Fired FBI director James Comey piled on Attorney General William Barr and his comments about “spying” on President Donald Trump’s campaign in 2016.
Comey spoke about the attorney general’s testimony before Congress this week in a discussion Thursday at the Hewlett Foundation’s Verify Conference.
Asked about Barr’s comments during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, Comey responded that he had “no idea” what the attorney general meant.
“I have no idea what he’s talking about so it’s hard for me to comment,” Comey said.
Comey, speaking at Hewlett Verify cybersecurity conference in San Fransisco, responds to Barr’s “spying” comments: “I have no idea what he’s talking about so it’s hard for me to comment.”
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) April 11, 2019
But he added that there was the “presumption” that Barr “will stand up for truth” based on his reputation.
In a conversation with @Susan_Hennessey at @Hewlett_Found #Verify2019 conference, @Comey says he has no idea what Bill Barr was talking about yesterday but still gives him the benefit of the doubt. pic.twitter.com/zHGCqMWzmF
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) April 11, 2019
Comey also added re: Barr: “I think that his career has earned him the presumption that he will be one of the rare cabinet members who will stand up for things like truth… language like this makes it harder.” https://t.co/AZ9wf6LR04
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) April 11, 2019
Barr told Congress that he would be looking into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation and revealed that he believes “spying did occur” on the 2016 Trump campaign.
“I think spying did occur,” Barr said. “But the question is whether it was adequately predicated and I’m not suggesting it wasn’t adequately predicated, but I need to explore that.”
CNN’s Susan Hennessey asked Comey if, going back to 2013 when he became head of the bureau, he would do anything differently.
“Going back to 2013, can I decline to accept the appointment of FBI director?” he joked.
Asked how he’d approach the job of FBI director differently, going back to 2013 in terms of confronting Russia, Comey jokes, “Can I decline to accept the appointment of FBI director?” #verify2019
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) April 11, 2019
He also weighed in on Barr’s summary of the special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, which concluded there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election.
One of the good things about Barr’s letter, Comey says, is that the “Russia thing” is not a hoax
“They will be back,” Comey said. “The Russians will be playing in the 2020 election, trying to achieve the goals they were trying to achieve in 2016.” #hewlettverify
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) April 11, 2019
Comey took a typical jab at Trump, criticizing him for his “silence” and that he doesn’t acknowledge that Russian interference even happened.
Comey on Russian attack on U.S. election process in 2016
“I don’t see that our commander in chief even acknowledges it even happened. So if you don’t acknowledge that [another country] attacked you… our silence is an invitation to do it again.” #hewlettverify
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) April 11, 2019
.@Comey on Trump and Russian interference: “We need to ask why our president will not acknowledge what his intelligence community has found…I don’t think we are adequately prepared, and in many ways we’re inviting it to happen again in virtue of our president’s silence.”
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) April 11, 2019
Meanwhile, former FBI General Counsel James Baker’s congressional testimony was released and revealed information that will probably be keeping some of the anti-Trump players up at night.
The transcript of say 2 of former FBI general counsel James Baker’s congressional testimony is out. FBI lawyers told Baker not to disclose all the different ways Rod Rosenstein and Andy McCabe contemplated removing Trump from office after Comey’s firing. https://t.co/zf8mYN6qvF pic.twitter.com/WbzGYetQCh
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) April 10, 2019
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein was “an active participant in those discussions” with cabinet members to remove Trump from office, Baker testified to Congress. Rosenstein was mad that Trump took his advice that Comey should be fired, Baker said. pic.twitter.com/ej84dpNxfi
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) April 10, 2019
Comey may be dismissive of Barr’s statements and of the many unanswered questions being asked, but the breadcrumb trail continues in what Trump has called an “attempted coup” against him, and Comey seems to always land in the middle of it.
Baker repeatedly testified that the obstruction investigation against Trump was opened because of Comey’s firing. But when asked if he approved any obstruction investigations against Trump prior to Comey’s firing, Baker refused to answer. Quite curious. pic.twitter.com/uEzor5ZZGT
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) April 10, 2019
Baker also said the discussed a Sspecial Consul B4 Comey was fired
— Smirking Deplorable Russian NotBot (@TAGOS22) April 11, 2019
I’m thinking Comey, McCabe, Brennan and Strzock are feeling very nervous right now.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) April 10, 2019
Rut roh!! #Barr testifies ‘spying did occur’ on #Trump campaign #SpyGate #PanicinDC #FBI #Comey #Obama #AdamSchiff #McCabe #HillaryClinton https://t.co/jzyS6v8awB pic.twitter.com/V4dbWLSwT6
— GrrrGraphics Cartoons (@GrrrGraphics) April 10, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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