicated five of Trump’s former close associates and more than 20 Russians.
No matter what Donald Trump tweets, most Americans will not believe that James Comey lied under oath to congressional committees. The fact that he accused the straight-arrow former FBI director of committing perjury shows how desperate and unhinged Donald Trump has become.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
