With the new inspector general report effectively showing that the U.S. intelligence apparatus conspired to undermine President-elect Donald Trump, led by former FBI director James Comey, it’s instructive how quick former CIA director John Brennan came to Comey’s defense.
The office of Inspector General Michael Horowitz found that Comey violated FBI policies in his handling of memos that documented his private conversations with Trump, saying that he “set a dangerous example for the over 35,000 current FBI employees.”
The report prompted the president to denounce a “disgraced and excoriated” Comey online, saying he “should be ashamed of himself!”
Brennan, now a contributor on MSNBC, responded to Trump’s tweet with a spirited defense of Comey that included an ominous warning.
“Jim Comey is far more decent, ethical, honest, competent, & patriotic than you could ever hope to be. It is only because the AG & Republican Senators refuse to put country above party that you are not in a world of trouble & hurt. But their protective cocoon is only temporary…”
Jim Comey is far more decent, ethical, honest, competent, & patriotic than you could ever hope to be. It is only because the AG & Republican Senators refuse to put country above party that you are not in a world of trouble & hurt. But their protective cocoon is only temporary… https://t.co/KWkEKQPxO0
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) August 29, 2019
The inspector general’s report also included details of a January 6, 2107 briefing with Trump from Comey, Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers.
A meeting where Comey planned “to spring a scandalous allegation on President-elect Trump [and] quickly record his reaction,” the Washington Examiner reported — this is in reference to the salacious, unverified Steele dossier about Russian hookers.
A meeting billed as a “defensive briefing” on Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, but Comey was looking to get “information of value” from Trump’s reaction in what the paper described as an “ambush.”
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., took to social media to state, “It was never a defensive briefing — it was a setup.”
Remember the 1/6/17 dossier briefing Comey, Brennan, and Clapper gave Trump? Comey has said it was a defensive briefing, simply to give Trump a heads up.
The IG report contradicts this.
It says the FBI wanted to use the meeting to get “information of value” for Russia probe.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) August 29, 2019
More from the Examiner on that briefing:
But the group, and especially Comey, had bigger plans than that. Before the meeting, they agreed that after briefing Trump on Russian efforts, the others would leave and Comey would stay to brief Trump alone about the Steele Moscow sex allegation.
Comey and top FBI officials prepared meticulously for the moment. The IG report says Comey had a planning meeting with FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, chief of staff James Rybicki, general counsel James Baker, and “the supervisors of the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election.” (It is unclear who was in that last group, although the now-famous FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page played large roles in the investigation.)
As for Brennan, social media users suggested that the former CIA director who now plies his trade bashing President Trump may be “feeling the heat closing in.”
Here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:
Jim Comey is far more indecent, unethical, dishonest, incompetent, & unpatriotic than you know. It is because the AG & Republican Senators put country above party that you are respected worldwide .
But my protective cocoon is only temporary…
“FIXED IT”— ??#WINNING #MAGA #WWG1WGA (@WinningWwg1wga) August 29, 2019
They haven’t even started with you yet John
— MEGAGAME® (@MegaGame1) August 29, 2019
Spoke like someone that is next on the AG’s list!
— Gabe Bond (@funkyeggplant) August 30, 2019
Deep State Brennan feeling the heat closing in.
— Troy Grice (@troygrice) August 30, 2019
I’m certain @Comey appreciates accolades from a fellow cancer on our intelligence institutions, who also lied under oath, more than once, and leaked information that put our Mideast undercover assets in mortal danger. ?
— Jewhadi™ (@JewhadiTM) August 30, 2019
@realDonaldTrump Two tier justice system. One for D.C. and one for normal American people. You, Comey and Clapper have disgraced our justice system.
— Tim Prehn (@OlivemanT) August 30, 2019
John Brennan May very well be the ONLY person in DC that is a bigger sleaze than Comey! https://t.co/LLD8OJ3sdw
— Tim M (@tmccra55) August 30, 2019
Brennan is a freak pic.twitter.com/AdSmtSQl2Y
— Kandi Rider (@KandiRider) August 30, 2019
Say what it is! It was a coup. And just because politicians , FBI etc..etc. all failed at doing their job of protecting this country doesn’t make it any less of one. Obama ran amok for 8 years and no one reigned him in. DACA ObamaCare I mean where the hell was Congress- vacation
— AutumnNavy (@AutumnNavy) August 30, 2019
General Flynn’s life was forever altered for doing far less than Comey and his merry band of Trump haters. But no one will pay any consequences except for a wrist slap. Proof that we have a two tiered justice system.
— Tony Dragoni (@ajdragoni) August 29, 2019
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